How would you feel....

[Ron Manager]

Yet another embarrassing loss under this manager.

I didn't go today but just reading the match reports is depressing. Comes to something now when we can't even beat a league 1 team at home battling against  relegation from that lead.

So we've had today, failing to beat a league 2 side over two legs and record premier league defeats all under him in 18 months. It's not very good is it?

Believe me we were absolutely dreadful.

[PeterWithesShin]

That it took us approx an hour to have a worthwhile attempt today sums up what our problems are.

[Richard E]

Yet another embarrassing loss under this manager.

I didn't go today but just reading the match reports is depressing. Comes to something now when we can't even beat a league 1 team at home battling against  relegation from that lead.

So we've had today, failing to beat a league 2 side over two legs and record premier league defeats all under him in 18 months. It's not very good is it?

don't forget being knocked out of the FA Cup by a lower league side last season too.

[ChicagoLion]

Still 11th.
Anybody new would have to improve on that. Immediately. What would be the point in replacing PL if whoever came in didn't do better, and to achieve this halfway through the season as well would be asking a lot.

I was feeling quite positive about the overall progress since last season (especially since the Sunderland win seemed to end a horrible run) before the last couple of days' press onslaught.

Hoping that Villa don't throw the baby out with the bath water and that Benteke finds his scoring boots soon. He has got so close the last couple of matches. It would be even better to have Vlaar for a run of matches, and definitely to buy some confidence and experience, because our lads appear to be low on both.

It's PL's responsibility to get them back and firing rather than giving up, and he seemed to have cracked that last week. I am so angry about this result, and there's no way PL is going to dodge his duty to put it right, as there was no reason to lose today, poisonous media notwithstanding.

But we were very lucky against Sunderland, that was a race to the bottom by 2 awful teams.

We weren't very lucky against Sunderland. They were lucky we barely know how to score anymore because it could have been 5 for us. They had 1 shot on target. It isn't any consolation for today I admit.

We were much better than Sunderland - they're bottom of the league for a reason.

Sadly, that's not going to be enough for us.

They had a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside and missed a couple of good chances. When they pushed on desperately we had some chances at the other end. Much better than them ? I don't think so

[Toronto Villa]

Still 11th.
Anybody new would have to improve on that. Immediately. What would be the point in replacing PL if whoever came in didn't do better, and to achieve this halfway through the season as well would be asking a lot.

I was feeling quite positive about the overall progress since last season (especially since the Sunderland win seemed to end a horrible run) before the last couple of days' press onslaught.

Hoping that Villa don't throw the baby out with the bath water and that Benteke finds his scoring boots soon. He has got so close the last couple of matches. It would be even better to have Vlaar for a run of matches, and definitely to buy some confidence and experience, because our lads appear to be low on both.

It's PL's responsibility to get them back and firing rather than giving up, and he seemed to have cracked that last week. I am so angry about this result, and there's no way PL is going to dodge his duty to put it right, as there was no reason to lose today, poisonous media notwithstanding.

But we were very lucky against Sunderland, that was a race to the bottom by 2 awful teams.

We weren't very lucky against Sunderland. They were lucky we barely know how to score anymore because it could have been 5 for us. They had 1 shot on target. It isn't any consolation for today I admit.

We were much better than Sunderland - they're bottom of the league for a reason.

Sadly, that's not going to be enough for us.

They had a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside and missed a couple of good chances. When they pushed on desperately we had some chances at the other end. Much better than them ? I don't think so

it can't be a perfectly good goal if it was offside now can it? And they one shot on target. How can it be good chance if it wasn't on target? Much better than them is the opinion of numerous professionals who are neutrals, not just one eyed fans.

[Rigadon]

We deserved to beat Sunderland on the basis of some of our play which was largely during the last 15 mins.   But, we weren't ever really convincing until they were chasing the game. 

Lambert has built an OK counter attacking first eleven that struggles desperately when the onus is on us to attack.  See pretty much all our home games for evidence.  The fact that we are awful at the back means we are constantly chasing the game which, for us, is often futile and ugly. 

He's also an unlucky general (unlike MON) with injuries.

[ChicagoLion]

We deserved to beat Sunderland on the basis of some of our play which was largely during the last 15 mins.   But, we weren't ever really convincing until they were chasing the game. 

Lambert has built an OK counter attacking first eleven that struggles desperately when the onus is on us to attack.  See pretty much all our home games for evidence.  The fact that we are awful at the back means we are constantly chasing the game which, for us, is often futile and ugly. 

He's also an unlucky general (unlike MON) with injuries.

Yep pretty much how I saw it.

[SoccerHQ]

What I can't understand is people shrugging their shoulders and saying 'who are we going to get that's better?', like we're playing boring, functional football. We play terrible, suicidal football, and tactically, Lambert doesn't have an inkling of how to make a good side.

I'm not saying get anyone, because there are clearly people unsuitable for the job. But anyone with a bit of purpose or tactical nous would surely improve us right now? I think Paulie's right - he's still here, because it costs too much to replace him. That's so sad.

Yeah but we were all saying this in the McLeish season and looking at exciting alternatives like that Norwich manager...who was it again?

[Gareth]

No manager should stay in his position after those last 3 home performances...pathetic!

When people ask who is better, watch that horrible hoofball, clueless inept filth & ask the question again...

Wouldn't trust him with any money this month, thus far Benteke aside he has either bought tat or players he can turd polish...not good enough!

This football is sucking all the enjoyment out of match day, we are Aston Villa & will be here long after we get rid of this rubbish...please make it sooner rather than later

[curiousorange]

What I don't really understand is when people say 'we can't sack him, because a new manager would have to start all over again and build a new squad.' Because that would be a terrible mistake?

I think there's this idea that we're two or three seasons away from where we expect to be, and to stop now would derail that strategy. In truth, we're further away than we were at any point since possibly that infamous draw against Stoke - no quality players, no cash available to buy them from an owner no longer interested, a restless fan base, a media that despises us, a laughing stock among supporters of other teams (even those that are leagues below us) and stuck with an (at best) naive manager presiding over it all.

For me, we may as well bite the bullet and try another man at the helm. If it sets us back two or three seasons, I don't much care, as long as it can be seen we're not heading backwards again.

[Monty]

What I can't understand is people shrugging their shoulders and saying 'who are we going to get that's better?', like we're playing boring, functional football. We play terrible, suicidal football, and tactically, Lambert doesn't have an inkling of how to make a good side.

I'm not saying get anyone, because there are clearly people unsuitable for the job. But anyone with a bit of purpose or tactical nous would surely improve us right now? I think Paulie's right - he's still here, because it costs too much to replace him. That's so sad.

Yeah but we were all saying this in the McLeish season and looking at exciting alternatives like that Norwich manager...who was it again?

I wasn't that enamoured with Lambert, I have to say, and I highly suspect it would be someone similar or worse if Lerner was given the chance to hire another one.

[Dave Clark Five]

What I don't really understand is when people say 'we can't sack him, because a new manager would have to start all over again and build a new squad.' Because that would be a terrible mistake?

I think there's this idea that we're two or three seasons away from where we expect to be, and to stop now would derail that strategy. In truth, we're further away than we were at any point since possibly that infamous draw against Stoke - no quality players, no cash available to buy them from an owner no longer interested, a restless fan base, a media that despises us, a laughing stock among supporters of other teams (even those that are leagues below us) and stuck with an (at best) naive manager presiding over it all.

For me, we may as well bite the bullet and try another man at the helm. If it sets us back two or three seasons, I don't much care, as long as it can be seen we're not heading backwards again.

It is like the usual excuse for not sacking England Managers after another failed World Cup or European Championship as there is another one just two years away.
We need someone in here with some charisma and we need it now.

[Brend'Watkins]

Randy needs to appoint a new Project Manager. I fucking hate Lambert.

Agree x 100.

I'm thoroughly sick of this shit.  The embarrassments that are stacking up under his tenure are unbearable. We deserve better than this.   

[eastie]

What I don't really understand is when people say 'we can't sack him, because a new manager would have to start all over again and build a new squad.' Because that would be a terrible mistake?

I think there's this idea that we're two or three seasons away from where we expect to be, and to stop now would derail that strategy. In truth, we're further away than we were at any point since possibly that infamous draw against Stoke - no quality players, no cash available to buy them from an owner no longer interested, a restless fan base, a media that despises us, a laughing stock among supporters of other teams (even those that are leagues below us) and stuck with an (at best) naive manager presiding over it all.

For me, we may as well bite the bullet and try another man at the helm. If it sets us back two or three seasons, I don't much care, as long as it can be seen we're not heading backwards again.

It is like the usual excuse for not sacking England Managers after another failed World Cup or European Championship as there is another one just two years away.
We need someone in here with some charisma and we need it now.

Spot on dc5 - act now before it's too late .

[pauliewalnuts]

Randy needs to appoint a new Project Manager. I fucking hate Lambert.

Agree x 100.

I'm thoroughly sick of this shit.  The embarrassments that are stacking up under his tenure are unbearable. We deserve better than this.   

He's not going to sack him, though.

Lambert has bought into the project, Lerner and Faulkner think the project is viable, and that's the problem.

Honestly, it beggars belief. What you need to do is get rid of almost every one of the high earning players. Then, you replace them with kids from the youth team, or players from the lower leagues in this country or selling leagues in Europe.

So, we have a manageable wage bill, but we also have a squad choc full of lower leagues players. It's all well and good boasting that a player only cost us 1m or 2m, but too often these are players who have demonstrated exactly why they only cost that much.

Still, they persist in this belief that, really, all you need to do is wait for these players to "bed in", for the youngsters to get a bit older, and turn into really good players.

It is absolute fucking nonsense. Paying big wages to a player is no guarantee of success, but paying low wages to a squad full of lower league players almost guarantees you'll have no success.

Look at some of the absolute dross we've been playing. Luna, FFS, Tonev, who looks utterly out of place. Why is Weimann getting played week in, week out? I just read something on the Evening Mail website where Lambert - this week - was saying Nathan Baker has been "a big player for us this season".

Really? It must be a different Nathan Baker he's thinking of, because the one I see has been fucking rubbish, week in, week out.

The whole upper echelon of the club are absolutely deluding themselves. Randy can sit in Cleveland, or New York, or wherever he is today (obviously, we know where he won't be), and tell himself that they've hit upon a master plan all he likes, but the evidence is that we are failing even to stand still, we are going backwards.

It all takes a certain arrogance - if it was really just a matter of buying kids and waiting for them to click, don't they think *everyone* would be doing this? It hasn't worked, it isn't working now, and it will not work.

I just hope that at some point very, very soon, one of them pulls his head out of the fucking sand and does something, because the whole thing is a depressing mess at the moment.

I don't give the first shit that we are 11th right now. That's not the point. Look at the gap between us and the arse end of the table, and look at where the on-field momentum suggests we are heading. We've got Arsenal and Liverpool next, two sides who play actual football. Where do we think we are going to be after that?

The whole situation is a mess, and the people responsible for it should be ashamed of the laughable disaster they've turned this club into in the last three or four years.