Whether it is sucky or not, they need to stick to something
One of the few TV shows I watch with any regularity is WWE Monday Night Raw. I’d call it a guilty pleasure, assuming of course the idea that I actually felt any guilt about being a 31 year-old man who still watches professional wrestling.
Two of my good friends and I have an ongoing group text exchange where we discuss the latest goings on in the WWE. Followers of the the WWE are fully aware that on the eve of Wrestlemania arena crowds are in open revolt voicing their disapproval at the current product. As a result, the company has been engaging in a futile attempt to change the scripted drama on the fly. Not only is the product bad, it’s incoherently bad. The above quote was one of my friend’s comments on how the company should proceed.
In an overstated way that is how I feel about the imminent extension Paul Lambert is set to receive. I don’t feel he has done a “sucky” job, but I do think it’s surprising one is being offered right at this point. Given the constraints he has had to work under I’d say he has done a decent job, but it is one pock-marked by its share of embarrassment.
There have been plenty of performances that could certainly be described as “sucky.”. You could even use that word to describe last week’s performance at Goodison Park. Yes, the team did defend well, only allowing Everton a few chances before the inevitable first goal. However, if you can only muster a single shot on target I don’t care how well or bravely a team defends – it is disingenuous to then claim that said team deserved a result.
A Boston Herald columnist and noted contrarian has said repeatedly about New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick that “It’s not about Xs and Os, it’s about Jimmys and Joes.”.
The spine of the Villa team is still rock solid: Guzan, Vlaar, Delph, Benteke, Gabby and, when he is on form Weimann. The rest of the players range from passable to below Premier League standard. When those six players I listed have all been fit, and on form at the same time the team has looked dangerous at times. The trouble is that when even one of those players are missing, we end up with what we got last week.
Supposedly – now that most of the O’Neil, Houllier, and McLeish dead weight will be gone next summer – the board will back Lambert with additional funds, and will again sanction high wages. As a plan, this makes sense because the club have gone as far as they can relying only on the “young and hungry.”
Given that suggestion – whether it turns out to be true or not – it is only then that the manager will be able to be fairly judged on his tenure. I’m not sure who else could’ve embarked on an overhaul, only being able to sign players making around £20k a week. In that context, it makes sense to extend the manager as opposed to bringing him back as a lame-duck next season. The last thing we need is to go back to square one with another manager.
Overall, the football on display at Villa Park hasn’t reminded anybody of Bayern Munich. Sadly, at this point I think that it Villa are playing at a level that this current squad is capable of. The next steps involve the club doing what it takes to improve it.
Looking ahead to the weekend, we will likely be without Vlaar. Thank God we won’t have to watch Clark and Baker try to mark Andy Carroll, well unless David Gold manages to somehow have the card rescinded as he starts his campaign against the FA.
In terms of points, West Ham United need a result more than we do. If they play to win and don’t sit back that should suit us. The only trouble here is that it could be a cracker or unwatchable, especially if the away team come to take just the one point.
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