WBA v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[sirlordbaltimore]

IT is becoming more and more fashionable to bash Lambert at the moment, despite him having been here less than 18 months and had to completely build a squad on genuine peanuts

42m spent by Lambert thus far, according to our own CEO (in 18 months in charge). Unless he was lying to the Villa Trust of course.

[pauliewalnuts]

They didn't return to training till Friday.

They're hardly being frozen out to prove a point - Lambert hardly stops talking about how much those three subs do for him.

Also, surely bringing them on too late would have meant at a point where we took nothing from the game?

[ozzjim]

O'Neill would never have hauled 3 players off, especially one of his biggest signings, on 57 minutes.

As has been said a number of times, why on earth would he start with 5 players who have been injured, 3 of whom did not train until friday? It would have been a suicidal gamble.

IT is becoming more and more fashionable to bash Lambert at the moment, despite him having been here less than 18 months and had to completely build a squad on genuine peanuts, while losing an extraordinary amount of players to injury and being dealt to be fair, the fixture list from hell at the start of this season. To sit on 15 points tonight, is a damned good effort and about what most of us would have expected at this stage.

Just reading the comments, you would think we were given a full on twatting tonight, not got a 2-2 draw away at a side full of confidence, well established in their squad that have finished above us the last 2 seasons.

This. Some posters seen to think we should be Barcelona by now.

I'd settle for Barcelona B right now.

Give it some time. It is not going to happen overnight, and the more technically gifted players that will help us get there are the biggest gambles in reality. Tonev prime example. There is a player in there, but getting it shaped into a premier league, effective player, is clearly going to take a very dedicated coaching regime!

[pauliewalnuts]

IT is becoming more and more fashionable to bash Lambert at the moment, despite him having been here less than 18 months and had to completely build a squad on genuine peanuts

42m spent by Lambert thus far, according to our own CEO (in 18 months in charge). Unless he was lying to the Villa Trust of course.

To buy almost an entire new team.

Whilst getting shot of big earners, and massively reducing the wage bill.

I mean no offence here, I know it is all about opinions and I am far from convinced everything is amazing myself, but honestly, what do some of you expect from circumstances like that in 15 months?

Am I missing something?

[ozzjim]

IT is becoming more and more fashionable to bash Lambert at the moment, despite him having been here less than 18 months and had to completely build a squad on genuine peanuts

42m spent by Lambert thus far, according to our own CEO (in 18 months in charge). Unless he was lying to the Villa Trust of course.

On how many players? Arsenal bought 1 for that. We have what 16 ish? Less than 3m per head? or 4 Nzogbia's? It sounds a grand amount, but in a short space of time, with big wage restrictions it is really not that much.

[sirlordbaltimore]

Did he need to buy a whole new team ?

Answer. No

Of course not.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

IT is becoming more and more fashionable to bash Lambert at the moment, despite him having been here less than 18 months and had to completely build a squad on genuine peanuts, while losing an extraordinary amount of players to injury and being dealt to be fair, the fixture list from hell at the start of this season.

It is becoming more and more fashionable to use it as an excuse. Yes he needs time, yes he's had a few injuries but let's not pretend we look anything close to the team that finished last season. For me, there are major doubts about Lambert's tactics. Right now, judging from our performances this season, I really don't think he has any. That for me is a major concern, as unfashionable as it may be.

[dave.woodhall]

Did he need to buy a whole new team ?

Answer. No

Of course not.

How many of McLeish's team would you have kept?

[ozzjim]

The side his Norwich side took to bits on the final day would have been relegated without trace without the 6-7 first team players he signed last season.

[pauliewalnuts]

IT is becoming more and more fashionable to bash Lambert at the moment, despite him having been here less than 18 months and had to completely build a squad on genuine peanuts, while losing an extraordinary amount of players to injury and being dealt to be fair, the fixture list from hell at the start of this season.

It is becoming more and more fashionable to use it as an excuse. Yes he needs time, yes he's had a few injuries but let's not pretend we look anything close to the team that finished last season. For me, there are major doubts about Lambert's tactics. Right now, judging from our performances this season, I really don't think he has any. That for me is a major concern, as unfashionable as it may be.

Isn't it odd to be saying that right now, though, a few hours after he made three substitution and a tactical change to rescue a point from a game in which we conceded two goals in the first ten minutes?

Compare that with MON.

I don't think I can remember O'Neill ever making a tactical change, let alone one that worked.

Lambert is far from perfect but there is some seriously short term memory at work here if people are comparing him with O'Neill on that front.

[ozzjim]

IT is becoming more and more fashionable to bash Lambert at the moment, despite him having been here less than 18 months and had to completely build a squad on genuine peanuts, while losing an extraordinary amount of players to injury and being dealt to be fair, the fixture list from hell at the start of this season.

It is becoming more and more fashionable to use it as an excuse. Yes he needs time, yes he's had a few injuries but let's not pretend we look anything close to the team that finished last season. For me, there are major doubts about Lambert's tactics. Right now, judging from our performances this season, I really don't think he has any. That for me is a major concern, as unfashionable as it may be.

I think he has tried the same as last term, but Benteke being injured, losing Okore, and more importantly Gabby and Weimann taking dips in form has rendered it significantly less effective than the closing 3 months of the season. Plus teams worked out what to expect. Since he has tried 3-4 systems, changed things around, and is clearly looking for a formula that can get us going again. Having none would be trotting out the same side and formation and hoping for the best, which he clearly does not do.

And looking about tonight, I think you are clearly in the winter chic selection of posters fashion wise.

[Dave Clark Five]

Correct. Then he did the stroppy three player sub which always means 'you lot are crap'. It was not tactical at all. The bloke had fucked up again and is another O'Neill with his stubborness.

DC5 you paid your money and are entitled to your opinion. You can see it the way you did or recognise it as game changer ploy. When Fergie did this sort of thing he was of course genius  however Lambert is stroppy and stubborn?

When did Lambert ever make a first half substitution where the player coming off was not injured?

[phantom limb]

I didn't watch the game as I was watching Shellac in Digbeth, but from the sounds of it Shane Long will never score a better goal in his career. Mainly because it was handed to him on a plate, and he's normally shit. In fact I've always thought he was shit. I'll take a draw against these muppets after 2-0 down, let's see who finishes higher (it'll be us).

[PeterWithesShin]

If we were passed off the park and were so woeful how did we have 49% possession? And more shots and more shots on target than Brazil 1970?

[Goldie.7]

I didn't watch the game as I was watching Shellac in Digbeth, but from the sounds of it Shane Long will never score a better goal in his career. Mainly because it was handed to him on a plate, and he's normally shit. In fact I've always thought he was shit. I'll take a draw against these muppets after 2-0 down, let's see who finishes higher (it'll be us).

Long isn't shit.