Confidence In The Manager

[pauliewalnuts]

Yes on Lambert I wanted him in and I have supported everything he has done so fat up till last night. Last night he sent out a team with no intention of winning a cup tie. So I am sorry but that is not what I expect of manager of Aston Villa football club so he is out as far as I am concerned.

By that standard you've wanted every Villa manager since Brian Little out.You'll also want every future manager sacked in their first season. 

MON, Houllier and Lambert I'll give you, but Brian Little? When exactly?

Doesn't "since" imply the managers after Brian Little, though?

[olaftab]

It's a pity that you don't but I can't help you any further. You are in denial and that's ok for now.

Well, that certainly added weight to your argument.

It's ok don't worry about me.

[olaftab]

MON, Houllier and Lambert I'll give you, but Brian Little? When exactly?

I meant after him.

OK how about Gregory?

[bertlambshank]

I think Paul Lambert has found his level,I also hope he proves me wrong.Any finish above 12th would do me this season,but until the defence is sorted I can't see us achieving it.

[dave.woodhall]

MON, Houllier and Lambert I'll give you, but Brian Little? When exactly?

I meant after him.

OK how about Gregory?

His first domestic cup tie, 1998 - Chelsea 4 Aston Villa 1.

[olaftab]

Name the team that played versus possible strongest team?

[danno]

Two things currently concern me about our manager:

1. Tactically he's looking very MON despite the first two games of the season.

2. This season's crop of transfers with the exception of Jores don't look or show any signs of looking like they'll ever make it at this level in the next 9 months. Early days, granted but just a feeling. The term 'squad fillers' comes to mind.

I'm not convinced either but I look at the season Ramsey is having at Arsenal, after its taken him ages to find his mojo (in a side lets not forget who actually win on a regular basis).
Delph taking however long to settle here, Petrov, Downing...(the weasel faced so and so).
Even Gareth Bale went a load of Spurs games without looking the part.

They may all be duds but it is early days.  Very early days in some cases. (Bacuna has had maybe 3 starts?)
Lichaj Bannan Herd  Bowery and Dawkins were all involved last year...

Its neither sexy nor exciting but if Luna goes on to be a better fullback than Lichaj and Herd,
Bacuna and Sylla better central midfielders than Bannan, and Tonev a better wide option
to bring off the bench than Bowery and Dawkins then that is an improvement on last season.

Perhaps for our £25 million we should be a lot better off than improving the standard of our subs bench.
Although I think we were hampered by how many players we had to bring in.

[dave.woodhall]

Name the team that played versus possible strongest team?

Oakes, Charles, Wright, Ugo, Scimeca, Grayson, Watson, Draper, Taylor, Joachim, Byfield. Not playing: Bosnich, Southgate, Collymore, Barry, Delaney, Vassell, Hendrie, Merson, Thompson.

[olaftab]

No I don't see it as "weaker team" played. Most who did not were still to prove themselves. Furthermore Chelsea were not a stronger team than us in that period.

[ROBBO]

The priority for Lambert is not to get relegated pure and simple and the cups are a sacrifice he's willing to make, i agree with that, much rather stay in the prem than win one of the cups that do not carry the prestige they used to. Where i don't agree with him is that there are good players out on Loan at other clubs that would have suited our purposes even if it was for one season, better players than we presently have, the insistance that every player has to be young and hungry neglecting the fact that it takes a fair amount of time to adjust to the premiership even if you have the talent just puzzles me. I will probably get howled down for this but Gareth Barry would have bolstered our midfield and given us a bit of stability, just an example like.

[dave.woodhall]

No I don't see it as "weaker team" played. Most who did not were still to prove themselves. Furthermore Chelsea were not a stronger team than us in that period.

Bosnich, Southgate,  Collymore, Thompson, Vassell and Merson were yet to prove themselves and the team that the year before had finished fourth (we were eighth) and won the Cup Winners Cup, then finished third that season (we were sixth)  weren't stronger than us ?

[tomd2103]

The priority for Lambert is not to get relegated pure and simple and the cups are a sacrifice he's willing to make, i agree with that, much rather stay in the prem than win one of the cups that do not carry the prestige they used to. Where i don't agree with him is that there are good players out on Loan at other clubs that would have suited our purposes even if it was for one season, better players than we presently have, the insistance that every player has to be young and hungry neglecting the fact that it takes a fair amount of time to adjust to the premiership even if you have the talent just puzzles me. I will probably get howled down for this but Gareth Barry would have bolstered our midfield and given us a bit of stability, just an example like.

I think the loan system is becoming more and more influential in the Premiership.  You only have to see the difference Lukaku made at the bitters last season to see how much of a difference a loan player can make.  I've never really been a fan of loans (even though it could be argued Robbie Keane kept us in the Premier League with his contribution while on loan), but they are becoming more important if utilised properly.  Of course they are only a short term fix and in some cases they can paper over big cracks, but I think if you can get the right players with the right attitude on loan for a season and at the same time develop your own players alongside them, then it can work.   

[Dave Clark Five]

All this is a smokescreen for another inept home performance. This has been going on for far too long. Yes, there may be parallels with former seasons, but that does not make it acceptable and people should stop trying to justify it.

[Damo70]

No I don't see it as "weaker team" played. Most who did not were still to prove themselves. Furthermore Chelsea were not a stronger team than us in that period.

Bosnich, Southgate,  Collymore, Thompson, Vassell and Merson were yet to prove themselves and the team that the year before had finished fourth (we were eighth) and won the Cup Winners Cup, then finished third that season (we were sixth)  weren't stronger than us ?

I remember watching that game live on SKY in the pub. I was shocked by three things. The fact we played our second eleven. The fact Chelsea played there second eleven. The difference in quality between those two second elevens. Little did I know how much it was an indication of the future.

[ROBBO]

I think we all have to come to terms with premiership reality as depressing as it is. Without a lot of money we like all but five clubs are just support acts trying desperately to keep our premiership status alive, we all will at times be threatened with the drop, doesn't matter how good the managers is.