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

[Walmley_Villa]

We go into December without a single goal at the Holte End...I can't actually remember too many shots at the Holte either.

[pauliewalnuts]

2 points from 24. I think that needs repeating 2 points from 24. Fucking hell that is absolutely diabolical. I'm just completely fed up of the pathetic football we play. We've scored 6 fucking goals all season it is absolutely pitiful.

That is the clincher for me.

How often do we look at our team and think "yep, he got something like the best out of them today"? Nowhere near often enough, I'm afraid.

The lack of the basics is another concern. I read Southampton had an 84% pass completion rate last night, whereas ours was 68%.

When Southampton had the ball, the pitch seemed huge, they had so much space to play in, and time to do it. When we had the ball, the pitched seem small, we had no space to play in, no options.

I appreciate that Southampton are a passing team and technically better than us, but that makes me wonder two things. One is why it doesn't just look like that against passing teams, it looks that way against pretty much everyone.

The other is how long we're going to feel forced to find mitigating factors. There is the obvious "well, they're a CL team, what do we expect" line about four teams in the league. That has now become six clubs as we've added Spurs and Everton to those we can't hope to give a game. Now there are passing teams like Southampton, Swansea being added.

Where are the games where we start to look the part? Why is it written in stone that we can't play a passing game?

I am not expecting us to pass the ball like Southampton do overnight (although, a reminder, that's Southampton who have a new manager in place and lost almost every one of their decent players in the last transfer window, and who were being thanked for offering to take up a relegation place in the summer), but it would be nice to see some sort of qualitative improvement.

There isn't any, though. Sure, some games we defend better than others, and yes, he's had injury problems, but this goes back to over two years now.

The reason there were only 25k in the ground last night isn't just about the fact that we lose most of our matches and hardly ever win, it is that we are so utterly horrific to watch and there isn't any obvious hope it is going to get better at any time soon.

[OzVilla]

Another stat mentioned last night was that we've only scored 1 second half goal in our last 18 games. ONE!

[andyh]

Southampton are doing well, AT THE MOMENT.
They find themselves in the top 2 for now, but they are playing above themselves. They are not world beaters and will find their natural place (8-12th I reckon) in due course.

However, they played us off the park for large periods last night. they looked like a premiership team, we looked.....well, outclassed is the kindest word I can think of.

Outclassed by Southampton.
     

[OzVilla]

I think we can be a better side than this. Its just that our Manager is tactically inept and he showed it again last night.  I'm actually starting to think he's a bit thick as it's basics he's getting wrong like last nights substitution.

I'm convinced nothing will change now playingwise for us until he's gone. And the club overall will not improve until Lerner has gone. 

[silhillvilla]

All these stats and records lambert has set points to one thing, relegation, unless he is removed.
We will only stay up inspite of him if he stays.

[Ads]

The squad is more than capable of doing a lot better than 16th or 15th.

[supertom]

I think the point someone made about the game, about us looking like we had 10 men, playing against 11 was certainly valid. Not just for last nights game but almost every game last season and this season under Lambert. We always make the opposition look like they've snuck an extra player or two on the pitch or we've lost 1-2. We've got no shape.

Any time a Soton fullback went on a run, he had someone come out to support. You'd think Lambert would spot that, think "hmmm, that's a good idea" and then do the same when Hutton or Cissokho go forward. But he doesn't. They run up the wing, get faced with 2-3 opposition players, and then have two options: Go right back to the CH, or hit an early hopeful cross. No support whatsoever. Even the most skilled fullback on Earth (Nicky Shorey obviously) would struggle to take on a couple of players and get a cross in from the byline.

When a manager can't spot the blindingly obvious, you've got problems.

[silhillvilla]

Crap tactics, too many players out of position, diabolical mind boggling substitutions! He simply has to go.
Lerner wake up man !!!
Next milestone ? 20k home crowd ?

[supertom]

Crap tactics, too many players out of position, diabolical mind boggling substitutions! He simply has to go.
Lerner wake up man !!!
Next milestone ? 20k home crowd ?

I reckon we could do under that before the season ends. It's been too relentlessly shit at home. If we have a TV game on a cold and wet night, only the most hardened and stubborn of Villains would fancy want to endure a Villa park matchday.

Imagine if we got drawn against Bradford at home in the FA Cup? There'd probably be about 10 Villa fans show up.

[Richard E]

Crap tactics, too many players out of position, diabolical mind boggling substitutions! He simply has to go.
Lerner wake up man !!!
Next milestone ? 20k home crowd ?

I think there must be every chance of an even lower turn out against Leicester than there was last night.

[Holte L2]

On numerous occasions last night our players were looking up for somebody to pass to and there was no one. They literally had no idea what to do. Tactically shocking yet again.

I'd have played Joe Cole last night for that reason.

He could sit in front of the back four.  Holding the ball up, breaking up play and looking for the easy pass. I'd intruct him not to making silly jinking runs but to steady the midfield and keep shape. 

I'd have Cole and Sanchez sitting deep.  With Cleverley and possibly at the top of the midfield. 

Surely it's got to be an improvement.

[itbrvilla]

Crap tactics, too many players out of position, diabolical mind boggling substitutions! He simply has to go.
Lerner wake up man !!!
Next milestone ? 20k home crowd ?

I think there must be every chance of an even lower turn out against Leicester than there was last night.

What will it take for Mr Fox to get the message?

[aj2k77]

Joe Cole is finished.

[silhillvilla]

Crap tactics, too many players out of position, diabolical mind boggling substitutions! He simply has to go.
Lerner wake up man !!!
Next milestone ? 20k home crowd ?

I think there must be every chance of an even lower turn out against Leicester than there was last night.

Not sure Leicester will fill away end and have fair few in home end