How would you feel....

[Ads]

Ireland was meant to be creative wasn't he?  Might not have done much but that was supposed to be his thing.

The repercussions of that summer are still being felt today.

[mike]

The current set of players aren't good enough as it stands. However, two or three quality additions to help them would raise the whole team into the good enough bracket for me.

On our current players being goodenough, Villa sides I have followed since the early 90s have always had a pretty decent spine to them with such players as: McGrath, Teale, Southgate, Ehiogu, Townsend, Staunton, Yorke and Taylor at various points in the 90s and the likes of Mellberg, Laursen, Ronny Johnsen, Gareth Barry, Solano, Angel and McCann in the pre takeover era and of course Petrov, Milner, Carew, Bouma and Luke Young in the MON years.

I just look at our squad now and it is so ordinary in comparison to anything I have seen at villa before. Sure there is  potential there but there isn't that solid spine that you would usually see in a Villa side. There aren't those four or five, solid players who will give you at least a 7/10 most weeks. A 17 year old Gareth Barry was able to break onto the scene at villa because he had experienced heads around him. The same could be said for others like Hendrie, Joachim, Ehiogu and maybe even Gabby in more recent times.

I just think two or three experienced heads in the side would have made such a difference to us over the past eighteen months. Hopefully we will get them in this window.

Like the one you're currently moaning about us signing, you mean?

Maybe he doesn't want just any experienced players, perhaps he has other criteria as well, that would be reasonable.

[PaulWinch again]

One thing I would like to see Lambert do is give Helenius more of a chance for the remainder of the season. He's definitely a better option than Bowery.

[paul_e]

One thing I would like to see Lambert do is give Helenius more of a chance for the remainder of the season. He's definitely a better option than Bowery.

I think Helenius will do well for us in a couple of years, he's got great feet.

[Malandro]

Sack the fool, please sack him now

[Toronto Villa]

One thing I would like to see Lambert do is give Helenius more of a chance for the remainder of the season. He's definitely a better option than Bowery.

I think Helenius will do well for us in a couple of years, he's got great feet.

I think Helenius needs to fill out a bit for him to get a proper run in the side. That or just learn how to use his size like Crouch does. Crouch took a few years to properly mature.

[Tom_Mc9?]

I would hate us to sack Lambert now or at any point this season. The continual upheaval of managers has hardly done us any good and I think we show glimpses of putting a good run together. Performances and results haven't gone our way for the last few weeks, but the new(ish) culture in football of sacking managers left, right and centre as soon as things go slightly wrong is boring and is akin to having a tantrum on Christmas day because you didn't get the Buzz Lightyear toy you wanted.

[sirlordbaltimore]

Is he still here ?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

One thing that has crossed my mind is whether Lambert has changed the roles he and Culverhouse successfully had at Norwich. At the time Lambert was appointed the Norwich fans were pointing at Culverhouse being the footballing brains to the extent most were willing to lose Lambert but not Culverhouse. Whilst not knowing what goes on at Bodymoor Heath, on match days all I see is Lambert directing the confusion and Culverhouse sitting on his hands in silence.

We were told that we were getting a great coach but based on the disjointed and confused displays from our players, I'm wondering if Lambert is more involved in the tactics and coaching. Maybe those that sit near the dug out can confirm? 

[Irish villain]

The current set of players aren't good enough as it stands. However, two or three quality additions to help them would raise the whole team into the good enough bracket for me.

On our current players being goodenough, Villa sides I have followed since the early 90s have always had a pretty decent spine to them with such players as: McGrath, Teale, Southgate, Ehiogu, Townsend, Staunton, Yorke and Taylor at various points in the 90s and the likes of Mellberg, Laursen, Ronny Johnsen, Gareth Barry, Solano, Angel and McCann in the pre takeover era and of course Petrov, Milner, Carew, Bouma and Luke Young in the MON years.

I just look at our squad now and it is so ordinary in comparison to anything I have seen at villa before. Sure there is  potential there but there isn't that solid spine that you would usually see in a Villa side. There aren't those four or five, solid players who will give you at least a 7/10 most weeks. A 17 year old Gareth Barry was able to break onto the scene at villa because he had experienced heads around him. The same could be said for others like Hendrie, Joachim, Ehiogu and maybe even Gabby in more recent times.

I just think two or three experienced heads in the side would have made such a difference to us over the past eighteen months. Hopefully we will get them in this window.

Like the one you're currently moaning about us signing, you mean?

Maybe he doesn't want just any experienced players, perhaps he has other criteria as well, that would be reasonable.

Only saw this now. I don't want to be tagged a 'moaner' and I have always been a poster who tried not to be dogmatic one way or the other and I do respond and change my opinion if I see really good arguments and signs on the pitch or in the boardroom.

I was hoping for better quality than Holt and Hoolahan yes. Hoolahan is decent but I'd always hope for better than somebody who is struggling to get in the Norwich side. As for Holt, in your latest press-ing piece you didn't sound to keen either. Still, if he does the business I will happily eat humble pie as it will mean Villa having a better season than things have been looking since we went on our awful run of form against teams in the lower half/out of form (Yanited).

[dave.woodhall]

The current set of players aren't good enough as it stands. However, two or three quality additions to help them would raise the whole team into the good enough bracket for me.

On our current players being goodenough, Villa sides I have followed since the early 90s have always had a pretty decent spine to them with such players as: McGrath, Teale, Southgate, Ehiogu, Townsend, Staunton, Yorke and Taylor at various points in the 90s and the likes of Mellberg, Laursen, Ronny Johnsen, Gareth Barry, Solano, Angel and McCann in the pre takeover era and of course Petrov, Milner, Carew, Bouma and Luke Young in the MON years.

I just look at our squad now and it is so ordinary in comparison to anything I have seen at villa before. Sure there is  potential there but there isn't that solid spine that you would usually see in a Villa side. There aren't those four or five, solid players who will give you at least a 7/10 most weeks. A 17 year old Gareth Barry was able to break onto the scene at villa because he had experienced heads around him. The same could be said for others like Hendrie, Joachim, Ehiogu and maybe even Gabby in more recent times.

I just think two or three experienced heads in the side would have made such a difference to us over the past eighteen months. Hopefully we will get them in this window.

Like the one you're currently moaning about us signing, you mean?

Maybe he doesn't want just any experienced players, perhaps he has other criteria as well, that would be reasonable.

Only saw this now. I don't want to be tagged a 'moaner' and I have always been a poster who tried not to be dogmatic one way or the other and I do respond and change my opinion if I see really good arguments and signs on the pitch or in the boardroom.

I was hoping for better quality than Holt and Hoolahan yes. Hoolahan is decent but I'd always hope for better than somebody who is struggling to get in the Norwich side. As for Holt, in your latest press-ing piece you didn't sound to keen either. Still, if he does the business I will happily eat humble pie as it will mean Villa having a better season than things have been looking since we went on our awful run of form against teams in the lower half/out of form (Yanited).

I wasn't talking about Holt in the original reply. Hoolahan fitted the bill you were mentioning perfectly.

[Toronto Villa]

I am hoping that the second half against Arsenal was our Newcastle moment and we play with as much belief for the rest of the season. At HT yesterday I was waving the white flag. The second half was very encouraging.

[Brend'Watkins]

It's difficult to see what coaching is involved using Guzan to meteorite the ball up to Benteke.  Our goal came from a good cross, not a counter attack, which is all we're capable of so we're told. So we succeed in getting a goal from that route why not persevere with it with 15 odd minutes left on the clock?  It didn't make sense.  I can understand hoof with a few minutes remaining but not with the amount of time we had. That hoof tactic has to have been under Lambert's instruction.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

That hoof tactic has to have been under Lambert's instruction.

It's not as if Benteke was having any success with it. I thought the Arsenal centrebacks dealt with it extremely well.

[adrenachrome]

Irish Mirrror

As the Aston Villa doom mongers come out again, is it time for a reality check at Villa Park?

The natives are restless again at Villa Park, but is it fair to have great expectations this season, asks James Nursey?

The Villa Park doom-mongers were out in force again this week.

One caller to talkSport claimed "95 per cent of Villa fans want boss Paul Lambert sacked" despite his side nearly snatching a point with a late rally in a 2-1 home loss to Arsenal.

Tensions are running high again after six defeats in eight games , including an FA Cup reverse at home to League One Sheffield United.

But chief executive Paul Faulkner spoke out this week to give his backing to Lambert and explain why.

And while his view is at odds with some fans, surely the - silent ? - more objective supporters can appreciate Faulkner is talking sense and the side are indeed making "definite, clear progress" - albeit gradually.

Fans can continue to boo and moan all they want - that is their prerogative and I can well imagine Villa's wretched home form must make ardent supporters despair.

Faulkner admitting losing to Sheffield United was a "bitter blow" but insisted Villa are doing everything in their power to rectify their home form.

And it is quite clear owner Randy Lerner and Faulkner are not about to sack Lambert as the club chief executive stressed the importance of "stability and continuity".

The same caller demanding Lambert out claimed Villa should be matching Everton in ambitions.

But Everton only had one manager for 13 years when David Moyes was there building a club and Roberto Martinez has come in and made some shrewd changes and additions to improve on solid foundations.

Villa by contrast have had seven managers in that period and Lambert really does deserve more time since arriving in June 2012 - when it must be remembered many fans clamoured for his appointment.

Villa are 11th with 23 points - five points above the relegation zone - and it simply does not merit a p45 as I told talkSport on Monday night when they asked me on.

It constitutes progress given the side finished 15th last season and 16th the season before that.

They have six clean sheets already which is more than last season and the team are yet to be given a hiding in the League this season.

But it is not enough for some fans who clearly believe Villa should be achieving more despite the limitations of their current spending power.

So I think the debate really needs to be where should Villa realistically be given their size, spending and history?

They have a fine, rich history which makes the club and their fans rightly proud.

But I've averaged out Villa's top-flight finishes since the Premier League started in 1992/1993 and it's 8.6 or basically ninth, which is currently occupied by Southampton.

Faulkner said the club's ambition is to continue rebuilding to get the side regularly competing in the top half of the table.

Realistically now Lerner has closed his open cheque-book and is making the club self-financing, the days of regularly coming sixth and being in Europe are over.

But fans cannot blame the American for limiting his spending after already putting in around £200million into the club.

Even without huge investment, Villa could yet end up ninth this season and I expect they will finish between there and 12th which would be a respectable campaign.

Saints will probably be going into reverse now given their off-the-field problems over Nicola Cortese's exit.

And Christian Benteke's return to goal-scoring form and confidence against Arsenal will certainly help.

Of course you can never be complacent about relegation as the table is so tight.

But I honestly think Villa are where they can realistically expect to be given their budget and are doing OK and will not go down.

Fans have also moaned about the often direct style of football and some of Lambert's signings not cutting it yet in the Premier League.

There are groans in the press box as well as the stands every time Aleksandar Tonev finds row Z with another of his ambitious long-range efforts.

But the club's reduced spending power, both in terms of fees and wages, means Villa are no longer shopping at Waitrose for expensive proven Premier League talents like Ashley Young and James Milner.

Instead Lambert is taking a gamble on cheaper players - some of which will come off (Benteke etc) and some of which won't (Joe Bennett etc).

But his decision to bring Brad Guzan back has worked out superbly and Benteke, Ashley Westwood, Matt Lowton, Ron Vlaar, Jed Steer and Jores Okore all look good buys to me.

I realise the signing of Grant Holt is hardly a name to set pulse races at Villa Park.

But it's a shrewd, value-for-money initial short-term deal to cover for the injured Libor Kozak.

It is a far cry from Darren Bent's arrival for £24million three years ago, which says everything about the club's changing budget.

But Holt will do a job on and off the pitch, where he is a big character in the dressing room.

Expect him to win plenty of free-kicks (he was previously among the most fouled players in the Premier League) and contribute the odd vital goal.

He actually scored in his last three Premier League games for Norwich before he was sold to Championship Wigan.

I think he could have stayed at the Canaries and helped them.

But he wanted to move nearer his family who live in Cumbria and was frustrated with Chris Hughton's 4-5-1 tactics.

I don't know why it went sour for Holt at Wigan but now he has been reunited with his former Norwich boss Lambert, he'll be useful.

His arrival should at the very least keep Benteke on his toes and if Holt clicks, could be an inspired signing to help earn perhaps six-eight extra points which could propel Villa into the top half and produce even clearer progress.