Is this what transition looks like?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Can somebody change the title of this thread and replace 'transition' with 'train crash'-

Oh behave you drama queen!  We're 10th in the league, 3 points behind Man United after almost half the season!!

The usual tosh expected from those burying their heads in the sand. I could understand it if you never watched us play and just looked at the league table once a week but I assume that's not the case. Right now we're like watching an accident is slow motion.

[Monty]

Today was the second time in a week we achieved a result worse than the corresponding fixture last season (where we lost 1-0 to a late Chris Baird goal, for those of you who'd bleached it from your memory). Not including the promoted or relegated teams from either season, we have bettered 11 out of the 13 results we've had the chance to this season. If that's transition, I'd say it's pretty good - it's certainly better than the year under McLeish where relegation actually had an upside.

[aj2k77]

This guy will kill the crowds anyway. There wont be 35,000 people coming to watch this bollocks next season. What is the brand? ''On the cheap'' That's what they are selling a brand.

[Monty]

We've also played all of the 8 (and as of next week, all of the top 9) and are yet to play Swansea, Stoke and Crystal Palace, and after pretty much half the season we're pretty much middle of the middle. That's transition from the despair, misery and nihilism of the previous years.

[pauliewalnuts]

We've also played all of the 8 (and as of next week, all of the top 9) and are yet to play Swansea, Stoke and Crystal Palace, and after pretty much half the season we're pretty much middle of the middle. That's transition from the despair, misery and nihilism of the previous years.

We're more resilient at the back, there's no doubt about that.

The flip side is we're not much better than last season (ie all of last season, not just the better bit right at the end) elsewhere. Unfortunately, it's reflected in us looking like we can't do the basics - pass the ball - which is always going to get people more annoyed.

[Louzie0]

No really, crap.
The Villa at home, what a draw.
PL's team. We will totally pwn Man Utd.

I will be there

[ciggiesnbeer]

Traditional Christmas collapse?

I was wallowing in self pity and misery.

Allow me to exaggerate for effect.

[Monty]

We've also played all of the 8 (and as of next week, all of the top 9) and are yet to play Swansea, Stoke and Crystal Palace, and after pretty much half the season we're pretty much middle of the middle. That's transition from the despair, misery and nihilism of the previous years.

We're more resilient at the back, there's no doubt about that.

The flip side is we're not much better than last season (ie all of last season, not just the better bit right at the end) elsewhere. Unfortunately, it's reflected in us looking like we can't do the basics - pass the ball - which is always going to get people more annoyed.

True, but on reflection that was always likely to happen. Last season we were far too open and even naive, and though it was entertaining it was all rather risky. This season is rather risk-averse and thus not exciting, but it's a reaction which seems to be keeping us away from relegation trouble for the first time since MON left, and we're still exciting on occasion. Provided we do stay away from trouble, next season will hopefully be where we start to see the idea of the finished project.

[Monty]

I also think there's a tendency, when comparing us to last season, to really just compare us to the most recent part of it - towards the end, when we had a run of some form.

Agreed - whereas this time last season was among the worst times to be a Villa fan in recent years. That is a real improvement.

[saunders_heroes]

Does anyone actually enjoy watching Villa play anymore? I enjoyed the Arsenal game this season but I can honestly say I haven't enjoyed a single game since. We're quite awful to watch and have been for ages now.
Just what are we actually in transition to be? I hope to god Lerner has some kind of positive plan but I have grave doubts.

[aj2k77]

Does anyone actually enjoy watching Villa play anymore? I enjoyed the Arsenal game this season but I can honestly say I haven't enjoyed a single game since. We're quite awful to watch and have been for ages now.
Just what are we actually in transition to be? I hope to god Lerner has some kind of positive plan but I have grave doubts.

Everton first half
Chelsea
Cardiff the last 20 minutes
West Brom last 30 minutes

15 minutes here and there in the other matches. All the rest have been pretty appalling to watch.

[pauliewalnuts]

Does anyone actually enjoy watching Villa play anymore? I enjoyed the Arsenal game this season but I can honestly say I haven't enjoyed a single game since.

I enjoyed Chelsea away. Even though we lost.

[ozzjim]

I think the last 3 months of the season raised expectation beyond realism, mainly due to Benteke Gabby and Weimann looking like they could take most sides apart. Unfortunately apart from Gabby, the others have not turned up really. The biggest issue though is the shape going forward, as Gabby and Weimann are never in the wide positions you would hope for them to be in to exploit a side, and we are too similar in the centre of midfield. 2-3 players would transform us though, and at the moment position wise Lambert has improved us. There is a growing hype about the performances, and he is becoming more and more disliked which is worrying, I do hope the support stays with him. He has a track record of attacking sides, including us last season, and I reckon privately the way we are playing at times will be really annoying him and his staff.

[supertom]

Playing like we have in recent weeks was always bound to eventually come unstuck. Lets not kid ourselves, we've been lucky over the course of our unbeaten run. We might claim to have been a little unlucky in games like Chelsea and a lesser extent Everton, fair enough, but the last couple of games in particular our passing has been incredibly poor. We've might far too many unforced errors and looked like a complete disorganised mess in midfield and attack especially. Now without Vlaar we look awful defensively too.

We ran out of luck today. Decisions went against us (yes that's bad reffing, but we'll get weeks where we get them our way).

Lamberts got to seriously do something quickly about our poor passing, movement and lack of a clear, effective system. We also need to spend in January.

People keep saying that we're 10th, we're safe as houses etc. But we're coming to a stage in the season we often struggle in because we've never been a big squad side for one, and certainly at the moment lack enough genuine quality. Vlaar missing is a huge miss for us. We could well go on a good run and win 2-3 on the spin, but honestly, I think given how much we've ridden our luck lately, we're more likely to lose 3-4 on the bounce.

I'd cash in on Benteke while we can get good money for him. Then invest 20-30 mill in 4-5 decent players. I actually felt today we missed Kozak today. He's got good movement in the box and he's got good work-rate, and he's also in some kind of scoring form. Tekkers looks awful at the moment and not close to getting back to his best. He's not working hard enough either. It's not purely confidence, though that itself is shot.

A bit of experience in midfield is absolutely essential. We're like headless chickens. Play like we have in the last 3 games, very poorly, and we've drawn, lost and won. That's quite lucky given how bad we've been. Keep playing like that and pretty seen we'll be losing more. It's asking for trouble.

Lambert did get the defence in some sort of shape though, so I'm hoping he'll finally sort out dire midfield out. New players, coaching, tactics are required.

[saunders_heroes]

Does anyone actually enjoy watching Villa play anymore? I enjoyed the Arsenal game this season but I can honestly say I haven't enjoyed a single game since.

I enjoyed Chelsea away. Even though we lost.

Yes, forgot about that one. Felt quite positive after the first 2 games but after that we quickly reverted back to type and since then it's been painful to watch. Even when we win it's by the skin of our teeth. It's just not good enough.
The fans have been incredibly patient with Lerner so it's about time he actually started to invest in a few PL standard players and give the signing of lower league ones a rest.