Is this what transition looks like?

[dave.woodhall]

The league position disguises what has been a pretty awful half season, we have gone backwards since the end of last season.

I cant help thinking that there is something very wrong behind the scenes.

There is 6 points separating 10 poor teams, we are just one of those poor teams.

We're higher now than we finished last season but we must have gone backwards, just because we must have, therefore everyone else must have got even worse.   

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I think ChicagoLion was refering to the way we finished the second half of last season and he has a point.

Comparing the table this time last year:

We've only got 4 more points than this time having played a game less.
The team in 10th position last season (Stoke) had five more points than we have today though they had played a game more.
We're six points above the relegation zone, last season Stoke were 10.

Big difference between this season and last is the number of teams that can realistically be considered relegation candidates - basically the bottom eleven. Last season it wasn't so tight down at the bottom. Staying in tenth place is probably the best we can hope for this season.

Just to add, last season we'd won 2, drawn 2 and lost 5 at home this time last year. This season, not that you'll need reminding, we've won 2, drawn 2 and lost 7 at Villa Park.

[dave.woodhall]

We've also scored more and conceded less in total. We have more points. We're higher up the league. All these facts are a lot more relevant than some idea that it doesn't count because tenth this season is closer in points to the bottom than last season.   

[ChicagoLion]

Cheers Rudy

Its not too difficult, the last 10 games of last season we won 5,drew 2 and lost 3 that's 17 points. This season we have gained 24 points from 22 games.

The quality of many of those performances were a lot better than most of what we have seen so far.

I think that the disappointment is that we expected to kick on from last season, we haven't.

[Ad@m]

Big difference between this season and last is the number of teams that can realistically be considered relegation candidates - basically the bottom eleven. Last season it wasn't so tight down at the bottom. Staying in tenth place is probably the best we can hope for this season.

Behave.  We're 7 points off a Southampton team that have picked up 9 points in their last 10 matches.  I don't think we'll catch anyone above them but with the exception of Newcastle I could've told you that at the start of the season.

As for comparisons to last year - we were in a relegation battle last year and we're in one this year.  The difference is that this year we're starting the battle further away from the bloodshed.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We've also scored more and conceded less in total. We have more points. We're higher up the league. All these facts are a lot more relevant than some idea that it doesn't count because tenth this season is closer in points to the bottom than last season.   

The only really big difference from this time last season is the number of goals conceded. This time last year we'd conceded 44!! This season we're down to 29. That is progress.

We've managed to score 4 more goals that last season at this time, a positive but hardly worth getting the bunting out.

Last season 10th place at this time saw you pretty safe from relegation, this season it doesn't.

If you're looking for encouraging signs then I suggest our performance on Saturday. The first half was a master class in how we can play given the right approach. We were brilliant, probably our best performance not only this season but in years and this we did at one of the hardest places in the league. I think we'll know by the end of the season whether Lambert is the right man to take us forward but right now he's been making very hard work of it and few signs we're actually progressing.

[Legion]

Remember this?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Big difference between this season and last is the number of teams that can realistically be considered relegation candidates - basically the bottom eleven. Last season it wasn't so tight down at the bottom. Staying in tenth place is probably the best we can hope for this season.

Behave.  We're 7 points off a Southampton team that have picked up 9 points in their last 10 matches.  I don't think we'll catch anyone above them but with the exception of Newcastle I could've told you that at the start of the season.

As for comparisons to last year - we were in a relegation battle last year and we're in one this year.  The difference is that this year we're starting the battle further away from the bloodshed.

Behave? I'd be a lot more confident if we didn't have the worst home record in the league (or is it leagues?). My guess (hope) is we'll stuff the Baggies and like last season it will be season of two halves where we improve as the season progresses. Let's not bury our heads in the sand though, after 18 months in charge, Lambert's team have been playing some of the ugliest, most pointless football seen by a Villa team in years. Like some of his players, he's still learning the game and hopefully he'll get it right but right now he's lucky to have the backing and patience of his board, not to mention still be in a job.

[dave.woodhall]

We've also scored more and conceded less in total. We have more points. We're higher up the league. All these facts are a lot more relevant than some idea that it doesn't count because tenth this season is closer in points to the bottom than last season.   

The only really big difference from this time last season is the number of goals conceded. This time last year we'd conceded 44!! This season we're down to 29. That is progress.

We've managed to score 4 more goals that last season at this time, a positive but hardly worth getting the bunting out.

Last season 10th place at this time saw you pretty safe from relegation, this season it doesn't.

If you're looking for encouraging signs then I suggest our performance on Saturday. The first half was a master class in how we can play given the right approach. We were brilliant, probably our best performance not only this season but in years and this we did at one of the hardest places in the league. I think we'll know by the end of the season whether Lambert is the right man to take us forward but right now he's been making very hard work of it and few signs we're actually progressing.

Apart from the aforementioned more scored, less conceded and more points.

[Chris Smith]

I do think there is too much naval gazing and over analysis going on. To me it's simple, we have, for pretty much the first time this season, our most influential players all fit and performing the way they did in the second part of last season.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Remember this?

I most certainly do, Legion. Remember this?

[Ian.]

I do think there is too much naval gazing and over analysis going on. To me it's simple, we have, for pretty much the first time this season, our most influential players all fit and performing the way they did in the second part of last season.

Agreed.

[Ad@m]

Last season 10th place at this time saw you pretty safe from relegation, this season it doesn't.

Afraid it didn't.

You said Stoke were 10th at this stage last year?  Well I know quite a few Stoke fans and when we went up there and beat them last year with Lowts' wonder goal most of those Stoke fans were convinced they were going down.

If there was one thing they didn't feel it was 'pretty safe from relegation'.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Last season 10th place at this time saw you pretty safe from relegation, this season it doesn't.

Afraid it didn't.

You said Stoke were 10th at this stage last year?  Well I know quite a few Stoke fans and when we went up there and beat them last year with Lowts' wonder goal most of those Stoke fans were convinced they were going down.

If there was one thing they didn't feel it was 'pretty safe from relegation'.

Stoke dropped three places and finished 13th, pretty safe from relegation I'd say.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Apart from the aforementioned more scored, less conceded and more points.

Rejoice!