Lambert Out?

[LeeB]

Given the point we'd reached at the end of last season, we could not have made a better appoinment than Paul Lambert.

He's not fucking about, he's a proper manager who knows exactly what he's doing, and I don't think I've felt as much optimism about the way the club is heading since Sir Brian was in charge.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Lambert is welcome to stay for many years. The football is good and progressive, the team is committed. And the players shining are his signings - or players like Bannan who have come on leaps and bounds thanks to the methods and style of our new manager. Willing to give Lambert time, if we don't another club our level will and they'll reap the rewards of having such a talented forward-thinking manager.

Agreed. Not been a big fan of Bannan but the lad is starting to deliver on the promise. Lambert is turning our boys into men and yesterday I thought Bannan played with great maturity, he still tried one or two stupid balls but overall it was a great improvement. Long may it continue.

[Mister E]

He's the view from the gRauniad, as at today.

[VillaAlways]

He's the view from the gRauniad, as at today.

That article is pretty much how I feel about the Bent situation,it's a real head scratcher. It's ok talking about youth and promise but we desperately need goals. Should we not win tonight and Bent is  omitted from the squad,surely PL would be under pressure to justify his reasons for doing so

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

He's the view from the gRauniad, as at today.

Does one more appearance from Bent trigger a big payment to Sunderland?

[eastie]

He's the view from the gRauniad, as at today.

Does one more appearance from Bent trigger a big payment to Sunderland?

Kendrick has tweeted that rumours of extra payments to Sunderland are well off the mark- total rubbish.

[Dave]

He's the view from the gRauniad, as at today.

That article is pretty much how I feel about the Bent situation,it's a real head scratcher. It's ok talking about youth and promise but we desperately need goals. Should we not win tonight and Bent is  omitted from the squad,surely PL would be under pressure to justify his reasons for doing so

Very much in agreement with this (and the article) as well.

[eastie]

He's the view from the gRauniad, as at today.

That article is pretty much how I feel about the Bent situation,it's a real head scratcher. It's ok talking about youth and promise but we desperately need goals. Should we not win tonight and Bent is  omitted from the squad,surely PL would be under pressure to justify his reasons for doing so

Very much in agreement with this (and the article) as well.

Yes a good article, there must be more to this than meets the eye, I can just about understand why bent wouldn't be in the starting 11 , I find him not being on the bench either quite strange.

[garyshawsknee]

Yeah,its a real odd one. Even if PLs looking to sell him,he should be involved more. And if its a no show tonight,and a poor result,the pressure will begin.

[Risso]

Completely agree.  It's 10 goals in 13 league games now, we're in the bottom three and the bloke we bought to get us out of a similar situation 2 years ago can't get a look in.

[paulcomben]

That article does indeed hit all of the nails on their heads. Somebody should quote this to Lambo after each point is dropped and he gives his usual post-match comment: "Forget all the talk of long-term projects, promising youngsters and spirited performances in defeat, Villa badly need some points."

[amfy]

Houlier bought Darren Bent post austerity cuts. At the SCG Faulkner said that one of the reasons for signing him was that they were excited to learn that a striker of this quality fitted within the wage structure they were implementing. Villa can afford Darren Bent - that's why they bought him when they did. I would imagine the extra payments to take his fee from 18-24million are triggered by more exciting things than simply making 50 appearances (I think we are in that ball park of outings).
Darren Bent isn't in the side because his style of play doesn't fit within the best set up for Villa at the moment. It is a shame for him and us that he came here to link with Young & Downing & everything has changed since then. I am happy enough with what we are trying to do, and having wanted a 20 goal a season striker like him for so long, I am sad it isn't working, but think we can make better use of the money than him at the moment.
He kept us up when he arrived. I wish him well, but I don't see his future here now.

[Brend'Watkins]

One of the reasons for the positivity even in our predicament is that we can see what Lambert is trying to do.  Every player is showing a high work rate in every position.  Bent too in his first few games started to show an improved work rate as well compared to what we seen under TSM.  Then there were the injuries.  I can only assume that now fit he's not putting in sufficient effort in training.

[PaulWinch again]

That article sums up my feelings as well. I'm happy with a lot of Lambert's work, but the fact remains we're in the bottom three and a proven Premier League goal scorer is a huge asset that should be used.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I Can't be arsed to read it all but I find the exclusion of Bent baffling, not even a place on the bench? and he's got the rookie on there Bowery, this will not add any value to Bent if he does intend to sell him.

All I can think of is that he doesn't see him as a team player but he's definately a goal scorer