Stoke City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[hilts_coolerking]

It's not even dark ages, it's not even negative and it's not even specifically long ball: it's just planless. It's like they don't even train together, let alone practice pass-and-move in any sophisticated way - they just turn up on matchday and improvise, to no success.

That's it: it's nothing football.  Anti-football.  There's just an enormous void where there's supposed to be a team of skilled professionals carrying out a specific set of instructions from the manager.

But frankly the void goes all the way to the top.  There's an almost total absence of leadership at board level: no plan, no drive, no ambition and no communication.

W really do need someone to come in and grab the club by the scruff of the neck.

[Jon Crofts]

I seem to recall one of the reasons, maybe the main reason,  given for disposing of the "services" of TSM was the desire for a more "compelling brand of football".  I'm afraid Lambert's brand of football is currently as compelling as sticking a red hot knitting needle up your jap's eye.

The difference is he knows it's rubbish and is trying to make it better. I do agree that he may not be able to, but the difference between him and McLeish is stark.

How's that then?  How is Lambert trying to make it better? 

[mr underhill]

I don't trust Lambert to spend whatever money is available next month wisely. We don't need more of the same we need real quality and tbh there is an increasingly compelling argument that we need to replace most of the current squad; a squad largely built in PL's image, and one that simply isn't working. 

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I seem to recall one of the reasons, maybe the main reason,  given for disposing of the "services" of TSM was the desire for a more "compelling brand of football".  I'm afraid Lambert's brand of football is currently as compelling as sticking a red hot knitting needle up your jap's eye.

The difference is he knows it's rubbish and is trying to make it better. I do agree that he may not be able to, but the difference between him and McLeish is stark.

Hardly. TSM's main tactic was not to lose. Lambert's is not to play. Both are clueless.

[saunders_heroes]

Charlie Adam goal

Dismally weak defending.

[ChicagoLion]

Anyone who thinks we are not heading for another relegation scrap needs to have a good look at himself.

So what the fuck is taking off Tonev who is useless and putting on Bowerey is useless about, do we have any more bargain basement Lambert buys who can hust fill a shirt and fuck all else?

[Monty]

I seem to recall one of the reasons, maybe the main reason,  given for disposing of the "services" of TSM was the desire for a more "compelling brand of football".  I'm afraid Lambert's brand of football is currently as compelling as sticking a red hot knitting needle up your jap's eye.

The difference is he knows it's rubbish and is trying to make it better. I do agree that he may not be able to, but the difference between him and McLeish is stark.

How's that then?  How is Lambert trying to make it better? 

Well, for those with no memories, today he played an incoherent but definitely attacking 4-2-4, whereas McLeish played Hutton in midfield. Does anything else need to be said?

[VillaAlways]

I don't trust Lambert to spend whatever money is available next month wisely. We don't need more of the same we need real quality and tbh there is an increasingly compelling argument that we need to replace most of the current squad; a squad largely built in PL's image, and one that simply isn't working. 

If lasts season January transfer window is anything to go by I don't think you'll have to worry too much on that score .

[Jon Crofts]

I seem to recall one of the reasons, maybe the main reason,  given for disposing of the "services" of TSM was the desire for a more "compelling brand of football".  I'm afraid Lambert's brand of football is currently as compelling as sticking a red hot knitting needle up your jap's eye.

The difference is he knows it's rubbish and is trying to make it better. I do agree that he may not be able to, but the difference between him and McLeish is stark.

How's that then?  How is Lambert trying to make it better? 

Well, for those with no memories, today he played an incoherent but definitely attacking 4-2-4, whereas McLeish played Hutton in midfield. Does anything else need to be said?

Sorry I wasn't comparing Lambert with McLeish, you said he's trying to make it better and if McLeish is the benchmark he's set about bettering then we should all pack up and go home now.

[hilts_coolerking]

Well, for those with no memories, today he played an incoherent but definitely attacking 4-2-4, whereas McLeish played Hutton in midfield. Does anything else need to be said?

Why compare him only to McLeish though?  A man who should never have got the job in the first place.   Unless it's the only way we can think of to make him appear not so bad.

[Dave Clark Five]

I seem to recall one of the reasons, maybe the main reason,  given for disposing of the "services" of TSM was the desire for a more "compelling brand of football".  I'm afraid Lambert's brand of football is currently as compelling as sticking a red hot knitting needle up your jap's eye.

The difference is he knows it's rubbish and is trying to make it better. I do agree that he may not be able to, but the difference between him and McLeish is stark.

When we sacked McLeish we thought the bad times were behind us, but can anyone genuinely claim things are better since then? It's worse in my opinion. McLeish was made a scapegoat because of where he came from. Lambert has got away with absolute murder since he arrived serving up some of the most humiliating results in our history, yet here he is still in a job. I think that just about sums up what Randy Lerner thinks of Aston Villa.

It is far worse than under Alex McLeish.

[Monty]

Well, for those with no memories, today he played an incoherent but definitely attacking 4-2-4, whereas McLeish played Hutton in midfield. Does anything else need to be said?

Why compare him only to McLeish though?  A man who should never have got the job in the first place.   Unless it's the only way we can think of to make him appear not so bad.

That's true, and I was just answering the very specific 'it's worse than McLeish' complaint which has been going around.

[Dave Clark Five]

I seem to recall one of the reasons, maybe the main reason,  given for disposing of the "services" of TSM was the desire for a more "compelling brand of football".  I'm afraid Lambert's brand of football is currently as compelling as sticking a red hot knitting needle up your jap's eye.

The difference is he knows it's rubbish and is trying to make it better. I do agree that he may not be able to, but the difference between him and McLeish is stark.

How's that then?  How is Lambert trying to make it better? 

Well, for those with no memories, today he played an incoherent but definitely attacking 4-2-4, whereas McLeish played Hutton in midfield. Does anything else need to be said?

Why not? We were paying him £60k a week. Lambert is paid to manage not fall out with players who he can't handle.

[Mortimer's Bear]

Worst team in 20 years.

Not even close

What about the team that got relegated?

We haven't been relegated in the last 20 years.

[paul_e]

I don't trust Lambert to spend whatever money is available next month wisely. We don't need more of the same we need real quality and tbh there is an increasingly compelling argument that we need to replace most of the current squad; a squad largely built in PL's image, and one that simply isn't working. 

If lasts season January transfer window is anything to go by I don't think you'll have to worry too much on that score .

To counter that the players we've spent decent money on (Benteke, Okore, Kozak and Vlaar) all look like good signings, it's the squad filler £1m signings that are struggling to settle and improve the team.  As I've said before, he's done a job of filling the squad up with players who he believes have the right attitude, etc.  What he desperately needs to do now is look to make signings who are ready to start regularly and improve the team.  Where things are going against him is the amount of injuries to the key players, Vlaar and Benteke being the obvious ones.