Lambert in or out? Poll reset with majority 'in', 7th May

[Greg N'Ash]

You're deluded, Dave. This season has been utterly shambolic right from the off, with record defeats, worst season starts and goals conceded, yet according to you you're "waiting for things to get better".
Well good luck with that!

There's nothing deluded about it.
The team that barely scraped past the relegation post last season is now even more depleted and is the youngest ever Villa side, yet we are still outside the relegation zone with a transfer window to go and more experienced players almost ready to come back into the side.
We showed character in the two games either side of the Christmas disaster zone and are in a very winnable cup semi-final.

You keep taking the prozac, I'll happily look for the positives and say that yes, along with Woodhall, I am definitely waiting for things to get better, and I don't reckon I'll have much of a wait either.

but is there much quality to come back? Barring Vlaar and Bent sometimes, most of the injured experienced players haven't really been much use when they're fit. The transfer window is the big question mark - i'm guessing Lerner will spend, but enough? Its likely that we're not going to win more games then we lose in the 2nd half of the season to improve the goal difference so really we need to put points on the board. I don't think its fair to lay any of the injuries/lack of quality in the squad  at lamberts door but its a brave man who's confident it will get better

[PaulWinch again]

In, but he needs to address our issues in January and be a bit more flexible in his approach.

[not3bad]

its a brave man who's confident it will get better

I'm confident it will get better.  We desperately needed to stop the rot but the comeback today showed there is character and I think that's the most important thing of all when it comes to survival, and shows that Lambert does have something to build on.  He does need to be backed by Lerner though, of that there is no doubt.

[Greg N'Ash]

Way i see it we were lucky. No two ways about it, another day and we'd have been going in at half time 3/4 nil down. However when we did go behind, the heads didn't drop which is a massive plus in itself. Gotta hope the confidence is coming back because it doesn't look hopeful on the injury front - Concerned that the fans don't get on the players back if we start badly in the next home game or i fear it could be another disaster. ..#randygetyourchequebookout.

The heads did not drop and I think that is a major plus. As for the fans, I think they have been excellent by and large

I think even the media have commented on our patience. Its more the fear factor for the young players at home that worries me. TSM couldn't buy a home win for a long time and for the vast majority they buy a season ticket in the hope we'll win at home occassionally. 2 wins at home is pretty dire

[Greg N'Ash]

its a brave man who's confident it will get better

I'm confident it will get better.  We desperately needed to stop the rot but the comeback today showed there is character and I think that's the most important thing of all when it comes to survival, and shows that Lambert does have something to build on.  He does need to be backed by Lerner though, of that there is no doubt.

yep. Agreed.

[Irish villain]

Things could be so much worse.

I have just been on the Forest Forum. TSM is already coming out with garbage, 'dynamic football' etc.

At least we have a progressive manager now who, if backed, can develop a coherent team at Aston Villa. We are building something with players who have the potential to improve. Last year we were led by a dinosaur with no plan, no concept of developing a way of playing as a team and who thought he could build something with overpaid journeymen like Hutton.

We gotta give Lambert time. Instability over the past three years has been a disaster for villa. We need stability and we need to embrace the change Lambert is trying to introduce.

[Risso]

What exactly is that change Irish?  I still haven't read a compelling case for what *it* is that Lambert is supposed to be providing.

[TheSandman]

Things could be so much worse.

I have just been on the Forest Forum. TSM is already coming out with garbage, 'dynamic football' etc.

Ha ha! True, I was reading his post-match comments and noticed he said the exact same type of things as when he was in charge of us. I feel sorry for their fans.

[saunders_heroes]

Things could be so much worse.

I have just been on the Forest Forum. TSM is already coming out with garbage, 'dynamic football' etc.

At least we have a progressive manager now who, if backed, can develop a coherent team at Aston Villa. We are building something with players who have the potential to improve. Last year we were led by a dinosaur with no plan, no concept of developing a way of playing as a team and who thought he could build something with overpaid journeymen like Hutton.

We gotta give Lambert time. Instability over the past three years has been a disaster for villa. We need stability and we need to embrace the change Lambert is trying to introduce.

I admire your confidence but i think we're actually worse now than we were last season. The players look out of their depth and the team is awful. When will we see this improvement you talk of?

[Irish villain]

What exactly is that change Irish?  I still haven't read a compelling case for what *it* is that Lambert is supposed to be providing.

Very tired so this will be a very patchy response. I liked your comment re Weimann on the other thread. You can see the potential there can't you? Likewise with Benteke, Lowton, Westwood and Baker. We were drifting aimlessly for two years with overpaid journeymen who weren't going to improve, were costing us a fortune and didn't give a damn.

Yes, Christmas has been dreadful and has rocked every one of us. Undoubtedly, the momentum Lambert's style had been picking up has been derailed. But look at the injury crisis we have faced and the sheer number of massive games in such a short period with an over-stretched squad. These are young players with heart and potential who have been forced to endure a torrid Christmas time largely because of injury to key, experienced players such as Vlaar, Gabby, Bent and N'Zogbia. I know people will argue the latter two hadn't featured a whole lot this season. I am sure Clark and baker would have had a better Christmas with Vlaar alongside. Likewise, Weimann probably needed a rest over Christmas.

We are on the start of a journey. I genuinely believe that we finally have the right manager. I just hope Randy backs him with a bigger squad.

[Risso]

Things could be so much worse.

I have just been on the Forest Forum. TSM is already coming out with garbage, 'dynamic football' etc.

Ha ha! True, I was reading his post-match comments and noticed he said the exact same type of things as when he was in charge of us. I feel sorry for their fans.

Sounds like Hutton might be on his way back though.  TSM was asked about him and Jenas as their loan deals are up now apparently.  Jenas is injured (*surprised face*) and when asked about Hutton he said something about needing to get forward players in.

[Irish villain]

Things could be so much worse.

I have just been on the Forest Forum. TSM is already coming out with garbage, 'dynamic football' etc.

At least we have a progressive manager now who, if backed, can develop a coherent team at Aston Villa. We are building something with players who have the potential to improve. Last year we were led by a dinosaur with no plan, no concept of developing a way of playing as a team and who thought he could build something with overpaid journeymen like Hutton.

We gotta give Lambert time. Instability over the past three years has been a disaster for villa. We need stability and we need to embrace the change Lambert is trying to introduce.

I admire your confidence but i think we're actually worse now than we were last season. The players look out of their depth and the team is awful. When will we see this improvement you talk of?

The thrashings have knocked us all for six. I just think it is premature to write Lambert off. I have seen enough positive signs. Change is never smooth and we have had a bad run of injuries. I hope Randy has learned that we need a bigger squad and a couple of wise heads.

We have looked poor since Chelsea but remember last season? We never looked like attacking as a team, and relied on individuals remembering how to behave in opp half. We are more of a team now but still a work in progress. I'd rather be a work in progress than what we were second half of last season.

[bertlambshank]

Things could be so much worse.

I have just been on the Forest Forum. TSM is already coming out with garbage, 'dynamic football' etc.

Ha ha! True, I was reading his post-match comments and noticed he said the exact same type of things as when he was in charge of us. I feel sorry for their fans.

Sounds like Hutton might be on his way back though.  TSM was asked about him and Jenas as their loan deals are up now apparently.  Jenas is injured (*surprised face*) and when asked about Hutton he said something about needing to get forward players in.

Who told TSM about forward players?

[Risso]

We haven't looked attacking very much at all this season, and for all the injuries now, we were hardly doing much better at any point this season.  It was the same with Mcleish, it's no point moaning about injuries when you hardly played very well with a full squad earlier in the season.

[pauliewalnuts]

One man's lucky is another man's resolute defending but it's not about today. The same people who say we're going down and this is the worst Vila team for 20/30/138 years are invariably the same ones who describe results against teams who are therefore better than us as lucky.

The post was certainly resolute for us today. But I'm not sure I see the controversy in seeing a poor side ride their luck to a point against a superior team and describing it as such.

I think this is the fourth time I've said this:

It's not just about today, it's about every single time we go away and get a decent result. We can never play well, we always have to be lucky.   

I think you're making things up to suit your argument.  Where did anybody say anything of the sort in the win against Liverpool, for example?

Good to hear you mention Liverpool as you've been spending the last few days telling us absolutely everything is shit.

Clearly not the case, then.

Still waiting for the suggestion re who we go after tomorrow morning after sacking Lambert tonight, btw.