Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur Post-Match Thread

[midnite]

Awesome response from the holte end for the last 10 mins. It's important the young players out there know we're still behind them.

Gutted we've shipped 12 goals in 2 games. But with some signings hopefully we can turn this around. We've seen that out team can play but the last two games show we're a million miles away from the top 8

[Fergal]

Too many kids, too many of whom are not good enough.
Too many lower leagues, low wages players.
Not enough experience.

The natural reaction is to vent at the manager, but really, this is just another symptom of the dreadful management of the club by Lerner and Faulkner,.

I can't even look at the teams around us and take comfort from the fact that we've a stronger squad, better players than them, because we haven't.

I totally understand what Lambert is trying to do, and I like it when it works, but the fact of the matter is, we have nowhere near sufficient quality in the side.

Some - Bennett, Herd, Delph - are quite clearly nothing like good enough. Some - KEA, Ireland - are probably good enough but don't show anything like enough desire to prove they are.

Lerner needs to take a look at where we are and reflect on how his stewardship of the club has gone the last few years.

He spent 20m on players though, and few of those players are anywhere near good enough.  ANY manager serving up an 8-0 and a 4-0 loss at home needs to have a long, hard look at themselves.

20M is a drop in the ocean for what we need to spend to turn us into a top 6 team again....

Forget any idea of becoming a top six team for years yet.

We have to focus on proving we deserve to be a Premier League side, because on the evidence of the last two games, and many games before that, we don't

What should we aspire to be then? Stoke?

I am not saying we shouldn't aspire to being a top six club, of course we should.

I'm just pointing out that right now, our immediate aspirations are way, way below that level.

Our immediate aim must be to avoid relegation comfortably.  Next comes mid table safety after that top six and trying to get a successful European competition under our belt.
If it takes 5 years how much will it cost?  If Randy wont finance it then it wont happen.  The financing has to start now or Randy needs to sell up or we will be in this position year after year until we will get relegated.

[Risso]

Too many kids, too many of whom are not good enough.
Too many lower leagues, low wages players.
Not enough experience.

The natural reaction is to vent at the manager, but really, this is just another symptom of the dreadful management of the club by Lerner and Faulkner,.

I can't even look at the teams around us and take comfort from the fact that we've a stronger squad, better players than them, because we haven't.

I totally understand what Lambert is trying to do, and I like it when it works, but the fact of the matter is, we have nowhere near sufficient quality in the side.

Some - Bennett, Herd, Delph - are quite clearly nothing like good enough. Some - KEA, Ireland - are probably good enough but don't show anything like enough desire to prove they are.

Lerner needs to take a look at where we are and reflect on how his stewardship of the club has gone the last few years.

He spent 20m on players though, and few of those players are anywhere near good enough.  ANY manager serving up an 8-0 and a 4-0 loss at home needs to have a long, hard look at themselves.

20M is a drop in the ocean for what we need to spend to turn us into a top 6 team again....

Forget any idea of becoming a top six team for years yet.

We have to focus on proving we deserve to be a Premier League side, because on the evidence of the last two games, and many games before that, we don't

What should we aspire to be then? Stoke?

I get the impression that's who the owner aspires to

Stoke are owned by a decent businessman though, which is not something Lerner could ever hope to be.

[SamTheMouse]

  Holman is no more than a squad player, as is Gabby.

I agree. But a good nine-tenths of our squad is currently comprised of squad players, and that's why we can't perform consistently.

[VILLA MOLE]

I am so angry i dont know what to do with myself, not celebrate christmas though , bollox to it all 

[eastie]

Lambert should be thankful he has Lerner as chairman- forest have tonight sacked their boss and they won 4-2 today.

[frank black]

Oh well the cheeseboard and booze is calling me, time to wipe the memory. Tara a bit....

[Fergal]

The facts are we were the 4-5th biggest net spenders last summer, and over the last few years in the prem it is the same. So blaming the chairman is all well and good, but does not tell the whole story. The money has been spent poorly in the most part.

Last summer Lambert did very well to get the players he did for the money spent.

We have lost 2 games that most of us all expected to lose. Sure by a few more than we would expect, but we have Wigan at home next after a run of Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs, all 3 in good form. That is tough, and we got 3 points. Not the end of the world.

We need Vlaar back asap, we need Bannan back in the side, and I hope Westwood and Baker are not out for long.

Today we did ok in terms of stopping them first half, but losing Baker was a real blow, he was playing well and Herd had a nightmare.

No question it has not been good enough last 2 games, but we have the chance to get back on track against Wigan, and then January. We have to sign a centre half, a central midfield player and a forward who would all walk into our side.

Agree with this common sense post lacking the hysterical notes of most others

Some of us are venting our spleen because we are in pain at the moment.  Give us a day or two and we will start to see reason and look at the big picture...

But what if the big picture isn't much good, either?!

Don't even go there....

[Olof's Beard]

The facts are we were the 4-5th biggest net spenders last summer, and over the last few years in the prem it is the same. So blaming the chairman is all well and good, but does not tell the whole story. The money has been spent poorly in the most part.

Last summer Lambert did very well to get the players he did for the money spent.

We have lost 2 games that most of us all expected to lose. Sure by a few more than we would expect, but we have Wigan at home next after a run of Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs, all 3 in good form. That is tough, and we got 3 points. Not the end of the world.

We need Vlaar back asap, we need Bannan back in the side, and I hope Westwood and Baker are not out for long.

Today we did ok in terms of stopping them first half, but losing Baker was a real blow, he was playing well and Herd had a nightmare.

No question it has not been good enough last 2 games, but we have the chance to get back on track against Wigan, and then January. We have to sign a centre half, a central midfield player and a forward who would all walk into our side.

Agree with this common sense post lacking the hysterical notes of most others

I have always agreed with Ozz in general and completely support common sense but after losing 12-0 in four days I kind of understand that some people are feeling less than confident.  I think the chimp's hat trick goal and that stupid fecking celebration followed by them taking the piss out of us for ten minutes is the closest I have come to tears as a Villa fan in years.  Shots on target 1 vs 16 against a Spurs side who have been very beatable all year.  A fucking Conference side would be embarrassed by that.

[eastie]

  Holman is no more than a squad player, as is Gabby.

I agree. But a good nine-tenths of our squad is currently comprised of squad players, and that's why we can't perform consistently.

Gabby and Holman are both squad players in my opinion- gabby one goal in 33 games as a striker- Holman puts the effort in but lacks real quality.

[SamTheMouse]

We lack a dominant presence, we don't have enough bite and athleticism in there, and we don't have enough drive and pacy aggression. In short, we need two new midfielders, both seasoned pros able to slot straight in: one a battler and leader, and one a tricky player who can beat a man and run at a defence.

Yup.

I reckon that's about right.

The problem is - we need to buy them all in January, which is never easy, and we need to persuade the chairman to add them to the wage bill, which I suspect will be even less easy.

I think he could be persuaded to cough up if someone shows him the league table. It worked when Houllier asked him to buy Bent. A businessman has to protect his investment, after all.

Lambert's comments earlier about how if KEA goes to the ACN we'll have to cope without him don't instill me with much confidence.

Based on what I saw today, we'd better hope the Moroccan coach is a fan of his.

[ozzjim]

We lack a dominant presence, we don't have enough bite and athleticism in there, and we don't have enough drive and pacy aggression. In short, we need two new midfielders, both seasoned pros able to slot straight in: one a battler and leader, and one a tricky player who can beat a man and run at a defence.

Yup.

I reckon that's about right.

The problem is - we need to buy them all in January, which is never easy, and we need to persuade the chairman to add them to the wage bill, which I suspect will be even less easy.

Agree but he dug us out with Houllier signing Bent and Walker. There will be a few quid I am sure

[citizenDJ]

The facts are we were the 4-5th biggest net spenders last summer, and over the last few years in the prem it is the same. So blaming the chairman is all well and good, but does not tell the whole story. The money has been spent poorly in the most part.

Last summer Lambert did very well to get the players he did for the money spent.

We have lost 2 games that most of us all expected to lose. Sure by a few more than we would expect, but we have Wigan at home next after a run of Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs, all 3 in good form. That is tough, and we got 3 points. Not the end of the world.

We need Vlaar back asap, we need Bannan back in the side, and I hope Westwood and Baker are not out for long.

Today we did ok in terms of stopping them first half, but losing Baker was a real blow, he was playing well and Herd had a nightmare.

No question it has not been good enough last 2 games, but we have the chance to get back on track against Wigan, and then January. We have to sign a centre half, a central midfield player and a forward who would all walk into our side.

Agree with this common sense post lacking the hysterical notes of most others

I have always agreed with Ozz in general and completely support common sense but after losing 12-0 in four days I kind of understand that some people are feeling less than confident.  I think the chimp's hat trick goal and that stupid fecking celebration followed by them taking the piss out of us for ten minutes is the closest I have come to tears as a Villa fan in years.  Shots on target 1 vs 16 against a Spurs side who have been very beatable all year.  A fucking Conference side would be embarrassed by that.

Indeed. Villa have looked utterly hapless in the last two games, as poor (and worse) than we have looked for a long old time.

[KevinGage]

Too many kids, too many of whom are not good enough.
Too many lower leagues, low wages players.
Not enough experience.

The natural reaction is to vent at the manager, but really, this is just another symptom of the dreadful management of the club by Lerner and Faulkner,.

I can't even look at the teams around us and take comfort from the fact that we've a stronger squad, better players than them, because we haven't.

I totally understand what Lambert is trying to do, and I like it when it works, but the fact of the matter is, we have nowhere near sufficient quality in the side.

Some - Bennett, Herd, Delph - are quite clearly nothing like good enough. Some - KEA, Ireland - are probably good enough but don't show anything like enough desire to prove they are.

Lerner needs to take a look at where we are and reflect on how his stewardship of the club has gone the last few years.

He spent 20m on players though, and few of those players are anywhere near good enough.  ANY manager serving up an 8-0 and a 4-0 loss at home needs to have a long, hard look at themselves.

If the pressure is the wage bill, it doesn't matter how much he spends, because ultimately, the players are going to be of a certain standard.

Practically speaking, what would we do if we sacked Lambert? Who would we appoint? What would they do?

Ultimately, nothing will change at this club until the chairman fucking wakes up and takes a look at the laughing stock we've been for most of the last three seasons.

The utter lunacy of this strategy is breathtaking. 

Stay in this league, and with the new TV deal and 70% increase in income, the wage bill issue is reduced at a stroke. 

Go down (and we have a better than average chance of that now, thanks to 2/3 years of downgrading) and we are facked.

We won't have to worry about Financial Fair Play considerations if we're playing Burnleh and Charlton at home either.

[VILLA MOLE]

The facts are we were the 4-5th biggest net spenders last summer, and over the last few years in the prem it is the same. So blaming the chairman is all well and good, but does not tell the whole story. The money has been spent poorly in the most part.

Last summer Lambert did very well to get the players he did for the money spent.

We have lost 2 games that most of us all expected to lose. Sure by a few more than we would expect, but we have Wigan at home next after a run of Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs, all 3 in good form. That is tough, and we got 3 points. Not the end of the world.

We need Vlaar back asap, we need Bannan back in the side, and I hope Westwood and Baker are not out for long.

Today we did ok in terms of stopping them first half, but losing Baker was a real blow, he was playing well and Herd had a nightmare.

No question it has not been good enough last 2 games, but we have the chance to get back on track against Wigan, and then January. We have to sign a centre half, a central midfield player and a forward who would all walk into our side.

Agree with this common sense post lacking the hysterical notes of most others

I have always agreed with Ozz in general and completely support common sense but after losing 12-0 in four days I kind of understand that some people are feeling less than confident.  I think the chimp's hat trick goal and that stupid fecking celebration followed by them taking the piss out of us for ten minutes is the closest I have come to tears as a Villa fan in years.  Shots on target 1 vs 16 against a Spurs side who have been very beatable all year.  A fucking Conference side would be embarrassed by that.

he is a twat who fancies himself cant wait until he fucks them off