Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ or with FIFA Ultimate Team for FIFA 14.

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A resolute and disciplined display from Arsenal, accompanied by a man-of-the-match display from Santi Cazorla, saw the Gunners defy the odds to beat Manchester City 0-2 at the Etihad and rejuvenate their top four ambitions.

Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla was the standout player on the pitch last time out against Manchester City and the Gunners will likely look to get him on the ball as much as possible against Aston Villa to make the most of his vision and passing range. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index he’s completed a pass in the opponent’s half on average once every 2.2 minutes he’s been on the pitch this season, a total he will no doubt be looking to add to this weekend.

Alexis Sanchez’s incredible start to life in the Premier League continues apace as the Chilean shows no signs of slowing down. His close control has been particularly on show this season, a fact demonstrated by his ranking third in the Barclays Premier League this season for total dribbles with 72. Sanchez is 13/16 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.

Midfield enforcer Francis Coquelin has emerged as a key figure in the Arsenal engine room in recent weeks, demonstrating to the Arsenal fans that he has what it takes to start every week for the Gunners. His defensive record so far this season is excellent, the Frenchman winning 80% of his 20 tackles so far this season, conceding just eight fouls.

Despite an improved performance after the break, Aston Villa were unable to find a solution to going 1-0 down to Liverpool, with the match eventually finishing 0-2 to the Reds, leaving Villa three points above the bottom three.

‘Keeper Brad Guzan will likely be in for a busy afternoon on Sunday if his Villa side find the Gunners in good form but his EA SPORTS Player Performance Index statistics show him to be more than up to the task if that is the case. He ranks as the sixth most active shot stopper in the Barclays Premier League this season with 69 saves to his name.

Fabian Delph’s all-around game has been of huge important to Paul Lambert’s this season, particularly when he gets the chance to turn and run at the opposition. No Villa player has completed more dribbles than Delph, who currently has 28 to his name. Delph is an industry best 16/2 to score at any time with 888sport.com.

Alan Hutton has been more than solid for Villa this term, providing exceptional defensive stability when called upon. He is Villa’s leading tackler this season, winning an exceptional 80.4% of his 51 challenges this campaign whilst conceding just 12 fouls.

Comments 312

  1. guzan

    Hutton okore Clark cissy

    Sanchez cleverley

    gil. Sinclair

    weiman
    benteke

    this is most likely the team , if Lambert’s thinking is evolving, ( I hope it is , as he’s not going anywhere).

  2. S75

    Good luck with the stunning sheep, worked on the vicera table back in my youth. The money was good.

    Clive

    Did you enjoy that final. Two very different teams. What did you think of the football?

  3. Roger . l think l will , l like them a bit older .lol hows the likkle un coming on , and you B62 hows the likkle one ,

    steamer you know its the con club tomorrow , fun with the noses again , and lm gonna give forty so much stick with the pics he’s put on F/B . he still thinks he looks like Chuck norris , more like fucking Corrie’s Norris !!

    have a good weekend all .

    Hi Jennykins xxxxx ……………….runtins loving the Jazz mate , will F/B you need a bit of info mate

  4. s75, thanks for asking , the boys going great , he’s 4 months old in the 1st of feb and wearing clothes for a 8 month old. the missues arms are getting strong carrying him around, I should take over really as she’ll b able to knock me about soon, lol.

    seriously though he takes up a lot of time and gives unsramt happiness. he’s a great cure for the piano of villa.

  5. Thank you the Toons..!!!

    Hull looked awful….Huddlestone and Livermore not doing much. Bruce not a happy man…..How fotunes keep changing in this premiership this season…

    Tonight could be an eye-opener..!!

    maybe we will surprise Arsenal and ourselves tomorrow..!!

  6. burnley palace and the budgies losing too, arse without their goal machine and us without a goal. I definitely, almost, nearly, think there could almost be an eventual result for them or us, I’m positive on that.

  7. Roger muffin
    I whole heartedly agree mate, however I fear the wife may call Esther Rantzen tomorrow, as I’m gonna dress Archie in full Villa attire and watch the Arsenal game with him 🙂 if nothing else it will get him off to sleep!!

  8. just been looking at some arsenal fans predictions most don’t even know about Gils arrival and are expecting the usual and an easy 3-0 except this one lad, Frem are you switching to the arse? 😉

    “Winnie O’Blindt Draw 1-1
    If any of the others on here had been paying attention to Arsenal over the last few season’s they’d know full-well that we run a care-in-the-community scheme and love helping others down on their luck. Sure, Villa might be struggling for goals but most teams just need one effort on target against us and it’s pulled into the goal as if it was a black hole. If ever a side is capable of providing the opposition with a way to kick-start their season, it’s Arsenal. Our home form is, of course, beneficial, but then you factor in Anthony Taylor and that’s cancelled out “

  9. Trinity – I enjoyed it tremendously; the pace of the game never slowed down throughout. I bet the League Cup final will not be as exciting to watch as a neutral.
    After watching Villa take an age to move the ball up field it was like watching an express train.
    As for today, I’m not expecting anything but I would like to be surprised

  10. trinity- better than in it 🙂 maybe Lamberts a lucky manager if not a good one? if Clarke was available I would say we have a chance of a draw, without him Lambert may be over cautious ( yes even for him). Sanchez needs to have a great game shielding baker from arsenals pace and passing but with gil benteke delph and weiman we can give them nightmares too. if arsenal take us for granted this could be a very open game and chances will come at both ends

  11. My view is that I see sufficient cause to look at this match in an optimistic frame of mind.

    Experience over the last 4 years should indicate a different view, but I see evidence that there has been a *belated* attempt at correcting the way things were going. Reduced attendances at VP must surely have helped to cause a change of view by the management at VP.

    We’re not there yet by a long chalk, but slowly we may see a turnaround. Starting today.

  12. Yes John good points indeed Gil looks half tidy and Sinclairs early career form puts him miles ahead of Gabby and Wiemann, has Sinclair still got that desire and how long will it take him to get match fit lets be honest we are not in a position to wait around for players to come up to speed.
    This obviously puts Grealish further down the pecking order although I think he is a talent could he go the same way has Harry Forrester and end uo in championship obscurity.
    We seem to have become the last chance saloon club for players who are trying to revive a broken career but I suppose that is our market while Lerner is still here.
    But our major problem still exists and that is we still have Lambert in charge which we now know will not change this season so we are stuck with him.
    Still finding it difficult to understand all the positivity we have won a cup game but our league form and scoring prowess seems to have been forgotten conveniently, if we get beat today without scoring we continue on one of the worst runs in recent Villa history.

    AVFC RIP

  13. It looks like the Gods are with us for this game as Alexis Sanchez and a few other top notch players are out for them. This is a big miss for them . Time to do the talking on the pitch now and go out to win this rather than sit back in our own half . With the excitement over Delph, Gil et al it’s vital Lambert and his players do not defuse the new found optimism by giving us another fearful display . The lower league teams showed in the cup that you can beat the big boys provided you go out with the right mentality of winning rather than not losing . With our excellent record against Arsenal and our preference for playing away , this is a game which we can win.

  14. Wonder if we will actually turn up today our just run around like headless chickens as usual then our Berk say how great we are after the game. We shall see

    You would like to think this dire sideways pointless passing game will stop.

    It’s time the Berk is brave today. Play Sinclair Gil Benteke and one of the donkeys up front. Go 442. No 433 or 451. It doesn’t work

  15. SWV – I think the arrival of Gil and now Sinclair, the attempt to plug our obvious flaws plus Delphs resigning gives me cause to think we are turning a corner. Weimans return to an attacking role gives us another threat to take pressure off tekkers. Yes it could all prove to be hope without foundation, but I’ve seen enough with our defence and sanchezs performance to say we have something to build on.
    I read the other day that we all have a happiness set point we return to no matter what happens in life and at least 50% has a genetic component apparently. it’s hard to stay negative for ever for some people. Some people lose there legs and return to a positive state, some act like they’ve lost theirs when they haven’t.

  16. Mark,

    Can i get off the couch now.
    All I said was what e all know to be true Lambert is out of his depth but is still clinging to his job, will there be three worse teams than us yet again we are about to find out, if there is and we stay up he is the luckiest manager in recent history because our form so far this season is nothing short of shocking.

    AVFC RIP

  17. swv- I totally agree mate but it has to start somewhere. I have the feeling that whomever is scouting for us has some brain cells at least. I also made a comment yesterday that fox is trying to emulate the arsenal template but had no response from anyone? could you send a cheque made out to “home for the clinically depressed villa fans”

  18. Mark,
    I’m not sure we are starting to a corner yet, Westwood still struggles to take one let alone turn one!
    If we don’t score today, this will be the first time in our history, we have failed to score in 6 consecutive league games!. Unfortunately our manager breaks more records than Roy castle, and none of them good.
    We need to give it a right go today, not sit back on our 18 yard line admiring their play, no we can’t go completely guns ho, as they will tear us a new one, but we need to at least try and win the game, rather than hope they have an off day/make a mistake/score an OG/.
    Lambert will try for a tight 0-0/1-1 draw, he knows nothing else, I just pray we stay up( it will be thru others failings yet agin), and something changes in the summer, or Fox will have a nightmare trying to shift ST/Merchandise or attracting sponsors.

  19. b62- roy castle!!? showing your age mate 🙂 If Gil plays I don’t think he could conform to a defensive stance, his attitude coupled with delph should rub off on the less forwardly mobile players. did you miss westwoods run into the box and shot against Bournemouth? I think he will combine well with delph and gil. beneteke has 3 in four against arse and is a professed arse fan, we might see a removing of the finger from arse today by him. he showed in the last 15 more movement lets hope that continues

  20. Well he said it didn’t he “I’m using the Borussia Dortmund model,” surely not the Borussia Dortmund thats bottom of the Bundesliga ?

    For three seasons we’ve been telling the knob we need a winger.
    For three seasons we’ve been telling the knob we need a playmaker.
    For three seasons we’ve been telling the knob our football is crepe.
    For three seasons we’ve been telling the Lerner we need a decent CEO.
    For three seasons we’ve been telling the Lerner we need a decent manager.
    Yes, i actually do think we know more about football than these clowns.

  21. Mark, I’ve never heard of there being a ‘positivity gene’ (or set of genes) but it seems very possible. Odds are that each individual’s outlook on life will be a mix of nature and nurture with our genes setting the ‘range’ of our positivity. Each individual’s upbringing and experiences will then decide where we sit within that range.
    Watching the final between Djokovic and Murray there’s nothing between them in skill, but Djokovic seems to have the edge in positivity and self belief.
    Villa need some of that over the next 3 months.

  22. steamer- time to fill the bottom half of that cup 😉
    biggest worry for me is baker and sissoko against walcott. If Clarke was fit I’d feel a whole lot better about our chances
    there is that better?

  23. I was going to add that it’d be good if Villa fans showed a bit of positivity too. . . . then I read Steamer’s latest comments and decided that resistance was futile.

  24. robbo- thought the same myself but from a hormonal point of view if yours work better your happier. your genes are effected by environment but when you are born your nans and moms genes/environment/diets give you your starting or set point.

  25. Mark, it’d be interesting to run positivity gene tests on here. You’d start with the assumption that Steamer had exactly the same positivity genes as a happy clapper and then be astonished to find that Steamer actually has none at all!

  26. Afternoon all

    looking at the line ups the gooners look far superior too us — hopefully we can pull off a shock result but the way pl sets us up doesnt give me confidence.

    At least he has finally realised kick and rush will get him knowhere –

    regaining confidence about staying up with the signings and links of another player – as we are defending well a few more goals would see us over the line

    st75 glad your liking some of the jazz – holla anytime

  27. runtingz- how surprised would you be if we looked the better team on paper, that would be taking positivity to the max 🙂

    glad clarkes playing and the line up is pretty much what I’d thought we would be although thought westwood would get the nod over cleverly.
    Robbo- amongst brummies steamers known for his positivity
    😉

  28. I’m surprised that we have Cleverley instead of Westwood although there is to much to choose between them.
    I would have been very surprised to see Sinclair start, so not a lot wrong with the starting line up.
    The high line isn’t working though

  29. We are an absolute disgrace to football with how we play. 1 half attempt from a donkey is the closet we have come

    How long can our worst manager ever keep hanging on?

    He’s about to break another record. 6 Games without a goal

  30. if it wasn’t for the fact we only have gabby on the bench I’d sub tekkers, no service but not much movement again. we need to get tight to their players too. I can see why they beat city, arsenal have 8 behind the ball then hit on the break quickly, a lot like we used to less successfully, looks like wengers given up on the pretty football to a degree must have got his German badges

  31. We need a lot of luck to go our way in this one, thought Villa did settle down after the goal, but Arsenal could have easily been up 3-0. Yeah, looks like the high line wasn’t working. So far, Arsenal has dominated.
    Nearly 10 hours without a goal.
    UTV

  32. Tekkers is the one most likely to score regardless how he is playing – no way would i like to see him taken off

    Gil looks a good player with a great attidude to the game

  33. trinity- when you look at the bench there’s not a lot to change a game, if gabby still had pace I’d put him on for tekkers he is a shadow of his former self. could take cleverly off bring on Sinclair and keep the back-line solid would be my bet, but Sinclairs an unknown

    Leandro Bacuna, Nathan Baker, Aly Cissokho, Scott Sinclair, Ashley Westwood, Gabriel Agbonlahor.

  34. runtingz me neither, surely we keep the ball and draw them on, its been the complete opposite and I suspect Wenger has watched how other teams have handled us. Our misplaced passes and lack of movement are criminal and becomes obvious when compared to Arsenal.

  35. gooners are different class to us right now but we should be doing better – mastermind tactical genius lambo players high and doesnt play his best side
    the balance between defence and attack is were lambo is falling down badly with his tactics imo

  36. tekkers looks nothing short of clueless and I hate to say that. he is being marked by the slowest centre half in the league, I would rather give Robinson the chance, tekkers hasn’t won one header and his touch is terrible, outmuscled too.

  37. Mark – everything has been wrong with lambo’s management for a long time now – this is the main issue imo
    we could have taken a easy route with some of the english managers that are instantly turning things around were they have now gone but instead lerner believes in pl –

    i really dont think things will improve further than staying up as an achievement until lambo is replaced with someone better

  38. runtingz- unfortunately I think your right, although I find it hard to believe that 11 professional footballers carry out Lamberts instructions to the letter though. how do they not Know how to move and pass? its beyond me.

  39. the players too a degree mark but as i keep harping on about the manager is the most important and influencual person on any team and its suprising how time and again one managers lidl is the next managers harrods

  40. frem- no chance and we know it. once again he persisted with the pushing our fullbacks on makes us way to vulnerable because the end product is so poor. have never seen an arsenal team sit so deep though and look so solid they look like they could win the league

  41. Well, what do you say…

    After the first 15 minutes, and for nearly one hour’s play after that, Villa looked not at all bad, except…

    1. No great chances made
    2. Too many misplaced passes
    3. Insufficient determination to win in tackles by the forwards

    But the game plan looked a bit unrealistic as well.

    Cleverley did about one good thing, Sanchez buzzed but passing was off a lot.
    Gil looks nice but not the commanding player we need. Sinclair – one good run.

  42. JL- I think the way he pushes both full backs on is killing us, the midfield cant push up as we are constantly left with 2 at the back. Sanchez for all his passing errors ended up with the lions share of the ball up-field and he’s our DM. once we lose the ball we are in the shit. tekkers offers no threat, we are easy to defend against, just sit tight as we cannot cross accurately and our main threat is a statue, really wish Kosak was fit at least he’s not a sulker.

  43. What an absolute disgrace. Well Tom – yes the fans are baying for blood. We have had 3 seasons of this dreadful football. 5-0 is not a false narrative it’s an absolute fact – we are shocking. We haven’t scored in six games and we are the lowest scores in all four divisions by 9 goals. How much longer can this go on?

    And we have Chelsea next!

  44. if tom and randy were watching this I’ll bet they were hiding behind cushions by the end, and if randy kicks every ball with the team toms plums must be like rugby balls now

  45. I thought our tactics today were naive against a team like arsenal, particularly in the run of form they are on.
    The only hope is that we are trying to get into a different, attacking frame of mind which will work against lesser teams.
    If we do it against Chelsea then a similar outcome is likely.

  46. That was nothing short of fucking disgusting, how can anyone defend anything these wankers are doing to our club.
    Lambert has broken yet another record, it’s now 10hrs 12 mins since we scored a goal. It’s fucking February and we have only scored 11 goals!! Lambert is clueless he is killing this team with his tactics, Carragher basically slated him and his tactics.
    I’ve been inundated with messages from noses, laughing at us and saying it’s time we gave up all pretence of being a big club, and look forward to lower league football etc.
    What makes it worse is they are right, we are shite on the pitch and in a mess off it. None of those in power are part of the solution, therefore they are part of the problem.
    I’m embarrassed at being a Villa fan, even the blues, wolves and Albion have more to look forward to than us, our future is fucking bleak under these cunts, I don’t just want Lambert sacked, I want the cunt ruined, for the misery he has brought here.

  47. r0bb0,

    As I mentioned, I think that after the first 15 minutes Villa didn’t look at all bad until they scored the second, and I didn’t really expect them to at that stage.

    I feel that there’s one mighty obstacle (and there are some other obstacles too, I admit) … apart from Gil there’s no-one who’s convinced that we can create a genuine scoring chance. If there was belief there in that matter perhaps we might have scored before their second.

  48. robbo- we have had success playing counter attack against the better teams why not go 442 or 4132? he is truly baffling. nearly every goal saw our defence with 2 the back

  49. What shocked me was how poor our players are with the ball , their pace , decision making and over all footballing skills . So much for the hard work in training paying off .
    The lowest scorers in English football at 92nd and 9 goals behind the baggies at 91st.
    Benteke should be supported : he’s shown he can be world class and he will come good . Good players don’t become bad players permanently , at least not at his age . I feel sorry for him as I don’t believe it’s lack of effort but he seems confused where and how he should play . There’s a hesitancy and lack of confidence to his game which won’t be helped by dropping him IMO.

  50. Jenny,

    I noted a definite spring in CB’s step after h-t (and his cup of tea) … Something was said I think as he was doing more work then.

    But yes, the tactics have got to change to ensure he’s kept in the game.

  51. Have you watched us this season Robbo ?

    You think our new bull shit dire passing style that has broken a club record for no goals will work against the lesser sides ? What like it did against Sunderland and palace at home, like it did against Leicester away?

    There is nothing good what so ever about this so called new style

  52. Caragher said that it would have been ok for us to press high up the pitch against Arsenal but we left a huge gap in MF which allowed them to create havoc . I’m pleased we at least went out more attack minded but it seems PL hasn’t got the experience to implement it properly .

    Just look how much better Bertrand is playing now he’s at Saints .

  53. Lambert is poison, everything he touches has turned to shit, he ruins footballers, he doesn’t know what he is doing and simply has to go, we don’t score and ship goals, this is a recipe for disaster.
    Blues and Albion fans are having a Villa relegation party in town, after our game against Burnley.
    We are an absolute joke of a football club

  54. watched first 15 mins and it was as plain as day lambert has not got a clue,high line defence against some fastest players in mind and feet stupid ,cleverly is like playing with ten men from start,wiemen can only play off number 9,we need new manager asap if not we will be down before march is out
    need togoback to 442 formation with at least one attacking winger in it ,don t know why sissko was dropped he has defended pretty well all season and that is his main role in team starting to feel like last time we went sleepwalking to relegation think gunners beat us 50 that season as well
    no more defending lambert from now and if start lokking for next season tickets sales big no if lambert is still in charge

  55. maybe so jen but his movement is non existent, I couldn’t name you one time I saw him sprint, he seems to have lost all physicality and gets dominated by centre halves. watch his goals from his first season and you would think his twin with narcolepsy had turned up this season. when weiman had his chance the ball came free and tekkers just looked at it no reaction at all, you have to be alive to everything as he was before. sitting him might cure him of that .

  56. JL, I know where you’re coming from and I agree with you. We didn’t look at all bad for good periods of the game but we needed a lot of luck to go our way to come out on top playing like that against this Arsenal team. It just felt like a matter of time before they’d score.
    I would have gone for a more defensive set up against a team like Arsenal but it’s hard to be too critical when the team were doing what most of us on here have been calling for. . . . playing a more positive attacking style and even bringing on an out and out winger.

  57. What f*****g disgrace ! Lambert and co should donate their wages to charity until they get their act together? Mind you they wouldn’t ever be paid again, Or until they at least score a league goal.
    I have never in all my 51yrs been so ashamed to be a Villa fan and I have seen some tough times. I have never known such a clueless manager or team as this bunch of losers. That includes Lerner and co!
    For the love of God please please the lot of you PL, RL, TF, please just F*** off and let someone else have a go to right the wrongs you clowns have done to our beloved club.
    RIP
    AVFC

  58. I do think that we now have the players to make this style work well against lesser teams. . . . . I’d just have been more cautious today.
    Maybe, if we’re going to play this new style though we have to embrace it and get used to playing it in all games and accept the likely consequences on days like today?

  59. James,

    I don’t know why we’re talking about the first 15 minutes!

    Playing at a ground like Arsenal’s you’re gonna get gunners coming at you … but after 15 minutes Villa took better control of the play and at h-t we’d had more possession than them!

    Problem is our possession is not cutting-edge.

  60. trouble is robbo your manager needs to be clever with tactics. at this point we are not good enough to boss arsenal, if me and you can see it why cant he?

  61. Mark – are you saying that leaving Teckers out will somehow teach him a lesson to be more energetic on the pitch . That suggests he isn’t trying . Why wouldn’t he try ? He had the best premier league clubs comjng in for him after his first season – they’re nowhere to be seen now . He wants to score goals and the suggestion that he can’t be bothered when his career is at stake , not to mention his pride doesn’t ring true to me . He looks lost , like the others do when they get the ball .
    Just heard Tayls on TS and he said we have the players but they’re just not doing it . From which I would infer If Lambert can’t get them to perform to their best , we have to get someone who can .

  62. The best quote ever from our worst manager in our history

    ” I’m use to wining games ”

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

    Deluded fucker

  63. Jenny,

    I have sympathies with what Mark is saying about CB.

    He’s paid an awful lot and I remember well the days of the mid-60s when Tony Hateley wasn’t playing in a great team but still managed to wallop a goal in every two or three games throughout his 3-year career at Villa.

    And that’s a player who didn’t have anywhere near the skill of CB. OK, football has changed, but I’m just saying that whatever is happening it’s also his job to work to be there when any chances are offered, *whatever* chances they may be. Not just staring at spaces which is what he often does these days.

  64. jen/runtingz can you honestly hand on heart say tekkers is putting in a shift?fair play if you do but do you not think its weird he doesn’t win the headers any more? its nothing to do with not knowing what he’s supposed to do imo he’s an international player. weiman works his arse off and at the moment provides better movement up top than tekkers consequently he has had the better chances lately. we create precious little but at the same time a target man has to create chances from his movement for people to pick him out, tekkers is static. no player should have his place nailed on if he’s not producing and imo he is not. he is shockingly poor for a man of his undoubted ability at the moment and his demeanour is not of someone that’s even bothered.

  65. what’s more I get a sense his team mates have lost a little faith in him too, at times today he looked like weimans shadow when it should be the other way around. would love the old tekkers back but fear we haven’t got the time for him to decide he wants to play

  66. b62- didn’t want to go there as its bad enough when you criticise poor old millionaire tekkers. he is the focal point of our attack though and as such is failing. strange how he looked massively motivated under Lambert in his first season and even signed an extension he hated Lambert so much when he could of left. something is going on with the lad and we would lose nothing by dropping him at this point

  67. Mark – not arguing with the valid points youve made re tekkers form ect — but with the team we have i simply wouldnt drop him right now, as against palace he can turn in a moment of class and the whole team was and is playing poorly barr one or two

    again its the manager that needs benching more than anyone

  68. Mark and John : it is very sad how Benteke looks a shadow of himself and I have said since he came back from injury he looks really unhappy . From the little we get to see on camera , he looks like his confidence is shot – which can make pp lethargic . He’s not swaggering around like Balotelli he’s almost hiding . He doesn’t look like he wants the ball . This is the opposite from how he was first season . When you think about how combative eg was against the Toure brothers that first season you’d not believe it was the same player. He also seems distant from the other players so he’s not just isolated on the pitch but also in spirit.
    Too many of our players lose their skills and confidence – even Sanchez who looked promising to begin with couldn’t pass to a villa player . It’s worrying – how long before Gil ends up the same way .

  69. Mark & RoBBo,
    My negativity hasn’t anything to do with genes or hormones its to do with the fact that from top to bottom Aston Villa is total shite.
    The fact that he changed a defence that wasn’t conceding goals is bizarre, Sissy should chin the twat.
    Someone should teach the team how to play basic offside and communicating with each other, ie Clark and Richardson.
    That performance hit new levels of ineptitude and downnright gutlessness, nothing positive came from it, apart from Hutton who tried his best.
    I wonder if Lerner ‘Had fun’ watching this crepe or was he pacing the room with the equally stupid Tom Fox. If ever a game showed AVFC up for the incompetent arseholes they truly are then this was it.
    By the way, when the slimfast walked to the touchline to enter the fray, two people at our table remarked on what a fat twat he was, in fact the entire team is definitely totally unfit, Arsenal players were running away from our defenders even when they had the ball.
    Afraid its Hull, Boggies and us for the drop, no-one will miss us.

  70. The problem is none of them can score in the premier league so it’s not like anyone can replace him . I also think once he scores again he will go on a run like he is capable of.
    Paul Lambert has relied in the “we will be ok when Benteke is back ” too much .

  71. Oh, and by the way,the so-called players should refund the supporters who followed them to one of the most expensive grounds in the league, most of them may be thick but they don’t deserve this shite at 150 quid for the day.

  72. at the moment l had a drink while watching this shit in a noses pub , and fucking hell anyone finding a positive in this come and have a drink with us next game and explain the positives , fucking shit , and dont put a fucking link to some kind of fucking paper shite , and l dont want t to read about 3 teams worse than us , anyone backing this cunt of a manager needs a fucking kicking , yes lv had a drink and yes lm in a bad fucking mood as with quite a few lads are .

  73. A great man manager can bring the best out of his players, but the best players don’t need it. Lambert seems to struggle to consistently motivate players, but Benteke’s attitude stinks at the moment and the best person to put that right should be Benteke himself. There was one moment in the second half that summed it up to me. A pass in his direction was partly intercepted and he stood there pointing at the ball. “Yes teckers. . . . That’s what you play this game with, stop pointing at it, run and kick it!”

  74. I have much more sympathy for a player like Sanchez. Despite the fact that he’s been poor in our last two games, at no point has he hidden from the ball and he’s maintained his energy levels.
    If someone told him today to try longer passes I hope they ‘untell’ him before the next game.

  75. Listening to the Press Pass on TS .with the journalist from the Independent saying
    “It was the most one sided game I’ve seen this season and even Theo Walcott hinted the same … What was disappointing was the players didn’t properly go over to the fans to thank them they only went to the half way line – that’s lack of leadership .. How villa aren’t in the bottom three with their lack of goals and performance is beyond me …..there was no fight from the villa players and there’s a serious lack of confidence and that points to the manager . They are in danger of becoming a ghost club , content to fight relegation every year just to get the tv money …. What does it tell you About the Premier League that a Premier League team can only score 11 goals .

  76. Well if Teckers is really turning out the way you suggest then more fool Lambert for ostracising proven goal scorer Darren Bent , who wasn’t goal shy and wanted to play .

  77. we need to take a leaf out of Chelseas book and not let the fullbacks cross the halfway line. put bakuna out wide right ,weiman up top Gil in behind him, sanchez and delph central
    sinclair wide left and pass and move. when tekkers realises he’s a lucky bugger to be paid thousands to ponce about put him back in.

  78. Jenny,

    In principle I agree with you about Bent, but there is the issue that PL hasn’t played a system that suits Bent. He had his best moments when Young, Downing and Milner … and Albrighton … were putting in the passes and centres that he fed off.

    But it is scandalous that the owner shelled out £18-25m for the player and then was willing to see him being treated in the way he has. Knowing the value of everything but the value of nothing syndrome once more.

  79. john l
    i only watched first 15 mins left watched my local sunday league side
    more effort in them than villa all season from not even part timers they actually have to pay to play
    seen a stat last 47 league matches we have managed 41 points
    last 19 matches we won 12 points
    two runs off 5 matches without scoring one at 6
    fox must be bloody blind if he thinks matter tossing a coin to keep lambert manager dont know where he gooing to get big sponsership merchandise season tickets when we are relegated which is nailed on if he keeps the clown

  80. Its actually bewildering that anyone could think that Lambert deserves to stay as manager.
    Reading some of his comments was strange, it was like watching Norman Bates, deranged.
    Stan Collymore really blasting the dickbrain.
    Tom Fox knows fuck all, how come he recommends Lambert staying as Villa manager. Still no football knowledge at boardroom level which shows that Lerner regards the club not as a football club but as a business.

  81. the words of a lair a cheat and a fraud and a pathetic excuse for a man we have heard your lies for 3 years now and we are simply fed up to the back teeth with you and you broken English and sheer incompetence completely unable to pick a team to go out and win and your knowledge of football which is naught you are the most hated man i have ever known just admit to yourself that you are not up to the job and never have been you have lost all the players as that can be quite clearly seen on the pitch as they do not give a toss they are so unfit it is untrue and the way you have allowed scabby to become a candidate for the “biggest loser “is a couplet disgrace.
    i am sure if you walk all true villa fans will have a collection to pay you the 3 years wages as a scott you would never give up being that breed but for the sake of aston villa F off now and do us all a favor as the supposed man who is your boss Poxy fox is a bigger lair and cheat and fraud than you

  82. lambert hasnt got a syetem that fuits bent or tekkers – everyone ends up looking the fool under him

    those who want to hammer tekkers can do so but the problem is elsewhere

  83. Was anyone genuinely surprised at today’s result compare their last 8 games to our last 8 and the result was probably just about right.
    I did not watch it I couldn’t watch it that is not AVFC there is no pride anymore players going through the motions picking up tens of thousands a week to barely break sweat it is nothing short of a disgrace.
    Does Lambert really believe they are playing for him if he does then he is a bigger fool than I think he is, he will not walk they will not sack him which means we are stuck in this downward spiral, Chelsea next up to increase their GD we know they will beat us it is just a case of how many, will we ever score or win another game this season.

    AVFC RIP

  84. SWV,
    We could lose every remaining game this season 5-0 and Lerner & Fox would still ‘retain their faith’ in Lambert, the faith of two clueless idiots means nothing its the damage that faith is doing to AVFC that matters. We all know the reason for Lamberts survival is financial, Lerners finance to be specific, it just shows how little regard he has for the club and its supporters and aided by Fox he will leave the club eventually with his filthy lucre but the club will be a wreckage.

  85. Steamer
    A lot would agree, I’d rather we lynched the scum raping and pillaging our club, the media are right, we have become a ghost club, existing purely to ensure the owner gets his TV cash

  86. Evening
    Another new low for the villa. No amount of drink can cover this up.
    A decent team would’ve put 10 past us today thank god it was only Arsenal.
    PL has actually overtaken Guzan for my villa hate figure now, please walk and take guzan with you.
    Would love to say more but need more to drink.

  87. runtingz- nobodies bashing tekkers I think he is a great player just stating what seems obvious to me. Lambert is teflon and cant be taken out of the equation and tekkers has scored goals in an even worse villa team before. so as tekkers looks infective and we are relying on his talent to score our goals we need to change things. put rooney or van persie in the same position do you think they would react the same? personally I don’t and he should be in there class, so when I see so little effort from our most talented player it pisses me off

    if Lambert doesn’t go from this avalanche of abuse from all angles he never will maybe fox has enquired about available managers and had no joy?

  88. Fell asleep just after half time only to wake up near the end to hear it was 5-0. I was a bit disappointed about it but not really surprised. Most of us have learned to cope with these results. Soon, though, the idea that there’s 3 teams worse than us will be put to the test.

  89. Well,well.you reap what you sow,and we are in trouble,big trouble,As ever we have left it too late to sack Lambert.He is a disgrace .We have enough ability to nail between 8th and 12th position.We are unable to perform the basics,pass and move,the errors are numerous.We loan Cleverly who is apalling and he is chosen every week.It`s all to late now,Fox,or more likely Lerner ,have a blind spot re Lambert.Loyalty is to be admired,but blind lotalty is dangerous.
    I sense a panic buy this week,but like I said before,it`s all too late.

  90. Lamberk being telling lies again

    Saying he’s a winner( still trying to stop laughing )

    And he said yesterday Wiemann will compete up,front

    So he goes and plays him on the wing !!!

  91. Frem

    Lambert is a clown,but the players don`t get enough stick they were a disgrace today.

    In fact why don`t we just have clown outfits as our kit?Oversized shoes,water squirting out of fake flowers in our lapels,big red noses,crazy wigs,and sponsored by Billy Smart?.We are a bunch of clowns,we simply exist to enable other clubs to collect 3 points.

  92. just watched mod keown kilbane ripped arse out of villa showed one clip of over ten passes and guess what we ended up lumping ball to benteke when 2 defenders around him instead of first time when not marked
    cleverly is most useless overated player to play for villa since his debut 19 matches no goals assists just the two wins when we are down i hope lerner goes belly up don t care now if villa do pompey or leeds as long as lerner ends up in gutter

  93. fairplay mark again we go over the same point on tekers but like keown sad on motd he feels sorry for the likes of tekers who has no real service in a team with no idea how too attack – i am more with his line on the matter

  94. If Chelsea get two goals up, they’ll really open up on us. It could be another 5+ goal hiding, and our horrendous goal difference could be the deciding factor this season. It’s going to be close.

  95. I also think this fullbacks coming forward tactic has to change. It’s not working, and everybody knows that’s what Villa is going to do. Arsenal knew they’d do it and there’d be space at the back to be exploited.
    In general, imo, Hutton has done well coming forward, and has usually managed to gain a lot of yards, but the overall tactic isn’t working.
    Cleverly is more of a squad player. I’d consider playing Clark further up the paddock with Delph, Gil and Sanchez/Westie. Sanchez gave away too much possession yesterday. With Clark in the middle, we gain a bit more height and scoring ability and he seems a bit quicker these days.

  96. Well folks,

    Watched the first half and was worried once the first goal went in, then villa seemed to eventually settle a little and coming towards the end of the half, should have at least had an equaliser, but a glaring misses by Weimann and Benteke.

    Had to go to work then, and just hoped that Lambert would have inspired the team to come out and really make a game of, but by the time I got to work,of course, Villa were losing 3-0, and I knew then it would only get worse, and that Lambert had made one of his magical double substitutions. It really has got such an embarassment now, and what is worse, i have just paid for my cup ticket. I just hope the club see sense , and that Lambert is gone by tomorrow night, and either the guy from Middlesboro’ or someone similar is in place. I am not looking forward to Chelsea next week now. Once i have seen the cup match, I think it will be my last ever visit to Villa Park, until Lambert is gone. Keane is the one who should have stayrd, and Lambert and Gabby, should have gone. I never thought that I would feel that way about Gabby, as I have always felt he was a great player for Villa.

  97. If we don’t get 3 wins in Feb and March then we’re going down… it feels like our luck is about to finally run out, let’s hope Sinclair and Gil can bring some magic against the bottom half clubs, the strikers get some service then start firing goals in again. UTV!

  98. Trinity- Hutton gets forward well but couldn’t cross himself if he was Catholic . Apart from a couple of crosses from Gil its hit and hope. Feel for tekkers but his reaction has to be better. He is double marked a lot so take those players out of the box with you where they don’t want to go and create space for others. We continually see hopeful balls into a man that is getting bossed each match. Hopefully Sinclair can provide something, would even consider Lowton on right mid, Gil behind benteke

  99. Mark
    I’d be happy with Lowton at right mid, he can cross. He also has an eye for goal and his defensive frailties won’t be so exposed there.

  100. Trinity: Is this the first time since 1874 that Villa haven’t scored in six consecutive league matches?

    Not entirely sure about that as Villa didn’t do very well in their earliest matches, but I would say it’s the first time since 1875 (if not 1874) that this has happened.

  101. Seen this headline in the Birmingham Mail and thought, Lamberk had been removed from footballing duties to recruitment officer for the new managers position

    Paul Lambert: I am looking for anyone who can improve Aston Villa

    Unfortunately don’t bother reading it as it’s basically his public appeal to Lerner to spend money on more average players in the hope we survive relegation.

    My god, how crap was that yesterday, scoreline aside, we created nothing, we frustrated Arse for a period of time and it could look that we are on a par with them, but the reality is we were shocking, I’m at the stage now where I hope the players are actually good but just don’t want to play for Lamberk and are engineering bad performances to get him sacked. Someone needs to speak to Gil and Sanchez to make sure they are on the same wavelength.

    It is very sad to see a club, my club dying before my eyes but the Lerner years will go down as the worst in history and any platitudes around being a custodian were false in the extreme.

    To borrow from Southwestvillan

    AVFC RIP

  102. Ronnie,

    Look at the remaining fixtures and you will see that getting three more wins for the rest of the season will be a big ask, home games against West Brom, QPR and Burnley just about look winnable but with this clown in charge he will get three draws if we are lucky.

    AVFC RIP

  103. Wouldn’t surprise me if Lerner made Chubby the DoF.

    Everything about yesterday was disgraceful but what peed me off the most was our twattish fans applauding the shower of shite off the pitch at the end ….for what exactly.

    Lets hope Chelsea hit another five next week, Lerner will still have fun though.

    The team can now be put in the following catagories –

    Very good but playing crap –
    Benteke, Sanchez, Guzan, Delph.

    Average –
    Hutton, Clark.

    OK every now and then –
    Baker, Bacuna.

    Good but ….
    Vlaar.

    Mediocre –
    Weimann, Sissy, Lowton.

    Piss poor –
    Westwood, Sinclair.

    Blues standard –
    Flabby, Okore, Cleverley, Bennett, Luna, Tonev.

    Too talented –
    Grealish.

    Untested –
    Robinson, Gil.

  104. Six of us in the pub yesterday, all followed Villa for 45 – 55 years, all ex – season ticket holders, all want Lambert and Lerner gone, all said we were nailed on for relegation.

  105. Steamer,

    I see Chubby getting on his bike would have made you smile, another club tie to add to his collection, there should be a golden rule — if you know fuck all about football you should never be allowed to work in such an important position, Tom Fox please take note.

    AVFC RIP

  106. I think i am the only one not as upstet. Arsenal, one of the best teams in Europe (always in cham league qf) home to villa who as we know are shite…..i ignored the game and went for a roast dinner and walk…obvious we would get turned over.

    Lambert aint going anywhere…No one cares enough to sack him and we have no one at the club who has any idea who to replace him with.

  107. deadline day
    wouldnt matter if we had costa messi ronaldo up front our prick off manager would have midfielder passing the ball back lambert should try rugby take delph cleverly flabby with him
    benteke has gave up and dont blame him mod showed last night clip 10/15 passes going nowhere instead direct which suits benteke only one class player we have
    LAMBERT OUT LAMBERT OUT

  108. Whoever the fitness coach is ( if we have one ) he should be booted. A pal of mine did the job under BFR, he got them fitter than fit, they couldn’t slack off because he was a kickboxing champ.
    Not only is he a crepe player, but Gabby is 2st overweight and doesn’t give a FF, the worst example of a pro footballer i’ve seen for years, take the money and eat.

  109. Apparently this is true told to me by a Villa fan down this neck of the woods, Gil was recommended by Sanchez he told one of the coaches about Gil and that he was a real decent player and likely to be open to a move, Sanchez did not have the confidence to tell Lambert, the coach spoke to someone at the club again not Lambert and they took a look at Gil and asked if he would be available and then made an offer after consulting Lambert.
    Lambert was too busy to watch him due to taking up all the duties without a assistant, so to call Gil a Lambert signing could not be further from the truth, as usual more lies from the club but the truth will eventually out.

    AVFC RIP

  110. Can totally believe it, that would ring true IMO, Gil isn’t exactly a Lambert type of player is he ? i thought the new scout, O’Reilly may have recommended him. Even Benteke was scouted by McCleish not Lambert, mind he can take the credit for Bennett and Tonev.

  111. Sadly, Aston Villa are making all the headlines on TS this morning. No-one expected us to beat Arsenal, but it has been heralded as the most one sided game of the season. ( though I would lhave thought Sunderland’s loss to Saints was that ) Still, It is the way we lost and at the worst time possible – before we face Chelsea. It was a huge embarrassment to see how unfit and lacking in skill our players were in comparison to Arsenal particularly when Fox has boasted of our great training methods and introduction of cutting edge sports science techniques/

    Delph’s new contract was a great boost for us fans. He looks ideal captain material – so where was he when the chips were down. I am not blaming him for our capitulation but it seemed no one was willling to galvanise the troups – come on lads – don’t let your heads drop – that was disappointing. In Delph’s favour though, he looked livelier and more skilful than the others.

    I think that PL is trying to change too much at once. Like his “out with the old in with the new and young inexperienced” at the start of his reign, he is now trying to introduce new players in AND change the style of football too ra idly. Gil has settled in very well – but then he hasn’t been playing longball like the others have for the last 2 and a half seasons.
    This is aggravating their lack of confidence and confusion. This was highlighted by the difference Ars showed when they got the ball and when we did. Arsenal look like they have been practising moves and team awareness whereas our lot (and not for the first time) get the ball and think Oh no what now.

    I fear for them tbh. Chelsea are going to wetting themselves in anticipation of getting their GD up and our lads are going to be worried about another 8-0 at the Bridge. If I was RL I would go all out and get Demba Ba .

  112. Morning fellow sufferers,
    I`ve never given PL personal abuse,well, I did call him a clown last night.However.I believe that he reflects one of the ills of of modern society,in that he won`t take ANY responsibility for his actions,and if he were a decent man,would walk away,a la Keegan and declare “I`m just not up to it”.
    He slates the players after that non performance,yet who buys,selects and coaches these players?
    I am more sadened then angered,because to sack him now is too late ,the damage has been done,and is being done right in front of our eyes.Lerner,you are a disgrace,and have let down every Villa fan,with your abysmal choices and decisions.

  113. Why didn’t he put Sanchez out of his agony – who had the worst day at the office. Sometimes, when things are going badly they get worse and so it did for Sanchez. Was it Jonathan Walters, who scored a couple of OGs and then took the pen and missed it completely. Anyway, it has been on the top 100 embarrassing football moments and you whilst you want players to recover – if they are hurting mentally from scoring an OG – they are not the best players to be put in a high pressure penalty taking position.

  114. Steamer – I was also surprised when the camera zoomed over to the Villa fans clapping at the end – and I asked my friend who never misses home or away and was at the game, – why they were clapped off after such a dismal display and this is what he said

    ” could not believe people were clapping that shite and I made a comment to a bloke next to me about it on the way out. I didn’t see who applauded, because as soon as the final whistle blew I walked out in disgust. A lot left at 3-0″

    So what the cameras didn’t show were the away fans leaving after Arsenals third goal – explains a lot.

  115. Deadline day. We won’t do fuck all apart From maybe another Sylla or Holt

    Bosnich on talk sport saying Lambert should quit because he knows he can’t take on villa anymore

    Hope Chelsea batter to. The club thought beating Bournemouth and signing Delph up was good enough to make up for this season

  116. Jenny: I think that PL is trying to change too much at once.

    Mmmm… A bit like Cameron and the NHS? Yes, I agree on that. Just changing things around in the hope of something clicking mid-season is a woeful technique. And each opponent may need a different approach from Villa anyway.

    Yes, I go with most of your comments … and Delph *is not* yet good enough to be the club captain as he does not know how to set the best example. There again, we don’t really have a solid captain-like player although I’d say that Clark at times looks the part.

  117. Frem, I see Bosnich also says we need to change the style of play, clearly he missed the memo around Lamberk meeting Pep and his new style of play, could we have a third ‘style’ of play in one season.

    It’s a crime that Fox and Lerner nailed their colours to the mast and said Lamberk safe, this wasn’t the dreaded vote of confidence this was we can’t afford to pay off your new contract so we’re stuck with you. It means Lamberk has no fear and only professional pride will hurt by having relegation on his cv, but he can walk away from that join Burton Albion (no disrespect) and build again whereas we are left with relegation and once the vultures have taken the best we’re left with a few loyals and players no one else wants (Gabby).

    There is no single player that Lamberk can get in between now and 11pm that will change what is happening, at the very least that is a dreadful pressure to place on a player to pin all our hopes on survival. Lamberk needs to walk, and a new manager take on the challenge with a real football philosophy that plays to our strengths instead of trying to match Arsenal after a confidence boost FA Cup win, we should have went with two banks of 4 and Benteke and Gil just behind (on the basis of the desire he has shown) and catch them on the break, counter-attack away from home, impose at home.

    Was going to keep the AVFC RIP tag line but I’ll make my own as Villa will always be around long after Lamberk, Lerner. The AVFC I want, won’t exist until their departure

    AVFC ALL (After Lamberk, Lerner)

  118. to be honest the loss and when we lose to Chelsea is no surprise, the manner we threw ourselves on arsenals sword
    was. I was expecting at least a dogged display, was surprised by arsenal who seceded possession and counter attacked us, I’m guessing Wenger was wary after the last time we won 3-1 there, arsenal went 433. okore and gil had moments but the rest was shocking and amateurish cant feel sorry for any of them as their pride should at least warrant some team effort. apart from guzan kicking the post where was the fight?

  119. John – I agree that it’s a dangerous decision to change style , tactics et al mid season when you are fighting relegation to boot. But that is why disaster is written all over the AV change of direction . This “new Pep style” was a reaction to the fans discontent – not a decision made by PL for the right reasons ie ” i have the experience and skill to implement a new attacking style of football”. It was a reaction to the “gates are falling the natives are restless so change your style like big Sam did ” request by Fox. Go and learn off Pepe – how ridiculous . If it had come from Lambert why didn’t he do this from the start when he had the opportunity to build something decent here. It’s crass naivety from Fox and a lack of confidence and ideas from Lambert that is making us a laughing stock. Attacking football with no goals .

  120. Darren and Frem , I heard Bosnixh too this am. To be fair on Lambert for once, I don’t think Bosnich has seen our recent games as he seemed to be saying we need to change our style to more attack and more entertaining . This is what PL has been trying to do and tbh , I think at this stage of the season we need to go back to what PL knows best as the Arse display showed he is well out of his depth. Pepe Guardiola style can’t be learned in one visit – and we don’t have the players with the skill to execute it mid season .

  121. A summary of our……… erm……..”tactics” from the last 4 years.

    1.
    Long ball hoofed forward from a packed defence, resulting in minimal posession.the outcome?We keep losing.
    2.
    Very similar to the above,but with 7 defenders instead of 9.
    Sit back and use pace to counter,home and away,mainly via long balls,to players played out of position,outcome?We keep losing.

    Patient,slow pointless passing,with high ball retention stats,mainly in our own half.Outcome?We keep losing.

    However we dress it up and embellish the spin,Lambert`s tenure has been, and is a disaster.Tactics,sweepers,a middle 4 ,a back 3 ,a sitting MF,wingers,a no 10,a lone striker,5 in midfield,I don`t care,the end result is that we keep losing.
    Aston Villa,will be missed from the EPL.Why?Because we are the easiest team to play and beat,virtually ensuring 6 points per year for the top 6 and nearly always 4 points a season for the rest.

  122. The biggest signning we could make today is a new manager — i know it wont happen of course

    but PL is the issue here and is looking to take imo a good squad of players down

    yesterdays tactics was the last straw for me and tells me it doesnt matter who we sign if we are going to employ lamberts ill thought out tactics the help the opposition more than our own team

  123. Well,

    Lambert now looks a beaten man.He no longer has a player left who is willing to put in a shift, when things are going wrong. The team was just about doing ok up until half time, but from what I am hearing from everyone, Westwood should have replaced Sanchez, and maybe Gabby should have come on for Benteke.

    If Lambert has no success in the transfer market today…..I do not expect him to still be Villa manager after Wednesday, and he will walk, or be sacked.

    Very sad days at Villa, and nothing is changing on the surface, but I expect things to be happening behind the scenes. Lerner cannot afford to lose next season’s projected income of £100million from TV rights. He knows he has to act now.

  124. I’d agree with John about the captain, i do like Delph but he’s not a captain IMO, i’d go for Clark who has captained teams at all age groups.
    B6B,
    Your right mate, its never Lamberts fault is it ? mind he does have a ECW medal and his Jeerman badges.

    The thing about booting Lambert is that it WILL happen eventually, results indicate that he’s crepe, he can’t come back from the three disasterous seasons he’s inflicted on us so why not do it now, or is Lerner waiting until we’re in League 1 before he boots the mug. Talking of Lge 1, i notice Leyton Orient who’s reserve team knocked us out of the Lge Cup are now one off the bottom, couldn’t make it up.

  125. Jenny,

    Yes, PL has proved himself not to have a lot of wit. But I am sorry to say that – it’s more down to incompetence on the board’s part to employ him. Just because he’s a nice guy and does as he’s told, I suppose. Ron Saunders or any of Villa’s worthy managers wouldn’t have lasted long! – or even got the job.

    On Clark – despite his shortcomings, he’s the only one I’ve seen stick his chest out and play with pride, especially looking proud after a timely interception. In fact, I’ve seen less fouling from him just recently.

  126. The best transfers for Villa in the few hours remaining,would be all outgoing deals.Lambert,Cleverly,Flabby,Weimann,Joe Cole-sorry Joe it ain`t working-,Vlaar,CNZ(remember him?),that`s just for starters.

  127. Delph is definitely no captain, and only Clark has the look of wanting to do it.

    Delpoh very poor on being interviewed, as was Lambert, except at least he admitted that his team gave up the ghost. Time to go…PL

  128. The best signage for us would be. Manager wanted or closed for refurb or even under new management.
    Of the players we have Clarke is a leader for me. Part of me hopes senderos gets fit as we need an organiser on the pitch but wouldn’t want to drop Clarke or okore.
    Against chelski would go 451 with Gil linking with tekkers, Sinclair left Bakuna right Delph and Westwood/Sanchez central and lambert on the titanic

  129. jen we haven’t scored much since Lambert met pep, that useless champion league winning manager disrupting Lamberts flow he’s got a lot to answer for

  130. What about Lambert on the Belgrano.

    Yeah Guardiola butt out stop trying to spoil our season with your namby pamby tactics have you won a CL medal have you got jeermann coaching badges, Paulo knows what he is doing when we need your help we will ask for it, nosey Spaniard.

    AVFC RIP

  131. Villa, according to Birmingham Mail, are finished in the transfer window, and will not do anymore business.

    Lerner has closed the cheque book and Lambert will no doubt face the board this week to explain Sunday’s failure.

  132. Mark,

    That is terrible news if Clevely goes back where will our creativity come from and what about all the goals he always chips in with, heres some advice Tommy old pal get back on that M6 sharpish or I will get ST75 to come down BH and slacken your jaw, useless piece of crap Martinez can have him.

    AVFC RIP

  133. Paul,

    Lambert facing the board now there is a meeting I would like to see, some of the greatest football minds to ever grace B6 all huddled together around a plate of ginger nuts trying to work out how we lost 5-0, but Paul if we are excellent every week why do we keep on losing, and why can”t we score surely we can get at least one field goal, Benteke shot over the bar in the second quarter surely that is two points.

    AVFC RIP

  134. Just been announced on TS I kid you not .

    “Nothing happening at BMH ” Adrian Durham laughed “they looked so good yesterday ”

    Ermm nothing much has been happening at BMH all season has it !

    The fans have been duped yet again / the timing of Delphs new contract to coincide with deadline day to disguise the fact we are going to be hanging on by our finger nails for the fourth season running .

  135. Cleverly can’t go out on loan again so he’d sit in Man U reserves, no more appropriate for a waste of space and loan transfer money we could have better spent on cheese rolls for Gabby

  136. Everton want Cleverley end of season for some reason .

    Tom Ross programme at six tonight Radio Free 80s entitled
    “villa fans vent your anger tonight with Ian Taylor – he ain’t happy ” .

    All this bad press and villa haven’t even got a media director . Its as bad as the manager not having an assistant when we haven’t won a game for ages and them coming out with “we are heading in the right direction “

  137. never has a man deserved bankrupcy like randy prick lerner
    easy to know fox never got near football at gunners
    lambert will never manage again it was wrong man walked when keane did flabby would be fit now cleverly would pass ball forwad
    a bit of humour to finnish lambert has been advised these 3 players are avaiable cheap
    shotan goal,shotan target and finally kleen sheet

  138. With people like Martin Keown stating that Villa have the players to do (a lot) better, then you know the team is being wrongly managed/directed – otherwise we’d be getting better results, right?

    So, even if we signed a top-class player there must be a doubt that it would make too much difference to the situation.

    As Mark suggests, we must use the wing-men we now have available – particularly Bacuna and Sinclair – to get to the byline and pull that ball back or cross *accurately* so that even CB on a leaden-footed day can score.

    Failure to do this – and let the full-backs concentrate on what they’re supposed to be doing – will undoubtedly see the big R taking place.

    Lambert, please read: To win matches we have to score!

  139. Thats a great mail by Jon Fear but it confirms what a prick Tom Fox is. I don’t expect anything positive from Lerner in the way that we need it but as long as he is aware of the situation as it really is rather than the way Fox and Lambert tell him it is then ok.
    I always suspected that Fox was a gobshite, he looks a smarmy twat.

  140. Our full backs never cover behind the central defenders anyway but when used as wide attackers its suicide football, Clark and Okore had four or five running at them, nothing too wrong, just a complete failure in the basics that an amateur could spot.

  141. Cleverly off in the summer,what a shame,that`s a cross we shall just have to bear,sob,sob.

    J.Fear`s email,superb,but I fear(pun intended)it won`t be read.If it is read it will be seen by a member of staff I presume,who will read 2 paragraphs and dispose of it.

  142. Just had my Facebook post read out on Tom Ross show
    “Can you ask Tayls to take over as Manager he talks more sense than anyone there and has more passion ”

    Hahaha – he took his time and said ” I’d love to be involved there !” (Tayls )

  143. I honestly believe Lerner is preparing for relegation, keeping the cash in the bank, pocket the parachute payment then offload us to any old twat on the cheap.
    No one believes we will survive the drop, we are awful in all areas on and off the pitch.
    EVERYONE can see our deficiencies except those three clueless morons running the show.
    We are done, Lambert is that bad it’s got to the point it doesn’t matter what he tries, it will come down to others frailties being worse than ours, unfortunately there aren’t 3 worse teams to save us.
    We are 6 places, 5 points and 15 goals worse off than this time last year.

  144. Deighton Yorker is right, Villa haven’t progressed at all under Lambert, and before someone points out the reduced wage bill, that is pittance compared to what revenue we will lose through relegation. I bet none of the players have relegation wage clauses in their contracts.
    The club look like imploding and dying without as much as a whimper.

  145. B6

    You are not wrong to be somewhat cynical…

    From what I understand (and inferred by Fear) when JF contacted Lerner before, Lerner was interested in what he had to say but said something to the effect that “Tom Fox will be interested in talking to you”.

    As JF says in his e-mail to Lerner, Fox didn’t show any real interest at all, so JF has not talked to Fox.

    What I am saying is that Lerner appears to have no control over Fox at all. Fox does his own thing no matter what his boss says. Either that or it was Lerner’s way of passing the problem to someone else.

  146. b62- non of mons to mcleishs had relegation wage clauses, you better hope they rectified that. if the much talked about wage bill had remained we would go pop if relegated.

    no news at BMH about incoming players but there have been some rumours about revolutionary training tactics. just the other day it was reported that a herd of cattle were seen being chased by what appeared to be the entire villa team carrying banjos, it was noted none of the cows had any bruises on their arses. on the next pitch the erection of a barn for shooting practice had begun.

  147. Frem
    There will be no deals tonight, don’t do it to yourself.
    The penny may eventually drop once we lose to Hull, WBA etc at the minute they are using the excuse its Liverppol/Arsenal/Chelsea

  148. I predicted a panic buy,………….drum roll….for Rickie Lambert £5m FFS,this season`s Grant Holt,at least Dick Turpin wore a mask.If this deal happens,it`s black armbands all round,yes he is better than Holt,but is 32,£5M is beyond belief,panic,panic,panic.

  149. Brazil
    Mate it won’t happen, it’s all bollox. The club will say we tried , we are always looking to progress and improve, Saint Lambert will lead us to glory blah blah fucking blah
    It’s simply one lie after another

  150. b6-heard on the radio earlier that nobodies leaving scouseland and rogers is happy with what he’s got.

    the rumours that an unknown player was being sneaked into BMH in a Kebab van where scuppered when it was found to be gabbys second breakfast delivery of the morning. although the mobile eye testing centre hasn’t been explained yet.

  151. It seems that the Lambert deal (i.e. the player!) could be *on* as £5m represents a decent profit on their purchase price and that they’d not likely to get that price in the summer.

    But as a Liverpool blog says… “Lambert has bagged just the three goals in 23 appearances so far this term, although most of these have come from the bench…” – See more at: http://www.empireofthekop.com/anfield/2015/02/02/aston-villa-push-5m-rickie-lambert-deal-evening/#sthash.DUs6F24K.dpuf

    Doesn’t sound like Villa’s answer to scoring problems, does it, unless this Lambert and CB are to be a joint spearhead.

  152. In Lamberts defence he is good in the air and intelligent. has good hold up play and positional sense just not very mobile so straight away he’s better than tekkers at the mo and he’s scored more goals

  153. Let`s hope it is all rollox B62, we mugged the Scoucers with Downing £20M.maybe they see £5M as evening things up a bit,he would fit in well,he rarely scores.I am praying into a cold one that this transfer if not kosher ,it would really do me nut in.

  154. Nothing wrong with the striker Lambert. More quality then anyone else we have apart from Benteke. He’s a good player who can take pressure of Benteke.

    But, I think it’s got Dempsey written all over it. Just to pretend we wanted to do smoothing

  155. Yes Frem,he has already scored more at VP than our entire MF (I think),but being better than all but Benteke is hardly a recommendation,but I get your point.

  156. We deserve relegation

    Have all month to buy a striker and wait for the last 3 hours to bid for one.

    Lambert will be happy to say” we tried ” for weeks now

  157. Mark,
    You are right about Ricky Lambert he is intelligent he told Rodgers you fucking send me down there and I will keep on driving and go back to play for Bristol Rovers because I ain’t playing for that useless knobhead at VP.

    AVFC RIP

  158. Lerner needs to have a long hard look at Leeds, Sheffield Weds, Sheff Utd, Middlesborough, Derby, Forest, Wolves etc All decent sized clubs who fell out of
    the top flight and have struggled ever since, if he thinks it’s like the states where finishing bottom means fuck all, and Franchises just up and move towns or cities he is more mental than I thought, these people will never understand this thing of ours.

  159. Randy spends 3 mill on us to try and keep us up

    We’ve scored 7 goals since September and Lamberk decides to act at 9mp

    And we’ve loaned Robbinson

  160. what’s even more mental is Robinson’s gone back to Preston without so much as 5 mins on a pitch. SWV lets face it Gil came here because sanchez sold it to him , Sinclair because nobody wanted him and Lambert is not going to ruin his rep with us unless its big dollar and it won’t be.

  161. So these idiots are pinning our survival hopes on a front line that has scored 11 goals all season!! Last ditch attempt for Rickie Lambert was embarrassing , and now we loan out our only other viable option in Robinson.
    We are championship bound, can’t score, can’t keep clean sheets and are very poor in the middle, and our keeper has the yips!!!
    3 years of Lambert and we see no progress whatsoever, in fact we are getting worse!!!!
    I hope these cunts are happy, The Albion are at least trying to fix their problems, Fletcher and Olsen are decent enough additions, Cole is a waste of oxygen though( although he will score against us)

  162. Kind of glad we didn’t get Ricky Lambert for 5M… 33 on the 16th of this month, a loan deal could of worked.

    Would rather use the 5M to pay off Lamberk to get the f”ck out the club,

  163. Runtings,

    That number you put up early on for the Samaritan i just called it and guess what Lambert answered, what sort of sick fucker plays a trick like that on a fellow Villan sort your life out you fucking freak show

  164. Well thank god that is over and we still have Gabby I was convinced Madrid were going to make a bid, and obviously the bonus is we have kept hold of all our top scorers.
    Just waiting for Cleverly to be recalled by Untied in fact Olbyun got the better end of that deal signing Fletcher who is crap but head and shoulders above our useless twat.
    All in all a satisfying window we managed to avoid the new Grant Holt in signing another Lambert although he cannot be any worse than what we have got.

    So our manager tells the press we are working hard to bring a couple in and eventually we get rid of Callum Robinson, to think that these people actually get paid good money to continually fuck things up.

    Can anyone see anything other than championship football next season, at least clubs around us either did business or tried their hardest to bring in players, I just felt the Villa was paying lip service to their fanbase they must think we are just a load of thick brummies who cannot work out what they are up to.

    AVFC RIP

  165. Didn’t Lambert say he wasn’t worried about us not scoring ? Yesterday he boasted that our forwards score in training !!!!!
    He also said Robinson should stay at PNE because it’ll do him good, that was a week before recalling him and not playing him.
    This club is a nut house and deserves to be relegated.
    Ellis, you old bastard, you’ve really fucked us this time you bollox.

  166. Birmingham Mail is fucking clueless, now I have got a sense of humour but is that anyway to treat your paying customer, or have I got it wrong and the whole world is laughing at us, we have become footballs version of the Krankies.

    AVFC RIP

  167. Sooooo apparently we had 5M lying around and could afford to give 40K plus wages to a player..

    Yet waited till the last minute to try and persuade a 33 year to come and play for us..

    No back up player in mind.. NOTHING.. what a joke..!

    A target man at that.. when we are supposedly trying to play tippy tappy football at the moment..

    We are a complete joke.. with a clown in charge of our team..

    We may well survive.. and it will be down to QPR Burnley and Lesta being worse then us.. that is the only grain of hope we can hang onto..

    BUT something needs to change in the summer.. this can’t carry on any more.. enough is enough..!!

  168. It’s all over now,…….

    maybe the last time…..

    Green, green grass of home……

    That’ll be the day…..

    So many thoughts come to mind…….including do I want to witness Saturday’s coming horror show….or is it time to start saving for a holiday, rather than waste money on diesel to B6……..

  169. We chased an almost 33 year old from the Bindippers,and were prepared to pay way over the odds for him.The whole attempt stank of panic,fear and desperation.Yet we have Bent scoring for fun at Derby,no fee,already an AVFC player.I am not his biggest fan,but maybe Bent could have saved us again,but we`ll never know now.Pathetic,truly pathetic management,well,mismanagement.How not to run a football club,AVFC should be a case study.Reward failure,appoint incompetent staff,alienate your customers,and become ridiculed,whilst losing money.Insane.

  170. We also have Kosak coming back , helinius abandonned – robinson cant get a game plus tekkers gabby and wieman

    i don’t think we even needed another player — its just a new manager needed to have us flying as imo we have a pretty good team that is being held back by really really poor tactics and non exsistant motivation

  171. Runtings,

    Nail on head, a new manager would do better things with this lot as its pretty obvious they ain”t listening to Lambert, I played for some bad managers in my time a bloke called Haddon springs to mind complete fruit loop.

    Where is Laudrup these days?

    AVFC RIP

  172. i know i go on about 2 stone overweight scabby but the team is simply unfit here area few facts to prove it
    we have scored 1 goal in the prem since keno left start of November
    we have scored 4 goals in the second half of prem games out of the last 41 games
    less than 1 goal in every 10 games in the second half
    this shows beyond all doubt the team is as keno said completely unfit
    look at Sunday last ten minuets fell apart unfit
    so besides the complete fool who could not pick his nose in charge,this proves that the team just can not last 90 mins and are completely unfit when are the happy clappers going to wake up you can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time although Lambert and fox are having a good go at it

  173. A big thank you to Mr. Fear for using his position and access to tell Lerner almost exactly how it is, these things have to be tempered for emotion as emotion can reduce impact but thank god he sent it.

    I’ve absolutely no clue has to how Lamberk is still in a job, given the performance of the team, the stats, the record breaking year, the loss of a number two because he had no balls to stand up to player power.

    This lack of balls showed the players that they have control over the manager, probably why some aren’t dropped quick enough or played enough. How can Lamberk expect to manage this team if they have no respect for him. We are seeing the result of this on the pitch has there is no clarity of approach. It really does look like 11 players that kinda know their position and are playing on memory of what goes where as opposed to enforcing a system, knowing their roles and carrying out the manager’s instruction.

    Why was Robinson brought back not given any game time and the loaned out again, I expect Villa may have had some positives from Lambert’s camp that allowed Robinson to leave but what an impression of a club at professional level to give a young man.

    Lambert would not have made an ounce of difference. God forbid we’d place all our hopes on him for survival. We are left with the hope that 3 teams remain worse than us and the summer brings the required change in ownership and mgmt. Fox for all the space I’ve afforded him has proven to be a poor CEO but under new ownership could be a valuable Commerical Acitivities director or whatever the title should be.

    We’ve bounced from disaster to disaster in the last 4 years and only the catastrophe of relegation will bring about the change needed at this stage and all because of stubbornness and an unwillingness to accept/acknowledge that further mistakes have been made with manager selection.

    AVFC ALL

  174. The most annoying part of this Ricky Lambert deal if it had come off for £5m for a 33 year old was that Liverpool was going to spend that money on Danny Ings who has scored six times the goals, who got the rough end of that deal, you decide.

    AVFC RIP

  175. I see Delph is the latest player in the Lambert barrel, we are in it together we are a tight knit bunch blah blah blah — ” I think we can get something in the next game”, yes Fabian another major hiding, he is going to look a decent player in the championship.

    AVFC RIP

  176. When Arsene Wenger says we weren’t physically fit enough to last out the game, you need to listen. Lerner, Lambert and his procession of sub-par coaches, have brought nothing but shame and embarrassment on our once great club. Scott Marshall, the current first team coach, has a pedigree that would probably fail to excite Kidderminster Harriers. He was YOUTH coach at Brentford in 2007, then spent time in Muscat, running the Arsenal Soccer Schol (!!) before becoming U-21 Coach at NORWICH (!!) in 2012, before Lambert appointed coach at Villa in June 2013. Doesn’t anyone at the club understand that Paul Lambert and his old mates are just not up to running a side as important as Aston Villa?

  177. Blimey `Arry ,what a feeble excuse to give as resignation,you didn`t want another relegation on your CV my son.QPR will get a lift now from a new manager.I wonder where they will get their 1st away win???????Ha,Ha.

  178. Tekkers lastest post – wasted talent right now

    Christian Benteke18 mins · .Never let people put you down. In all challenges we face there are barriers, reasons to doubt, but the fact not to distract or disorient can only encourage our goal.

    Thanks Emilien Messagé-Prod’ what a talent ! ‪#‎CB20‬ ‪#‎NeverGiveUp‬

  179. B62B,

    Yeah that’s nailed on how long before Tim Sherwood gets appointed, probably not as quick as Pearces replacement he was going out of the door and Freedman was holding it open for him.

    AVFC RIP

  180. SWV,
    He’s assistant manager to Haddon.

    Theo Walcott said he was disappointed that the people who represented Villa on Saturday never went over the half way line to thank the fans who forked out over 100 squid each to support that disgraceful pile of shite.

    Chubby thinks he’s a football expert now he’s at the FA, he’ll put his name forward to oppose Blatter at FIFA next, either that or he’ll be doing the washing up at the caff.

    The more i think of Delph gushing about Villa’s future the more i think Paul Allen, i thought he was over the top happy not just content happy and he wouldn’t be that happy if he thought he was playing with this crepe for another season or under Lambert or indeed a million other things, only dummies like Gabby would be happy picking up good money for standing around at a dead end club.

  181. Steamer,

    You deserved that for dropping me in it, remember playing for the Punchbowl up at Chelmsley Hospital one sunday morning, all the inmates used to come out to watch , we was walking out to the pitch from the changing rooms and you told a load of them that I was an ex-Villa player and they would not leave me alone all clammering for my autograph, you bastard, the Hanlons were pissing themselves.

    AVFC RIP

  182. QPR to climb the table now 🙂

    Nice to finally see Pundits and ex players saying how shite we are. Tell it to Lamberk please

    The bid last night was a PR stunt just so Lamberk can say ” we tied”. If it was a genuine attempt, then why did we have 5 mill to spend and wait with 10 mins left to bid?

    They deserve relegation. I want Randy and Lamberk to suffer relegation, but I don’t want this club to go down. The next best thing then is they die a slow and painful death and we survive.

  183. steamer what do you think about trying to sign his namesake was it just bull sh ite or was he deluded enough to pay 8 mill for a 33 year old that includes wages of course and i think under 2,5 goals on sat as he will revert back to 9 man defense and say how great we are again how long have we got to put up with this mate

  184. JD,
    I think it was BS, its the only thing AVFC is any good at.
    Fox is an arrogant twat who lords it over the fans, obviosly judging by his comments he has no respect for their opinions, can he ignore the opinions of Collymore, Withe, Gray, Yorke, Teale and of course the legend that is Paul McGrath, does he know more than some of the best players over the past thirty years at ANY club in England ? No of course not, he’s a low life chancer, if Villa go bump he’ll just move on and leech off some other club or business. Fox apparently doubled his wage by coming to Villa, he’s not earning it, if we are relegated it will be down to the three stooges, two have the excuse of being totally ignorant about the game and the other is a fraud but you don’t need any knowledge of football to know that Lambert is a disaster so no excuses, all three must go as soon as our fate is settled.

  185. I don’t believe for one minute they were serious in Ricky Lambert it was too late , there was no alternative if it didn’t come off . Reports that “nothing was happening at BMH” were being ridiculed by national journalists so it was a care of let’s pretend we tried . It was to dilute the embarrassment that Fox must have felt after his Churchilian speech about “fans having the wrong narrative ” then getting throttled by Arsenal . Even the post match comment by Wenger “I felt sorry for AV as they were tired for the last 20 mins” was a slap after “we have recruited sports scientists and training is excellent “. I think it was a PR panic , as the countries media took to bashing the hapless Villa yesterday – with local radio stations playing the theme tune to Hawaii Five O , and the Sun with a big feature on selling goals . Note to Fox – best not stick your neck out with your “fans are idiots” speech before we play Arsenal and Chelsea. It just could backfire – and didn’t it just .

  186. That is a great post Jen, all very good points.
    Fox talks about fans narrative, but when players of the calibre of McGrath, Yorke, Bozzie, Colly, Withe, Teale, Tayls etc say that Lamberts must go then only a fool would maintain that stance, step up Tom Fox. All levels of observer are calling for him to be booted but Lerner is hiding away from the truth in NY like the snivelling cur that he is. Like Frem i must admit to similar feelings about their mortality, thats how bad its got.

  187. Jen,

    Good post but methinks you may be jumping the gun, did you know that Mourinho has never won at VP, eventually our run must come to an end, eventually we must score a goal, even the worst race horse in the world will eventually find a race it can win even if it is the 5.00 at Ludlow in a one horse race although deemed a walk over it is still recorded as a win.

    Do I think we can beat Chelsea, well frankly no, do I think we can beat Hull, well frankly no, do I think we can beat Lester in the cup, well frankly no.

    Welcome to the musing of a complete madman there I have said it the Villa have sent me around the twist, Lerner,Fox and Lambert combined have destroyed our club, relegation beckons and whatever else that brings it will be years and years of suffering.

    AVFC RIP

  188. Very good assessment of Villa –
    After their total annihilation of a Villa side that may be the worst to ever play professional association football,

    Villa, meanwhile, haven’t scored a Premier League goal this year or in any of the last five years – merely retaining their Premier League status based on the fact they once won a European Cup. While Villa’s season sounds bad from their stats – W5, D7, L11, F11, A30 – make no mistake, it really doesn’t do their special brand of shittery any kind of justice. It’s hard to properly describe how poor they are but I’ll try. Imagine the worst Sunday league team you ever played witnessed. They’re a bit like them. It’s almost as if buying inexperienced Championship and League One players a few seasons ago wasn’t the best idea Paul Lambert has ever had. Yes, they have Benteke and Delph, two genuinely decent players, but there’s a sea of mediocrity and other teams’ players between them, rendering them just as useless as most of their teammates. If there’s a God up there, Villa will go down this season. Because they deserve to go down. They’re just awful.

  189. SwV,
    If Villa was a racehorse it WOULD be the worst horse in the world and no we wouldn’t win a one-horse race, and no its not a recent thing you’ve always been completely mad.

  190. Clive,

    For those that cannot be bothered to read the complete article here is the relevant piece:

    From one manager receiving some flak to a manager who must be deafened by the lack of mutinous calls from his well-heeled fans. Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side finally appear to be getting their shit together this season. After their total annihilation of a Villa side that may be the worst to ever play professional association football, the Gunners have now won their last three without conceding a single goal. This mini revival has been mostly instigated by the majesty of Santi Cazorla, who has quietly been going about his business as one of the best in the league for the last number of weeks. The little man, looking like some prehistoric gerbil squirrel not yet discovered, has been sensational and has a not unwelcome knack of seemingly scoring penalties in pretty much every game he plays. David Ospina continued to show why it never hurts to have a goalkeeper who truly knows what he’s doing and with Ozil and Giroud scoring again, things are looking significantly better for Arsenal than they were a few months ago. Villa, meanwhile, haven’t scored a Premier League goal this year or in any of the last five years – merely retaining their Premier League status based on the fact they once won a European Cup. While Villa’s season sounds bad from their stats – W5, D7, L11, F11, A30 – make no mistake, it really doesn’t do their special brand of shittery any kind of justice. It’s hard to properly describe how poor they are but I’ll try. Imagine the worst Sunday league team you ever played witnessed. They’re a bit like them. It’s almost as if buying inexperienced Championship and League One players a few seasons ago wasn’t the best idea Paul Lambert has ever had. Yes, they have Benteke and Delph, two genuinely decent players, but there’s a sea of mediocrity and other teams’ players between them, rendering them just as useless as most of their teammates. If there’s a God up there, Villa will go down this season. Because they deserve to go down. They’re just awful.

    Now you may think that this might just be another jouno having a go at AVFC, but this bloke said he liked Diego Costa and he should stamp on more Liverpool players, now he goes right up in my estimation.

    AVFC RIP

  191. Said many months ago that relegation may not be the curse everyone thinks it is. Unless Lerner and Fox grow some balls in the next couple of days or post Chelsea then we are doomed either to bounce along the bottom forever or get relegated this year or next.

    The lack of investment and the lack of a quality manager has created this situation, both are the fault of Lerner. If the status quo remains, Lerner does not having the earning power to fund AVFC and also prevented by FFP as to how much he can invest means we won’t ever get beyond the level of player we attract. He may well be a billionaire but this is trust fund based and not based on commercial interests that generate considerable revenue.

    Relegation will I expect (hope) remove Lamberk, reduce the price of AVFC so more buyers can come forward to replace Lerner. The players who have no loyalty will leave and only the loyals or those not wanted by anyone will form the core of the team that could galvanise and play football that is more real because we’d have a chance of winning the championship as opposed to the nothingness of participating in the premier league.

    I think the fans would also be further galvanised behind the team in supporting them to promotion because there is still a break in the link between club and fan and there is a break between fans who on one side want the current regime ousted and those who happily clap along to mediocrity. This die hard support while admirable in isolation only continues to maintain the status quo.

    The balloon payments for relegation removes some of the financial impact, my only concerns are attracting sponsorship and if our players still don’t have relegation clauses in their contracts.

    With Redknapp being so decent (sarcasm in case it’s missed) and giving QPR a chance to survive under new mgmt, Lamberk probably phoned Redknapp to ask him about his knee only.

    AFVC ALL

  192. Well now I know we have reached the final countdown.

    SWV,

    I cannot believe how you have now become a shadow of your former glory, and need counselling. I am only to happy to offer my counselling services,which have been used many times over the years, but our Jen would probably do a better job for you and could be nearer.

    The poll in the Birmingham Mail has achieved 92% for Lambert to go, following “God’s tweet”. I would love to know who the dillusioned 8% are who voted for Lambert to stay, unless of course they are all part of his team…..

  193. Paul, that’s even with all inbreds of Small Heath and Tesco’s voting for him to stay, he still got a 92% approval rating to leave, well done Villa fans for voting in such large numbers

  194. Darren,
    Good points, Lerner has destroyed the bond between club and supporters, he and his stooges haven’t missed an opportunity to hammer the fans, ie the supporters clubs, now Fox has come out and insulted us, virtually called us irrelevant and uninformed, beg to differ Fox, your the ignoramous, like most yanks you think you know it all, you won’t last long in Birmingham.
    When we’ve departed, the custodian will come out with the usual bollox about being unlucky, Lambert will be ‘determined to restore us to our rightful position’ and the usual dummies will actually believe them. My view is that anyone who attends VP is wilfully damaging AVFC and deserves whats coming.
    PP,
    Former glory !!!!!! WTF.

  195. Sadly,
    I think it would be much harder for Villa to ever win the Championship league, than it would be to stay in the Premiership.

    I fear that once they drop down, that is where they will stay for the foreseeable future, which means that for many of us older fans , we will never see the anything like the great sides of the past 50 years or so.

    The competition within the Championship is far greater these days, with many new managers bringing on good footballing sides. The standard and fitness in the lower leagues has improved greatly, and this borne out by the quality of play that has been seen in the recent cup matches. It is no longer good enough to turn up on matchdays, and this seems to be the level and fitness of the present Villa team.

  196. Paul,

    Many thanks for the kind words but I may just be able to turn things around with the backing of my old friend Steamer, I was with him the night we help the EC aloft and he was still moaning then called Barton ( god rest his soul ) all the names under the sun for playing McNaught and that Geddis should have played instead of With.

    Strange 92% want Lambert out but they still applaud the team off the pitch, well those that are still in the ground, it could be 100% but the person that makes that decision Lerner will never pull the trigger, I can hear him say when we go down that Paul Lambert is the man to bring us straight back up.

    AVFC RIP

  197. I guess this is were we just have too trust the players we have too dig the club out of this hole

    They have been heavily impeeded by the management they work under with really poor tactics ect but are a good enough bunch too get the club to safety ability wise

    I do think some of the players care about the club and delph signning a new deal for me shows that too be the case.

    All i want too see from now on is some real fight in games so even if we lose the fans ”won’t be able to fault the effort” 🙂

    going down while a real possibility doesnt bare thinking about — we will stay up with no thanks too the manager but i hope thanks too the players –who i now expect too perform well against the many teams with less resourses and class than we have available

    VTID

  198. See there is a new petition on Change Org now which is being signed much more quickly this time. It would seem that the tide has totally turned, and my original thoughts after Sunday, will come true, and that Lambert’s position is untenable, and he cannot last beyond Thursday….

    Let us hope that he will do the decent thing and resign…..

  199. Unfortunately PP i think Lambert just sees a wage that he’ll never improve on, respect for the club and even his own reputation is non-existent. Surely even he can see that he’s a failure, all the evidence is there but he won’t go a forfeit his pay off. What we have is someone who will never manage in the EPL again, possibly the Championship or the SPL so he’s making the most of Lerners stupidy at the expense of AVFC and its supporters.

  200. So true Steamer – the question is if randy gave me a job paying over 2mil per year and i was rubbish at it but the boss refused to sack me , i would just stay and milk it for as long as i could

    Lambert has been shockingly poor but Randy is the one that allows him to continue

  201. Steamer,

    Got in a nutshell why would Lambert walk away, he knows he will struggle to get another decent job, clubs will look at his stats at the Villa and run in the opposite direction, he would struggle to manage at Wycombe even they have standards, so can we really blame him for hanging around when the club are just too incompetent stupid idiotic mental you choose the word to give him the bullet.
    We are doomed I tell you.

    AVFC RIP

  202. Leave Lambert alone its not his fault the other teams don’t know about his German badges and the nuances and superiority his methods bring to the premiership, why only last weekend Mr Wenger said he couldn’t wait for us to come to the emirates! presumably so he can gen up on tactics. He said when villa come your guaranteed 3 good points at least but didn’t say what they were, now that’s a lot to learn from one match but they do seem to be getting the hang of it at arsenal. even lower league clubs come to villa and put the ball in our net rather than allow us the ball and face our tic-a-tac, blitzkrieg, German style! what are points vs such artistry? no seriously what are points? and goals? and entertainment? mere baubles compared to the Gem that is the Lambert way!!!! Taxi!!!!

  203. Darren
    I can see your thinking on relegation, but I think it would or should I say WILL be a disaster, because of the financial implications Lambert WON’T be sacked, he will given a chance to get us back up, we will be told Lambert has the experience of gaining promotion, is the man to restore our glory etc etc bla blah. Also RL will struggle to offload a championship club, especially as their are cheaper on the market in the championship, who could offer better VFM.
    We are so shirt these players wouldn’t get us back up and would struggle in a hard attritional league, and we couldn’t buy our way out due to their FFP rules. VP would be a morgue, but the real kicker is I have no faith we could beat the blue few, it’s bad enough we get turned over by Sandwell Town, but to have Small Heath lording it over us would be too much.
    RIP AVFC

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