Albrighton Going to Leicester

[Steve67]

Oh, and Rolta, I am wondering if you are connected to the club. You defend Mr Lambert with some passion.

[Clampy]

As it turns out, being more solid has got us fewer points, and whenever we reverted to something which looked like the previous season we looked a lot better. But even last season we looked a little haphazard even when playing well - there's no plan in possession, no purpose, no sense that the players have been instructed how and where to move in relation to each other, as there is even when watching Sunderland last year. He may sign good players, but if his tactics are inadequate (and I'm sorry, thinking that long balls are a viable attacking tactic is just inadequate), then it's like buying great nails then trying to hammer them in with a slab of wet jelly.

Last year we were truly under threat from relegation. This year we were safe in about March (as it turns out). Like it or not (well, nobody actually likes the long balls) we have been more solid this year.

We lost 20 games out of 38. How is that 'more solid'?

[Rolta]

As it turns out, being more solid has got us fewer points, and whenever we reverted to something which looked like the previous season we looked a lot better. But even last season we looked a little haphazard even when playing well - there's no plan in possession, no purpose, no sense that the players have been instructed how and where to move in relation to each other, as there is even when watching Sunderland last year. He may sign good players, but if his tactics are inadequate (and I'm sorry, thinking that long balls are a viable attacking tactic is just inadequate), then it's like buying great nails then trying to hammer them in with a slab of wet jelly.

Last year we were truly under threat from relegation. This year we were safe in about March (as it turns out). Like it or not (well, nobody actually likes the long balls) we have been more solid this year.

We lost 20 games out of 38. How is that 'more solid'?

Fewer goals conceeded, not ever getting spanked 8-0. Oh, and everything else I said (I'll do it again): Last year we were truly under threat from relegation. This year we were safe in about March (as it turns out). Like it or not (well, nobody actually likes the long balls) we have been more solid this year. What you've done is find one single stat to use, while ignoring everything else. That's the problem with statistics: they don't amount to much on their own.

I'm just a supporter, and this is my point of view. I know I'm not alone, but we're all clearly divided at the moment. Newby, saying I must be affiliated with the club is as pointless as me calling you a bluenose trying to throw the club into chaos. It's just the way I see it. I think at the least I bring up some hard to dismiss points (but of course they always are).

[Dave]

Fewer goals conceeded, not ever getting spanked 8-0.

I'm not sure that "we didn't lose any more games 8-0" is really a feather for Lambert's cap.

[Rolta]

Fewer goals conceeded, not ever getting spanked 8-0.

I'm not sure that "we didn't lose any more games 8-0" is really a feather for Lambert's cap.

If you took it in context, then I was responding to someone questioning whether we were more solid this year compared to last year. Helpful comment though. Admittedly, some of the results at the end of the season do darken my response a little. Bad end of the season, we all agree on that, and again nothing I've said has implied we're up there with Man City (who have had a lot more money spent on them).

[silhillvilla]

Did we concede fewer goals this season than last ?
That's the bottom line here surely

[Steve67]

I didn't call you a bluenose. You raise some interesting points and I respect you for that. I just struggle with you not seeing that Lambert has made us worse that at any point I can remember other than when we were relegated in 87.

[Rolta]

I didn't call you a bluenose. You raise some interesting points and I respect you for that. I just struggle with you not seeing that Lambert has made us worse that at any point I can remember other than when we were relegated in 87.

You say "Lambert has made us worse", and all I'm saying there's more to it that that. I think Lambert has overseen probably one of the most difficult periods in the club's history, especially in the premiership. That's all. And by extension, I think it's silly to use him as a scapegoat and difficult to judge him fairly. I also think that reducing the wage bill like he has, and the slow stabalisation under his management, is not something that should be dismissed.

(and we were also definitely worse under Mcleish – 2 points from relegation – and, yes, again, he had highly paid pros, not youth on low wages).

I'm done now! I am repeating myself, that is true...

[Clampy]

As it turns out, being more solid has got us fewer points, and whenever we reverted to something which looked like the previous season we looked a lot better. But even last season we looked a little haphazard even when playing well - there's no plan in possession, no purpose, no sense that the players have been instructed how and where to move in relation to each other, as there is even when watching Sunderland last year. He may sign good players, but if his tactics are inadequate (and I'm sorry, thinking that long balls are a viable attacking tactic is just inadequate), then it's like buying great nails then trying to hammer them in with a slab of wet jelly.

Last year we were truly under threat from relegation. This year we were safe in about March (as it turns out). Like it or not (well, nobody actually likes the long balls) we have been more solid this year.

We lost 20 games out of 38. How is that 'more solid'?

Fewer goals conceeded, not ever getting spanked 8-0.

Well, we conceded 26 goals in our last 9 games which was bad enough in itself.

[mike]

As it turns out, being more solid has got us fewer points, and whenever we reverted to something which looked like the previous season we looked a lot better. But even last season we looked a little haphazard even when playing well - there's no plan in possession, no purpose, no sense that the players have been instructed how and where to move in relation to each other, as there is even when watching Sunderland last year. He may sign good players, but if his tactics are inadequate (and I'm sorry, thinking that long balls are a viable attacking tactic is just inadequate), then it's like buying great nails then trying to hammer them in with a slab of wet jelly.

Last year we were truly under threat from relegation. This year we were safe in about March (as it turns out). Like it or not (well, nobody actually likes the long balls) we have been more solid this year.

We lost 20 games out of 38. How is that 'more solid'?

Fewer goals conceeded, not ever getting spanked 8-0.

Well, we conceded 26 goals in our last 9 games which was bad enough in itself.

Any argument, however long and condescendingly written, which includes the premise that we were 'more solid' this season is hard to take seriously. Any argument that includes 'at least we didn't lose 8 - 0' demeans what we expect of Aston Villa. In fact it would demean any club.

[supertom]

This season 38 points. Last season 41 points.

I know which one I preferred, and even then it was painful viewing for the majority of the season. We were definitely not more solid this season, it's just that 18th place was shitter than the same from last year. Wigan went down on 36 points (compared to Norwich dying on 33). Sunderland were a place above them on 39. Everyone else was over 40.

Last season from feb-march we were at least reasonable and found some attacking threat. This season we never managed to string together 3 reasonable performances on the spin. If anything we were fortunate to come away with 38 points because half our wins were by the grace of God and good fortune.

In the space of a year we've gone from being bloody awful to being absolutely bloody awful. The likelihood for significant improvement, as things stand, seems unlikely too.

[silhillvilla]

Next season 35 points ? May just keep us up

[supertom]

Next season 35 points ? May just keep us up

Half a season minus Benteke would suggest that, short of the takeover going through, that might even be a struggle. We looked hopeless without him this season and even then, he was having a pretty mediocre season by the standard he set last year. But that tells you about how important he is. Only played 26 league games, didn't have a very good season, but was still comfortably our top scorer and still managed double figures.

[Matt C]

I bet that trophy on Paul's mantelpiece with the words 'didn't get spanked 8-0' engraved shines bright.

[pauliewalnuts]

I can't believe anyone really thinks this season just gone was better than the one before it, even.

We weren't more solid at all. I don't really think the fact we didn't lose a match 8-0 like we did the season before really means anything at all. We also didn't lose at home to Fulham, Stoke and Crystal Palace the season before, either.

Also interested to hear "as it turned out, we were safe in March" spun out as some sort of evidence of progress.

What utter nonsense. We had enough points to survive by the end of March, but that's far from the same thing as "being safe in March".