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

[Clampy]

Liverpool away was great. Really enjoyed Sunderland as well.

[Concrete John]

I think Liverpool away was our best performance, but Man City in the cup probably the most entertaining game if you were a neutral.

Actually, thinking about it again I'd say 'best performance' is a tie between Liverpool away and Swansea at home.

[eastie]

Liverpool away was great. Really enjoyed Sunderland as well.

Agree with you clampy , Liverpool away was the best performance so far - great goals too.
For enjoyment though i would say qpr will take some beating because of the importance of the game.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

Lambert is doing mission impossible really. We're a long way from competing for the league or the Sky4 places and our youthful naivity cost us in both cups. The relegation scrap if anything has the made the season a little more interesting if only for the wrong reasons.
I like what Lambert is trying to do, and given time I think you'll see a Villa side filled with players who are well motivated to do well at the club as well prove themselves in this league. Lambert is guilty of mistakes, and at times can be stubborn. (I'd like to see us play with genuine width for instance) However, he is the best we can hope for at the moment and I do believe he'll move us forwards. A couple of experienced, good professionals in to replace wankers like Ireland, Dunne, Warnock and Hutton and I think the dynamic of our squad would change enormously.

[eastie]

Interesting read -

By James Nursey | 04/04/13 

Aston Villa's campaign has had more highs and lows this season than Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Even boss Paul Lambert admits himself it has been a roller-coaster of a season.

Despite some memorable wins in the League and Cup, Villa's Premier League fate still lies very much in the balance with Lambert's men 18th.

Clearly over the course of a season, if Villa finish in the relegation zone they can have few complaints about going down.

But do Villa and manager Lambert really deserve relegation and would the Premier League be better off without them?

I would argue they don't and that Lambert's brave, bold policy deserves to succeed.

As a neutral, Villa's campaign has been extremely refreshing.

Most managers are far too concerned about their own jobs to take a risk nurturing or blooding young talent.

The most obvious consequence of this is our bang average national team where Roy Hodgson has an increasingly small pool of English players to chose from.

But Lambert has given plenty of Villa youngsters a chance to make a name for themselves as he has utilised both graduates of the club's own academy - plus lower league or foreign talent.

Ciaran Clark, Nathan Baker, Ashley Westwood, Matt Lowton and Andreas Weimann have all shown great promise this season and have bright futures in the top-flight.

By blooding these players, inevitably there have been mistakes on the pitch and that is what puts other managers off doing likewise.

But the long-term benefit to Aston Villa, and possibly the game if other clubs follow suit, will be fascinating to assess in the future.

Lambert has also shown balls to drop big names like keeper Shay Given and £18million striker Darren Bent.

The latter decision has been vindicated because Brad Guzan has been outstanding in goal and Christian Benteke a revelation upfront.

With Villa's young defence still learning on the job, and prone to lapses of concentration reflecting their inexperience, Villa's matches have rarely been dull.

The likes of Benteke and Weimann have been banging them in at the other end to provide some cracking matches such as QPR at home recently.

Lambert's attacking tactics are a stark contrast to the football served up last season under Alex McLeish which supporters so often moaned about.

In fact, over at Lambert's old club Norwich City, many fans are already bemoaning his departure as successor Chris Hughton has a more measured, cautious outlook.

Against Liverpool, Villa really went for it in the first half when they led 1-0 at the break and were cheered off by their delighted fans.

Anyone who has watched the side over the course of a season can recognise the team is growing together and improving and it is good to watch Villa's youngsters mature.

They ended up losing to Liverpool, who played very well in the second half, as the hosts' current Achilles Heel of defensive mistakes continued which underlines the risks involved with Villa's strategy.

But it sure more admirable than setting up not to lose or playing unattractive football like some of the teams just above Villa in the table.

Stoke vs Villa this weekend should highlight that and the natives there are growing fed up with it at the Britannia.

Of course, my idealistic sentiments will count for little if Villa are relegated.

But I maintain it would be good for the league if Villa stay up after giving youth a chance and bringing in some rough diamonds which have polished up nicely.

For you can bet rivals clubs will be in very quickly for Benteke, Guzan, Weimann, Lowton, Clark and Baker if Villa go down.

That would effectively see other clubs reaping the rewards of Lambert's faith in youth and unknowns.

In reality Lambert hasn't had much of a choice given owner Randy Lerner demands to reduce the wage bill.

But Lambert has embraced Villa's new philosophy.

It remains a massive gamble and if Villa do go down it will have backfired badly for everyone - especially Lerner and Lambert.

[john e]

That's a good article from nursey, and I agree with every word of it

[eastie]

That's a good article from nursey, and I agree with every word of it

I agree, it is a well written article providing plenty food for thought.

[Dave]

Liverpool away was great. Really enjoyed Sunderland as well.

Agree with you clampy , Liverpool away was the best performance so far - great goals too.

I might be on my own, but I didn't think the Liverpool performance was that impressive. We were under the cosh for a lot of it and although we scored three really good goals we could easily have drawn 3-3.

The only difference for me between the Liverpool and Everton games is that Fellaini was on form and Suarez wasn't.

[eastie]

Liverpool away was great. Really enjoyed Sunderland as well.

Agree with you clampy , Liverpool away was the best performance so far - great goals too.

I might be on my own, but I didn't think the Liverpool performance was that impressive. We were under the cosh for a lot of it and although we scored three really good goals we could easily have drawn 3-3.

The only difference for me between the Liverpool and Everton games is that Fellaini was on form and Suarez wasn't.

It's a fair comment dave , but I think the quality of our goals swung things for me - and the fact that it was Liverpool.

[Rigadon]

Who on earth would be in for Clark?  The blind school might make a bid?

[Dave]

Liverpool away was great. Really enjoyed Sunderland as well.

Agree with you clampy , Liverpool away was the best performance so far - great goals too.

I might be on my own, but I didn't think the Liverpool performance was that impressive. We were under the cosh for a lot of it and although we scored three really good goals we could easily have drawn 3-3.

The only difference for me between the Liverpool and Everton games is that Fellaini was on form and Suarez wasn't.

It's a fair comment dave , but I think the quality of our goals swung things for me - and the fact that it was Liverpool.

I'd say a) the goals were also really good against Everton (particularly the third) and b), Everton are better than Liverpool

[eastie]

Maybe so, but the way we dropped points at goodison left a bitter taste in the last minute whereas it was a pleasant feeling when the whistle blew at anfield.

[Dave Clark Five]

They may already have plans to sack him, regardless of how we end up.

Unlikely given Lerner's statement at the end of January.

Were there not similar statements of support for McLeish last spring?

Votes of confidence aren't worth the paper they are written on.

[sonlyme]

Everytime I see 'poll reset' I die a little inside.

Leaving Stoke with a huge smile - because a) I am leaving Stoke, and b) when Villa attack they are incredible.  Best attacking football since our Brian.

UTV

[eastie]

Probably best performance of the season - could easily have been at least 6-1 , stoke look awful and we totally deserved the win.