Relegation.
Be honest – as an Aston Villa fan, that word has haunted our dreams for a fair few years. Although Villa are mid-table this season so far, there’s still that hint of a risk that things could go wrong.
Despite all that, the main concern has been the style of football which, despite being less porous in defensive terms, has been less than interesting to watch. The reality, however, is that Villa are not the only team suffering in this way.
Due to football becoming increasingly a game of financial haves and have nots, survival has become paramount – at any cost. Whether that means grinding out draws and staying up by a point or two, or boring the entire fan base to death, survival has become everything.
You can see it in the league given the “increased competitiveness” that is lauded by advocates of the English top flight. Yes, many teams are beating teams that they shouldn’t be, but the truth is there is a significant core of teams who are survivalists – little more than trying to stay up at any cost.
Of course, there is a value to such an approach. The view that playing attractive football is somehow a recipe for success is a fairly false and facile view. Trying to pass the ball around, to play possession football, to buy lots of continental flair – none of this creates any guarantee of success.
One only need look at Everton, a team who are 20 – yes, TWENTY – points worse off this season than they were last season to know that creative passing doesn’t always solve problems. Roberto Martinez – during his time at Wigan Athletic – played a style of football that was lauded as creative and attractive, yet despite this, they went down.
Contrasting this with Villa – a team who have managed to stay up despite a series of fairly dull seasons – and there’s a real dilemma. Sure, we’re all being bored to death in our seats, but isn’t this just a product of what the league has become? That money is so integral to the clubs in the top flight, that many clubs have become paranoid, knowing that dull – but functional – football will keep them up?
In that sense, you can see what Randy Lerner wants to achieve in the short term. As an owner, he has already expressed a desire to sell up, and if that means he can keep the team in the top flight – so he can charge a higher price compared to relegation – he’ll be happy. Likewise, if he can keep the same personnel in charge – to avoid paying out compensation – he’ll stick with what he’s got.
No, Villa fans aren’t going to be happy with that, but that’s the reality for the club. Villa, like many other teams, are so paranoid of the idea of going down that they focus on scraping as many points as they can, but with a view of always looking over their shoulders.
It’s easy to say that Villa should be more attacking, that they should attempt to pass the ball more, but that – in isolation – guarantees nothing. When you consider there’s Everton – a team who spent a lot of money on Romelu Lukaku – are a point below “awful” Villa, there’s a paradox in the views of many, especially those who espouse continental style as the way forwards.
So whilst Villa face a year where it may well be more of the same, there should be a realisation that there’s a league wide issue, where relegation and finances are so key to clubs, that staying up – how ever boring and dull and frustrating they may be – is the goal of at least half of the league.
Can Villa add some flair? I personally hope so, but there’s no guarantee – as Everton fans will attest to – that trying to play with style will get you any further in the league than bore-me-to-death survivalist football.
The Author
Matt Turvey
Matt is the owner of, and chief writer for, Aston Villa Life. He is also a columnist for the Wolverhampton Express & Star, appearing in the Kick Off pullout on Saturdays and the Final Whistle pullout the Monday after Aston Villa play, as well as every Thursday as a blogger on their website. He has previously been featured as a writer on Football365 and Life's A Pitch, and was a regular pundit for Sports Tonight TV on Sky.Comments 321
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matt
does anyone think really we will finish above everton ,everton have players who can string a few results together ,we have i think only won 2 in a row under lambert once nearly 40 matches in which we didnt score or even attempt to score,thompson on sky sports not good enough for villa fans not going out to win matches mean who else would say 2 goalless draws at home big points looking at fixtures with arsnal pool chelsea next 4 see run going to 2 wins in 20 and maybe 2 goals in9 hope when villa try to start sellimg season tickets cup tickets everyone tells them where to go and needs to start now
I live in hope Randy will sack the Berk sooner rather than later Matt. Lose on Sunday and the crowd will turn like that started to on Thursday. Then our next four games are against bottom of the league, Pool, Chelsea and Arsenal. 4 defeats and no goals coming up. Can he survive that ? fox wants to to do top deals, he won’t do it with our worst manager in our history at the club
2 wins in 16 games. 11 goals in 20. Keeps playing Gabby and Wiemann, two of the worst footballers players in the Prem. He’s now gone from no football to the most dullest, pointless, slowest sideways passing I’ve ever seen. HH has been saying how Lamberk is so obsessed with playing players who will do there defensive duties over attacking, hence why the donkeys play in the final 3rd and don’t make forward runs
Iv’e seen plenty of negative managers but Lambert is the only one iv’e seen who doesn’t even attempt to win games, that he’s attached himself to AVFC and stigmatised our club is shameful. This is the most depressing era in our clubs history, absolutely nothing positive about the club. If the club isn’t sold in the close season the season ticket sales will be embarrassing, that is if Lerner, Lambert and Fox can ever be embarrassed.
It aint all bad Blythe Spartans 2 – Scum 0 HT.
Bollox, can’t even rely on the vermin anymore, whats the world coming too ?
to ?
nothing will change as the complete balance of power is in the hands of the happy clappers and they do not give a toss they have been brainwashed by the garbage Lambert spouts it iis all down to them if the where to rebel Lambert would be out within the week but they are like all the new villa fans they will accept any old dross are not bothered about goals they must all just go for the day out and ain’t bothered how we play as they just keep going .
it simply is amazing that the famous words “you can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time ” is obviously not true as far as the happy clappers are concerned as they are being fooled all of the time
gaz the sh itew from the sty now in front it only shows you what a real manager the guy they have would have us in the top 6 the way he has got complete sacks of Shi te playing like champions that is what a real manager can do hope we do not draw the sh ite if we get through it would be to embarrassing to lose them which would be a certainty
JD,
Said that only last week, they’d piss all over our gutless wonders.
if villa go 2 down its bring on more defenders so we dont concede anymore gunners early this season perfect example
if people getting texts or emails looking for them to buy tickets maybe cold print number or email address we could barage them with lambert out
Matt,
I’m not sure that bringing in Everton has much relevance to Villa.
Everton have – like Villa – had a number of injury problems but they still made short work of Villa a few weeks ago.
I see Everton’s position as being temporary – no comparison at all – whereas Villa’s has been nearly 5 years of progressively going downhill.
JD,
Whats going on over at AVB,everyones threatening each other, mins you that tj, lambo’s army, johnny is obviously Dads Army, he’ll have all his mates there tomorrow, if he’s got any that is, should be entertaining which is more than can be said about the Villa. Can you imagine what the Boot would have done ? Lambert would be in traction by now.
Matt – for me in is a mixture of the two – a bit of style and directeness and a bit of flair — teams that get the balance right will get the best of of there squads
We are in trouble with the current manager as whatever he is doing isnt working for the squad
Funny how time and time again a different manager can make a squad go from hopeless to fearless
This reafirmes to me what i have believed for a long time which is that the manager is the most important thing at any club and weather the mood is sour or sweet depends on weather they are the right fit for the club they are at
JL,
Agree, if you pick a team from Villa and Everton only Benteke, IMO, would get a game, regarding the managers, could you even regard Lambert as a manager, more like a disease.
Runtingz,
Tommy Doc did it to a degree in 1967/8, took a poor team and got some great results, beat Saints in the FA Cup and unluckily lost to Spuds at WHL with Hole and the great Peter Broadbent getting two great goals. It can be done but can’t see this knob changing his philosophy, the way he talks he think he attacks too much.
Steamer,
In Martinez he at least understands that you need to score goals to win, 😉
yes steamz the doc was a great leader and not a bad player either —- bit like big ron he had a lot of charisma and everyone wanted to run through brick walls for them –it was a time to love your job under such man management
even with all the fallout re big rons comment whch pretty much ended his football career there is not one player than has played under him that do not sing his praises
hello matt,
I can see why you’ve mentioned Everton they are our polar opposites, all attack at the moment. This season Mr Martinez is beginning to use the players he has bought and they are not as capable in defence as the players Moyes bought. a lot of Moyes players are getting over the hill too, Barry as well. I have spent Crimbo in Liverpool and have heard plenty of calls for Martinez to go, talk of injury woes as the spine Moyes employed is missing and even that Martinez is hell bent on winning the UEFA cup in preference to going for top 6. one fan said he’d take that. That said Everton are not in the spot we are as their players are generally of the £10m + type but it will be interesting to see how they go as Martinez shapes them.
You have to ask are villa playing this way because of or despite Lambert? are we truly awful attack wise by lack of intent/design or lack of talent? looking at the value of Everton who are below us but worth maybe 4-5 times as much makes it all as clear as mud, the only way is sack him and find out
Jd,
They do talk bollox on TVB, Lamberts been dealt a bad hand has he ? Lamberts multi million pound bad hand couldn’t even beat Bradford City over two legs, they cost 7,500 squid, how the f is that a bad hand, they’re ashamed because they’re the worst type of happy clappers.
I feel uneasy posting in a negative fashio again,as it can get reptitive………….but………….they way our expectations have been manipulated,by the bullshine coming from the club and the manager`s piehole.It is implied that we should be having a Bank Holiday for nil nil draws at home to sides we need to beat.The last 2 home fixtures was points thrown away,only 2 gained.Maybe Lambert should get a knighthood for attempting to teach the players to pass a football.The aforemntioned games will come back to haunt us and I believe our EPL future will go down to the last day of the season.Forget the position,look at the points.Plenty of teams an overhaul us,why? because they can score goals and win matches.
Lambert,CNZ,Lerner,Weimann,Gabby out.
Oh nearly forgot,shift the Sicknote Club out too.Vlaar and Delph the founder members.
Mark,
Everton fans never know when they’re well off … and that feeling is perpetuated by being under Liverpool’s shadow for too much over the time over the last 50 years. And the Man U and City teams are not that far away from them geographically.
We have a paltry team called Small Heath who are supposed to be our nearest equivalents but who only tend to provide some passing amusement. Possibly Albion are much closer to being our true contemporaries but even they have lost the way a bit.
In short, we have no team near us that we have to compete against. If we did, then the happy clappers wouldn’t probably be such happy clappers.
i said in conversation with my mates over a long period that martinez isnt good enough and wouldnt take everton forward — i have been less than impressed with him in the market – passing isnt everything you need to be an all round good manager for a club of evo;s stature like us they dont expect religation battles
Vlaar off to Napoli with Rafa B.They have offered 2M Euros to Villa,if we turn it down he walks,or rather limps out for nothing in the summer.Several sources are reporting on this.Ta ra Sicknote.
JL- I’d say along with spurs Everton are pretty much on a par recently with us in the prem, generally battling for top 6-8, we have just been poor since Mons time. To be honest I haven’t met a football fan that cant find something to moan at its a British thing. Would of liked Martinez but if he does a Wigan on Everton over time maybe its a lucky escape?
Mark,
I’m OK with that thought, but my point really is that Villa stand (or sit) in the middle of the country with no high-class team to compete with them locally. If this was not the case then I’d say that Villa fans’ expectations and ambitions would be higher (we wouldn’t want to see Albion always near the top and us not would we?) than accepting this sleeping sickness that’s been present at VP this past near 5 years under the guise of “transition”.
Runtings,
Martinez has done pretty well in the market i.m.o. considering the state of finances that I believe exists at Everton.
JL- maybe mate but we have never truly had that, wolves had their moments and wba but blues have done naff all until the league cup. Villa have always been top dogs in the midlands in the modern era to my memory and its never affected the support or their ambition IMO. the financial jeopardy we found ourselves in was real even if self afflicted.
Mark,
That was then … before the brainwashing squad moved in to tell us about our “bright future” and lured by the sheckels spent on the ground and on Acorns (which really softened our hearts), and even on players – for awhile.
Villa were top dogs for so long originally as the club had an ambitious management team who – without pay – strove to make Villa the best. Today’s lot want to know about how much better the prawn sarnies are before anything else.
Hence we have a lot of malaise – within the club and (now) amongst many fans.
Not bothered on Vlaar anymore. I’d sell him this month and get all the money to sack Lamberk And buy a few wingers. If Lamberk stays, we won’t see a single creative player sign, ever. He’s never signed one yet.
Brasil- Gabby, Wiemann and Zoggy will all stArt tomorrow with Ricahrdson. Boring boring Lambert
Won’t be the end of the world if we lose tomorrow and don’t score. We won’t win the cup so might as well get a battered and sack the wanker
JL- 28Mil for lukaku going into a European campaign? surely 3 £10 mil players would of been more prudent
Matt
Great read, survivalist football is all that is played now by 95% of the teams is the premier league. As a person who always played to win either football or tiddlywinks, how the hell do we and 95% of other football supporters start the season knowing we are never going to win jack?
Hence why bother with football now days? I guess we must all celebrate staying in the premier league the be all and end all. So SKY would have you all believe.
So if that is the remit that PL is given by Randy then he is doing he’s job. Never mind the fans are bored shitless and they are leaving in their droves!
To the guys that are still attending the matches my heart goes out to you.
RIP
AVFC
JL- I don’t know any villa fans who are happy with the situe or believe we are going somewhere personally. I can imagine that if you had young children that you take to villa park it would be hard to disappoint them as they wouldn’t see things as we do. I do agree that some people take apathy and stupidity to new levels but that’s nationwide.
Mark,
Though it may be as you describe about “not being happy”, I know of plenty who are simply waiting for something to transpire without any guarantee that it will. As some have said before, if this was 1968 there’d be meetings and protests being organised. Yes, okay, we have apathy generally, but you would have thought that if you’re spending several hundred pounds a year invested you’d want to see a proper return on that investment?
As for the idea that children might like going to Villa Park, then I suppose playing computer games make them immune to jerky movements? 😉
JL- people pay £40-60 for a video game, £450 for a console
which is superseded in a year or two. people spend a lot on entertainment because they can these days. we all buy piles of rubbish we don’t need all part of the throwaway society, maybe that is part of the problem. plus you cant miss what you’ve never had 😉
Just watched the last win against Blackpool…with Bannan, Albrighton, Delfounso, Clark all playing well, and Villa being robbed as usual, as the Fonz had a perfectly good goal disallowed, and then Gabby comes on as substitute. Makes you wonder how these lads may have faired if Houllier had stayed. Although Young played well, he was often taking shots, when a decent pass would have resulted in a goal.Daniel Johnson was also on the bench. It seems that Villa never give our young strikers much of a run to prove themselves. JL will remember the days of Hitchens, who was not good to start with, but persistence pays off, and he became graet, and of course we sold him then.We have continued in the same vain since. Selling Hateley, Andy Gray, Dublin, Withe and many others. How many strikers have seen there time out with Villa????
Mark,
Then in other words you can be said to be suggesting that Villa supporters think that Villa is just a throw-away piece of entertainment?
Though I can see your argument, I don’t think that holds true for many. And the idea that people can afford to spend such amounts on throw-away activities is (frankly) mind-boggling. With a great increase in people having to rely on foodbanks, where is the substance for that idea? Or maybe it’s that ever-increasing divide that is being talked about, between haves and have-nots?
If I were to take you seriously, it sounds to me that Lerner’s brainwashing brigade have succeeded because no-one thinks anymore! God forbid.
PP,
Gerry was bought a made striker, wasn’t he? £22.5k was a lot of money in those days. The only reason why there was a period of waiting for his development was because of his national service as I recall.
As for strikers seeing out their time with Villa, well Withe did effectively, as also Dublin. They took steps down from Villa to their next clubs and were well over 30 when they left VP.
But I do agree with your main drift … Ford, Hitchens, Hateley, Gray, Platt and Yorke are prime examples of Villa having to let go great scoring talent when in their prime.
JL-
“Then in other words you can be said to be suggesting that Villa supporters think that Villa is just a throw-away piece of entertainment?”
yes mate if you like but the people in villa park wouldn’t buy a ticket if they couldn’t afford it. I know of people on low income that still buy cigarettes over food where’s the sense in that? the truth is lots of people waste money on trivial rubbish whilst ignoring the suffering of others, its not a new phenomenon. apparently 25% of homeless are ex servicemen! the ones we buy a poppy for then forget for another year.
good read,, the crazy thing is we could have at least 6 more points min than we do now
i think we have to forget the last 2 seasons, lambert had different rules to run the club by then,,
you could not see him bringing in sendeross, cole or richardson,,, or bringing back hutton or bent etc
so the rules changed,,,,,,,,
and we cant complain about sanchez ,,, plus sissoko and cleverly despite faults in their game have
put in some more than reasonable performances
and the way okore clarke and baker have come through is more than gobsmaking,,
so there is so much to be positive about compared to the two previous seasons,,
in my own mind i decided to wait until now to decide if i wanted lambert to stay or go,, and untill the last 3 games i was feeling very positive about the little fella,, but now i feel deflated again,,,
and lets not forget he has not spent too badly all things considered, the bigger buys seemed to have worked, apart from kojack who may still come good
so i am back on the fence again,,, but,, if he can get in one or two attacking players and get some goals then we could still have a very good season, but will this hinder the development of robinson grealish and gardiner,, and are we better off blooding the kids, but look how long it took for baker and clarke to make the grade
also cole richardson bacuna and grealish may yet provide a key to get the goals flowing
and kojak is back in a month,, but its no fun not scoring goals, for the team and the crowd, and the longer
it goes on other players will start to think there futures lie elsewear,,,
we have 3 young center backs that i am pretty sure will start to attract attention of the bigger teams
so at the mo i hate lambert again, he just seems clueless at times yet somehow he has got us one of the best defences on current form and our possession up from 30 to 40% to 75% against palace
i just hope he finds the missing piece to the jigsaw
Dave- We have one of e best defences because we have parked the bus most games against shit sides. Don’t read into the 75% possession it was the a shocking display. So boring sideways slow passing for 90 mins. Lamberk isn’t clueless at times, he’s clueless all the time. He is statistically our second worst manager in our history, but baring in mind he’s had 3 seasons and Mclieah had one, I vote the Berk as the worst and he’s still breaking records.
A new so g for tomorrow that Newcastle sang today
” We’re shit and we’re sick of it”
I have to say that anybody who think Poxy Fox has any say in anything are miles away from the way the clubs run i have it from Sid that Lambert only answers to Lerner Fox has nothing whatsoever to do with anything on the football side he is just comercial
even the players agents talk to Lambert and Lambert alone is the one who sanctions all wages and contracts lambert is a complete dictator at the club and has a complete free hand to play what style and who ever he chooses he has no remit on how to play or who to play he has to answer to no one thats the reason we are so useless .
as i said we need to bring in someone above lambert to tell him and perhaps he might walk if the complete free hand is taken away from him
john d
if that is true which i do believe we are shafted by lerner only way to deal with him no spending money tickets merchandise any one that has tickets use but dont spend how will fox get money in if attendance is low no way just under 30 thousand there for palace empty seats every where massaging figures making sound better
some one on here said play robinson tomorrow only the scotch burk could allow him to be cup tied why did he bring the kid back Lambert is destroying the club
my friend was going to take his kids tomorrow one 9 one 11 they refused to go saying after the last game they would become chelski fans as villa where so boring to watch this is what lambert is doing to the club young fans have had enough as kids say what they see they do not cover it up and they wont go as they fall asleep watching this garbage lambert has so much sh ite to answer for
and as i said previously poxy fox has no say whatsoever
JL
You are right in the main, Gerry was bought from Cardiff for £22,500 and still completing his National Service, and in his early days was christened “Kick over the bar Hitchens”, but once he found his scoring boots, there was no stopping him.
DB
I can understand what you are trying to put across, but the football for most of this season has been poor, and it frustrates everyone, when they feel so much more could have been achieved. Interesting to see the defense of Martinez, but wonder if Villa were now in the same position, having spent the money on Lukaku, etc would the fans be happy. I fear not and there would people calling for him to go.
I don’t like Lambert, don’t like his selections/ substitutions, tactics or his excuses, but I do not see anyone doing much better at the moment, unless we can recruit a Pochinetto, Koeman or the more easily perhaps recruited managers of Scunthorpe or Middlesboro’
I have said before we need to find a complete team of skilled people to run this great club, and it is still not beyond the possibility of the world-wide fan base being involved. If you want something enough, and build towards it, you can achieve anything.
For the first 5 or 10 minutes against crystal palace it looked really promising. Then CP had a protracted injury and we just weren’t the same afterwards.
Had we scored in that early stage and CP had to move tier bus then it would have been interesting to see how we’d done.
The passing game we’re trying to adopt could work if our players are prepared to work harder (Sanchez excused from this) and find space after passing and our forwards start finding the back of the net (yes Mr Benteke you are included in that)
I’m not happy with Lambert’s ability to motivate a team but until I can think of someone that I’d rather see there long term who would want to come to us I won’t be calling for his head.
It’s easy to shout Lambert out but really pointless (and a bit immature) if you dot have a viable alternative in mind, or more to the point, believe that our owner has a suitable alternative lined up.
Hi all .
An intersting article Matt . For every Everton though there is a Swansea or more impressively Southampton . Yes the Saints have made loads on players and spent more , but couldn’t we be in a similar position if we had adopted a considered strategy and football style , instead of the nonsensical sashaying between Mon , GHs creative to AM and PLs defensive , young hungry , old and experienced , counter and hoof and now the Guardiola passing (cough ) no goals style . With no clear style objective , how can you build a team of players to fit in and implement this .
Which brings me on to the CP game. It seemed pretty clear to me watching the game (at home ) that our players are very uncomfortable playing the new way. Whilst it is early days and they may grow into it , the Q remains as always “what are they doing in training “. PL says he’s not in a hurry to get an assistant in . Why on earth not ? He has reputedly had very little to do with training in the past and those guys look like they could do with all the training they can get !
Well Pullis has put Berahino back in team and they win 7-0 . Couldn’t understand why Irvine wasn’t playing him .
Apparently, we have almost completed the signing of Scott Sinclair. It is not clear yet whether this is just a loan deal, or a similar deal to the Cleverley one.
If this is so, will we still keep Cleverley? Maybe Lambert will now let Delph go and Vlaar, who is almost a done deal.
Yes Jen, amazing to see the difference in the Baggies after Pullis went down to the touchline and let them know what he expected. Similar to the Villa, not pushing far enough the field to be a danger, and once they did, they tore them apart. So good to watch the cup games today and see players wanting to score, and wanting to win.
Scott Barkley could be off to Man City for £60million.
Jenny, some good observations there. Swansea have an owner who understands the DNA of the club, knows the style he wants them to play and brings in suitable managers at all levels. We have oscillated from one philosophy to another: youth to experience, long ball to ticky tacky.
The current ‘style’ does not seem to come naturally to the players. At the start of the Palace game it was looking good but then they seemed to lose it. The passing was still there, but not the movement, and you need both. If it doesn’t come naturally to them it’ll take a while to come good ( if it ever does).
Astonrat is right.
If knowing that our team is merely a “survivalist” team and, therefore, will play “boring” football ad nauseum, why bother?
A pretty smart article, Matt. You’ve provoked some interesting responses, though I’m sure you don’t quite believe that we should be content with our lot because you’ve recently written about your and our collective disappointment. The survivalist mentality will be severely tested over the next five weeks, won’t it? By then, Everton will be way ahead of us.
Good luck with the familly and health.
Mark: but the people in villa park wouldn’t buy a ticket if they couldn’t afford it.
We seem to be going in circles again, a bit.
Yes, they may *decide* they can afford the price (I don’t believe that many can really “afford” it if they have families), but the fact that in many cases it is a marginal decision swung by emotion then so much more important that they see a return for their outlay. And, after all, it’s not just a question of the cash outlay but also the time and then the depression that pervades the family after they return home that affects matters.
JD: “my friend was going to take his kids tomorrow one 9 one 11 they refused to go saying after the last game they would become chelski fans as villa where so boring to watch.”
THAT needs to be posted in large letters over Lambert’s dugout seat.
Well its doubtful if they can massage today’s attendance figures so once again we’ll be held up to ridicule when 10-12,000 is announced.
Benteke to Man City – 20m.???
Scott Sinclair… It gets worse.
Robbo . I agree about the swans – my friend has been a a ST holder for many years and it is an incredible well thought turn around for them.
Whilst the new style at AV might not come naturally to all of our players, they’ve also spent the past three seasons being coached in counter attacking , defensive , low possession style football so to expect them to change over night is is unrealistic .
For the CP game there was so much hesitation and almost panic when they got the ball (oh no what do I did he tell me to do now !) and so they resorted to the safe pass – along the back line or back to Guzan. There were times when they could have played the direct long ball to Benteke for eg and we may have scored . But instead they looked like robots following out what the gaffer has told them and totally unable to make decisions and think for themselves . Hence it was hailed by some commentators “the most boring game of football ever seen ”
As I said before the game , every man and his dog knew CP were going to put ten men behind the ball and play ultra defensive counter attacking . So why didn’t PL come up with a plan to break them down before hand or even at half time .
When Bertrand came to us , you could see he was a cut above in style and technique . His first few games he looked slick , confident and a good thinker on the ball .But he ended his time here as playing the AV way , one dimensional in comparison . He’s back to his old ways at Saints and is able to shine . If we are to progress we need better coaches who can implement higher possession attacking football .
Is it a coincidence that big Sam’s got Teddy Sherringhan on board to improve the WH style. This is what we need . So the appointment of a gutsy professional attack minded assistant to PLhas never been more crucial as this is how we are trying to play .Which makes his “I don’t need an assistant ” comments baffling .
Wonder how many will turn up today ?
If losing today means Lamberk goes then I’d take another defeat. If we win, he will make it sound like we’ve just beat Real Madrid
It will be funny to see how he bull shits his way out of another game where we don’t score
Boring Lamberk will start Richardson Zoggy and Gabby today, the same old crap. Grealish to still be on the bench
VlAar Delph and Benteke all to be gone either this month or in 6 months time
Let’s stop this pointless slow sideways boring passing today as well. Half the stadium Was asleep on Thursday
whats odds benteke has a strain today any so he cant play
jenny
all commentators picked up on this weeks ago get the ball early to benteke not 20 passes nowhere go direct when he had bent a goalscorer wouldnt play till his strength hard to believe bent got 20 goals in first 13 months at villa got injured under mcleish has scored 10 since
Has anyone noticed that the club are doing less offers on seats: another bizarre initiative . I remember not so long ago there were loads of “ST being a friend for free deals ” and good offers for families . It’s still hugely expensive for families . Who can justify spending £100 plus for 90 mins without a goal . The only time it might be worth it is when a decent footballing team come to VP and the fans may get to see some footballing magic : when the better side decide to turn up that is !
James – unfortunately I remember Bent’s goal scoring only too well – from his debut goal for us against Arsenal to his keeping us up under GH. He had a goal to game ratio that Gabby and Weiman could only dream about . This makes it more annoying and shows what an arrogant , deluded man PL is IMO. Bent to Derby – good job Holt us injured or we may see him back ! !!!
Jenny,
As you’ll remember, Bent profited by the kind of service Young, Milner and Downing were able to provide, but since they went and PL took over that service went. Albrighton may have helped Bent but he went out of favour too.
And it’s the lack of width and lack of players with ability to get round the back that’s one of the foremost problems now.
JL- you seemed amazed that people would waste there money knowingly I was merely pointing out people waste money all the time without much thought. yes the rich are vastly richer but generally people have more disposable wealth to waste.
It doesn’t seem to matter to me whether we keep possession or defend deep the problem this season is scoring goals. if we had that ability we would be top 8 at least. both systems stop the opposition scoring but create little.
jenny
thats why man u chelsea aresnal manc only time we get crowd above mid 30 thousand
Ye, wouldn’t surprise me if Benteke picked up a ” knock in training ” as well as Delph
Jenny- Bent was loved in his first few months by everyone, I still like the guy. We would have scored more than 11 if he was up top. My favourite memory of his was his two goals away to Arsenal when we beat them 2-1 and his debut goal against City, a poachers goal that we had lacked for many many years, and still do
Finish Lamberk off Blackpool
WINGERS
Talking of that I see Scott Sinclair is described as such. Is PL seeing sense at last? Is Sinclair the need for a player getting round the back and providing accurate centres?
Since he’s not played much Prem football for more than 2 years he’ll probably need time to come up to scratch.
Mark: you seemed amazed that people would waste there money knowingly
That’s not quite what I intimated and neither is this thread going anywhere!! 😉 I’m out on this one except to say that on this: “but generally people have more disposable wealth to waste”, I do not believe that to be the case one bit after what has happened these last 4 or 5 years. If ordinary people are spending then it’s more likely to be through never-never finance rather than “disposable wealth”.
In fact, personal debt is increasing at a shocking rate according to the latest reports…
JL- chicken 😉 why are they still affording season tickets mate? especially if there house was being repossessed and they can’t afford food? doesn’t make any sense unless they have enough to spend on entertainment which they do obviously.
JL- because people lend money to buy rubbish they think they need maybe?
Mark,
You were saying: “generally people have more disposable wealth to waste” and I was saying that in the case of [an increase of spending in] ordinary people the spending is more likely to come from borrowed sources. It’s only the wealthy (let’s say income over 60k) that have seen an increase in disposable wealth.
That’s all I was saying.
John – I agree that when we bought Bent he had Downjng and Young on the wings to supply him. But the fact that even under AM we had scored 22 goals for the same period that we have scored 11 this season is rather alarming . Even when Bent had no supply he still managed to score 6 – twice as many as Gabby or Weimann . It wouldn’t have hurt to try him up top with Bebteke IMO
Scott Sinclair – The new Dawkins, we’re now shopping at League one levels.
Jenny,
Quite agree: it is alarming. But I would argue that the system that even AM employed was more suited to Bent than PL’s – hence why (I suppose) Bent has not done much since. Not that I liked AM’s management…
Is another early exit on the cards?
Not a very exciting team selection……Westwood, Cleverley and Cole….
Oh! well off to work to avoid the pain…..
Who will get sent off today…???
At least there is some hope with Grealish starting, and Weimann on the bench….
More talk of Ross Barkley and man City…
why b other with having these cracp loan deals cleverly has shown all they do is keep a young player out of the team for one who in 17 games 3 shots no assists and passes the ball 5 yards sidewards and backwards whats the point of it Lamburk
cleverly and westwood are clones could be both lamberts love children as both boring farts and why is westwood captain
and not clark or even given
Happy with the selection . Benteke to get a hat trick against struggling bottom of championship Blackpool. Yes I’ve started drinking 🙂 a win fur definate .
JL- most families have several computers, ipads, tv,s, phones and cars, we couldn’t afford that when I was a child. you may be interested to find that only half of the uk are in dept so that suggests some people cant manage there money regardless of how much they earn.
One up front against Blackpool !! totally, totally negative, this could be a confidence booster for our forward but now it could end 0-0 which is probably Lameberts plan.
maybe the Sinclair rumour means that we are seeing the season out and a sale is imminent?
Stuck at work(blessing in disguise so I didnt have to go today), it sounds a terrible game, the BBC website reporter has slated the dire show, saying he wishes at half time we could have 22 subs!!! We feel like that every week under this retard.
Dire,awful,dreadful.The Lambert out brigade are not deluded or childish.Anyone who loves,or is concerned for this club must not underestimate how serious the situation is.
We are in Sheisse Strasse,and have been for many,many months now.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz is it over yet?
Mark,
In the Independent (Jan 3):
“New debt is rising at its fastest rate for a decade” … “[at an] annualised rate of 8.3%” … “Analysts said people were likely to be borrowing more to fund consumption at a time when wage rises are still very weak.”
The Office for Budget Responsibility last month stated that unsecured household borrowing will balloon to £791m by the end of the decade (5 years from now) – up from £458m now.
That would take unsecured debt to a record 55% of total incomes from the present 37%.
The OBR also forecasts that prices will rise much faster than incomes by the end of the decade.
You’ll still get the Happy Clappers telling you that Lamebert has had a raw deal, some of our supporters make me want to vomit.
That must be the fifth consecutive game that Cleverly’s been taken off, tell you something ? but for Zog ? tells you even more, don’t panic.
Can feel a Blackpool goal coming.
Suprise, Suprise,as Cilla used to say.
If in doubt put Weimann on zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Get this boring, negative, clueless mumbling twat out of of OUR club, I hate everything Lambert stands for, the club is literally dying before our very eyes.
Benteke saves our blushes, but even if we scrape through Lambert has to go.
The knob’l be over the moon with that result, so will the happy clappers.
JD,
What is it with that prick Steve on TVB ? always slagging Grealish and bulling up Lambert, been watching his comments, he knows less than F-all just a wind up.
B62
Dunno what you mean?Proud History,the Bright Future is coming under Lambert………he,he he aaarrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhh,that was cack to watch,we are deeply in the brown stuff,unless something is done we are going down,make no mistake the next view games will reveal the wasted opportunity of the last 2 home games.
Lambert out.
Next few games not view games.
No pass and move,simply pass and hide.
Lambert out
Under 22k at the game, tells its own story
went to cinema with family home in time for last 10 mins commentary it was to much
why was clevrly starting ahead of bacuna give lowton run out
could understand westwood
but back to reality keeper back 4 sanchez westwood benteke no probs other 3 places we need 2 in jan to get us up the table simple 442 2wide men that can beat a man and cross a number 10 in behind benteke please no more cleverly gabby zog filling dots
delph vlar who should be stripped of captain role either sign new contract sell them or if safe dump them in reserves
That was another let off for PL .
i know gaz but who really cares as you say the HCs will be happy lambert will say we where magnificent again had 60% of the ball in our half never let in a goal he will be like a pig in sh ite trouble is 30% of the HCs had left the ground when we scored mail will say the goal drought now broken as they are up Lamberts ar se .
lambert will say we can win this cup and we are only 300 to 1 for it might have a FIVER ON as 4 0 0 draws and 4 pen shootouts could be at wembley
We could all move over to Premier League Darts. Lots of beer, no rain, and warm.
You are right Matt. It’s the league that is at fault. The teams that are put out on the field are the result of no rules regarding spending. Martinez is just prettier than Lambert. No chance to reach for the top and lots of chances to be relegated. So what you see is boring save your ass football. Inequality aside, the sports leagues here in North America have tried to put a stop to boring games. They Have tried to speed up the games and implemented new rules to create a more scoring atmosphere. Along with regulated spending on players it has provided the fan with (for the most part) exciting games. Most teams have a chance of winning it all and every season usually sees a different champion in all the leagues.
I’m happy they won and they should have. The game stunk. Being scared shitless of losing ruins everything. Happy Clappers rejoice–extra scraps from the lords table always look good.
Ian,
I would say the sport has definitely peaked, the standards been falling for years while the wages have shot up, when the TV figures start falling Sky will pull out and leave the clubs to pay up massive contracts which they won’t be able to do. Can’t wait.
Absolute disgrace our manager is to football.
Started off with 5 at the back, with a DM and one striker against a championship side. It’s the worst football I’ve seen in a while. No movement, no excitement, no creativity. A manager who’s obsessed with a team maintaining a defensive structure
Bbpool actually looked more dangerous and had more shots. Was gutted when we scored, will probably save his job yet again with a lucky win
Lambert out and sacked in the morning chants went around, even after we scored.
Good write-up, Matt. Hope you’re feeling better and Happy New Year…
I agree about the league, and we’ve talked a lot about what relegation means in the modern, big-money era. Teams are built around survival. There’s lots of talk about lack of ambition, cluelessness, all the rest, and I’m not saying it’s misplaced.
But…Realistically, most of the teams have no shot at winning anything. And while I would never tell anyone not to ask for a better side, better management, etc., for me I think it’s much more about trying to organize all fans of the game into demanding a structure to the sport that doesn’t kill it.
Not saying anything can come of it, at least in the near term. But if we’re asking or demanding things, that would be at the top of my list.
And at least Benteke found the net today…That can’t hurt anything.
JL- not surprised but it won’t stop the idiots from spending money on crap they don’t need (see advertising). when our entire system is based on raising the GDP and consumerism what do they expect? the whole system is loaded to keep the rich rich and the voters in dept. its a game that they don’t want us to see and most don’t want to see as we now have too much to lose apparently. purchasing goods on credit is now seen as part of life and is factored in to the monthly outgoings. the rest gets spent on entertainment in one way or another. pretty much the entire western world survives on the never never. we will see another collapse pretty soon plus a war I expect.
we won yay, football is starting to look like the world in general souless
JD,
Blimey another new one surfaces, O’Neill, easily pleased some folk, do they realise we’re Aston Villa and not Solihull Moors ?
Just saw the BBC video highlights, two chances set up by Grealish with a push and run and a through ball, none of our other MF’s could do either manoever, yet still they slag him off. Been saying for years, 90% of footy fans haven’t a clue about the game other than what Hansen & Shearer tell them, no wonder Lerner & Lambert have had an easy ride.
Mark,
You are right in your comments about the state of things generally, but that’s a long way off from the talk we were having about fans’ expectation from their football club, and requiring a return on their financial *and* emotional investment! 😉
Lamberks quotes confirm he’s mental
He’s said the players are hurt after songs that were simply against him self. All the players came to the Holte after and applauded so they aren’t hurt. They want him gone as much as we do probably
Today we struggled against a team who are a div1 side in all but name, bottom of the championship with a -45 GD, no players, no money and no hope! Yet we couldn’t break them down with our self suffocating brand of football.
Lambert makes it up as he goes along, he really has no idea, what’s more depressing are those that think he is doing as well as expected and the scum employing him, as it shows their true ambition( lack of it) for the club..
Playing like this we will go bankrupt and go Down
JC,
When it starts to be a protest about bigger things then I suggest what Mark listed above as the state of the world is the first to be addressed. If the world could be put into a fairer state then there should be a trickle-down affect. That is the only way the world view is going to change – by addressing the root cause head-on.
But of course people will say that it’s something that no-one can change. But do you know it takes just a 5% change in a world view to start a sea-change? Ghandi knew something about what it takes as well…
JL- so did joseph goebbels unfortunately mate. I think coming soon will be global brand football clubs with no real attachment to a local populace just sold world wide to the billions. as you will know a European league has already been looked at for the likes of lverpoo, mancs etc. At the moment facebook and google are working on virtual reality technology that will revolutionize entertainment, 85,000,000
in the holte end anyone?
Mark,
There are ways … and there are ways.
JL- I know mate but propaganda is deeply ingrained in modern society, when someone as yourself suggests a better way it will be ridiculed by the very people your trying to help. It has to change though and Villas woes are just a symptom of a greater disease IMO.
JL,
I certainly support bigger change…But given the reality of money and entrenched interests, I’ll take whatever we can get in regard to football.
One thing money will listen to is the prospect of increased revenue. Keeping more teams alive with more goals, more chances of winning keeps fans involved and attending and spending and watching. Which is what happened in the states, the big money realized greater parity meant more money in their pockets. And, coincidentally, a product where “there’s always next year” actually can carry some hope.
I realize the EU work rules/labor laws make this much more difficult/less likely, but it would make a world of difference to the game.
Well at least Lambert tried something a little different today. We started with 3 at the back with Clark and Okore giving the ball to Westwood to try and move it forward.
The trouble is that Hutton and Sissokho are not Ashley Young and so weren’t really suited for the more forward role.
It didn’t take him long to see that it wasn’t working and revert to a back 4.
Oh well. . . . . worth a try.
Mark. SAdly there’s propaganda/spin/marketing everywhere now.
Thank goodness it doesn’t happen on here and we don’t have people with fixed agendas trying to distort the truth.
Positives today,we are in the next round,Cole player almost the entire game,Weimann ,Zog and Gabby did not start,a clean sheet.
Pleased about Cole in particular our only game changer along with Benteke.
We have improved a lot at the back,Sanchez protects the B4 well.
However is Lambert the man ro improve us in the final 3rd?.No,I don`t think he is.I don`t hate him,just don`t think he can improve us.
Do I want to be wrong?Yes,but on the evidence before us I don`t think he can.
Wonder what spin Lamberk will put on things when we lose to bottom of the league on Saturday?
As Matt K says, the positive thing is the Holte finally found there voice tonight and want the twat gone. Won’t be long now when the next four go the usual way.
It was good to see Cole directing things today. The player with most to learn from him is Benteke.
Several times Cole expected runs from Benteke but the big man seemed to be waiting for someone to pass it directly to his feet.
You accuse lambert of spin Frem.
You tell it just as it is every time of course don’t you. . . . and never repeat the same comment?
As my mother would have said. . . . It’s the pot calling the kettle black.
The most frustrating things today were:
the inability to play the killer diagonal balls near their box;
The reluctance to play any long balls to Benteke to just break things up and try something different;
The failure to play balls over the top when Blackpool started trying to keep a higher line.
It was only in the last 10 to 15 minutes when these things started happening. This may have been because Blackpool were tiring but hopefully it’s because the players were just starting to think for themselves and work out what’s needed rather than sticking to the easy side to side passes.
http://t.co/NE16mUwdKk Gents and a couple of ladies if you can open this link have a read it is unbelievable and so true great article steamers will love it
villanto great read and spot on mate
Robbo are you suggestimg pl tells it like it is
Well we scraped through with another extremely boring display to shouts of Lambert out and a lot of boos.
Interesting that Stephen Ireland came on for Stoke and was a game changer, making the first and scoring the next two. Ireland who is usually fit….or Joe Cole…..Ireland’s problem at Villa was he was too intelligent for the managers, after MON left, and his colleagues.His vision was way in front. James Milner playing centre forward and scoring two to save City…..did we give him away or not…..Still only 29yrs old today…
The only good thing I saw today in the highlights was that it was Sanchez that gave Benteke the pass for the goal….maybe there is still hope…time for bed and to prepare for another day….VTID…..not happy clapping…want my club and my team to succeed while I can still support them….still love this site and the people here….at least there is life…and a future…thanks Matt…
Apologies to all Lifers this may drag on……
There is much to compare when discussing Everton and Villa, but equally the differences should be highlighted. Similar size grounds, primarily local support, i.e. little in the way of a global reach and proud histories. However, at a football level, any current view of Everton would show an ageing team, mis-management of player investment in the summer and one asset Barkley. To Kenwright’s credit they’ve gone as far as they can with restrictions on income and ground size and chasing investments such as Chang beer is the way to go but I wouldn’t differentiate the two teams that greatly in a football sense.
This is the most anti-competitive league in the world, beyond the top four, very little changes in the next few spots, the same does not happen in Spain or Germany. FFP has only sought to maintain the status quo as opposed to levelling the playing field.
There won’t be any revolution in football that returns power back to the fans because the money involved is too great.
As I said before relegation may not be the disaster that fans believe it could be. It may kickstart the restructure needed at VP.
If you look down the last 20 years and while there may be blips, our biggest problem was always scoring enough goals, only now it’s by design as opposed to effort, the fear of losing is driving team selection and formation because we have an owner who needs to sell a Premier League product, this is no longer the sale of Aston Villa Football Club and all that it means, because it only means something to us the fans.
Villa has been a catalogue of missed opportunity since the 80s and at every stage when regularly competing in Europe we failed to progress in attracting better and better players, better ownership could have had us at Man U’s level in reality. It’s the same now, MONs missed opportunity in European football caused the downturn we are experiencing and unfortunately a one season wonder at Norwich and a stubborn one at that, seems to think he is doing everything right at Villa when it couldn’t be further from the truth. How dare he suggest that booing or calling for his head impact the players, a quick check on their bank balance will assuage any fears that if the manager went they’d be in trouble, or suggesting that fans displeasure is anything but his responsibility.
It appears that at this moment we are graced with three worse clubs and will survive relegation, roll on change because the staleness right now can’t continue.
Looking at the economics of the situation, people do fund lifestyle on credit, however shouldn’t it always be the case that Villa isn’t a lifestyle in the same way that being into Xbox is. Therefore, fans will always find a way to get an ST and forego on other “luxuries”.
I see Matt Kendrick picked up on a point I made on this site that Lambert doesn’t trust Grealish and is a luxury we can’t afford unless it’s trained out of him and he becomes a DM.
F(_)CK OFF LAMBERK NOW
PP,
It was Sanchez that did the pull back to Benteke in the previous game against CP, and which he blazed over the bar.
So Sanchez – with the creation of 2 clear-cut chances – is becoming our goalmaker supremo! 😉
r0bb0,
Yes, more evidence that Benteke has clear limitations. He can be devastating and a matchwinner but there’s an element of him that helps to cause the team to get bogged down i.m.o.
Darren: Villa has been a catalogue of missed opportunity since the 80s and at every stage when regularly competing in Europe we failed to progress in attracting better and better players, better ownership could have had us at Man U’s level in reality. It’s the same now, MONs missed opportunity in European football caused the downturn we are experiencing …
I enjoyed your post, but may I pick up on the above para in particular?
You are dead right by intimating (by inference) that Doug lost chances to raise Villa’s stakes since the 80s. However, until the Premier League came along (which has seduced us all) the club was much more dependent on income from spectator attendances, and even when Villa last won the league (it was in 1981 if we have forgotten!) a recession was causing attendances to fall a lot in the Midlands – but not so in the north, strangely, where gates remained high.
In the late 90s Doug decided to make the club a PLC, but the money raised mostly went to the re-development of the Trinity stand – the loss of which some of us still mourn.
To have continued Villa’s new-found success level in 1981 and 1982 would have required a chairman/board who was the master of creativity to bring in funds from commercial ideas, and to provide special deals for fans to keep them coming through the turnstyles when the fans’ finances were not good. In that latter aspect, Doug eventually did start offering special deals, but it took a long time and only after continual berating by people such as Buck Chinn, from what I understand.
But in the business of gaining financial income from commercialism, Doug does not appear to have been a person with great vision (as I en-vision it to be the case!). And, of course, he effectively made himself dictator in the club by surrounding himself by yes-men in the boardroom. This meant Doug was under no real pressure to change his approach, and when it came to selling-on the club, he chose someone who has proved to be of a similar kind in several respects, but one who knows even less about football – and that is what caused (in my opinion) the effect left by MON’s disastrous spending sprees. MON – as I see it – was not the *real* cause of Lerner’s re-directed financial policies but Lerner himself.
MON always was a manager with limited ability (for me), and who would only have succeeded football-wise if he had access to unlimited funds.
Hi JL
Not just the early 80s but periods in the 90s where UEFA cup football was the standard, I went to the Vincente Calderon to watch Villa play Athletico in the UEFA cup and that period was also a missed opportunity.
Completely agree re MON and it being Lerner’s fault and that is down to his lack of knowledge and control on what MON did but also recall the away trip that no effort was put into can’t remember who we played and the subsequent apologies made to the fans who had travelled, that attitude to European football that we don’t experience enough also told a lot about where the priorities where and unfortunately it was insular around the premier league.
Still pee’d off by Lamberts comments yesterday that shouting ‘Lambert Out’ will impact the players. The reality is it won’t and the art of deflection is alive and kicking in VP, if he’s lost the happy clappers then any attempt to say you aren’t a true supporter unless you get behind the team will fall on deaf ears, thank god. There are arguments to make around financial restrictions that Lambert has endured but can it be argued against that tactics, backroom staff issues, substitutions and results should have meant that he should have walked or be pushed a year ago. His saving grace is a club for sale and Lerner not wanting another manager pay-off.
The other arguement is that people say well who would you get in that would do better well step forward Luciano Spaletti or Thomas Tuchel, two currently available managers who would be better than Lamberk.
UTV
Villanto,
Ta for that post, it was an outstanding article written by a proper fan and should be circulated amongst all the various football organisations.
Darren & JL,
Two excellent posts full of common sense, that quality that’s been lacking at VP for years.
Its difficult to find a positive about any facet of Lambert, i think the bloke is the antithesis of everything that’s wrong with football ans society, he’s a piece of scum who’s taking the piss while making millions from our club. Unfortunately the fans have no say at all in how AVFC is run or the people it employs otherwise we may have a club worth supporting. Randy Lerner, while not quite in the Herbert class, has virtually destroyed this club by his ignorance and stupidity, will we ever recover ?
Delighted that the fans have turned on the bastard, i hope they hound him until his fragile mental state cracks.
Darren,
MON was a convenient scapegoat, my only problem was the way he left, designed for maximum damage, can’t forgive that. I remember sitting at VP during his last season listening to some of the negative comments and thinking that these people don’t know what they’re wishing for, how true, the football wasn’t fantastic but we were building, we had very good players and other good players would have signed for us under MON, no established player would contemplate signing for AVFC now and i don’t blame them.
Darren,
That’s an excellent piece and well thought out.
Missed opportunities should be our club motto stuck under that excuse for a club crest, we have flattered to deceive for a number of years in the early eighties when we won the league and the European Cup we thought we would kick on and head the football elite only to mess it up once again.
We now find ourselves deeply entrenched as perennial strugglers in a premier league that has virtually nothing to offer the every day supporter, long gone are the days when you could look forward to a Saturday afternoon kick off at 3.00, its Sunday lunchtime, Sunday evening , Monday night and now even talks of a Thursday night game, who wants to go to Newcastle for a Sunday 4.00 kick off you have to be a little deranged.
Sky, BT and the like are tailoring football to line their bulging pockets, the players are earning six figure salaries per week while the fan on the street is asked to pay more and more for a product that I my eyes is never worth £40 for a ticket let alone the £100 and more the Laandaan clubs charge, I know a load of Bristol City lads who bought train tickets to Peterborough for £46 in advance for a Saturday kick off only for Sky to re-arrange the game to a Friday night, they all lost that money and were furious, so it just does not affect the premier teams.
I am just glad I have had my day watching the Villa has I could not stand the present format, in fact it takes something special for me to even watch on TV because we nearly always end up last fifteen seconds on MOTD shoe horned in between the closing credits.
AVFC RIP.
Steamer,
Perhaps the happy clappers are turning, the performance against Blackpool was truly horrible when we should have taken them apart quite easily, Lambert has been showing the signs that his days are numbered so take your pay off and let someone more qualified do the job which gives virtually anybody the chance of taking the job including Sooty and Sweep who not only will be more entertaining but we will also be able to understand what they are saying.
AVFC RIP
Hopefully that winning goal will kick us on,” Lambert said afterwards. “You have to remember that the last few games, teams have sat in against us really, really deep.
Yes Paul its called parking the bus straight out of the Lambert book of tactics the worlds thinnest book next to “The bluenose guide to Washing”
AVFC RIP
lambert is clueless bring westwood in to play in back 3 where is logic
benteke can be one of the bestin worldwhy not start match with lowton bacuna westwood grealish in mid with lowton grealish told get the ball into benteke as fast as possible
then have nerve to come out and complain about boos well they where darn lucky to get over 20 thousand at match against team with minus 45 goals we had 2shots on target he went to germany and came back thinking
he invented light bulb passing the ball about we have now over 60 percent posession but its all in our half against pal bpoool sunderland against utd commentator said even villa where a goal up they where more like an away side
Morning Lifers
Looking at the game versus Bpool n isolation,I would cut Lambert a tiny bit of slack.We won and are in the next round.Was it a woeful perfomance?Yes,but we won,that`ll do for me,after a few hours reflection,I have mellowed a bit.
Looking at our club in general and the last 2 and a half seasons under Lambert,well it has taken him this long to get a solid B4 ,which is well protected by Sanchez,and the same 30 months to get the players to keep the ball better.I hear the point of view that Lambert is doing as he is asked by Lerner,which is to keep us up.This is an assumption as we are not told anything.But why can`t we consolidate and progress?I refuse to believe that we can`t attain this,Moyes did exactly this at Everton.Pullis did this at Stoke too.
No one is expecting us to be knocking on the door of the top 4,but to continually be faffing around the bottom 6 is not on.I will state again that I do not have the luxury of being a purist,dull and uninspiring is forgiven by me if we are racking up the points.However dull and uninspiring nil nils at home to the weaker teams,is where Lambert is on thin ice.
This is what has out me in the Lambert out camp.I believe a new face could retian our status and see progress,Hoddle(especially for Steamer)Prandelli,a Villa Fan.Don`t tell me there aren`t realistic options out there,but the real issue is Lerner.What are his selection criteria?Lerner is the main impedement to progree IMO,so I shall try to rein in my complaining and wait for a/the sale.
B6,
You are without doubt the most generous Villa supporter on the Earth! 🙂
A last-5-minutes goal scored – one of only 3 Villa attempts on goal – against a bottom of the table Championship side after being held at bay and nearly having conceded against them (but for Shay Given).
And you’re feeling happy about that win?
Cor luv a duck… 🙂
John
M`lud at what point did the defendant say he was happy?
Pleased to be in round 4,I said yeasterday was woeful,doubly so ,considering the status and league record of the opponents who had an academy lad making his debut.Yep,we were/ are dreadful,but considering that I`ll take a win anyway it comes.
Darren,
Oh, yes, I thought I said that (but not in detail) that I agree that the entire period since the early 80s has been a lost opportunity.
True indeed.
It seems to have truly manifested itself as Doug got past his 70th. He seemed to think that simply raising money on the stock market was the answer, but I don’t know who sold him that pup. And there was also the money that was badly mis-spent – like a reported 6.5m on Balaban – and the tragedy of Alpay and Collymore – and Crouch who was sold for a song and then went onto Liverpool at great profit. A lot of money that went down the pan.
Hi B6
Agreed in isolation a win is a win and Villa don’t have a god given right to expect teams to roll over for us but whilst trying to refrain from it was only Blackpool, there is an expectation that we go out and especially at home impose our game on a lower league team and they have to play out of their socks to earn a draw in the natural scheme of things. However, the formation and the players selected precluded us from doing any such thing and we were left with a last minute goal from our only striker to save our blushes.
Not sure how you can cut some slack for that.
In terms of overall, if the new style of play is about possession and that possession consists of middle/defensive passing then yes our back 4 may appear more solid than previous seasons. I’d absolutely agree that we’ve improved as a defensive unit but to over-state as progress does Lambert a dis-service because the back four arrived by default not by Lambert’s inspired mgmt. Injuries to Vlaar and Senderos promoted the Okore/Clark partnership. Hutton and Sissokho have been fitful in terms of the modern role of full back by offering very little attacking threat so having 7/8 players with defensive duties will propogate a reduced number of goals conceded as only certain teams have the patience or unique bit of quality to break that down.
I don’t expect Top 10 football at this point but that’s based on the constraints of the system used by Lambert as opposed to the quality of player at his disposal.
We could easily employ a 4-4-1-1 system that would provide more attacking threat with Hutton/Okore/Clark/Sissokho in the back 4, Grealish/ Bacuna on the wings Westwood/Sanchez breaking up attacks and Cole (just behind Benteke) with little or no defensive duties to save his legs and provide killer passes to Benteke to thrive on.
Not too far off what was used yesterday, the difference is I’m not managing the team and you can be sure the message is defend in numbers and try and catch Blackpool on the counter attack when the message should have been get the ball as quickly out wide or to Cole to cause Blackpool problems.
I live in hope that the possession game being touted by Villa PR is a work in progress and bears fruit in an atacking sense but wouldn’t want Lambert to be the beneficiary of this by remaining as manager.
The prob is B6, that a win of any kind may be what keeps PL in his job.
I don’t like to see Villa lose either, but PL for me has now gone beyond the pale. He seems to be living in a different world, where reality doesn’t exist.
… but of course PL has Learnt from Lerner.
John
It`s hard to swallow but I`ve accepted that as long as Lerner is there,so too is Lambert.
He would appear bulletproof in Lerner`s eyes.Doing just enough to keep us up is the order of the day.
Darren
I`ll take the win,but this was the 3rd dreadful performance on the bounce,all 3 at VP.As I wrote above Moyes,Pullis and others have consolidated,survived and then progressed.I believe we could but not with the present set up and manager
Dead right John, the fans have been telling him for two years, we’re last on MoTD every week and the pundits are forever mentioning how boring we are, just about everyone can see it but Lambert or is he in denial ? The only folk not to lay into him, apart from his employers, are the local media who are always banging on about working for the people of the Midlands, who cares if Villa ban them from press conferences, they can take the higher ground and make the club look foolish.
Well at least that trip to Germany for Lambert is paying dividends, just look at our possession rates up to 60%, we are killing teams and I bet they dread having to play us, in fact if I was the opposition manager I would consider playing without a keeper and put another body out on the pitch to try to get the ball off the new Brazilians.
In fact joking apart the keeper does not really do much against the Villa so it may be a plan, Lambert is the only person who does not see it, they say let them pass the ball about their back six and we will deal with them if they cross the half way line don”t use up any energy chasing the ball if they want to keep it in their half because surely as the home team Villa must be trying to win the game.
Our players must laugh their socks off listening to the ramblings of our Scottish madman, Lerner must be cock a hoop sitting in his padded cell in New York knowing we have made it through to the FA cup play offs albeit as a wild card.
The lunatics have finally taken over the asylum and B62B is cutting Lambert some slack, my tip of the day B62B is pull that slack a little tighter preferably with Lerners neck in it.
AVFC RIP
https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/early-doors/revealed–most-boring-team-in-the-entire-premier-league-224430343.html
Are you watching Paul Lambert ?
Steamer
Do you think PL cares?As long as he picks up his ££££ from Lerner,and I presume,a fat bonus for keeping us up,then this sort of article wouldn`t concern him.
SWV
As for slsck,well what I meant was I am pleased to be in round 4.My expectatios are so low ,I am pleased to beat Bpool,very sad.Well when you`re in a hole you stop digging.
Steamer,
Love this quote from that article: “… if the late-1990s Keegan-era Newcastle philosophy is correct, then shipping four goals a game is not just absolutely fine so long as you score five, it’s also a surefire way to keep bums on seats.”
My philosophy entirely! It just needs adjusting a bit so that you make sure you win enough to do well in the league (the failure of which cost Villa’s great 1976-77 team).
This may be the bloke who’s interested in buying Villa …..or not.
Kamaladdin Heydarov.
His sons were educated in London and Tale owns Gilan Holdings who in turn own Qabala Football Club.
And Tale is a polo playing pal of Wills.
John
That was my favourite season and Villa team.Goals,goals,goals all the way.If we had had a good GK other than Burridge we would or could have won the Grand National and the Boat Race as well as the League.Well,never mind.
Brasil , the only slack you need to look at is the one on your thong as thats what is hanging so low and never heard them called expectations before ,
Steamer
what does educated in London mean , our fucking goverment were and look at the shit were in,
just had a phone call from a good old steamer ,JB , he gave me some terrible terrible news . seems that he another steamer thought it would be a great surprise to me for my birthday , that they paid for a ticket and coach to leicester on saturday , wtf have ldone to deserve that , last time l refused the fucking coach pulled up outside my house and they dressed me on the coach the bastards , lm gonna start the lamberk out chant on the coach , big ask , is there any decent pubs in leics
steamer
where the fuck is Qabala , sounds like a balti house down ladypool road
None that would let you in.
B6B,
Mine too, they scored goals for fun.
I was listening to the Blackpool match via AVTV, fell asleep and briefly awoke to hear from the AVTV commentator that Benteke had scored with a couple of minutes left. I thought that’s nice and went back to sleep again.
I don’t expect lerner will get rid of lambo if he believes the club will be sold at the end of the season either unless our lge status becomes to risky — what gives me hope is that it is a big risk keeping him as the mood of the whole club is so low
sherwood would at least breath some life into the club til the end of the season – he plays 442 and keeps it basic which is what we need right now to lift the mood and form
ST75,
I love John always had a sick sense of humour, decent pubs in Leicester you must be joking, we had some great times at the old Filbert Street but the new ground is shite built on a trading estate like all the other new ones, have a nice time and all together now
” LAMBERT OUT ”
AVFC RIP
Just read that article posted by Steamer about us being the most boring team in the premier and I thought shit we are the luckiest as well, how can you be in our position after scoring just eleven goals and the next lowest scorers Burnley have scored SIX goals more, its just crazy.
AVFC RIP
Jordan Graham gone to Wolves on a permanent deal Lambert clearing the decks for some big signings, Sinclair and Gomis from Swansea CL here we come woohoo.
AVFC RIP
here is an article possibly by Lambert’s mum, he’s not the Messiah he’s a very naughty boy
http://bwinbetting.com/leagues/premier-league/aston-villa-wrong-boo-lambert,65658.html?
Ian . the magician , steamer would remove the silk and it would be Bella Emberg !! and as for the goalie , we had one like that” Punchy Parsons,” only trouble with him is at corners he would somehow find our center back or forward and knock them out whilst completely missing the ball , , keep the vids coming mate
mark king the guy who wrote that is Lamberts son in law must be or he has just been released from broardmoor
http://www.fanbookz.com/en/news/noises-of-discontent-echo-around-villa-park
Good summary of our resident loony.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/14abab2bff39e9d4?projector=1
Absolutely hilarious Ian.
Ian,
S75 is a better magician than that bloke, just shout ‘your round’ and he disappears.
Sorry,
Funny vid
https://www.youtube.com/embed/8F9jXYOH2c0
only benteke has scored in last 6 matches with his grand total of 2 against bpool c palace sunderland swansea manu wba and lambert doesnt understand the boos hes right why hasit took so long
We are going out the cup. Another fecking home game against Bournemouth. Country’s top scores vs the worlds lowest scorers.
It’s not luck that we’re 12th in the table having only scored 11 goals. If anything we’ve been unlucky with refereeing decisions and inspired opposition goalkeeping.
We’re not scoring goals but the 5th best defence in the country is earning us points.
If it was reversed and we had the 5th best goal scoring record and the worst defence we’d probably be in a similar position in the table.
The problem is that it feels better getting your points with a great attack and a shit defence than the other way round.
The real question or us now is whether we can pick up a couple of players who will score goals and help Benteke to find his scoring boots.
If we can then Lambert may yet surprise us all.
r0bb0,
Still expecting PL to do the obvious, eh, mate?!
After nearly 3 years of shilly-shallying by the manager you must be the world’s greatest optimist.
You’re even assuming that PL would know the right players to fit the bill and the money to go with it to buy ’em!
There’s as much chance as us stopping the stray cats from seeking refuge in our pad! 😉
the trouble is that no matter who lambert signed he would be brought down the the sh ite levelwe play at we could now start to attack teams bas the back 4 is strong with shanez in front of it but lambert is clueless and wont play any attack minded players
every person with a brain knows scabby can only play on the last man to either run on to a through ball as the days of g barry and Milner used to and thats it exatcly the same for weiman thats why they are now both sh ite both played in the wrong place asked to play either wide on midfield the guy is clueless and thats it no matter what he has no idea who to play and where westwood yesterday is a prime example the man is simply a square pegs in round hole man he reminds me of an old villa fan the loon when we played blackpool long ago in the cup and won there he grabbed a blackpool fan and jumped off the pier with him he had as much sense as lambert has but he never had the brass neck of \amburk
John, no I don’t expect Lambert to take us to the promised land, and unlike most on here I can feel quite smug because I didn’t want him and I’ve never believed that he would.
However. . . . I think the man has been dealt a poor hand and he’s done his best. He’s bought some good players and deserves some praise for that
I think he’s a decent man who will support his players and will keep trying hard to do a good job for the club.
Do I think he’ll get it right? No I don’t
Might he, despite it all, get it right? Odds are against it, but Yes he just might and until someone can convince me that Lerner has an obviously better alternative lined up I’ll continue to support him and support my team.
it’s interesting reading the now odd comments from the pro lambert brigade – there really are still a good few that thing lambert is both doing a good job and good for the club
it’s a real shame because villa are a great base to build on and with the right manager the place could’ve been bouncing by now
To start 541 in our last game sums up lambo’s menatity and is a resepie for the dire football the lads are playing
spelling as per -pls decode 🙂
I haven’t seen anyone on here lately say that Lambert is doing a good job. Some though criticise absolutely everything about the man and that is unfair.
Some even criticise him for lying and yet those that do it are by their own terms the very biggest liars on here
I’m not keen on double standards and there are lots on display here.
Jordan Grahams tweet – it be interesting to see how he develops as we didnt get to see what he was all about
https://twitter.com/JordanG_14/status/552067422447206401/photo/1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUBREZlitK0
http://youtu.be/SxVUGIz9v6M clock these two stewer we was there boy
Runtingz
What a well mannered ,polite fella,I wish him nothing but the best.
JD
I was at both games,the Bournemouth game was one of the most memorable matches and ocassions I have ever experienced.Great days,great memories,surrounded by great fans. COYVB.
jd awesome footage
footage hits home why anyone who was a part of the club experiencing those nights could ever except the current state of affiars at villa
heres one for you young ones out there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CJ06T2fUUc
As Runtings says, The Berk setting up 541 at home against a team bottom of the championship sums him up perfectly as a manager. This new style is some if the worst shit I’ve ever seen, level with what trash he was serving up before
He wants a palace and WBA reject this January if reports are true. Fantastic
There only a few, a very small few, who still for some reason back The Berk. The away fans will get mental at him if we lose on Saturday, which I think we will
The saddest thing is, there’s a really great video on the big screens. Enforce KO now at Villa taking about our 140 years and our proud history
Then that shambles walk out the tunnel a couple of mins after….
Jesus, I’ll spell all that again
The saddest thing is, there’s a really great Video on the big screens before KO now at Villa talking about our 140 years and our proud history
Just one small point.
We started with 3 at the back on Sunday but quite quickly moved to 4.
It was an experiment that didn’t work.
look at this one and after the last goal look at scabby how fit he is here compered to now then tell me that he is fit just look
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz_vlEbdv7c
All three of last year’s relegated teams had sacked their manager. . . . One of them had done it twice . . . .
Just a thought
In te case of Fulham of course not only did they sack their manager twice (and still get relegated) they then sacked another manager and yet are now struggling in the Championship
Things are so bad at Fulham that their players are being linked of transfer to clubs such as Villa for goodness sake!
If you’re unhappy with our manager, who should we have instead. . . and more to the point, do you think our owner will bring in the right replacement?
Do you think the problem is with the players Lambert has bought or the way he uses them, or both?
If you think it’s both, then a new manager will have to replace the players. We all know he won’t be given the funds to do that so how does that work?
Robbo i cant think of too many worse than lambert – the teams that go down are expected to do so – some have come up a stablised in the lge and are doing better than lambert with less resorces that poor old pl who only had the odd 40 to 50 mil to play with
saying that if anyone can find a worse man to take the helm its randy but he still would be hard pushed to do so
r0bb0,
Yes, PL is a human being and I will not criticise him as a person. But that’s not the point.
Is he doing and is he able to do the right job at VP is the question, and I would have thought the answer is an unequivocal “no”. There have been bad records that have been collected and continue to be collected – the next one appears to be the lowest number of goals scored in the Prem by any side. Unless a miracle occurs I don’t see how that record can be avoided.
Is all that in the spirit of Villa’s history and (importantly) where Villa should be? I would have thought the answer is an unequivocal “no”.
Those are the only issues to be taken into account i.m.o. Not that PL is entirely to blame – and in fact we (as supporters) are partly to blame for going along with all this (since 2010) for so long.
Well one things for sure – Eddie Howe’s team will not park the bus when they visit Villa Park. They play an attractive attacking style like he had Burnley playing before. PL will have to sort out a better strategy than the one he adopted v Blackpool
Eddie Howe is someone I’d take as our next manager.
Apparently Norwich want The Berk berk? We can pray
Delph off to Spurs for 3 mill. One awfully run club we are
Managers to replace this knob –
Peter Reid
Phil Brown
McCleish
Holloway
Brian Horton
Neil Warnock
Just a few of the hundreds who could improve on our current no-hoper.
Bad enough that Lambert has turned Villa into a pile of shite but to try to con us that we’re a great team is unforgivable, still its worked on one person at least.
Nice to see those vids, reminded me of when we were a football club.
Bournemouth will piss all over us.
JD,
The Loon, there’s a name from the past, did you ever see him sober ?
Don’t think Lambert will go back to Naarwich, him and the CEO hated each other. I’d drive him back though if he did go.
I’d be very grateful if some of you could cast their eyes over my Birmingham webpage: http://www.lerwill-life.org.uk/history/homebrum.htm
It’s been up for a long time but has recently been re-vamped and updated. If there’s anything seriously missing on my page I’d be grateful if you would let me know. Thanks! 🙂
Eddie Howe has worked wonders at the cherries, but it is a club in his blood, it has much lower expectations than us( well the fans anyway), I’m not sure he could work his magic elsewhere, his tenure at Burnley was hindered by family homesickness etc, having said all that he is way better than the current knob and I expect them to beat us at VP in the cup.
I doubt Lambert would go back to Norwich, but it would be great if he did, and they would prob have to pay us compo due to the twats new contract 🙂
I think the whole debate of whether Lambert has had a bad hand dealt can only be proven if a new manager does better/same/worse with Lamberts players.
the whole “he’s spent £50mil” thing and comparing it to teams that have come up with a winning squad, then add 3-4 more experienced players to stay in the Prem is flawed. no matter the sum spent, these teams had room with greater income to expand the wages spent, we did not and were attempting to go the other way with Cheap inexperienced players.
compare this to Houlliers £32 mil in one season and mcleishs £17.5 in one season then Lamberts £50mil over 3 seasons is £16.5.
where the game changes is the amount of players in and out and the fees received for them.
houllier brought in 3 at an average cost of £10.5 mil and released 9, 4 of which we got money for including milner £27.5mil
mcleish brought in four, average cost 4.5mil and released 8 6 for money including young and downing £40mil
Lambert has brought in 23 in all for an average of £3mil (not counting 7 free players) and released 23 for a staggering £5mil!!!!!!
so basically we sold the crown jewels before he got here and left him with the mammoth task of getting rid of highly paid dross that we couldn’t sell or give away. some will say its self inflicted by Lambert but think about that? we sold young, milner etc easily, why not the others? a lot were from Mons team some highly paid players Houllier and Mcleish bought that nobody wants to buy still.
Lambert appears to be useless tactician/coach granted but how much is down to player quality or guidance god only knows. another manager is the only way we will know.
But what he Lambert attempted was in the hard box there is no doubt IMO
Seems to be a lot of excuses being made for to my mind what has been exstreamly poor managment
the whole vibe at the club is down beat — how can you have lower lge sides being more attractive to watch than us — how can you have teams come up from a lower lge and finish above us — all with less cash – international players — how can one of the best support clubs in the land lose so much support —
Its not just lambert – lerner has been really poor in researching and getting the right manager since he joined us — standards are really low when you get villa fans giving it about poor old lambert — i guess if you support the club you need to have no expections and no interest in the club progressing or even punching its weight – i certainly no expection of football as entertanment —
spelling – decode as per
Mark, that’s a really good summary of Lambert’s transfer success or otherwise.
I think you overstate his spending by about £10m because figures quoted for a number of the players (Westwood, Bacuna, et al) are widely quoted as being higher than the reality but that doesn’t change your general point much.
It seems a more honest assessment to accept he’s done pretty well in the transfer market but question his ability to get the best out of his squad on the pitch than just resorting to criticising every bit of his management and character as some seem to enjoy doing
Runtingz- the whole lot are a shambles mate. There’s been no plan just a knee jerk reaction to a near collapse of our club. We have rebuilt a squad on championship wages at best. That said doing things this way was always a risk that any manager would struggle with let alone entertain while doing it. 49 players out and 30 in in 5 seasons and that’s without loans, it speaks volumes, no stability, unlike the teams that come up with a hungry winning squad. I wish a better owner had come in and done things differently but he didn’t
Runtings. Your right about Lerner’s track record in picking managers and that’s one of my concerns about us swapping lambert now. Steamer’s suggestions for alternatives (basically ABL) I assume are meant as a joke but the serious question is whether we will in reality get anyone better.
Yes we do need to aspire to more (I didn’t enjoy spending over £250 over Christmas to watch one goal) but it’s one thing ‘wanting’ more and it’s quite another having a practical plan to deliver it
Robbo- I think what gets up most people’s noses with lambert is the man try’s to tell us black is white. A more honest approach would have served him and this club better.
mark n robbo — after checking youe views and reasoning on the big Lambert question we will just have to disagree in that i think he has been poor for the club and completely the wrong guy , wrong place , wrong time
Just for you thou i have found a real positive which lambo and the club inviting the daughter of the villan that died after to the game to villa park to meet everyone — loving that
Mark, you’re right. Lambert hasn’t done himself any favours. He’s not great at interviews and is short of an adjective or ten. He also tries to support his players every single time in public, and Whilst I can understand why I think he’s misguided in doing it.
Great post Mark King, it does serve to highlight the rot existed for some time but in the absence of a director of football or a board member with football knowledge, who controlled the situation that allowed the ‘bomb squad’ to develop and fester like an open wound or player contracts to be left run out.
In my opinion, these were non-Lambert players that were old enough and wise enough to see Lambert doing nothing for the club, I don’t think this was out of an abiding love for Villa but as professional footballers they saw nothing and didn’t want to be a part of it. Villa PR spin mentions bringing in players from the cold, it was a realisation that we were so threadbare that we needed the likes of Hutton back.
Speaking of lack of control, who sanctioned the release of 23 players for 5m, more evidence that Lambert shouldn’t have been in control of this as any director of football taking responsibility for buying and selling would have to justify their position by also generating income.
Where is Villa PR when reports suggest Spuds want Delph for 3m, there should be a flat rejection at the very least being issued instead we get Shaun Teale’s best 11, no disrespect for Shaun because i’ve seen his comments about how crap we are but what does it serve having this as news when an England international could be taken for pittance in comparison to what would be needed if he was on a longer contract. Where was Lambert a season ago when he should have been tying Delph up with a contract extension, likewise with Vlaar, two internationals we could lose for nothing by June, making Lambert 25 for 5.
Does this get him another record most players sold/left for least amount of money, this is a income resource of the club that should be better managed at the very least.
I see Westwood drew the short straw and had to come out supporting Lambert’s awakening with regard to his football philosophy, as instilled merely weeks ago following a visit to his buddy Pep, what a load of crock. Sure Westwood gets to increase his Opta stats and yes I understand he is an employee of AVFC but for the love of god, the crap being spouted as if Lambert designed this is ridiculous, I don’t have a coaching badge to my name but surely someone as ‘experienced’ as Lambert would know that this style has no substance other than reduce the number of chances of being scored against.
Lamberk Out
Runtingz- Fair enough mate although two more experienced managers in houllier and MacLeish had failed with a supposed better squad to provide much to shout about. I will say this, we should have gone down under houllier and maybe we would be back up and winning now? But the rumours that most of mons players had no wage reduction clause if true would of potentially destroyed us.
hooray mark – we actually agree on something
I am not stupid enough to think the problems started with lambo
the club has been making bad moves even before randy arrived and randy arriving was another really poor move as we could have had the citeh lot in charge but doug thought otherwise
the club has been a mess for years and i recall a aston villa reserve team full of internationals including hagi , sasha ,balaban and many more
As i always come back to the most important thing to move a club forward is the manager and if we ever get one that fit well with the club we can pick our selves up very quickly
villa is just one big oppertunity after another thrown away but even with all that the last two managers have been compleatly out of there depth here for me
funny enough lambert was brill for norwich and i call this big club sydrome
i have seen many players and managers do well at one club then they go to a bigger one and look like they are new to the game all of a sudden
JD,
Great clips I was at both games and the atmosphere on the holte was incredible, also went to the 2nd leg against Untied in the semi final of the cup beat them 2-1 in front of a packed VP Lochead and McMahon got the goals both headers, those were the days when you was proud to be a Villan.
Steamer,
We went to Boro one year Ayrsome Park not the new tin shed, think it might have been a boxing day we took a coach from the Hole a 52 seater with 26 of us on there, middle of fucking winter so off we went if memory serves me right we won 3-2 cannot remember who scored our winner but remember it being a 30 yard screamer, was it Buttress not sure, anyway we had a little fracas with the boro lot after the game on the way back to the coach park next thing we heard this racket and this geezer came running down the other side of the road screaming and waving his arms – the Loon, used to drink bottles of Bulls Blood wine on the way to games.
We had the coach windows put through and drove down M6 with snow coming through the gaps where the glass would have been, stopped of in Darlington for a gargle what a fecking dive.
Memories like the corners of my mind ———-
AVFC RIP
Darren- would love to know Lamberts true remit. Nobody in their right minds would let so many go for so little unless they were given orders to reduce the wage bill regardless. I do think that if the bomb squad had gone it would of been a pressure valve release to some degree. Before the sky money went up they accounted for almost a third of the wage bill and they are still here. This has severely hampered recruiting decent players in my opinion. Lambert has clearly been left with to much to do with his level of experience/ability. The resulting stink has left us with a squad like clinkers on a dogs arse unwanted but hard to shake off.
Runtingz- wonders will never cease 😉 villa remind me of a clown car, looks ok to start with then the wheels fall off and you end with a pie in the mush
Mark,
Last figures suggested we had the eight biggest wage bill in the EPL.
We would have gone down with Houllier, McCallister was the bloke who turned it around.
SWV,
David Hughes scored and it was my window, knackers like ice cubes.Lost 3-2, David ‘effin Mills scored 3.
Pat, Pat, Pat McMahon was a really good footballer, dunno why Crowe released him.
When you compare the atmosphere at VP from the THIRD DIVISION to recent years its scary, like stepping into zombieland, the opposition must have been terrified with the noise especially the night games, Ferguscon attended the Inter game and said it was the loudest he’d heard and he wished the Guildford Untied mob got behind them like we did.
Darren,
That’s the shame mate, if Lerner had taken advice at the beginning he wouldn’t have wasted so much money. How can you run a multi – million pound organisation without ANY knowledge of the industry at all ?
Surely he wasn’t so arrogant that he thought he could do it. Krulac, Lerner, Chubmeister and now Fox have a miniscule nous about football that’s why we get crepe managers who appoint crepe coaches and sign crepe players, its not the fans fault but they get the wrong end of the shite stick no-one else.
Lerner could have gone into one of John Lerwill’s books as a folk hero now he’ll be remembered as a dumb bollock who buggered everything up at two sporting institutions.
Its so bad the u21 team lost to bottom club B&HA in Division 2 of their lge, decline, decline, decline.
I don’t actually believe that BS about Munich, Pep wouldn’t know the knob from Arthur Askey never mind give him the time of day. I reckon he went to the beer festival.
steamer- its the percentage of turnover not the amount the wages are that counts. ours are 85% and arsenals are 54% even though they pay more in wages.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/01/premier-league-accounts-club-by-club-david-conn
darren- I was wondering if there is any advantage to losing players tax wise? would they allow for depreciation of assets hence the clear out? sounds daft but its done in business and players sold for profit show in accounts why not losses due to contracts ending etc?
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-post-518m-loss-6759930
interesting read if you want to know how football clubs are run financially. apparently a players fee say £20mil is entered into the books over 4 years so £5mil a year same as me buying a van.
http://swissramble.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/show-me-money.html
B62,
If Lambert went back to Naarwich we’d have to pay them compensation not the other way around.
Instead of spending 3 mill on Sinclair, use it to sack Lamberk instead FFS
JL ‘ get yourself a dog , that will stop the stray cats ..
steamer
l remember having a piss out of your window on the coach , and at the ground l remember a certain castle vale taxi driver leaving me to fight off 5 boro fans , git , never felt a thing as it was that cold , even in me sheepskin . you still got that cardie ??
JD
l saw on F/B you asking fat bastard about the steamers , at the end of the season we usually have a knees up in the social , quite a few going southampton last game away and stopping in bournemouth for the weekend , Frem do you fancy that mate ,
yes steamer have you still got that cardie covered in Sh ite when you fall on your ar se at mansfield when you run on the pitch on your own when you thought the game was over and we had won the league and it was only a free kick the ref blew for boy you sure looked a dick happy days
stemer 75 is gaz coming in his cardi know good hotel there by docks i use when going cruising yes count me in for a weekend on the pi ss
S75.
Actually you had a piss INSIDE the coach, something else that made the journey home miserable.
A cardigan for every occasion. Still get asked about my sheepskin, more famous than Motson’s.
Won’t be going on tour, spent my last quid on these winkers.
steamer . who said anything about going to the game ?? its a weekend with the lads for a piss-up ,
JD will let you know the details nearer the game mate ,
and Thank fuck , l got out of going to leicester , good ole rain , got leaks in my garage ,
Mash a few spuds and make a nice soup with them.
so is that you are coming for a great night out in southampton then gaz or wont you have darned your cardi buy then
Hi Mark
If the players are being recorded as assets then probably accounting rules would allow you to right off the depreciation against taxable income, not sure how Habib Beye was recorded on the books 🙂
Dareen- boot room attendant 🙂
darren- if I’m reading things correctly in the article I posted most of the people that were binned were low value and most of their value written off in the first 3 years of their contracts. the bomb squad had longer contracts and would of cost to much to terminate in compensation.
maybe there was an advantage to showing a loss when the tv income was rising? plus getting them off the wage bill which is a direct cost. accounts are baffling but you can bet mr Lerner knows all about the loopholes
Certainly knows how to bugger up sports clubs.
It makes it worse then that if an income source that is TV money becomes so large that it negates the need to run a club properly. Gate receipts, sponsorship and players sales used to be the chief incomes sources.
If managing a club allows you to forget these sources of income then football is more lost than ever.
Gate receipts not being important means fans aren’t important, already true.
Sponsorship not being important means any low quality company is acceptable as its only additional income (Dafabet). ( We should probably look to get the back of our shirts logo’d as we are always passing backwards)
Player sales not being important means investment in player development is reduced because only a few players make it to the first team so there should be some recouping of the investment and make the academy self-funding for those players that don’t make it by getting some sell on value.
in terms of bought in players, then the manager should not only be looking at current cost but also potential sell on value, it may mean once over 30ish that, your value is written off but also the focus should be on buying younger players that can progress their value once contracts are renewed periodically as should have been the case with Delph.
Man U, Man C and Chelsea skew things drastically because of their buying power but you can guarantee that their academies will be/are self-funding based on the number of players that go through their system because they attract/buy the best youths based on their name/facilities/coaching reputation/financial reward.
Not being local but knowing how good Bodymoor Heath is, does Villa set it stall out as being a centre of excellence for youth in the midlands or do we lose out to other teams not just local for talent that could either develop our club or have sell on value?
Darren- Delph is a curious case considering we gave gabby and hutton both older four year deals. Vlaar is no surprise as age and constant injury makes him expendable when you look at his initial cost. Delphs cost has long been written off and he is one player we could of made good money on other than tekkers. I don’t see any advantage in not giving him a deal unless he was asking for a huge rise? that’s the only possibility in my eyes. It could of been an over site but not likely. I don’t fully understand the cash flow angle but I’m betting it has something to do with it.
probably true but why not then tout the player as being for sale safe in the knowledge you’ll at the very least get your money back, if he is prepared to hold the club to ransom for wage demands given the structure that Lerner enforced then he can make his money elsewhere and we reinvest. Now we are left with no source of income on an England international and they attract inflated valuations, which another club will enjoy as they’ll manage the situation better.
Some intersting rumors of wingers joining the club – it comes to something when we are linked to these much needed players when no one comments about it , not even frem is excited —- guess its due to the manager – all good getting decent players but will they be used right and will pl get the best out of them
steamer you talk about our u 21 side getting beat again when we where always in the past had good kids for there age
sid reckons that good kids will not sign at 14 and 15 because non are played or come through the system we won the u21 europen cup beating barca and chelskie and byern on the way but look how mamy have been given a chance and have simply fell away or loaned out good kids look at those stats and now do not sign and things will only get worse with this dead beat in charge
Jordan Graham was talked about as a top prospect, Untied were linked with him on several occasions but with injuries etc never got a look in, been the same for years, what happened to if your good enough your old enough ?
when sites such as Football365 aka SkySports online have to focus on the top sides for rumours and it’s left to blogs to talk up links, i don’t get inspired or enthused until I see them actually signing and even then i think whereabouts in the defensive third will they play.
I see part two of the PR offensive comes from a player who is injured and not even part of the defensive tiki taka that Villa employ, I mean that Lambert has developed as a unique/never seen before system to combat the opposition and strike fear into defences (mostly our own).
My bet is the none of our three forward players are asked next to provide support for Lamberk
2.5 MILL for Sinclair….yes please.
Liked him from his Plymouth days and always rated him.
Plus it’s actualy strengthinig a position we need…..plus more chance of gabby and weimann being benched!!!
steamers are you all on a jolly boys outing today or what
Having now seen the article on Villa’s accounts and recent losses, and how much Lerner has written off, gives some sort of understanding on the constraints placed on PL. This does not mean that his methods and tactics, etc on the field are then explainable, except in the level of players he is equipped with, but he surely should be able to make the team more positive, as well as more solid.
I have not been able to attend the last two games, but have seen enough on tv to make some sort of judgement of how we are doing, and it is not fantastic, but we are just holding on. If Lambert succeeds in pulling Villa through this season and ending up in a respectable position in the lower half of the table with a reasonable cup run as well, he will have met the needs of his bosses and maybe the majority of the fans, but if he fails then that will be a whole different ball game.
Personally, I hope he succeeds for the club and for the fans, and maybe will then present a far different picture for potential new buyers and the future of the club. Everyone on here should accept was is now stated about the accounts, which really cannot be underestimated, that Villa have turned the corner, and basically saved from a very serious position, and will be in the black. It is the same bitter medicine which this country is taking, if only it was working as well as it is at Villa Park. Once the finance improves, so can the level of investment in players, and management.
thanks Paul P- that is exactly what I was trying to point out. Add to that the behaviour of playing staff, coaches and company bullshine etc and villa park could hardly be a place of optimism. While another manager at this stage could be the best move as Lambert is deemed to be not getting the best out of the staff, it could be the stress has gotten to him or the players available are not quite up to it. either way it hasn’t been a walk in the park for such an inexperienced manager doesn’t mean he is good enough, just an acknowledgement of the task.
The only way to find out is replace him or replace the players which is more likely?
PP Everyone on here should accept was is now stated about the accounts, which really cannot be underestimated, that Villa have turned the corner, and basically saved from a very serious position, and will be in the black.
Well, it’s what’s called good massaging of the household expenses. 😉
I for one cannot understand how there ever could have been bad financial situation at VP given that in late 2009 there were grandiose talks about re-building the north end of Villa Park which would have accommodated a new Villa store and museum. I was involved in some detailed planning of that situation in the autumn of 2009.
Then – all of a sudden – there was gloom and doom being suggested from the time when Faulkner was appointed CEO (2010) after previously being the club’s operations director. From 2010 we’ve been going downhill on the pitch and the club’s finances took a wallop from all kinds of settlements Lerner had to pay for unfair dismissals, including MON’s affair, and generally strange financial handling of the squad.
And so the fans have had to suffer from what – to me – looks like mismanagement resulting from a wrong perspective on how to run a football club.
Humbug!
JL- you may have a point but add the economic climate, FFP and a divorce settlement and you can see that it was brown trouser time in the lerner household. our wage bill is key and our inability to offload poor players clinging to long contracts on good money our downfall IMO. By all reports MON had full control on this front did he not? maybe faulkner told randy things were going south?
bit of history
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2080499/What-wrong-Villa-How-Randy-Lerners-dream-turning-nightmare.html
Mark,
His divorce and FFP were known about in 2009 and should have already been woven into the economic plans at that time. The economic climate is not entirely relevant since TV revenues have gone up.
Mark,
1. That “history” is just a newspaper’s slant on it and not necessarily including all the ingredients to make it true “history”.
2. I am well aware of what has transpired since 2009 thanks 😉 Since 2006 even. I was there.
Mark,
Faulkner was not the Financial Director. Robin Russell was and still is. I was present at least one management meeting where the finances were discussed and there was always concern about the high % of wages in their figures, but no hint of an alarm as such. Come autumn 2009 and big VP developments were afoot and finance apparently there to meet the bill. Then a big back-down in 2010.
Sorry, for me there’s a mystery there. Something radically changed Lerner’s perspective. Whatever is said about FFP etc I am not clear exactly what it was that really turned Lerner’s head. I agree that Faulkner may have been an influence in some way, but I am more inclined to think there’s something else.
JL- unless you live on mars the economic climate matters as fans can afford less, your own moneys worth less etc.
wasn’t it a reported settlement of half his fortune? not exactly small stuff. plus the FFP prevents owners from throwing in large amounts. Mcleish talked about the level of wages and £2-3 mil a year is 40,000-60,000 a week!! for the likes of beye?! tv revenue has gone up in the last 2 seasons appreciably meanwhile we were still writing off losses.
mainly because of competition, ITV and BT’s involvement in showing more champs and prem games. our income from the stadium I’m guessing will have dropped. Its definitely poor management from the off but there are extenuating circumstances involved.
JL- I know what you mean and its what I’m trying figure out. saying there all idiots is one explanation but unlikely in the world of high finance involved. It happens in banking I suppose.
forgot to mention he sold the browns eventually and I think that was a reaction to whatever spooked him. probably felt insecure with less than a billion 😉
Mark,
We’re talking about what changed matters in 2010. Focus on that – the divorce matter was know about before. The FFP (I agree) may not have been focused on too much and it may be that Faulkner pointed that out.
That’s no excuse for the club to be nearly run into the ground until it’s in danger of survival. To get through difficulties (and really know what you are doing) you have to transcend your thinking. They obviously didn’t.
Mark,
By the way, my old Brummie school mate Derek Hathaway could show them a thing or two … he was called over to the States 25 years ago and pulled a sizeable company back into growth. He’s since been awarded an OBE.
To get a view on his thinking see http://www.idvl.org/harrisburglivinglegacy/iCoreClient.html#/&s=1&args=N11;P-1;col%5B144%5D
He should have stayed and sorted Villa out instead…!
Always hated Derek … there was always something better about ‘im … he kept me out of the soccer team!
jl- we had 4 decent players barry, young, milner and downing they went for decent money plus a few others during mons time we got 2-3mil for. they were sold as we we were operating on a 90%? wage to turnover, the rest I’m afraid had no appreciable resale value. either too old or not very good and on huge contracts, they sat it out rather than drop wages I’d guess.
if we had got rid straight away it would of crippled us to pay the contracts off, 3 years later they were worth nothing as their initial cost is depreciated over 4 years. so the wage bill was such that we could only buy if we could make room and we couldn’t shift them. because we couldn’t make anything on players, lerners company? had to buy shares to keep us out of trouble as FFP forbids him from putting enough of his own money in. add the manager turnover eating up the what little money we had and you have a huge mess.
that’s how I see it, incompetence plus a massive coming together of bad luck (divorce, ffp, mons buying) all at once.
JL- shame he didn’t, looks a smart man, on 2010, maybe houllier happened too and pointed out we had no footballers.
Mark,
On your last recapitulation of events I can only say that he should have thought all about that beforehand – on whether he was really capable of controlling the club. My guess is that he wasn’t sure of himself, which is why the General was shoved n to make him seem lilywhite and to give answers that RL didn’t know how to.
Yikes!
Seems Randy is taking the sailing us down the swany to a whole new level – he now refuses to pay 2.5mil for a decent player
i see cleaverly also sending a come and get me plea to everton while in a villa shirt and does want to play for us — not that i want the player but it just show what a terrible state we are in
doesnt
JL- he isn’t the first clueless owner and I’m sure he won’t be the last unfortunatley just pray his choice of owner is better than his choice of managers .
runtingz- maybe its because we are sold that’s the only hopeful thing I can say, at least we won’t be buying cleverly
maybe this is why?
https://www.clubcall.com/aston-villa/villa-in-spanish-attacking-midfielder-link-1754104.html?
Thinking the exact same thing Runtings, how crap are we that a player who shunned from his parent club, got an opportunity to play prem league football with us and then wants to leave at the first opportunity to a club doing no better than us.
Something is rotten in our club and I expect it’s PL and his tactics, a guy who continually (self convincing) says we are doing ok must surely be so autocratic, self centered and stubborn that no one wants to play for him or end up in a new bomb squad.
In terms of Lerner, in my opinion, little was known around the implications of FFP and clearly the reign back had started when MON didn’t get the Milner money that something changed so I’d suggest FFP was a minor factor as AVFC had far from exhausted sponsorship potential for income and still haven’t. My thinking is that it was a financial realisation that at wages equalling 90% of turnover, AVFC was no longer viable and either required further investment or greater financial control (without acknowledging the football implications).
That was a big miss at this point, understanding that the situation developed from lack of control through his leadership (lack of) and a knee jerk reaction to some extent as subsequent managers then had constraints placed on them but still no football knowledge brought into the boardroom unless Lerner thought that would be a bad influence as any football director would always be cap in hand to get new players.
Hindsight is great and the release of the Milner money to MON with a clear direction to get rid of players not contributing to the first 11 and subs may have allowed us to progress. Who knows, what we are left with is a manager in total control, no assistants, a chairman with no football background and an absentee landlord
Sounds like a rational picture, Darren, and actually fits my general feelings.
Good summary Darren.
What a mess. Lerner’s reluctant to spend the kind of money which would mark us down as an unambitious third division club. I know it becomes like a stuck record, but we can’t continue to get away with this.
darren- that’s about it mate, milners money spent on bent and makoun as we were in the shit instead. I think we were banking on champs league and didn’t make it, an extra £20-£30 mil would of changed the picture. enter ginge to get some sponsorship. I don’t know what was proposed to Mon but he clearly didn’t see it as attainable.
don’t forget man city got lucky too, as I said poor management and a compilation of contributing factors. One thing is certain we would of had to increase our income massively to maintain top four and champs. compared to liverpoo, arse, etc we are paupers
Just looked up the FFP rules and the heavy losses and high wage bill would have had us right in the shit if not addressed. In fact I’d say wage wise we would still be in violation if the tv money hadn’t gone up. Just google ffp rules and see. The first clubs to get fined should happen this year.
By the way the ffp rules for the championship are worse, preventing teams from buying their way out of the league.
It would appear we have to pay sick note Vlaar until the summer,no chance of shifting hom in Jan now.He is out for 6 weeks,sensational news though……………it`s a knee injury for a change.
Thanks JL, SW and MK, I could write more but I’d have to start up a rival site to this 🙂 and that ain’t happening
Mark
The FFP rules are being watered down, certainly in the Championship, as we all knew they would be in Europe. Don’t know if it is retrospective, QPR better hope it is if they’re relegated with a prospective £50m fine. Certainly the rules haven’t stopped QPR, Leicester, Forest and others spending way beyond Championship means.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29940463
I recall some quotes a few years ago from Lerner and Faulkner worrying that falling foul of FFP could stop Villa qualifying for Europe! Well, they’ve certainly taken care of that one.
Mark – obviously I agree with you that continued losses weren’t sustainable.
correct me if i am wrong but i was advised ffp only fully applies to team that are actually in europe as in quilified for europe
teams
I think that’s right runtings.
Which was what was so funny about Lerner/Faulkner warning we wouldn’t be allowed to play in Europe unless we sold all the players who were capable of qualifying for Europe.
http://www.financialfairplay.co.uk/financial-fair-play-explained.php
its plain to see randy never worked for his got handed to him on a plate,surrounded himself with yes men who had not a clue football wise,when mon was here sky media lovedhim and us plenty young english players that was when we needed football brain on board kept nike got good deal for shirt sponser raised extra money,
lerner took mad turn fell out with mon sold milner signed ireland for about 7.5/8 million on big wages tokeep fans happy then paid big money to go foreign with houiller didnt work houiller couldnt work with mon squad bought bent 18/24 million makoun 6million walker on loan houiller got sick paid him off more money wasted then done inconceivable took mcleish from blues lpool wouldnt take everton manager same with celtic rangers aresnal spurs gave him 20million to waste on given zog hutton jenas season tickets dropped like a stone more sackings then screw youse villa fans i had enough ill give youse lambert randy lerner
ireland 7.5/8fee 10/12million wages about 20 m total
bent 18/24 fee 10/14 million wages about 30 m total
makoun 6m fee 6/8 wages about 12 total
given 3.5 fee 12/15 wages about 15m total long contract only way would leave city
zog 9.5 fee 10 wages about 20m total
jenas 1m loan fee 2m wages for about 20 mins football
mon staff paid off 2/3 million guess
houiller staff compensation to french fa 5/8 guess
mcleish staff compensation to blues 3/5 guess
most figures taken from media sources some money wasted over 2 years
Darren,
Your last post was excellent.
The story i heard from someone in the know that MON wanted the Milner cash to sign Ireland and Robbie Keane, Lerner refused and it got physical and Lerner gave the money to his American rugby team.
steve w- nope it applies to the prem as runtingz link shows and comes into effect in the 2013-14. uefas is tighter than the prem limits but as you become more successful and get into europe you will fall foul of them as city did to the tune of £60 mil. QPR are appealing as they say its not fair for teams with large wage bills who’s income suddenly drops.
by the way rangers are being offered £20m for the club!!!!
Kind of explains our £51mil loss in 2012-13. if it had happened in 2013-2014 we would of been fined
if the owner doesn’t inject equity, you are only allowed to lose £15m over 3 seasons. £105m if he does!? is this clause for the rich clubs?
sreamer- Ireland came as part of the milner deal didn’t he?
can’t imagine that’s the whole story, if it is makes mon look a right plonker
Being linked to Carles Gil.
Plays for Valencia.. an AM..
Bit of gossip, apparently Lerner is in discussions with Elon Musk ( PayPal ) about selling the club, downside is that he’s only worth 11.7B$.
IMO Albrighton was/is better than Sinclar.
steamer- if the FFP in the championship is enforced you can see why the talk is of us being sold if we stay up. we may end up cheaper but investing to get up would be limited and the new owner could end up with a team nowhere near the prem for years
Embarrassing, if true, snubbed by a total waste of space like Cleverly, happy though. Who does he think he is, a footballer ? Lambert must be devastated at the thought of losing such a talent.
What was it Fox said about Lerner being “re – energised” ? this must be the lie of all lies, so “re-energised” that he won’t spend 3m squid on a new player. Is there anyone we can trust at VP anymore ?
Steamer,
The story of Albrighton is a very sad one.
When he came on for the Foxes a couple of weeks ago his heart seemed not be in it, as though he was still foremost a Villa man. When he played for Villa his heart was usually in it without doubt.
Mark, IMO its not how much you invest its HOW you invest it, our recent bosses have been clueless, there ARE bargains out there.
Elon Musk !! you ejit , an old girlfriend of mine used to wear that ,which she bought from the Oasis market , hippy shop , cheesecloth shirts , and loons , god you looked a right one as did sww after he washed his shirt and it shrunk ,
JD, there’s still a good mob of the old steamers , those who have gone are , Boots , Coke , Big Sean, Dougie Thomson, Gary Harewood,and Bunny Weir , the coffin dodgers are Me and steve hickman so far ,
Yes John, when he first got in the team other clubs blogs were buzzing about him, the top teams wanted him. It just goes to show what damage bad managers can do to a player.
You used to buy your burds something called Feline Urine didn’t you ?
Looking at you today JD can book his train ticket.
still we have done everton a favor cleverly after playing 18 games no assists 3 shots they will get him for 2 mill max as Lambert has knocked 5 mill minimum of his price
and can anyone tell me how the german league get away with having 5 germans playing and we cannot enforce that rule down to the E U rules the last time i looked weren’t germany in the EU
nice to here from you Steamers thought you had pegged out not posting yesterday was a bid worried about you
his made me chuckle seen it on social media
Ched Evans will under no circumstances be signing for Birmingham city, the very idea of it happening is disgusting I think all are agreed a spokesperson for Ched Evans said 🙂
steamer- better hope we get the right man in then as there are dozens of teams trying to do the same. trouble is we drop and we wont build a team in the way your talking of overnight . When you see how much our sad bunch are costing we would have to get rid as its one year of parachute payments then we would be probably exceeding are income by millions. strangely there are no wage restraints in the championship, you could actually pay 100% of your money on wages but maximum permitted loss is £8 a season.
you should go to Bournemouth its the pensioners paradise, you might get yourself a rich widow 😉
could never understand how albrighton was player of the tournament under mon in Spain then dropped like a stone.
Long list there Mark, Gardner,Fonz the Moores etc, some never had it others were never given a chance.
Ireland was signing it was just the extra for Keane that tipped Lerner over the edge, apparently it came to blows.
steamer- would of paid money to see that:
Mon: so you want a bit of the wee man do ya
Lerner: step away shorty I’ve got a tattoo
shame when Lerner had to pay a fortune out anyway in the end to save our bacon.
deal or no deal
http://www.sportinastorm.com/Premier-League/Manchester-United/Villa-eye-Januzaj-loan-deal/X1Y48Z1869396?
financials still tight then?
http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/crystal-palace/aston_villa_boss_hails_top_class_transfer_target_as_qpr_and_crystal_palace_set_to_miss_out_1_3910652
Just watched the pre-match talk, heres a couple of body language gesture Lambert does constantly.
The Nose Touch – In essence, the nose touch gesture is a sophisticated, disguised version of the mouth guard gesture. It may consist of several light rubs below the nose or it may be one quick, almost imperceptible touch. Like the mouth guard gesture, it can be used both by the speaker to disguise his own deceit and by the listener who doubts the speaker’s words.
The Ear Rub – This is, in effect, an attempt by the listener to ‘hear no evil’ in trying to block the words by putting the hand around or over the ear. This is the sophisticated adult version of the handsover-both-ears gesture used by the young child who wants to block out his parent’s reprimands. Other variations of the ear rub gesture include rubbing the back of the ear, the finger drill (where the fingertip is screwed back and forth inside the ear), pulling at the earlobe or bending the entire ear forward to cover the earhole. This last gesture is a signal that the person has heard enough or may want to speak.
The Nose Touch and Ear Rub aren’t problems its the Gob Opening where it goes tits up, every time he opens it either lies or bullshite fall out.
“If something can be done which isn’t going to put the club in a position of madness and not going to financially hurt the place then the chairman will be good on that front.”
a perfect example of bs tinged with arse kissing done by one of the smarmiest toerags iv’e ever seen.
steamer- could also say he knows it and the gestures are all part of his discomfort. He’s no different to any manager in civvy street except he’s not likely to have to lie to a crowd of angry I phone users. what’s clear is he is working within constraints given to him straight from Lerner but seems happy to go along as he see’s it as a job well done? If there’s a bigger picture he ain’t telling.
Yesterday’s Guardian:
“Aston Vila’s hope of signing Scott Sinclair are liable to hang on whether City will reduce the £2.5million asking price for the winger.Lambert is keen to bring in Sinclair to add another attacking option”
.” Sinclair on £50,000 per week at City, the overall package could be too expensive for midlands club.”
This really shows where we are at and how badly Lambert’s hands are tied.I also go along with MK’s details on our finances, and how the accounts have shown the terrible waste that occured, but from which we cannot escape, and we will not see the light of day until next season, when things can change substantially, as we become self sufficient. It also seems very clear that we are probably very close to a sale.
What is your reasoning for declaring we are very close to a sale?
steve w- for what its worth heres why its possible. at the end of last season we declared ourselves self sufficient but Learner is reluctant to put more money in. which either says we are not in a great position money wise or Lerner may have a buyer and wants to pocket what profit we make before departing. the other possibility is we are close to the edge of our wages limit still and any surplus above that Lerner would have to find out of his own pocket and not the clubs funds, which also suggests he’s off. just some ideas
sorry paul p if this is not what you meant 🙂
one thing that got me thinking was the whole putting a players cost over four years. so a £20mil player would be entered into the books at a £5mil a year cost plus wages to the club. if you cancelled the players contract you then have to pay the players full wage owed for the remainder of his contract. but, do you then also have to put the what’s owed for his initial cost in one lump sum? and how does that pan out if he’s released? if he’s sold then the sum is entered as a profit.
this would go some way to explaining why we waited until the end of many players contracts to terminate as the cost would of seen us make a serious loss as it was it ended up as £50 odd mil. citys owner had to cough up £300 mil to cover their losses.
Also this seasons lower gates mean less money to play with
Steamer
l noticed you got that quiz question off granny , and lm fucked as he said no cheating , well lm shit on the net thingy , but l know the ones on here who will use wikiwaki ‘
and Mr JL , you will have to be handicaped , ( thinkt hats right , as last person l was told had to be handicapped , l smashed his knees with a lumphammer ) anyway , you will need to get your good wife and ask her to tie your hands and feet up so YOU cant type the answer , but get the cat to type it in ,
Q?
who is a manager in the premiership NOW who played against the villa in their 1st european game . and no cheating , l cant think at the moment , and l know some of you on here were about 5/10 when it happened and one wasnt even born and some of you like me wont have enough brain cells to remember , so l will know who cheated ,
Have a good weekend
Jenny xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
“Aston Villa: Does it get any duller than this?” CNN has now branded the current Villa as the most boring team anywhere in Europe due to the lack of goals. Nevertheless, Villa will survive this campaign. It’s no positive advertisement for the Prem League, though, is it?
The Premier League has lost much of its lustre in recent years. People are tired of it because only Chelsea, MC and Man U can win it.
It was nice to see Taranaki in New Zealand win the national provincial rugby championship. They bettered Canterbury and Auckland along the way to winning the title. Money isn’t such a factor in rugby as it is in football.
Lack of funds has been a problem for Villa. That said, Villa isn’t playing better football than less wealthy clubs. That’s something the manager, coaches and players need to sort.
Villa needs a big cleanout. Only a wealthy new owner with a want to win attitude can do that. In the meantime, we’re stuck with a “survivalist” team. Villa will survive this time, but sooner or later, the fans will stop going to matches, and Villa will be demoted. Afterall, Villa is now widely regarded as the “dullest” team in Europe. Who wants that?
st75 got to be van Gaal looking at the lot in charge koeman poss
S75,
Told you last week, you dummy, Van Gaal for Antwerp, Karl Kodac scored three and that little winger, think Fleming Lund, ( good player ) scored the winner at VP.
Anyone fancy a win today ? 1-1 for me.
Dog walkers were on about Lambert on TV last night, not impressed.
Trin,
I took it as a compliment because we’re probably the dullest team in the world, still, in Lambert’s eyes we’re recklessly exciting, to Fox it’s just a job and Lerner doesn’t give a monkeys, all in all we’re a shambles.