The FA Cup.

[Breezeblock]

Every year we get upset when there are weakened teams picked in the cups. And every year our lowest gates are in the cups.

Maybe the crowds are low because of the weakened teams? I'm not going because i'm fed up of watching our stiffs in cup games. If you remember I said that to you after the Spurs LC game. If the club don't take it seriously then they can't expect me to spend my hard earned.

I have to agree. I was going tomorrow but now I think i'll save my 20 quid.  Thanks for the warning you will be taking the piss tomorrow Mr. Lambert.

Can you tell me where he said that, please, only I've looked everywhere and I can't find it.

I did not say he said it. However the implication is good enough for me.  My season ticket allows me to see the stiffs/under21s play for free. I do not see why I should pay 20 quid for the privilege, particularly if it means going out of cup.

Do you really think that he is going to play a team full of reserves tomorrow? Why would he, he didn't against Ipswich season.

Do you honestly expect to see Benteke tomorrow? Vlaar? Guzan?

[Clampy]

The team that played against Ipswich last year in the 3rd Round.

Given, Lichaj, Clark, Baker, Bennett, Albrighton, Bannan, Delph, N'Zogbia, Bowery, Bent.

Subs: Guzan, Weimann, Ireland, Gabby, Carruthers, Stevens, Benteke.

Weimann, Gabby and Ireland all came on as sub.

Not exactly a team of stiffs is it?

[Breezeblock]

Every year we get upset when there are weakened teams picked in the cups. And every year our lowest gates are in the cups.

Maybe the crowds are low because of the weakened teams? I'm not going because i'm fed up of watching our stiffs in cup games. If you remember I said that to you after the Spurs LC game. If the club don't take it seriously then they can't expect me to spend my hard earned.

I have to agree. I was going tomorrow but now I think i'll save my 20 quid.  Thanks for the warning you will be taking the piss tomorrow Mr. Lambert.

Can you tell me where he said that, please, only I've looked everywhere and I can't find it.

I did not say he said it. However the implication is good enough for me.  My season ticket allows me to see the stiffs/under21s play for free. I do not see why I should pay 20 quid for the privilege, particularly if it means going out of cup. I'm sorry Dave but last years FA Cup exit and this years League cup exit were two kicks in the bollocks too many. 

I love the cups, i've seen us win four League cups and I desperately want to see us win the FA cup but as you say, the modern game is all about league position.  That being the case, if Villa can't be bothered then neither can I.  I will take the hint that Lambert will field an understrength team and act accordingly. I also realize that this will void my right to bitch about or celebrate the result.   

He's not said anything you couldn't have worked out anyway so why should that make any difference, and why should a full-strength team losing a semi-final last season impact on a decision you've made today?

Maybe it's the fact that it has been aired. I consider myself an optimist but my optimism has been replaced by resignation. I dont need it coming from the horses mouth - he should have kept his fucking gob shut!

Last years exit was a gutter simply because we lost after winning.

[Toronto Villa]

you're resigned to what? I'm not following you. From your comments it's as if you are suggesting Lambert will throw the game tomorrow which is complete nonsense.

[kippaxvilla2]

Outspoken former soccer player and pundit Rodney Marsh has taken a swipe at Aston Villa and the club's 'miserable existence'.

He was tweeting in the wake of Paul Lambert's controversial comments about the FA Cup and said: "What a miserable existence for Aston Villa fans when your club's only goal is to avoid relegation .

[andrew08]

Where are people getting their information from? Are people just reading a headline or the full interview? I don't recall Lambert saying anything particularly wrong, he just gave an honest answer.

As bad as Muriniho's interview is Pardew's is the most annoying as he apparently feels sorry for those clubs like us who can't take it seriously this year as we're so involved in the relegation battle. We'll wave to them when we pass them again.....I so wish they'd gone down last year.

[dave.woodhall]

Outspoken former soccer player and pundit Rodney Marsh has taken a swipe at Aston Villa and the club's 'miserable existence'.

He was tweeting in the wake of Paul Lambert's controversial comments about the FA Cup and said: "What a miserable existence for Aston Villa fans when your club's only goal is to avoid relegation .

That would be the same Rodney Marsh who said he's never liked us since his wife (or possibly mother) got abused by our supporters in 1969?

[Toronto Villa]

yes, Rodney you dopey bastard, that's exactly what we're doing. And what's your former team Fulham going to do this weekend then? And I bet QPR last season did the same and still wish they were in the PL.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Outspoken former soccer player and pundit Rodney Marsh has taken a swipe at Aston Villa and the club's 'miserable existence'.

He was tweeting in the wake of Paul Lambert's controversial comments about the FA Cup and said: "What a miserable existence for Aston Villa fans when your club's only goal is to avoid relegation .

That would be the same Rodney Marsh who said he's never liked us since his wife (or possibly mother) got abused by our supporters in 1969?

Rodney "I am off to the states to cash in" Marsh.

[Pat McMahon]

yes, Rodney you dopey bastard, that's exactly what we're doing. And what's your former team Fulham going to do this weekend then? And I bet QPR last season did the same and still wish they were in the PL.

I live near the QPR ground and was walking back from the gym during their home cup tie last season - the day after we lost at Millwall.

The streets were surprisingly busy given there was still a half hour to go and I asked somebody the score, thinking I had the kick off time wrong. They, and hundreds of others, had left early as they were losing 4-0 at home to a lower league team, maybe MK Dons.

Haha Rodney.

[Steve R]

Outspoken former soccer player and pundit Rodney Marsh has taken a swipe at Aston Villa and the club's 'miserable existence'.

He was tweeting in the wake of Paul Lambert's controversial comments about the FA Cup and said: "What a miserable existence for Aston Villa fans when your club's only goal is to avoid relegation .

What a miserable existence for Rodney Marsh when his gobshiting has restricted his media career to appearances in the likes of Cash in the Attic

[sirlordbaltimore]

Vlaar aside, it'd better be a side that's more than capable of winning tomorrow (on paper at least).

And Benteke should be the first name on the team sheet. He needs minutes and goals and with no other game for 9 days this is the perfect one for him to get going again.

In fact with no game on the immediate horizon I see no reason why we shouldn't be giving it the full 100%. We are after all supposed to be PREPARED.

[hilts_coolerking]

Lambert may have a point but it doesn't do much to lift the spirits around the club.

At least when we soft-pedalled the UEFA Cup we were aiming for 4th.  Now we're concentrating on staying up.

[paul_e]

My take on this is that there's a lot left unsaid that would add context.

Both cups are an unnecessary distraction for the manager because a manager lives and dies by league form.  Win the cup and get relegated and you're on borrowed time.  Go out of the cups early but sit comfortably (for your board's ambition) in the league and your job is safe, generally.

For the players it's similar, from a career point of view playing well in cup games doesn't make much difference, but playing well in the league is key, play well enough in the league and you get rested for the early rounds of the cup.  I reckon this would change in the semi-final, where the chance of a medal starts to become real.

For the club and the fans however I think the cups are much more important, even younger fans of most clubs would be chuffed with a cup win, which is good for the club, at the most base level, because happy fans spend more money.

Much as I do't like to bring it up, look at blues, the fans loved their cup win and the bragging rights it gave them, but it didn't stop a hell of a lot of them wanting McLeish out for getting them relegated though.

I really don't see the problem with his answer, he's not even said anything specific to us, he just generically answered a very leading question as honestly as he could.

[oldhill_avfc]

Outspoken former soccer player and pundit Rodney Marsh has taken a swipe at Aston Villa and the club's 'miserable existence'.

He was tweeting in the wake of Paul Lambert's controversial comments about the FA Cup and said: "What a miserable existence for Aston Villa fans when your club's only goal is to avoid relegation .

That would be the same Rodney Marsh who said he's never liked us since his wife (or possibly mother) got abused by our supporters in 1969?

Probably but the point's still valid.