Aston Villa v Crystal Palace Post-Match Thread

[rob_bridge]

I'd be gob-smacked if he was given the sack before the Swansea game.

We shouldn't be really. His record is awful.

Based on results you have a point, based on what the club's hierarchy know about football it would be. McDoom was give a whole season after all.

[eastie]

Paul Lambert on Palace loss.





Paul Lambert spoke of his deep frustration after the 1-0 home loss to Crystal Palace - and then called for his team to meet the upcoming challenges head on.

Lambert was gutted to see Dwight Gayle hit a wonder goal to win it for the visitors in stoppage time.

He was happy with the team's effort and endeavour but accepted there was a lack of creativity in the side for the Boxing Day encounter.

The boss is now demanding a rapid response from his team to get them back on track - and give the loyal supporters something to cheer about.

He said: "It was tough to take.

"There was a lot of endeavour and hard work but not much creativity.

"We got hurt with the classic counter-attack. Their goal was a great strike. But it was disappointing.

"It was very tight in there. They defended well and deep. We needed that creativity or that goal. But it never happened.

"I thought we had two decent chances from Andi. We might have got one of those.

"But if you can't win, you don't lose it. We got caught.

"We have no time to dwell on it because there's a quick turnaround. We have to go again on Saturday.

"It's the old cliché but you have to pick yourselves up. You have to meet the challenge.

"There's no point wilting. I am disappointed. But you pick yourself up and meet that challenge."

On the home form - which has seen us win just two in nine - he added: "It isn't good enough. The lack of goals is contributing to the not winning games. You have to turn it around.

"There's no magic formula. There's more pressure because of the size of crowd but you should overcome that. That should be a given. The crowd are right on your side.

"You have to stand up and be counted. We have to get on the front foot. We have to create more.

"There shouldn't be too much pressure because you've got 40,000 behind you every time.

"There shouldn't be that pressure but there's an expectancy level you have to try to live up to if you play here. That's normal. I have said that from day one since I came in.

"You have to handle that situation.

"We have to give them something to go with. The support was there. It will always have the support.

"You can't be critical of the fans here because they have backed us all the way.

"You stick with it. It's important everyone sticks together.

"I understand their frustration. That's any club. This one even more so because it's big.

"They will vent their frustration in the same way they will get behind you when you're winning. It's the same.

"You have to be big enough to take it. You have to see it through. You can't run away from it. It's there.

"The team is big enough to take it. It's more or less the same group of lads who went on that run last time.

"My job is to be as positive as I can. That's my job. I am not going to be downbeat.

"You have to get them going again for Saturday.

"I have looked at the table. It's as tight as anything for midway through to right down."

[Tuscans]

Avtv have spoken to him afterwards. 

IABfQ

Great endeavour and effort says Lambert

Not far off from the same junk that comes out of his gob. He's a lucky manager like MON and his luck ran out a long time ago for me. He's not very good to keep it simple.

[Tuco Salamanca]

If we get beaten by Swansea and Sunderland he would surely have to go. I don't see happening before then.

Not sure it would make a massive difference though, the squad is piss poor

[chazvilla]

Lerner has got a lot to answer for, there is no doubt about it. But, you can not say he's hasn't backed Lambert. 40 million in 18 months is more than a lot of Prem teams have spent... it's not his fault that Lambert has decided to piss the majority of it up the wall. Some of these players may, and it's a big may, become good enough - but the simple fact is they are a million miles away from being ready  now. I've tried hard to keep the faith with this guy, but I've reached tipping point now. Who do I want in? I don't know - but one thing for certain is it can't be worse than is happening at the minute. Villa are so bad and lifeless it's making me hate football.

[pooligan]

I honestly would not be at all surprised if Learner has no idea how bad things are He knows next to nothing about football and is  probably being told by Faulkner and Mr Mumbles how well we are doing 

[claret and blue blood]

Something isn't quite right though. We should be improving that was the whole point of 'young and hungry'?

Anyone else get the impression there is something wrong in the dressing room? They had more fight in them last year, and worked harder. All in my opinion of course.

Unusually we watched the team warm up before the game and to quote what I said at the time - "this lot look pissed off" They didn't look happy and I do wonder what is going on behind closed doors ?

[LTA]

Two appalling sides and a game decided by the only bit of quality.  Really need maximum points from the next two games, but can't see it.  Swansea will pass us to death and Sunderland seem to have a new lease of life with Poyet.

Today was the first time the crowd have really turned on Lambert, and I'm stunned its taken this long.  He's running out of time and excuses.

[olaftab]

Lambert spoke on Tom Ross show at 5.45. I was listening on the way home. Not joking at all but I did not understand 90% of his speech. He was more incoherent than normal. What I did hear was "we will fight we will roll our sleeves up and fight"
If a manager having been given job and authority to do what's required says that halfway through his second season than I despair. In my job I will be replaced in similar situation.
I have nothing more on this.

[rob_bridge]

Something isn't quite right though. We should be improving that was the whole point of 'young and hungry'?

Anyone else get the impression there is something wrong in the dressing room? They had more fight in them last year, and worked harder. All in my opinion of course.

Unusually we watched the team warm up before the game and to quote what I said at the time - "this lot look pissed off" They didn't look happy and I do wonder what is going on behind closed doors ?

In what way. I wasn't there due a delibitating bout of man flu

[curiousorange]

The players who looked good last year collectively look shit this year, and there isn't one player you can say is quite clearly a cut above the rest. I agree that there's something odd going on that we don't know; I can accept one or two players losing form, but for a whole side?

[Stu]

Would we all say if we lose to Swansea then he goes??

I hold out hope we don't lose at home to fellow mid-table dwellers, but after today's result, if we lose again, then I'd be surprised if he didn't get the bullet. We're not even playing well. Albrighton was doing ok, but he was put out on loan by Lambert before being recalled.

The huge majority of his signings are rubbish. There's no quality in the squad if we have a couple of injuries; there's no game plan, no ideas how to break sides down, no skill, no tactics. What happens in training? Teams gave spent leas than us and play better football. The rot that was there since MON's time is still there; the club is listless; we're just bobbing along.

This is not good enough, it really, really isn't.

What if we get a new manager though? We're starting all over again, AGAIN. I'm at a loss to know where we go from here, we're stuck in an impossible situation; keep the current manager and struggle on, or get a new guy and struggle on until the next appointment.

Perhaps I should take the night off and enjoy the rest of my boxing day.

[Irish villain]

Something isn't quite right though. We should be improving that was the whole point of 'young and hungry'?

Anyone else get the impression there is something wrong in the dressing room? They had more fight in them last year, and worked harder. All in my opinion of course.

Unusually we watched the team warm up before the game and to quote what I said at the time - "this lot look pissed off" They didn't look happy and I do wonder what is going on behind closed doors ?

You'd have thought the bomb squad being out of harms way would have improved morale if nothing else. It's just that so many solid players from last year now aren't performing you wonder if something has happened?

[VinnieChase84]

I can't see anything other than a defeat by the swans next. That will make it 5 losses in a row. How can anyone survive that especially as they are our 'winnable' games. God help us when we face the likes of Liverpool next month.
Times up I'm afraid, he has to go

[mrastonvilla]

Something isn't quite right though. We should be improving that was the whole point of 'young and hungry'?

Anyone else get the impression there is something wrong in the dressing room? They had more fight in them last year, and worked harder. All in my opinion of course.

Unusually we watched the team warm up before the game and to quote what I said at the time - "this lot look pissed off" They didn't look happy and I do wonder what is going on behind closed doors ?

You'd have thought the bomb squad being out of harms way would have improved morale if nothing else. It's just that so many solid players from last year now aren't performing you wonder if something has happened?

I wonder if there is more to the Benteke situation?