26 passes

[damon loves JT]

If we stay up, for some of our players it will be a huge achievement. Next season they will know they can compete and may play with more confidence and less fear.

I do think it's our biggest weakness. The players are having their individual weaknesses exposed rather than their collective strengths.

Everybody knows that the way to beat us is to get at our full-backs; I don't know enough about football to suggest a tactical response to this, but there must be one.

[Legion]

Buy better full-backs.

[pauliewalnuts]

Confidence is definitely the thing for us, the knock on effect of 8-0 at Chelsea was enormous.

[PaulWinch again]

Full backs and an experienced centre half would help massively.

[OCD]

Buy better full-backs.

Keep Vlaar fit and use Baker at left back (for the rest of the season). Re-assess in the summer.

[paul_e]

Thanks guys. *blushes*.

I would actually revise the investment figure down to a more realistic £20m-£30m which, if we can hold onto all our best players while losing a few high earning non contributors, would probably be enough to add two or three players of genuine quality to the spine of the team.

I think your first estimate was the accurate one if I'm honest.  I think 25m will be about average this coming summer with all the extra TV money.  I expect to see a lot of signings from France and Spain as those clubs are really feeling the pinch at the minute (outside the top 2 or 3 in each league).  The premier league has sold the last remnants of it's soul  for a last (in my opinion) big bumper deal and I doubt many clubs are going to react by putting some of it aside for a rainy day.

[supertom]

Next season if we can possibly keep hold of Benteke it will be massive for us. He's been brilliant. He's a key focal point. He's had more passes than anyone else bar Lowton. He's got the most assists too as well as being our top scorer. It's imperitive we keep him for one more year.

If we sort out our fullback areas, a decent centre half and an experienced head in midfield, we'll be much better. We do need a walk in captain really. Someone you can rely on to play 30 plus games, and is reliable. So basically a replacement for Stan.

Getting rid of Dunne, Bent and Ireland will finally put to bed the elements we don't need at this club. Possibly Zog, Bannan and Given to go too. I like Shay but he's earning too much for a number 2. I'm sure we can get a young promising keeper in.

[Matt Collins]

I want to believe Lambert is going to turn us into the sort of side we occasionally threaten to be. But I don't buy the argument that our second goal came from some form of Barcelona-esque period of play, having watched it!

And as I put on another post, our defence is almost certainly the worst Villa defence I've ever seen. It's a shambles. Until we sort that out, we're going to be a bottom 6 side.

I really do think that it wouldn't take too much to manage that, which is both encouraging and maddening!

[KevinGage]

Thanks guys. *blushes*.

I would actually revise the investment figure down to a more realistic £20m-£30m which, if we can hold onto all our best players while losing a few high earning non contributors, would probably be enough to add two or three players of genuine quality to the spine of the team.

I think your first estimate was the accurate one if I'm honest.  I think 25m will be about average this coming summer with all the extra TV money.  I expect to see a lot of signings from France and Spain as those clubs are really feeling the pinch at the minute (outside the top 2 or 3 in each league).  The premier league has sold the last remnants of it's soul  for a last (in my opinion) big bumper deal and I doubt many clubs are going to react by putting some of it aside for a rainy day.

Even with the new TV deal, I can't see us spending anywhere near 40 million.  That was close to the figure MON spent in 2008, with self sustainability being the watchword, we won't be returning to that type of outlay for a while.   

I'd say £25-30 million tops - and that's with Benteke leaving.

All this is on the basis that we stay up of course, which is by no means a given.

[peter w]

If we stay up, for some of our players it will be a huge achievement. Next season they will know they can compete and may play with more confidence and less fear.

I do think it's our biggest weakness. The players are having their individual weaknesses exposed rather than their collective strengths.

Everybody knows that the way to beat us is to get at our full-backs; I don't know enough about football to suggest a tactical response to this, but there must be one.

Agreed but the problem is a cross the back four. We are dire under the high ball. Anything into the box and we look like we'll concede. Crosses come in from all over. If teams run at us Clark gets man on and concedes fouls stupidly putting us in trouble. You can't work with a poor defence when they are a relatively poor group of players playing usually against better ones.

[Ron Manager]

If our defence is shambolic..and it is...just think where we would be if it wasnt for Guzan. He is without doubt the most reliable keeper in the Prem this season. Aggressive and positive in commanding his area. I wouldnt be surprised if  other clubs are keeping Brad on their radar for next season.

[KevinGage]

As an aside, if resources are tight and someone was to make a decent bid for Guzan, should we bite? 

Shay is a decent keeper, but we won't get a fee for him. On those wages, he'd be tough to shift too. 

Part of the reality of underperforming as a club is your better players -the ones who you don't want to leave- are the usually the only ones who attract serious interest.  So for us, that would realistically be Guzan and Benteke this year.   

Given is by no means atrocious, and if we have to fork out 60k a week, we should get some value for it. Any bid in the region of say £6/7 million for Guzan - if the fee was redistributed towards significant gaps in the overall squad- might be better for us in the longrun. 

[PeterWithesShin]

No. Given is a liability. We'll find some mugs to take him on a free I reckon.

[paul_e]

Thanks guys. *blushes*.

I would actually revise the investment figure down to a more realistic £20m-£30m which, if we can hold onto all our best players while losing a few high earning non contributors, would probably be enough to add two or three players of genuine quality to the spine of the team.

I think your first estimate was the accurate one if I'm honest.  I think 25m will be about average this coming summer with all the extra TV money.  I expect to see a lot of signings from France and Spain as those clubs are really feeling the pinch at the minute (outside the top 2 or 3 in each league).  The premier league has sold the last remnants of it's soul  for a last (in my opinion) big bumper deal and I doubt many clubs are going to react by putting some of it aside for a rainy day.

Even with the new TV deal, I can't see us spending anywhere near 40 million.  That was close to the figure MON spent in 2008, with self sustainability being the watchword, we won't be returning to that type of outlay for a while.   

I'd say £25-30 million tops - and that's with Benteke leaving.

All this is on the basis that we stay up of course, which is by no means a given.

And yet we've spent £25m this year.  The money for transfer fees is available, it's wages and squad space which is limited.  The club have said as much a lot of times now and the evidence backs them up.

[LeeB]

No. Given is a liability. We'll find some mugs to take him on a free I reckon.

I agree, I'm shaking like a shitting dog when I see him in goal.