The Paul Lambert thread - poll reset after our capitulation to Hull

[rob_bridge]

Lose on Saturday and the flirtation with a relegation scrap may develop into a full blown date.

[Concrete John]

Inevitable relegation?

Obviously not but if you continue to flirt with relegation year on year you increase the likelihood of your luck running out one season. We've seen this evidenced by many erstwhile PL clubs over the past 20 years - a number if whom have never returned to the top flight.

We haven't flirted with relegation this year.

But possibly we about to, on current form.

In the current form table (last 6 games) we're 12th.

[Toronto Villa]

I would not bet on it.
It will be the same dross on the Transfer thread in the Summer.
I really don't think there is any magic Plan for us at all.

I don't recall you referring to the transfer thread last summer as dross? In fact you were quite excited by your supposed ITK at Bodymoor. And given almost every post ended with a cheeky wink surely you were a little excited by it all.

[danlanza]

I would not bet on it.
It will be the same dross on the Transfer thread in the Summer.
I really don't think there is any magic Plan for us at all.

I don't recall you referring to the transfer thread last summer as dross? In fact you were quite excited by your supposed ITK at Bodymoor as I recall.

Yes i was. I will not be excited this time that's for sure.

[Toronto Villa]

I would not bet on it.
It will be the same dross on the Transfer thread in the Summer.
I really don't think there is any magic Plan for us at all.

I don't recall you referring to the transfer thread last summer as dross? In fact you were quite excited by your supposed ITK at Bodymoor as I recall.

Yes i was. I will not be excited this time that's for sure.

why? Do you already know which players are coming to the club and which are leaving?

[danlanza]

I would not bet on it.
It will be the same dross on the Transfer thread in the Summer.
I really don't think there is any magic Plan for us at all.

I don't recall you referring to the transfer thread last summer as dross? In fact you were quite excited by your supposed ITK at Bodymoor as I recall.

Yes i was. I will not be excited this time that's for sure.

why? Do you already know which players are coming to the club and which are leaving?

Nowhere near. Just not going to get excited again to have knackers kicked in. I cannot get excited about the set up at Villa anymore frankly.
It is the same as pissing against the wind...bloody pointless.

[mr underhill]

long or short I hope the out list is headed by Hutton, Given and Bent;at least that will free up a considerable amount of money for wages for  incoming players. Presumably the motivational and leadership guru that is Grant Holt will also be returned to Wigan? Wasn't there an Ian Dury song called what a waste?

[Walmley_Villa]

My concern is that I don't see much of a footballing strategy being developed. Our reserve side seems to have gone down the pan and some of Lambert's signings have been very disappointing. Financially we are obviously not going to be in for any so-called 'stars' and even if we were I doubt Lambert can manage high profile players. We will no doubt have Benteke and his agent playing silly buggers in the Summer, will we keep him this time? If not I worry about who we replace him with. Hopefully the defence will be better with Okore back but we need some quality in midfield and at RB/LB.

[richard moore]

Inevitable relegation?

Obviously not but if you continue to flirt with relegation year on year you increase the likelihood of your luck running out one season. We've seen this evidenced by many erstwhile PL clubs over the past 20 years - a number if whom have never returned to the top flight.

Spot on Levico - happened to many, many clubs down the year. It becomes more and more inevitable in my book with the three numpties we have in charge of the club

[richard moore]

I would not bet on it.
It will be the same dross on the Transfer thread in the Summer.
I really don't think there is any magic Plan for us at all.

Agree x 3, particularly the last point, there's no plan never mind a magic plan

[john e]

when you speak to fans of other clubs outside Birmingham, I mean fans who arnt  really very interested in Villa, most of them think we are doing well, talking us up with our young team etc
I find myself trying to put them right and I've generaly been pro Lambert

remember when the managers from WBA, Southampton, Stoke, Fulham most of us said they were harsh, which is exactly what would be said if we got rid of Lambert at the end of the season
I know we arnt botherd what other fans think but it would be a bigger shock in the media etc than any of the above if Lambert was sacked

[London Villan]

There are plenty of Villa fans who don't have to sit through the home games live that have a similar opinion of the club too...

[Chico Hamilton III]

Wasn't there an Ian Dury song called what a waste?

I could be Benteke and keep us up this season
I could buy Grant Holt for no apparent reason
I could be Joe Bennet and call my long balls passes
I could be Paul Lambert in his silly fucking glasses
What a waste ( det der diddle diddle)

[Walmley_Villa]

I should also add that I still can't believe that Lambert and his coaches can't get the team to beat Bradford over 180 minutes, Millwall or Sheffield United. Tactically outwitted and outfought...

[supertom]

Inevitable relegation?

Obviously not but if you continue to flirt with relegation year on year you increase the likelihood of your luck running out one season. We've seen this evidenced by many erstwhile PL clubs over the past 20 years - a number if whom have never returned to the top flight.

Spot on Levico - happened to many, many clubs down the year. It becomes more and more inevitable in my book with the three numpties we have in charge of the club

Agreed. The trouble with persistent flirting with the drop is that inevitably your better players get tired and want to move to clubs at the top. When you lose a Milner, a Young, a Benteke, replacing them is bloody hard. We've yet to effectively replace Milner or Young after 3-4 years. In terms of this side, take Benteke out of it and you probably wipe off 10 points right there (even in a season where he's been well below par), which we can't afford to lose.
If we lose Benteke in the summer and can't replace him sufficiently, we'll have a long hard season. If we don't go down, we'll cut it finer than we have the last couple of years probably.