Lambert: I want to build a top team

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Difficult to talk about long term when we're by no means certain to even stay up.  I'd have a bit more faith in the long term planning if Lambert and the board had taken the necessary steps to strengthen the defence in January.

Like Newcastle and QPR did?

What a fabulous argument.  Other teams bought shit players so it's a reason for us not to bother.  Brilliant.  Worked out well that particular ploy.

You wanted Samba FFS Risso! You cannot want a guy, then argue using him being woeful, which he has been, means we should have bought better. He was 12m and 120k a week. And has been useless. There is no value in Jan at all, you have to pay mad money. QPR did, and it has not worked, who is to say it would for us.

Firstly, I didn't want Samba.  All I said was we needed that type of defender, ie a big, hard experienced type.  We did then, and we do now.  Secondly, are we really supposed to believe that there was no defender in world footballer who would have improved our current shambles for under the silly money that Samba cost?

Obviously not. Otherwise we would've got him.

[Risso]

Obviously not. Otherwise we would've got him.

Yes....obviously....

[saunders_heroes]

Obviously not. Otherwise we would've got him.

Yes....obviously....

Is he suggesting that there was no defender anywhere in football that could have strengthened our dismal defence? That's a mighty claim! :-)

[Dave]

Obviously not. Otherwise we would've got him.

Yes....obviously....

Is he suggesting that there was no defender anywhere in football that could have strengthened our dismal defence? That's a mighty claim! :-)

He's more likely to have been suggesting that there was nobody that we could afford who could have strengthened our dismal defence.

I'd probably disagree with that as well (the Sylla money didn't need to spent on Sylla), but it doesn't look as though we had a great deal of money to play with.

[saunders_heroes]

Obviously not. Otherwise we would've got him.

Yes....obviously....

Is he suggesting that there was no defender anywhere in football that could have strengthened our dismal defence? That's a mighty claim! :-)

He's more likely to have been suggesting that there was nobody that we could afford who could have strengthened our dismal defence.

I'd probably disagree with that as well (the Sylla money didn't need to spent on Sylla), but it doesn't look as though we had a great deal of money to play with.

True I suppose. Lerner has taken one hell of a chance no investing in January. We'll regret it for many a year if it back-fires.
Let's hope this lack of cash flow is short term. We can't go into next season with a defence as bad as the one we've got now.

[LeeB]

Agreed, VCTM. Lumping on every attacking player on our books was reminiscent of a playground kickabout.

True, but I watched Dortmund do exactly the same in a bid to get themselves in the Champions Cup semis.

And it worked.

[Dave]

Agreed, VCTM. Lumping on every attacking player on our books was reminiscent of a playground kickabout.

True, but I watched Dortmund do exactly the same in a bid to get themselves in the Champions Cup semis.

And it worked.

But when Marco Reus is doing the lumping, aiming for Lewandowski it's more likely to work than Bannan lumping it towards Ciaran Clark.

[Risso]

Agreed, VCTM. Lumping on every attacking player on our books was reminiscent of a playground kickabout.

True, but I watched Dortmund do exactly the same in a bid to get themselves in the Champions Cup semis.

And it worked.

But when Marco Reus is doing the lumping, aiming for Lewandowski it's more likely to work than Bannan lumping it towards Ciaran Clark.

To be fair, other than that and the fact that we were playing Bradford City and not Real Madrid Malaga it was indeed as Lee says, 'exactly the same'.

[Dave]

They were playing Malaga.

[ACVilla]

I love Lambert. I love what he is trying to do. He has made me love Villa again.

He's doing absolutely the opposite of everything that I fell out of love with football for.

[LeeB]

Agreed, VCTM. Lumping on every attacking player on our books was reminiscent of a playground kickabout.

True, but I watched Dortmund do exactly the same in a bid to get themselves in the Champions Cup semis.

And it worked.

But when Marco Reus is doing the lumping, aiming for Lewandowski it's more likely to work than Bannan lumping it towards Ciaran Clark.

To be fair, other than that and the fact that we were playing Bradford City and not Real Madrid Malaga it was indeed as Lee says, 'exactly the same'.

If you're going to take the piss, at least get the teams right.

The point I was making, which of course sailed over your head, was that the tactics employed are often used by other top coaches when in a desperate situation in a tie.

The only problem with us is that it didn't work.

[LeeB]

Agreed, VCTM. Lumping on every attacking player on our books was reminiscent of a playground kickabout.

True, but I watched Dortmund do exactly the same in a bid to get themselves in the Champions Cup semis.

And it worked.

But when Marco Reus is doing the lumping, aiming for Lewandowski it's more likely to work than Bannan lumping it towards Ciaran Clark.

Of course, but you would hope that playing against Bradford rather than Malaga would level this out.

[Lsvilla]

I love Lambert. I love what he is trying to do. He has made me love Villa again.

He's doing absolutely the opposite of everything that I fell out of love with football for.

This - I love that he bought Sylla - who looks half decent to me and could be good next year - when 'Arry was spunking someone else's money on unsustainable wages for players that couldn't give a fuck about QPR

[LeeB]

I love Lambert. I love what he is trying to do. He has made me love Villa again.

He's doing absolutely the opposite of everything that I fell out of love with football for.

Amen brother, amen.

[tomd2103]

I have, at times, spoke out in a negative way about Lambert, but I've been won over. He was the man I wanted for the job originally, and I was delighted when he got it, but obviously it hasn't been a great season. Whether we go down or stay up, I hope we keep him. I think our future with him is indeed, bright. I also think more chopping and changing of styles and philosophy will cost us long term.

I agree, but only if PL learns some lessons from this season.  We have looked good going forward at times this season and if he can bring someone in who can link things up then we could be a real attacking threat next season.  Defensively, however, we've been below par this season and he really needs to work on that side of things.

I wrote elswhere on H&V a few days ago that we need a defensive coach and it was pointed out to me by someone that we have one in Ian Culverhouse, if that is his role within the club then i can think of one change we should make immediately.

The fact that Norwich struggled defensively last season would suggest that PL and his coaching staff have a problem with that side of the game.  The back four have been poor pretty much all season, but they have been left badly exposed at times (particularly in the wide areas).  Sorting that side of things must be the priority in the summer.