Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic Post-Match Thread

[Jimbo]

If what Lambert is implying is true, that he won't be backed in the summer, then now is the time for the fans to give Lerner both barrels. However, by Lambert's tone, it doesn't look like he's at all arsed about bringing in experienced players. In which case, both men will be culpable for our eventual fate.

[NeilH]

More worryingly though. Lambert has just been on the radio and said 'IF' he brings anyone else into the club in Jan it will only be lower league players as that's all the funding he's been given

Did he really say that? If so, we're goners.

He made it very clear on WM that he was sticking with the kids.

[Olof's Beard]

More worryingly though. Lambert has just been on the radio and said 'IF' he brings anyone else into the club in Jan it will only be lower league players as that's all the funding he's been given

Did he really say that? If so, we're goners.

Please no.  That's a complete change of tune as he has previously said that he chose to bring those sort of players in.  And as others have pointed out, we tried to sign Dempsey.

[Jockey Randall]

Not that I think it's Lambert's fault that we've ended up in this mess but at the rate we've dismantled an experienced Premier league squad and replaced them with youth and a few cheap buys on half the wages I very much doubt the chairman would even waste more money sacking the manager and getting another in.

We've all seen what they've tried to do, get a manager who did well on a limited budget at Norwich and stay in the league spending little cash. Unfortunately, one horrendous injury crisis and games coming thick and fast with no time to drastically change the team has meant we've been on the end of some horrendous thumpings. After last season and plenty of change still to take place in the squad, I think this season was always doomed for another relegation scrap as the squad is no better than that.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Thanks for the good wishes for my lad, gents.
He was in brum last night, go separated from his mates is a club, went outside to ring them to find out where they were and then got bundled into a car by 3 blokes. The drove off, eventually beating him up, pinching his phone and ID, and then dumping him.
I have never heard anything like it, its like a bloody mafia story.
His face is bruised and swollen, but no lasting damage, although its shook his confidence, he is generally a quiet lad who doesnt like clubbing.

Still it got me out of watching that shite !

Can't imagine how angry/worried you've been. Good luck to the lad, hope he keeps his confidence after that. Nothing Villa come up ith (hard as they're trying) can compete with having your kids put through that sort of thing.

[PaulWinch again]

Today, I have missed my first home game for nearly 20 years. My son, home from uni and out with his pals, was beaten up last night and I spent the afternoon at the hospital with him.
It seems like I picked a good game to miss.

I' d still like to get my hands on the fckers who did it though.

Hope your son's ok mate.

Indeed I echo that sentiment.

[Phil from the upper holte]

That side if relegated would not come back up

[Des Little]

Randy was there today. If he doesn't back Lambert in Jan after watching that there's no hope for us. As it is there's precious little. We are in massive bother now.

[villadelph]

What if we get battered by Swans?

[Chrisupnorth]

What we need is a 6 foot 5, built like a brick shitehouse midfielder who gets stuck in. Our midfield is too lightweight. A leader at the back wouldn't do any harm  either.

Three players, right up the middle of the pitch.

Yes, and we also need to bring the likes of Bent, N'Zogbia and Wanrnock back. We may not be their biggest fans but we need their experience in the team. We look like someone lifted a League 2 outfit and placed them into Villa shirts

Every successful team needs a strong spine.  Boy are we in need of a good orthopaedic surgeon!

[caster troy]

Guzan - 5 - Sympathise
Lowton - 4 - Out of position, sympathise
Clark - 3 - Not good enough, how many tonkings have we had with him at centre back?
Herd - 3 - Out of position, sympathise
Bennett - 1 - Absolutely woeful, would be happy to never see him in a Villa shirt again, terrible signing
Lichaj - 2 - Not good enough, see Bennett
Bannan - 3 - Sloppy passing but some credit for occasionally going for a forward pass, unlike everyone else
Ireland - 1 - Lazy c*nt, doesn't care. I'd rather we do a lottery and pick a midfielder out of the crowd each game
Holman - 2 - Woeful, not good enough
Weimann - 3 - Poor today
Benteke - 2 - Horror show but bonus point for being the only player we have who isn't easily shoved off the ball

El Ahmadi - 1 - Abysmal, awful signing
Albrighton - 4 - showed some pride at least
Bowery - 4 - tried

Lambert - 0. Shocking selection today. If we've got one fit centre back, why use a formation that requires 3? Starting 5-3-2 just surrendered the inititive right from the kick off and we were chasing shadows for 30 mins. FYI Paul, this is the Premier League, where there are famously 'no easy games' so this experiment with kids plus lower league average triers is frankly ridiculous.

If anyone wants my season ticket they can have it for a bottle of Scotch, or maybe even just a Toblerone (white).

[Boz]

Getting rid of Lambert will cost a lot of money, I don't understand in a game where results are a key,  why contracts aren't a rolling year based on results and a significant bonus when successful. The way it is at present, managers have 4 years at ?million a year and if the fail they move on with a big payout when they are sacked.

Must be one of the few jobs where you can be sacked for being unsuccessful and get another job a bit later on when people have forgotten about your failure, e.g. McLeish.

Forest getting rid of O'Driscoll when close to the play off positions and bringing in a dead leg like AM shows how much owners are clueless.

[PaulWinch again]

My concern is that Lambert doesn't appear to have a clue how to address this. He just says 'we fight again' or words to that effect. There's no fight, no plan, no fucking clue.

[Irish villain]

Why have we got the only billionaire that's got bored with his little toy...

It could only happen to us.

[Jon Crofts]

What if we get battered by Swans?

What if?  Good lad, you keep looking on the bright side.