How would you feel....

[Jimbo]

I think AVB is a better manager than Lambert and, personally, I feel closer to his style of football than our Obmal's. However, that's not how football works. It's not a video game, where you replace a character with decent stats for one with better stats. There's loyalty, the implementation of long-term plans, the feeling of stability. We need to remember we live in the real world.

That's exactly how football works. See Man City, Chelsea, and now, Tottenham. I'm not suggesting we go down that path, because  we're not in the same world as any of those clubs. I think we're well down the runway with Lambert and we're either going to take off or crash and burn.

If you have infinite money and existingly brilliant squads of players who just need a kick up the arse, then fine, go nuts. We're not in that position. How well would Everton have done over the last decade had they just sacked Moyes when things didn't look to good for a moment? After ten years it was probably time for them to both move on, but I don't think the move came too late or was overdue. We're in their position, not Spurs' or Chelsea's.

Like I said, we're not in the same world as Man City, Chelsea or Tottenham. But then Southampton must be in another world too. West Brom. Fulham. It's what happens in football - managers get sacked and replaced because of results - us and Everton are in a minority.

I think we should and will stick with what we've got. I'd like to see Lambert given the chance to pay proper wages to suitable experienced pros, but that isn't going to happen, so our options are limited.

[Jon Crofts]

Put who you like in charge of this Villa side right now, when you've got players who can't take throw ins, kick the ball to a player in the same shirt or cross the ball you'd struggle with Shankly, Mourinho or Saunders in charge.

[eastie]

Put who you like in charge of this Villa side right now, when you've got players who can't take throw ins, kick the ball to a player in the same shirt or cross the ball you'd struggle with Shankly, Mourinho or Saunders in charge.

True but who bought most of those players?

[paul_e]

Well Robbie Savage's analysis of our issues is pretty bang on, so I wonder why Lambert doesn't appear to see the issue.

Savage says we need to keep more possession so should go 4-4-2, which is like recommending protecting your eyes by taking off your sunglasses.

Not necassarily, I don't think 4-4-2 will work but we do need to change something.

A change of something is obvious, but the suggestion of 4-4-2 is clearly wrong.

I'd go for a 4-4-1-1. I think we need two banks of 4 to help protect our fullbacks, but also get some width on both sides. We're incapable of playing good football at the moment in any case, so I'd revert to the O Neill way and try and utilise the flanks and our pace. I'd play Weimann off Kozak or Benteke (Kozak at the moment).
For me, if we play a 3 man mid, there's very little point if one of them is KEA. You may as well just play with two.

The formation is largely irrelevant to our current problems.  Aside from injuries and the form of key players (which are a factor) the biggest issue is that our players are too static.  Yesterday there was a great example where Alby picked it up on halfway, beat his man, cut inside, looked up and there was no one there.  Benteke was at the edge of the box, Gabby was right over the other side and far too deep and Sylla and KEA were seemingly having a chat with Luna and Lowton (respectively) and Westwood was sat in front of the centre backs.  We needed 2 of them in the middle moving defenders around and showing for the ball but instead they take the easy option and go to an area of the pitch where Manu were happy to let them have the ball and then just wait on the bad pass.

I believe this is due to them not having the confidence to take the pass whilst they're marked, so they move to positions where they're not marked and think that counts as them making themselves available.

I don't mind 1 midfielder doing it, an out ball is a good idea and it makes us more solid if we lose possession but having all 3 take themselves out of the game just doesn't work.

I've said no to sacking Lambert because I think if he can fix this we've still got it in us to be a much better side than we've shown, but he really needs to work on it because you can't win regularly with a midfield that doesn't want the ball.  If we haven't fixed it by the start of Jan I'll consider changing my opinion but I'd rather give him a little time first.

[supertom]

Put who you like in charge of this Villa side right now, when you've got players who can't take throw ins, kick the ball to a player in the same shirt or cross the ball you'd struggle with Shankly, Mourinho or Saunders in charge.

I think a bit of organisation and some sort of game plan behind them and all the schoolgirl errors would be cut out. Honestly, any footballer who's a professional, no matter if he's French second division, in the Polish division, or signed from League 2, should be able to take a proper thrown in or pass the ball 5 yards to a team mate.

Our players are going out looking like headless chickens. Lots of running but no composure or organisation. If a better manager sends them out with a clue of what they're doing, then they'll look twice as good right off the bat. We won't turn into Arsenal granted, but we need to get the basics better. The fact we've been so inept for months is down to one man unfortunately.

[Damo70]

Perhaps what AVB needs is an environment with a little less pressure and scrutiny, and time to build something. He might need a little money, though. 

Someone on Facebook has posted AVB has been sacked.

On the Beeb site now.

I'd have AVB in a heart beat.

Seriously? I think he deserved more time at Chelsea and Spurs but someone who, in the time given, underachieved at those clubs doesn't strike me as someone who would do great at Villa in the present circumstances.

If for no other reason than I'm sure he'd insist on the funds to sort out our horrible defence.

He took over a Spurs squad in the summer which I would suggest was a little bit better than ours, spent £120 million quid and got 8 more points this season than Lambert.

Sorry, he didn't take over in the summer but I stand by the comparison of what he has done compared to Lambert comparing the starting point and then money spent in the summer.

[Fuse]

Time for the likes of Gardner, Robinson, Grealish, Johnson and Donancien to be given a chance in my opinion. They can be no worse at all then KEA, Sylla etc

[supertom]

Time for the likes of Gardner, Robinson, Grealish, Johnson and Donancien to be given a chance in my opinion. They can be no worse at all then KEA, Sylla etc

I agree.

[Jimbo]

Time for the likes of Gardner, Robinson, Grealish, Johnson and Donancien to be given a chance in my opinion. They can be no worse at all then KEA, Sylla etc

That's the way to destroy a young player's confidence. It's what we suffered with last season and it won't help us this time around. We need PL standard experienced professionals alongside our emerging talent, to protect and to guide them. We're crying out for leadership, as the absence of Vlaar has demonstrated.

[Jon Crofts]

Time for the likes of Gardner, Robinson, Grealish, Johnson and Donancien to be given a chance in my opinion. They can be no worse at all then KEA, Sylla etc

I agree.

Really?  I don't doubt their ability, but I do doubt their ability to understand just what it is they're meant to be doing in that Villa side right now.  We can't get even the basics right, you can't throw untried, untested youth into this now, we learned that last season.  Lambert bought most of these players, it's well and truly his team, he alone needs to fix this and he needs to do it quickly.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Time for the likes of Gardner, Robinson, Grealish, Johnson and Donancien to be given a chance in my opinion. They can be no worse at all then KEA, Sylla etc

I agree.

Really?  I don't doubt their ability, but I do doubt their ability to understand just what it is they're meant to be doing in that Villa side right now.  We can't get even the basics right, you can't throw untried, untested youth into this now, we learned that last season.  Lambert bought most of these players, it's well and truly his team, he alone needs to fix this and he needs to do it quickly.

Can you honestly say that the majority of players in the Villa team know what they're meant to be doing?!?!?!

Nobody seems to know.

[supertom]

Time for the likes of Gardner, Robinson, Grealish, Johnson and Donancien to be given a chance in my opinion. They can be no worse at all then KEA, Sylla etc

That's the way to destroy a young player's confidence. It's what we suffered with last season and it won't help us this time around. We need PL standard experienced professionals alongside our emerging talent, to protect and to guide them. We're crying out for leadership, as the absence of Vlaar has demonstrated.

Yeah but our whole squad is young. We may as well play a few more of our own academy players, particularly some of our midfielders and attackers who have a bit of guile.

We do need more signings but I'd rather see players like Carruthers, Johnson and Grealish over Tonev, KEA and Bowery for example.

[Brend'Watkins]

Time for the likes of Gardner, Robinson, Grealish, Johnson and Donancien to be given a chance in my opinion. They can be no worse at all then KEA, Sylla etc

That's the way to destroy a young player's confidence. It's what we suffered with last season and it won't help us this time around. We need PL standard experienced professionals alongside our emerging talent, to protect and to guide them. We're crying out for leadership, as the absence of Vlaar has demonstrated.

I take your point to a point but where I differ is that I'd like to be given the role of administering a kick in the bollocks to any player who when they fuck up resulting in a goal to the opposition they make out they are injured as if that was the reason for their stupid misplaced pass.

[Legion]

Give it to Guzan whilst Vlaar is out.

[Damo70]

Time for the likes of Gardner, Robinson, Grealish, Johnson and Donancien to be given a chance in my opinion. They can be no worse at all then KEA, Sylla etc

That's the way to destroy a young player's confidence. It's what we suffered with last season and it won't help us this time around. We need PL standard experienced professionals alongside our emerging talent, to protect and to guide them. We're crying out for leadership, as the absence of Vlaar has demonstrated.

Absolutely. Vlaar this season is massive for us. As Barry would have been in midfield. I'm not suggesting we become a retirement home like Fulham but one or two experienced players in January would be a big boost.