Kendrick Says It's Time To Ask Questions

[Brend'Watkins]

It's obvious that the wage bill has been worked on and like I said, it probably needed to be. If the days of paying the likes of Shay Given a small fortune are gone for the time being, then so be it. I doubt the players are earning peanuts though. It might be what you want to think, but it's not what I think.

Then why have we signed such poor players then? Why not aim for proper PL players?
It's because they're cheap - that's why they're at Villa.

No One could ever convince me that Gary Gardner is less worthy of a position in our midfield than Yacouba Sylla.  We have filled our squad with below average players, money we could have saved if we'd used more of our youth set up. That's not saying they're all great but they're certainly no worse.  Would Clark be any worse than El Comedy in midfield?  He wouldn't, so give him a go.  Less dross = freeing up more transfer kitty for better individuals required in various positions.  That's the managers job. 

[Axl Rose]

It's obvious that the wage bill has been worked on and like I said, it probably needed to be. If the days of paying the likes of Shay Given a small fortune are gone for the time being, then so be it. I doubt the players are earning peanuts though. It might be what you want to think, but it's not what I think.

Then why have we signed such poor players then? Why not aim for proper PL players?
It's because they're cheap - that's why they're at Villa.

No One could ever convince me that Gary Gardner is less worthy of a position in our midfield than Yacouba Sylla.  We have filled our squad with below average players, money we could have saved if we'd used more of our youth set up. That's not saying they're all great but they're certainly no worse.  Would Clark be any worse than El Comedy in midfield?  He wouldn't, so give him a go.  Less dross = freeing up more transfer kitty for better individuals required in various positions.  That's the managers job. 

Agree

[PaulTheVillan]

Has Lambert stopped speaking to Kendrick again now?

[mattjpa]

A contributing factor to the lack of real action on behalf of the fans is that to a man we all wanted this to work. When Randy landed he was the perfect owner and it is only over time his naievity has been found out. That doesnt mean we dont like him or hope he succeeds, on the contrary nothing would be better than us getting to where we belong with him in charge - that is why there is not an uprising as of yet, its very hard to protest or speak ill of someone you like.

Similarly, Faulkner seems an extremely amicable chap and is doing lots of things right but when the club is going so wrong responsiblity falls on his shoulders im afraid. I dont believe this is through a lack of effort or caring on his behalf though.

Finally Lambert, Everyone wanted him to be the man for Villa, make us into something to be proud of again. But he is also just not up to it I feel. Its galling because it looked for a while he would be. That doesnt make him a bad bloke though. I would hate him to get the McLeish treatment but i think its coming

[dicedlam]

I doubt the players are earning peanuts though. It might be what you want to think, but it's not what I think.

Paying 15 - 20 grand a week nowadays in the premier league is just that - peanuts.
This level of salary will not attract the decent players in this league. The players who will play for that type of dosh are exactly the ones who are currently playing at clubs that sit where they are in the league at this moment

Of all the clubs below us, I reckon there are probably around only six or seven players who command anything near what players may get playing for teams in and around the top six (Parker, Berbatov, Bellamy, Anelka, Crouch and Ireland).
This is why clubs sitting within reach of the relegation spots are where they are now. We are no different. With our current strategy, we also belong in this group and at some stage, the trap door will open on us for relegation.

To even tread water in this league the club will have to review this policy.

[Fergal]

There is something else which bothers me about asking Lerner to sell up; we owe him about £130m. That debt is due to be paid up by 2017, what happens if it isn't?

When Randy acquired us we were relatively debt free and he paid £64 million ish.  Now a few years later he will be able to sell the club for £200 million and the club is also in debt to him for £130 million.  If that's right what a fucking business man he is...

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Good post Chelts.

The summer indeed will be the acid test but I can't seriously think of one logical reason why Lambert should be the man to be given extra funds. In my eyes he's simply not good enough. Giving him one more season to see if he can become the manager he was at Norwich is a very weak argument when week in, week out, we show absolutely no signs of improving, if anything we're getting worse.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I have one question..Why didn't Barry take the penalty

[andyh]

Good post Chelts.

The summer indeed will be the acid test but I can't seriously think of one logical reason why Lambert should be the man to be given extra funds. In my eyes he's simply not good enough. Giving him one more season to see if he can become the manager he was at Norwich is a very weak argument when week in, week out, we show absolutely no signs of improving, if anything we're getting worse.

My thoughts precisely.
I am convinced the job and needs of a 'big city club' are just too great for him.
 

[rob_bridge]

I have one question..Why didn't Barry take the penalty

This has been answered. It was 2010.

[Clampy]

I doubt the players are earning peanuts though. It might be what you want to think, but it's not what I think.

Paying 15 - 20 grand a week nowadays in the premier league is just that - peanuts.

Where have you got those figures from or are you plucking them out the air to suit your own argument?

[Boz]

On the subject of apathy, I think this time last year we were in the bottom 3 and there was an element of a backs to the wall approach on the pitch which transmitted off the pitch and vice versa. It very much helped to get us out of the hole we were in.

This year we have been mid table for some time and quite often a club sleepwalks into danger without realising. Our sluggish performances and the lack of any real reaction from the fans over the last few weeks is reflective of this. Lambert's complacency has come across in his comments and he is the only mouthpiece from the club.

My impression is it is easier to build momentum if you can get a run going from a low position than turning things round if you go on a slow slide. West Ham have demonstrated this recently.

It does feel like Norwich could be the equivalent of the Bolton experience at VP if it goes badly on Sunday.

This is what I've been saying, there seemed to be a delusion at VP that we were in mid table, all is well, when in reality we were sitting on the edge of a precipice waiting to slip off and I fear we might have started that slip and be accelerating after the Norwich game.

I just hope not, and we grab onto something to halt the fall. However, I can't see Lambert having the ability to do this.

[pauliewalnuts]

I doubt the players are earning peanuts though. It might be what you want to think, but it's not what I think.

Paying 15 - 20 grand a week nowadays in the premier league is just that - peanuts.

Where have you got those figures from or are you plucking them out the air to suit your own argument?

Regardless of the actual figures, it's hard not to imagine Westwood, Weimann, Lowton, Bacuna, Sylla etc are going to be low wages, relative to the rest of the PL.

The club keep telling us we need to cut the wage bill. That is a main reason we are buying players from the lower leagues.

[dicedlam]

I doubt the players are earning peanuts though. It might be what you want to think, but it's not what I think.

Paying 15 - 20 grand a week nowadays in the premier league is just that - peanuts.

Where have you got those figures from or are you plucking them out the air to suit your own argument?

So what do you think is peanuts is for premier league player?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I doubt the players are earning peanuts though. It might be what you want to think, but it's not what I think.

Paying 15 - 20 grand a week nowadays in the premier league is just that - peanuts.

Where have you got those figures from or are you plucking them out the air to suit your own argument?

Regardless of the actual figures, it's hard not to imagine Westwood, Weimann, Lowton, Bacuna, Sylla etc are going to be low wages, relative to the rest of the PL.

The club keep telling us we need to cut the wage bill. That is a main reason we are buying players from the lower leagues.

Westwood, Weimann and Lowton all signed new, improved contracts in the summer. I doubt any are are on less than 25k.
I'd imagine the main reason we're buying players from the lower leagues is they're worth taking a chance on and Lambert thinks they can develop.