Aston Villa v Newcastle United Post-Match Thread

[Stu]

If our signings are ambitious what is our ambition?

[saunders_heroes]

If our signings are ambitious what is our ambition?

To stay in the Premier League while Lerner finds a buyer.

[edgysatsuma89]

Can i just ask, as i read 'so called villa fans' earlier about our lack of attendance ... Am i now a 'so called villa fan' after 5 years of being a season ticket holder (I'm only 25) as i have not renewed?

Nothing fucks me off more than that being said about those who don't go to games, even when i was going. What is this, top trumps?

There is more entertainment to be had watching an ant try and carry a leaf which is just a bit too big for him, but he won't give up.

I'm no longer paying my hard earned cash to be bored week in week out. Maybe if we won, then that joyous feeling would out do the dross, but i don't really remember that feeling too much.

Edit: pretty funny, i got my own age wrong!

[peter w]

Took my son into Hewitts in Croydon for his new uniform. Some spotty kid served me and after I explained what I wanted he asked "Do you know how old he is"? Dick.

Anyway satsuma you are now a so-called Villa fan and yes I am a better fan than you.

[onje_villa]

I agree with others that there has been some sensible decisions made by the board these last few weeks, a few experienced heads have been brought in, we've spent £7m as well as £7m pounds can be spent but surely Paulie is completely correct in what he says.

How can others have failed to see the disastrous last 3 seasons we have endured, the devastating fall in ambition. Just because we're trying to put it right little by little doesn't mean we're suddenly showing ambition again. I also don't buy that "all teams below 8th are the same", that's just the usual lumping together done by the apologists. There's been a marked difference between ourselves and the other clubs above us in recent seasons (the clue is they've finished above us).

[Clampy]

I wouldn't say we're showing ambition, we're just doing something that Lambert should have done in the first place and that's bring in players who've got premiership experience. It was needed because we couldn't keep going with the players we had. Better late than never i suppose so let's see how it goes.

[mr underhill]

no amount of revisionism now will make up for the two year Lerner/ Lambert triple axis whammy of  the youth only policy, the wilful squandering of resources that was the bomb squad policy and  Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee-gate, unless we finish top 8, win the majority of our home games, halve the number of goals conceded from last season, boost the entertainment factor hugely by injecting guile and artistry in midfield, increase crowds, solve the middle east question and ensure that Scotland remain part of the UK. Simple.

[robbo1874]

and that's my question. Beyond staying in this league what is the ambition of 13-14 clubs? It's the same as ours. That doesn't make it good or right. But it would take monstrous investment for all of those clubs and us to bridge the gap that now exists. What would constitute a statement of ambition for you? Genuine question. I know I'd like us to compete for a CL spot but it's not going to happen even if we went out and broke the bank for a couple of players. And if you want proof of that just look at what Man U are trying to do and two games in you can already see that it will take a lot more than just breaking transfer records to do it.

A couple of 10million plus signings would sure help.

However failing that, I agree there are 13 relegation battlers these days, however some are trying to play good football, others are ugly to watch.

I want us to play good football ("we are Aston Villa, we are passing the ball") and be comfortable mid table. I don't think thats asking the world. Right now we feel like one of those clubs which when playing a similar one you immediately change channel.

honestly don't think it's about the money you spend in our position, more about the value you can bring in. You could spunk 20 mill on two distinctly average signings. Given our situation I think it's the correct approach to look for value. We've got a solid spine, some good younger players and now a bit of experience to throw in the mix also. When you're shopping in the sales like we are, you're not going to spend 20-30m on finished product players in their prime, it will be value signings that can do a job and improve the squad. They'll also have their downsides, but hopefully the players we've brought in and the one or two we may also bring in will provide value and take us fwd. I wouldn't be surprised if we did bring in an extra couple of players, I also wouldn't be surprised if that's it til Jan. from evidence so far, we should be a bit more comfortable this season.

[Chris Smith]

I agree with others that there has been some sensible decisions made by the board these last few weeks, a few experienced heads have been brought in, we've spent £7m as well as £7m pounds can be spent but surely Paulie is completely correct in what he says.

How can others have failed to see the disastrous last 3 seasons we have endured, the devastating fall in ambition. Just because we're trying to put it right little by little doesn't mean we're suddenly showing ambition again. I also don't buy that "all teams below 8th are the same", that's just the usual lumping together done by the apologists. There's been a marked difference between ourselves and the other clubs above us in recent seasons (the clue is they've finished above us).

"Apologists"  - that sort of cliched dismissal of people who see things differently really does spoil any sensible point you might be trying to make.

Of course the squad needed improving, it always does. That doesn't mean that we had no decent players or decent results just that it lacked depth and couldn't cope with injuries. Part of that was obviously the so called 'bomb squad' issue and part of it was the cost cutting that the club was working to. Hopefully that has been addressed to a large extent, at least on paper. As ever, time will tell.

Everyone involved has to take a share of the blame, from Lerner down, but I am hoping that the changes made in the boardroom, with the coaching and on the pitch is enough to give everyone a fresh start and be judged on what happens from now on, not on the past.

[Legion]

I am also a so-called Villa fan. I decided not to renew my ST after 16 years and have stuck to it (reasons are elsewhere on H&V). I will still attend games of my choosing. I went to Stoke with UKR and PWS. I missed the Newcastle game due to having already booked a weekend away in Goosnargh for a brilliant beer festival, but watched it all live on screen at a pub in Longridge. I am going to watch us play Leyton  Orient on Wednesday. I am bringing my 6-year-old Grandson with me to watch Hull. I will definitely be getting tickets for the Arsenal game. I will probably be getting tickets for Manchester City. I would have got a ticket for the trip to Everton but my Y6 are ball boys and girls at Walsall v Crewe on that day. If that makes me a so-called Villa fan then so be it.

[olaftab]

I am also a so-called Villa fan.

No way you are having that title not by a million miles. The so called are ones you meet talk about Villa moan about Villa live in Brum but have not been near the ground for about 20 years or something like that!

[Toronto Villa]

Before we get to ambition we need to address needs which is what we have done this summer. We then set goals based on addressing those needs and the manager has already made it clear that one of those goals is not to go through what we have in recent seasons. I believe the squad now, especially the added experience both with the players and assistant manager will go a long way to avoiding that. Finally, we can set some stretch goals or ambitions and I think those will become easier to consider and attain as the season goes on. It could be that one of those is qualifying for the Europa next season if things are going well around December. It might prompt buying a player or two to achieve that aim.

In the end we need to take our ambition in pieces. Build methodically and ensure the volatility of the last few years is not repeated. A good model for that is Everton where they have been been stable for the past 10-12 years now and have generally been able to build every summer on the previous campaign without any significant disruption. They have sold players and bought them without their net spend being something they have not been able to manage. We need to get to that point and the measures set in place (albeit painfully) will help us to achieve that.

I said yesterday that I am not upset at the current goals for this season or what would translate to our ambition if things were going along steadily. I'm not happy that our goals and ambitions are where they are overall because if is a reflection on what has happened since MON walked out, and it is unacceptable. That's not to say we cannot build back towards that. It's just that it is likely going to be more difficult and take longer with the financial restrictions that exist.

[edgysatsuma89]

Took my son into Hewitts in Croydon for his new uniform. Some spotty kid served me and after I explained what I wanted he asked "Do you know how old he is"? Dick.

Anyway satsuma you are now a so-called Villa fan and yes I am a better fan than you.

Haha peter you complete barstud!

[Malandro]

Still want to know what people think we'd need to do before they consider us 'ambitious'.

I know what you mean. 4 relegation battles on the trot. What more do the fans want??

Again, we've greatly improved the squad. This is about this season not previous ones.

The defence looks better I'll give you that, and that's the least we should expect considering how poor it's been over the last few years. I don't think what Lerner's done so far this season is ambitious. More like the bare minimum to stay in the league.

It's as much as I think we possibly could have done, and much more than I had expected at the end of last season.

That is true, but I think 'ambitious' is a massive push. At the end of the day in fees we've paid out we've paid around £6 million. We've spent it well, but in Premier League terms that isn't ambitious.

Very fair point. I just don't think the club are solely operating on 'do just enough to stay up' like many insist.

I disagree. When you are so close to relegation the season before and then in the summer you are nearly the lowest spenders in the league - that suggests you are hoping to stay up.
Luckily, I think Lambert has spent well. (Although Cole looks a iffy gamble)

[sid1964]

After the perfromance on Saturday, I can see why so many fans are staying away! it was desperate, and I have re-newed my season ticket god knows why!

Read a comment from Lambert who said we were excellent - the only improvement from last season was that defencevely we looked more organised, but the real problem is that we lack any ideas when we attack (not 1 shot on target when we are the home side)

I hope our new CEO see's what we see!!!! he has so much to sort out