Unfortunately Aston Villa couldn’t get a win on Boxing Day against Swansea City, but a chance of three points comes up against at Villa Park tomorrow as the Villans face Sunderland.

With Sunderland in a similar position to Villa, there’s a chance for a win, though there may well be the same issues that the Villans have faced happening again – a lack of creativity, and an inability to really score goals.

For a club like Villa, there’s always that frustration that the club can only get one aspect of things sorted at a time. For now – whether one wants to put it down to players, formation or both – there’s a solid defence to build upon. The issue for the club is that there’s a heavy weight on Christian Benteke’s shoulders to not only link up play, but to score goals.

Whilst his goal was fabulously taken against Manchester United – my first reaction was “This guy is too good for this team on average” – you have to wonder if Paul Lambert can get some support for the big guy, both in terms of strikers with a similar lethality, but also in terms of the creativity required to supply such people.

So, whilst it may not have been the best Christmas Villa fans could have asked for, there’s always another chance for three points around the corner. Here’s to three points tomorrow.

Wishing you all a great holiday period and a Happy New Year – thank you all for your patronage of Aston Villa Life as we approach our 4th birthday!

A very green Christmas

Aston Villa didn’t manage to do much to raise cheer amongst the fans, at least not in points terms, though they did manage to show a new, if unpolished way of playing.

However, with the Carlsberg Fan Squad all about making football better for fans, we’ve included the ultimate review of the year with Carlsberg Fan Squad member Jeff Stelling.

Follow @CarlsbergFooty to win Barclays Premier League tickets every week and check out Jeff Stelling addressing the nation with a review of 2014… http://bit.ly/13kKVPp

Comments 148

  1. anyone see skysports team of premiership no irwin mcgrath god lampard shearer
    anyway going on to tomorrow what drivel will the unsackable come out with hopeful team will be
    guzan last chance
    hutton
    sissko
    clark
    okore
    sanchez
    bacuna
    grealish
    benteke
    wiemen alongside benteke
    but we know vlar cleverly will bein

  2. john l
    we dont need 5 at back plus no need to change team to put vlar in let him wait his turn tomorrow game will be near 20 mark in month of december since he signed only been fit for 3 he wants out so let him rot,
    had 5 defenders against swans plus sanchez dropped deep for ball ,delph was in rb position lambert is a joke bacuna looked good in 15 mins against utd no sign of him clleverly not worth 3 million,needs to give grealish start and why not against sunderland,when sanchez cams instead of giving him 20/30 mins a match to warm him up no keep him on bench when we where in run that most chairmen would sack manager but not ours, anyone going to the villa for rest of season please dont spend money in villa ground or shops only way to get rid of lerner

  3. On Saturday we had SEVEN players from the starting 11 with defensive duties,that leaves Cleverly,Delph,CB and Gabby as our erm.forward and erm….creative outlets.We go into every game with an underdog mentality,let`s stop them scoring.But Lambert when we go 1 down we are in trouble because those 7 remain on.Helping hand Villa .Swansea hadn`t won on Boxing Day since 2007.Guess who has the worst BD results since the PL began ?Yep Villa.Ahhhh so fustrating time for a beer.

  4. Brasil- Was just about to come on and say a similar thing. When you we play 5 at the back, plus Guzan and Sanchez the DM, that’s over half of our outfield players useless going forwards. Wing is a specialist skill, ours can’t do it.

    Then there are Cleverly and Gabby, that’s mAkes 9 out field players who can’t do anything going forwards. It’s anti football. Some fans seem to think we are playing better football. We are passing it along the back 5 and that’s it

    Tomorrow I hope won’t be the same. You can’t play 5 at the back at home. No Shabby thank god so give Grealish a run out and Bacuna. We all know Wiemann will start though, he’s on a par with Gabby in terms of football ability

    Lamberk is a shocking

  5. Too right Frem and Brasil; we were apparently the team that made the most passes in EPL on Boxing Day but we all know the majority were square or back.
    I do think Swansea made it difficult for our wing backs to press forward and because there was little or no service from the flanks we were forced into the middle – but we out-played them there but couldn’t put any telling passes through to the strikers, so much so that the strikers had to come back to look for the ball. Benteke got on the end of a cross and headed it back into the centre but there were no villa players backing up.
    I’m hoping for a win today but expecting a draw if we are lucky!

  6. It really is sad Clive,

    Listening to Pat Heard’s frustrations commenting on the game on Friday on Free radio, as thank goodness, Jack Woodward had the flu. He kept on about Villa’s failure to get the ball forward, and the players body language, that they were not happy with the way they were being made to play. He also kept on about the danger of the set-up with the centre halves almost being out at the corner flags when Guzan was playing the ball out to them, whereas the previous match he had been doing the same thing with the full backs. It was dangerous, and they almost lost the ball and gave a goal away on a couple of occasions. Lambert really needs to get his act together, and play more constructively, and get the ball forward, in the same other good sides do.

    Still not fully decided on going today. Will see how the weather is, etc.

  7. You cant spend ages knocking the ball around at the back when you have a guy like tekkers up top.

    It may be deemed as hoof ball but benteke wants that ball early, hold it up and link up play.

    There was a similar prob when chelsea went through all those managers and drogba struggled for form….they was not hitting him early enough.

    Need 6 points out of next 2 home games

  8. We’ve been asking for less hoofball, but it seems some are already asking for it to come back!
    Many of our passes are in our own half and sideways but for goodness sake let’s give the players a chance to adapt to this way of playing.
    I’d rather we had the ball than the opposition.
    And let’s not forget that against Swansea. . . . a team that likes to pass the ball. . . . we also had more shots on goal and had the better chances and should have had a penalty.

  9. r0bb0 – I’m not advocating ‘hoof ball’ I just wish there was a constructive outcome to the possession – I agree that it is better if we have it than the other side.

  10. Clive, we all want to see more positive intent but I think everyone recognises that there has been a recent, significant change to the way we’re playing. I’m happier with it even though it’s still short of where we ultimately want to be.
    But. . . . we’re now much more solid at the back, we’re retaining possession and we’re creating more chances than the opposition. . . . . It’s an improvement on where we have been and surely worth supporting for a while at least?

  11. Clive, we all also know that we’re short of truly creative players. Joe Cole was brought in to help in this area but we know the problems there. As it’s Christmas,
    Grealish is seen as the new Messiah but was actually voted by Villa fans as one of the worst performers against Swansea ( he’s good. . . . but don’t expect him to transform us)
    Bacuna was much maligned last season but is now seen as the answer by some.
    The fact is that we need more creative players in the squad.
    Lambert has bought well in the defensive area with limited resources. Can he now do the same in the creative area?

  12. Clive, so 3 questions:
    1) Lambert has an eye for good value defensive players. Does he have he same knack for creative players?
    2) would we be happy to lose Vlaar and Delph for £15m in Jan in order to fund the creative players?
    3) Would Lambert know how to use these players when he has them?
    ( cue predictable knee jerk emotional responses from the usual suspects)

  13. r0bb0- not sure about the answer to Q1 – Q2 – yes – Vlaar is injury prone and Sanchez is coming on as a defensive midfielder and a creative one would be ideal
    Q3 is the eternal question and I guess nobody can answer that!!
    I’m away now for a while so I look forward to the responses to our little discussion.

  14. r0bb0- Passing it along the back line for most the game isnt football. We ain’t gunna score doing that. We need to play football in the oppositions final 3rd but The Berk doesn’t like playing players who can play football. He prefers to play a couple of the worst footballers around instead. We don’t pass it with any pace or purpose at the moment. This style will never work if he keeps playing players who can’t pass 2 yards

    We better not play 5 at the back today at home. Get Grealish Bacuna and Zoggy behind the beast. Fuck Wiemann, fuck Cleverley.

    We won two games in a row in a back 4 and with no Vlaar, we now have taken 1 point in our last 2 games in a back 5 with Vlaar. He shouldn’t have just walked back into the side and we shouldn’t have changed system.

    We could be down to 16th today

  15. Robbo

    I for 1 have always had my cards on the table re “style”.Give me a win pretty pretty or ugly,just give me a win.If we ever attain 8th or thereabouts,then,we can discuss the quality of our play.It would appear Lambert`s remit is to keeep us up,and I reckon he receives a bonus for this each season.
    No,I am not ITK ,just a hunch.
    With Jan coming up,I would not trust Lambert with another penny.I believe there are,or will be 3 worse sides than us ,so we will probably retain our status for another year.
    Vlaar,cash in on him.

    Robbo,good points mate.Never mind creative players,how about some creative intent first?Play another offensive or attacking player.At Swans we had 7 -including Guz-players whose prime duty was to defend.This is all well and good until we concede,then we revert to Plan A,B,C and D.which is to bring on a runner, Weimann,the white Heskey.
    I for one was pleased with the Cole signing,but we seem to have acquired another member of the Sick Note Club.Founded by Vlaar,Delph,Kojak,Senderos and Baker.
    Before I get slaughtered,I am not blaming Lambert for injuries,just a weak attempt at humour.

  16. Morning All,
    I hope everyone had a good Christmas, I haven’t been on for a while but have read most the comments, just not joined in due to lack of time, work, nipper and a general malaise surrounding all things Villa.
    Another surrender on Boxing Day, following by the usual bullshite from Lambert “We were brilliant” really Paul? I don’t think you really believe that and if you do you are part of the problem and not the solution.
    We will again set up ultra defensive against the makems, we really need 6 points from these next 2 very winnable games, anything less will be seen as a bit of a failure ( but that’s what we are used to now, abject failure).
    I agree with Brazil, Lamberts only aim is survival, for which he has been handsomely rewarded . The sooner this club is sold and we can rid ourselves of these parasites, the better, because anything less than relegation and Lambert will be going nowhere.
    We lack creativity, we set up not to lose ( haha I know, what an oxymoron ), I would sell Vlaar to assist in the transfer kitty, I just don’t trust Lambert to spend it wisely.
    Let’s hope Sunderland are shit today and we can scrape by.

  17. I’m in your camp as just wanting wins right now, but having seen so much criticism of our long ball style it seems too soon to criticise our recent attempts at a more passing style. Let’s just give it ten games at least to see if it develops rather than immediately criticising it for goodness sake.

  18. lambert is getting well paid to do all lerners dirty work, he also knows he never going to work again after villa so he going to milk for all his worth ,we have not won over xmas in 9 attempts what is it one goal at holte end since april,
    qpr no points
    west ham 1 point no goals
    soton 1 point 1shot on target at home
    burnley 1 point held on for dear life
    cpal 3 points fluke
    leicster made hard work off it
    wba no points no goals
    mutd 1 point fair enough could have won it
    swansea no points no goal
    10 points from 27
    6 goals
    do i need to say any more
    thats all easier matches

  19. If games lasted 45 minutes we’d be in a European place. It’s been tough watching our second half performances so it was great to see that we didn’t surrender against Swansea but came out more strongly in the second half.
    If part of the new style means that we are chasing the ball less in the first half and therefore compete for the whole 90 minutes that will be a step in the right direction.

  20. James Gill, I agree with your comment about Lambert Doug Lerner’s dirty work. I don’t agree about this being his last job though. Outside Villa blogs there seems to be a view that he’s done well to keep us up despite changing virtually the whole squad on comparatively meagre transfer budgets.
    He’s found some good players and even more ‘good value’ players Let’s see if the new direction of playing style starts to make better use of these players over the coming months.

  21. If I can stay awake for another 75 minutes I’ll get to see the start of the Sunderland match at midnight (LT). We’ll see who’s the most resilient then.
    Enjoy the match.

    UTV

  22. Frem, there’s nothing at all wrong with 5 at the back in principle. It’s how you use it and in which games you employ it. Against the top teams it’s worked very well for us sometimes but like you, I wouldn’t want to see it used every game unless 2 of the 5 were Ashley Young type players (without the diving) and it was used in an attacking way against lesser teams. . . . . . We don’t have those type of players just now though!

  23. Christ RoBBo, Put your hand in a sack of jellybabies your bound to come out with a red one.
    If you haven’t realised the blokes raving take a squint at the back page of your Mercury, i thought he was talking about Messi not Scabby. Dynamic, Talented WFFF is this crackpot on about ? I’ll tell you something for FA, i reckon he’s using Scabby as his assistant, a thick, talentless moron, under Lerner he could even rise to manager and that would make the gormless pricks who spend their pocket money following this crepe totally ecstatic.

  24. How TF can you condone five bookings and a sending off ? not even condone, actually encourage it, Pushing defenders into the crowd, breaking up moves when you finally have an attack etc, absolutely nothing worth getting booked for. Lambert says the most ridiculous things, he thinks the fans will swallow his BS and a lot actually do, pathetic.

  25. Okore dropped according to Pat Murphy. What happened to picking players on merit or even just picking our best players? This manager is an utter penis.

  26. As much chance of signing a No10 as Nelson has of growing an ‘effin new eye.
    1) His idea of a creative player is Tony Adams.
    2) He loves crabs, he was one himself.
    3) We already have one who he won’t play.

    Have you noticed how the local media are heaping praise on PL for adopting a ‘new style’ what a load of rollocks, one trip to Munich and he changes his entire philosophy, yeah.
    How did he interprete his conversation with Pep, to mean play five defenders, Pep actually asked him to get him a bottled water and piss off. Dunno who’s the barmiest McMumble or the daft buggers who believe his fantasies and think he has any talent.

  27. And what exactly has Okore done to be dropped ?
    1) Lambert was talking up five at the back.
    2) Okore & Clark have been our best pairing.
    3) Just put it down to Lambert being a dickhead.

  28. gaz spot on the guy is a complete tosser no grelish yet again weiman cleverly and nzog would not get into the old richmond team they are complete lumps of sh ite and oker will be off the guy lambert just needs a good kicking and i would be first in the Que the brain dead jock

  29. Well – it’s come to hoping teams are worse than us and in Sunderland we may have found one . Coming off the back if a three one beating by the world beaters Hull there is no excuse to camp in our own half as per .

    Robbo , no football fan wants hoof ball but neither do Villa fans want the wool pulled over our eyes again. New style my arse . We’ve trained the footballing skill out of our players and now, with the criticism of us being the new Stoke , Lambert and Fox have got together for the latest deception . The truth is if Lambert had set out training and playing football the right way 2 and half seasons ago we wouldn’t have a team of confused automatons , passing the ball “because he gaffer had told us to do it ” in this “new style ” of football which King Lambert has invented . Has no one heard of Johann Krutf ?

    As for Sunderland – they are there to be taken . If we can score a few then they will fall apart as they will be reliving the 8-0 pasting they got earlier in the season by Saints. We have to get at them from the start .
    Prediction of 3-1 to villa as we take on one of the few teams worse than us .

  30. well that is shocking not one meanful effort on goal
    john oshea wes brown sunderland defenders never had easier
    if cleverly is a professional footballer i am santa
    no runners on one taking on a player
    delph 6 passes in a row ended up 12 yards closer to own goal

  31. We looked good for the first 15 minutes then their 6 minutes of injuries and time wasting seemed to kill the game and we never got going again.
    The problem today so far has been the players not the instructions. On today’s performance the first player I’d sell would be Delph. . . . . I hope no potential buyers have seen today’s game though

  32. poxy fox open your fuc kin eyes this is pure unadulterated sh ite as i have said weiman cleverly and nzog would not get into any decent pub team worst football ever seen lowest goalscorers in the whole of the uk will be in the whole world with this complete piece of shi te in charge

  33. Swap deals for Delph involving either Holtby or Dembele have been mentioned. If either is prepared to join this sinking ship we should bite their hands off.

    Looks like we’ll see Okore after all.

  34. Can’t see either of them wanting to join our shite club Steve, in fact the only ones interested would be lower league kids, old knackers after a last pay day or useless winkers, oh, we’ve already done those options.

  35. Scary thing is PL will not be sacked — randy seems to have made his mind up to keep the manager until the club is sold.

    Sunderland are another poor side and this is the saving grace for us staying up —- we will flirt with relegaton by under achievng but i reckon we will have enough to stay up which is enough for randy to be happy

  36. john l dont
    1 goal in 4
    no shots on target against crap team
    FOX WAKE UP AND Sack this excuse of manager
    the players where all glad when keane was sacked well where is the improvement,ditto for culverhouse and other one maybe its not the number 2 the problem just the number 1

  37. have told you all grealish is the best player at the club by a mile wil be worth more than the rest put together if played he has far more skill than the likes of the liverpool muppet you rave about he is a proper footballer that’s why lamburk dont like him

  38. I know they were booed off at ht but can someone let me know on the clapometer folks what the general reaction of the crowd was during the game and at the end.
    JL,
    You must have searched hard for that tiny piece of optimism.

    Does anyone think that Lerner wasn’t being truthful when he mentioned this ‘Bright Future ?’

  39. Positives Grealish and Sanchez . Negatives – everything else .
    Small Heath won again and scored 3 goals . How long has it taken us to score that many?!
    Another red card , another excuse for PL. No doubt we were excellent and fantastic after all we have progressed from a 0-1 defeat to a 0-0 draw. The life of a villa fan .

  40. first half season over
    disgrace
    19 matches 1 cup 20 in total
    11 matches we have not scored in disgrace
    2 matches we have scored 2 in disgrace
    least goals pl disgrace burnley scored 2 at city to equalise FIRST CLASS
    least shots corners mins oppisition area disgrace
    lambert still here DISGRACE
    has any body email address for MR FOX time to get his finger out cant see tomany ay palace or cup games

  41. Weimann

    I think I’ve lost patience with this player, and it is he that should have been sub’d instead of Cleverley i.m.o.

    He is obviously a favourite of PLs, but he (or Benteke) should have been sniffing for the two chances that Jack set up and didn’t do anything to speak of the remainder of the game. Jack did look lively today, didn’t he?

  42. i think the crowd were lifted when jack came on – just seeing a player looking to take people on is a relief from what we have to watch

    Now i;m no scout but 🙂 that liverpoo player also 19 is another very exciting prospect imo

  43. So sick of this Lamberk revolution now.

    We’ve gone from no football to pointless passing side ways football

    Everything about this team is just so wrong. No balance, no quality

    As Collymore says, we are the most boring team to watch in the Prem along with Sunderland

    Grealish needs to start and Zoggy and Wiemann should never put the Villa shirt on again

  44. Dire, turgid, unimaginative football lacking in composure , creativity and common footballing sense.
    We set up negative and not to lose against a very ordinary Sunderland side there for the taking. Only once Okores and Grealish came on having gone to 10 men, did we stretch the game. Sanchez played well, the less said about the others the better.
    Lambert is a fraud, the new style can be summed up by a free kick we had towards the end of the first half, we played 4 sideways and backwards passes before going back to Guzman who lumped it straight out of play, conceding possession and at least 10 metres back from our initial free kick, fucking priceless, passing game my arse, as described on talk sport, Villa and Sunderland the two most boring teams in the premier league.
    Being a villa fan under Lerner/Lambert is like being slowly killed by paper cuts.
    Lambert Out

  45. I did think Grealish had a good appearance. What troubled me is that it’s clear from his play now that he will consistently take it to the touchline and get a cutback in across goal…and no one is in the middle or driving to the near post when he does this. Benteke seems to be wanting the ball at the far post, but he’s harder to find there and is effectively marking himself out of a number of opportunities.

    And while I agree there’s a lack of true creativity in the side, Villa also seem to be in a spell where just nothing is going in. It’s not meant as an excuse, but we created some opportunities to nick all three points today, and it just hasn’t been happening.

    I’m bummed about Delph’s red card because his attacking impetus is needed, and the squad need a chance to settle around a lineup and a consistency in their play and expectations.

  46. Because when we go down to 10 Jenny, the players just ignore the Berk and his tactics go out the window and they play with more freedom. He’s actually said it was a good point today. Utter twat

    We’ve played 38 games in 2014, won 10. How does he have a job ?

    Charlie Austin has scored as many goals as we have all season. He was a bricky not to long back

  47. Weimann..was shit the first day he put on a Villa shirt…only now does everyone accept this.
    Hutton will never be a footballer while he has a hole in his arse, yet Aston Villa think he’s the best right back in the UK! Delphi and Benteke have had 2 poor games…minds are elsewhere. NSomnia is a waste of space. Apart from Sanchez and Grealish, it was a shambles.

  48. Jenny, one of my concerns with Lambert is his ability to motivate the players. I reckon we at better when we’re down to 10 men because of the increased motivation. The crowd also helps as there’s nothin like a sending off to get the Villa park crowd going.

  49. I was also in lower trinity towards the Holte end and there was some booing at half time but I didn’t get any at full time. Most of the crowd were applauding. . . . More than enough to set off Steamer’s clap allergy.

  50. Jenny, I saw Benteke moaning at Bacuna too. I reckon he needs to look to himself first. He can score some great goals, but doesn’t always have the poacher’s instinct. He needs to think what his team mates will be in a position to do rather than expect them to find him wherever he is standing.

  51. I just don`t know what to say anymore.2 more points dropped another” winnable” fixture gone.If someone can explain to me what CNZ`s contribution on the field of play is,then please enlighten me.
    Ditto Andi Heskey.It is just numbing.Okore on the bench?????I am no intellectual, but his selections are beyond my comprehension.
    “A big point”????????????????accorging to Lambert,how we have have fallen,how our expecations have been manipulated to accept this dross.Sad,sad and getting worse.

  52. Once again, nightmare passing between the defense and Guzan, when a decent clearance upfield would have been better. Delph was very poor today, before his sending off, and failed with a number of simple passes, Cleverley was not much better. Clark was substituted because of a knock.
    Weimann surely cannot start another game, and I am sure if it had not been for the sending off, he would have been substituted.
    I agree with JC re Grealish and Benteke, he needs to think about his positioning, Bent would have loved those balls in the six yard box that were missed today. He would have been there for them as well.

    The Palace game becomes very significant now.Will Villa gift them a life line, will Grealish start. Is Cleverley going back, or will he become a Villa player? Has Delph played his last game for Villa ? Lot’s of questions to be answered in the next few days, before Sunday’s cup match.

  53. PP,

    What I noticed in particular about Delph was that he can quite easily be physically pushed aside and robbed of the ball. On the other hand he looks very good when he glides past players. But for me he’s not creative enough to be considered a very good player, and is not that good defensively either.

    PW,

    No, Weimann has not always been “s**t”. The season before last he got into quite a good scoring vein, but he seems to have lost all that now. In fact he seems to think that the ball belongs to him only most of the time.

  54. PP (and someone else earlier),

    Yes, CB needs to think more about what he should be doing to get into scoring positions. The Grealish opportunities would have suited Bent … and where was Weimann as well?

  55. Firstly, I’ve no right to comment as I didn’t and couldn’t bring myself to watch the extended highlights via Sky Sports but from reading about the game, seeing the substitutions made. Lamberk didn’t go to Pep for ideas, he went to Pep because the Villa PR dept would make a good story out of it ‘by association’ i.e. the happy clappers see he has gone to meet a current good manager managing world class players and coming back to Villa would be a huge benefit.

    In reality while we have some quality players, Benteke, Sanchez, Okore, Grealish, the quality players are suffering by the dross around them (Clarke is exempt because he plays well with Okore but in himself is not a quality player) and the ‘system’ employed. I know a few of us on here can be tagged as broken records in what we say but it’s hard to change opinion based on what is happening.

    Benteke – too much on his shoulders – can’t accept hoof ball because the few other forward players are too far behind for a give and go, can’t get the goals because the supply is non-existent
    Sanchez – thankfully bullied his way into the DM position not by manager decision as Delph/Westwood/Cleverly offer so little going forward that they all occupy the same piece of grass
    Okore – despite being ignored, got an opportunity be default and took it, I doubt Lambert is annoyed by this, I’m sure he isn’t a bluenose agent but would have persisted with Senderos (remember him) and Vlaar much to the detriment of Villa’s future as Vlaar was always on his way out
    Grealish – the one bright spark, the one player we can’t afford because the system is so rigid, he is a luxury as he doesn’t and shouldn’t have a role other than get him on the ball and see what he does. How many more red cards do we need for him to start.

    In my please leave bucket, I’ve reserved spots for N’Zogbia, Weimann and Gabby, I’d love to be able to say what wasted talents but it doesn’t apply. Do they ever look at a game and think my contribution is zero maybe I should take up gardening. Vlaar and Delph are in there too but only because the only loyalty in football is the fan and they clearly could generate a few quid for us to buy replacements.

    I’ve said it before I took no joy in Keane leaving because he was standing up to the laziness in bred in Villa and got booted out by a couple of powerful players (which is corrupting the club). Lamberk should have been stronger and dealt with the players, it was probably a case of Keane saying fuk dis (Cork accent) when seeing he wasn’t getting support from Lamberk.

    We now face the joy of probably a rejuvenated Palace with a new manager (or even long serving understudy who knows the club and has player respect) in time for New Years Day and a chance for 1-9-1 system to bed in following the Sunderland game. so score draw

    A Happy and Healthy New Year to all the Lifers, unemployment to Lamberk and 3 worse teams come May.

    UTV

  56. Darren,

    I can’t quite agree about CB. For me he expects the ball to be put on his toe instead of going for chances – like the two that Grealish tried to set up.

    I see CB as an immense player who will under-achieve unless he wakes up a bit.

  57. Hi JL, no problem with you disagreeing, I think when you have a player like Grealish effectively creating from nothing, you need to gamble on him and maybe Benteke isn’t used to gambling on a player getting a cross in, it may come with time if Grealish is given a long run in the team that will allow an understanding to develop.

    I just feel there is too much pressure on Benteke being the outlet for both defence clearing hoofs and leading the line in occupying defenders to allow other players to capitalise which is not possible based on formation and the players selected.

  58. Darren,
    Very well articulated piece which i enjoyed.Happy New Year to all our remaining fans in Ireland.

    Scraggy has far too much say for a dummy, his contract extension was even worse than Lambert’s, take, take, take. We need a strong manager not a wimp who’s too scared to take on the senior pro’s. This club is worse than shambolic and unless theirs a takeover the season ticket sales will be in three figures next season.

  59. good post dor
    the villa pr isthe only part of our club that is working pity all shite they are spouting
    lambert has lost two sets of number 2 and still survives
    gabby lamest excuse for striker yet he gets new 4 year contract
    hutton out of favour for 2 seasons run give him new contract
    vlar delph bent out of contract almost 30 million transfer fees wasted
    herd couldnt get in bolton team heskey can gets on our bench
    sky muppets saying lambert had spent nothing to stelling butted in well almost 50 million on fees not including holman guzan cole sendross on frees benteke only one he will make profit on

  60. Really disappointed with Ally McAnally’s comments that PL is doing a great job at villa and that he hasnt spent anything– just shows he is more of a friend to PL than he is a villan —- can’t respect anything he says anymore

  61. that report above just sums up lambert and his tactics please some one tell me he will not sign the worst player i have ever seen the Italian tank as my granddad used to say only had reverse gears which reminds me of the Lambert replica CLEVERLY he is the worst i have ever seen if he is worth 8 mill then grelish must be worth 80 mill now as he is at least 40 times better than him poxy fox if you do not have complete sh ite in your eyes then do not let this turd cleverly become a villa player he is worse then Jemba Jemba so crap they named him twice

  62. Worlds best players ? what league is Gus talking about ?
    Remember when they played Christmas Day and Boxing Day on pitches that were like ploughed fields and against genuinely hard players like Dave McKay, not the softies around now with their diving about and cheating.
    Football today is a game that’s dying, its just not worth watching.

  63. It’s a fair assessment particularly the

    “Their game may consist largely of meaningless possession, but it is at least an improvement on the meaningless non-possession they had before. They enjoyed most of the play in the first half, although their biggest impact was on Liam Bridcutt’s face, who went off early on after colliding with Christian Benteke’s knee.” 🙂

    Robbo , I agree that yesterday Benteke was missing that poachers instinct that players like Bent has (good old Emile netted a similar pass in on his Bolton debut ) In his defence though since he has returned , he’s had to be all things to all men. Defender , midfielder and striker . The supply is so dire that the only chance of him getting the ball is by hunting it down and supplying himself ! It’s hopeless for him .
    Great post DOR . Agree with all you say . I too was disappointed RK didn’t work out : I thought we might see a team committed to winning no matter what it takes . Looks more like we have a team still lacking in confidence who only get going when the other side have scored or when down to 10 men. I can count the times we have gone out to win from the off , on one hand in the last three years . Robbo , you hinted that PL may have a problem motivating them which is why they play better with 10. This may be so , or it that when they are down to 10 , they are relieved as they have an excuse for losing so are prepared to give it a go. Suddenly the “all hands to the pump” mentality sets in which should have been there from the outset .
    But then they don’t help themselves do they . Complaining about having to train so hard under RK and then Lambert comjng out with “the lads were tired “. Yes it is a gruelling set of fixtures : but it’s not just AV and Sunderland playing . Burnley managed to equalise from two nil down – yes that big squad Burnley .
    Anyway . Let’s hope the have recovered for Palace !

  64. Steamer,

    I was thinking that “goodness, they’re complaining about playing 2 games in 3 days!”

    You and I remember great matches being played on consecutive days … I can think straight away of 1957 … Boxing Day (I think) Villa 4 Wolves 0 … (next day) Wolves 3 Villa 0. Saw both – both great games.

  65. Jenny: The supply is so dire that the only chance of him getting the ball is by hunting it down and supplying himself !

    But when chances are provided, lass, he doesn’t want to be there to finish ’em. To wit, the chances provided by Grealish.

    Jimmy Greaves would have snapped ’em up. Even our Gerry, or Andy Gray.

  66. JL,
    Remember playing Wolves in 1964 ? on CD and BD also Wet Spam beat Blackburn 8-2 ? and lost the return the following day. No wonder we’re in the poo with weak kneed rissoles like these and an even weaker gaffer who obviously has no spine.
    The discussion last week was about shin pads, i played at least three games a week for 25 years with my socks around my ankles and no pads, one week i played seven games and these jokers earn more in a week than i did in any year, to be honest they make me sick, winkers the lot of ’em.

  67. John – I agree he wasn’t there on Saturday – I assumed he was holding back or slower to get in the box due to their being 10 men . I will have to watch him closer in future : seems Bacuna always gets the sharp edge of his tongue though !

  68. Steamer,

    It used to be really a man’s game and no mistake.

    When played at it’s best today then there’s no complain from me, but there are too few teams that do play the best football – the top 3 or 4 perhaps … and even they are not so hot these days.

  69. Seasons Greetings
    Would have posted earlier but it has taken a while to come down from the high of …………… drinking in the Barton Arms before KO on Sunday. Glad i settled on the IPA at 6.4% as it was needed, barely enough whiskey in my hip flask to get me through Sunday.
    So (in general) we all wanted CNZ to have a run in the team and now he has had can we please just let him feign injury for another year before fekking off.
    To my mind it has been worth letting Weiman have a place as he seems to be the only one who gets into a position to get an attempt in most matches. Now there comes a time when no matter how many attempts you get to have if you dont score them you have to accept you aint a finisher your just finished.
    Being fed up with changing managers i would much rather have seen PL succeed. To do so would include things like seeing us win with Okore and Clarke and sticking with it, running Grealish out for 30 mins in the majority of this seasons matches so he would be good to go from the off on the second half of the season and not letting your back room boys get so out of their depth they had to revert to bully boy antics.
    Now its not all bad – have heard that Marshall is taking a much more active role in tactics the last four matches seems if he could begin to influence the starting line ups and subs we could be on to something.
    Would also add the comments earlier on here about Benteke needing get his kp on seem correct – the last player i saw waiving his arms around at the other villa players and forgetting to finish his own shift was the hobbit.
    Right back to the drink.
    UTV!!

  70. Thanks Steamer cant wait for some of those witty and knowledgeable people to come back to the site and join in with the rest of us again, its going to be a tough couple of months to be a villain.
    Could’ve said so much more but not drunk enough yet…….
    Huge game on new years day needless to say it seems we have gone back to picking the team from a hat 30 mins before KO and raffling the 11th place down the aston social…….
    UTV!!!

  71. steamer do you want to go to the cup match on sat could pick you up tickets only £10 have a few jars then drop you back
    i get on m42 home what ya think jack must surely start that game

  72. Well it is hello Alan Pardew on Thursday as the new Palace boss,
    as we say goodbye to Alan Irvine at the Baggies,
    and hopefully a Villa team that will actually win another game at home.

    Not sure about appealing Delph’s red card, just get on with it and take it on the chin, and set up with Guzan,
    Okore, Vlaar, Clark,Hutton, Cissokho, Bacuna, Sanchez,Grealish, Gabby, Benteke and go out and win the game…..

    Cleverley is part of Lambert’s cunning plan to get him on the cheap, having told him, if you want to play for Villa, don’t impress anyone, then we can buy you on the cheap, and pay you a great wage….!!! When you have signed our 4 year deal then you can play out of your skin, like all our other players who have signed four year deals…..

  73. JD,
    Sorry mate but i wouldn’t watch this shite if they gave me the winning lotto ticket to do it, unlike Villa i have standards so i’ll be watching Dog & Duck 5th team in the B’ham AFA Division 19. Even stopped going to the pub to watch them, they were turning my beer sour. Between them, Lerner, Herbert, Faulkner, McCleish, Lamebert, Culverarse, Karsa and Keane have killed Villa for me, a mixture of crims, winkers dummies, parasites and morons who between them have destroyed AVFC, i’m off at the end of the season to extend my lifespan.

  74. Steamer,

    Some of those pitches we played on were rock hard I wonder if the diving bastard Young would throw himself about on one of those.
    If you was in a boozer in Abu Dhabi sat down with all your mates ready to watch the premier leagues finest Villa v Slumberland what a disappointment they had in store average and mediocre is being too kind, our fall from grace over the last four years is truly heart breaking and it will only get worse if that’s possible with these clowns in charge.
    Happy Fecking New Year.
    AVFC RIP

  75. Thought i would post this RIP

    A minutes applause is being planned for the 71st minute for our home game on Thursday against Crystal Palace for Brian Jones who sadly passed away in the car park after the Sunderland game after his daughter had tried to save him with chest compressions. Very sad. It would be brilliant if the word could be spread as the Villa family comes together to show support for Emily and her family during this difficult time. RIP Brian.
    Holte Ender In The Sky.

  76. So the managerial merry go round has started, yet Teflon Paul remains in post despite his horrendous record/tactics/man management etc.
    Palace will be a different proposition under pardew, and could reap the benefit of new gaffer syndrome. It seems Pulis could be heading to Sandwell town, I pray he doesn’t provide the Midas touch with those inbreds like he did with palace.
    We are faltering in these games against our relegation rivals, losing to WBA, losing at Swansea( would have taken a draw), drawing 0-0 against Sunderland, we really need 6 points from palace and Leicester, or we will be right back in the mix( if we aren’t already). I’m not convinced there are 3 worse teams in this league, there certainly aren’t 3 worse managers.

  77. Happy New Year to everyone!

    Steamer
    I’m afraid I couldn’t stay awake for the Sunderland match, tried but failed.
    Who’ve they got next? Crystal Palace, is it? Need to win that one.

    Ian
    Things going to plan, we’ll be at TD Garden for the Bruins vs Canucks in Feb. Never been to an ice hockey match before. The night after, it’s back to the Garden for a Celtics vs Knicks game.

  78. James asked (probably rhetorically): “please somebody explain how lambert has a job”

    Well, it’s a good question, init?

    But if you look through all the random statements being made since probably last season, including the recent press comment where PL said to the effect that “we’re probably doing enough to avoid relegation”, it all indicates that PL is acting as a kinda caretaker manager to ensure we’re still in the PL by the end of the season so that Cuban (?) will buy the club.

    HOW our Plumbert achieves the task is varying of late as it would seem that Fox panicked when he saw the gates falling. So it seems to have been a Foxy message being passed “we have to deliver something the fans like to see”. But it doesn’t look as though Fox gave any direction that we should score any goals. Hence we don’t.

    But since Villa may hang onto 15th place (again), with about 25 goals scored all season, mission will have been accomplished as far as that lot are concerned.

    So that’s it guys. May as well stay at home and sleep through the matches.

  79. Runtingz,
    That’s sadder than sad, just retired and expecting some quality time with his family. Decent bloke too. Some things you just wonder about. Commiserations to the Jones family.

  80. JL,
    I do think that Fox has told Lambert about the fans dissent, normally PL wouldn’t give a monkey’s about them but Fox,as you mentioned, has to keep an eye on the finances. I wouldn’t say that Lamebert has changed tack but moved about 1% nearer the minimum standard required for AVFC.
    Worried about this Cuban bloke, term “sports investor” scares me to death. Although he’s got to be better than Lerner i’d sooner have a syndicate take over, in fact i’d hope for a non-American consortium, the cultural ,business and sporting differences are too great to make a go of it imo, Untied now have a 750m debt, Liverpoo are crap and have huge debts, Slumberland are still Slumberland and then there’s Villa, have you heard any apologies or acknowledgement of mistakes ? not likely.

    SWV,
    If any Billionaires were watching from Abu they wouldn’t have been impressed.

    Trin,
    I don’t think you’ll be falling asleep during the ice hockey, mad.

  81. 2 wins in 15 the last 10 where supposed to be easy after awful run of last year top 6 well we have pal and leister now doesnt make last 17 look good freak run start of season when keane came in then gabby delph started to moan to hard on them true villa came out thank god fa didnt overturn delphs red card pity wouldnt ban clevely wiemen gabby as well team for palace
    guzan
    hutton
    cissko
    clarke
    okorer
    vlar
    sanchez
    bacuna
    grealish
    benteke
    robinson
    fans would get behind this side sick of watching zog cleverly wiemen gabby doing nothing
    anyone read kneown bit in mail many times watched clevrly with the ball instead playing for benteke goes sideways back cause thats what hes coached

  82. JD,
    Don’t think so mate, ta for the offer. I’ve already made arrangements to be submerged in a barrel load of donkey shite and to be honest it sounds more pleasurable than watching these muppets. Perhaps when we have a team worth watching …. see you in 2055.
    By the way, i don’t think Jack will play,you know what a Carsten Jancker Lambert is.

    B62,
    Nice to see you emerge from the pile of soiled nappies, hope the nipper is keeping you away from VP for your own good.

    Happy New Year to everyone except those who work for Villa.

  83. Happy New Year to all AVLS for 2015 xxxxxxxx
    couple of wishes for next year .
    1 , me ,Jenny and steamer get down to London and meet Runtins and go to a Jazz cafe ,
    2, B62 becomes Evening Mail’s “Dad Of The Year ”
    3, Frem stays being Frem
    4, SWW forgets that he’s left his wallet unlocked when he next gets up here , (miracles happen )

    5 , l get that new clip for JL’s light fitting,
    6 Brasil gets some new swimming trunks , lv seen the pic of him in his “speedo’s ”
    7, Matts gets to pick this bloody bottle of brandy up
    8, Mark , ………………………….still thinking about this one !
    9, PP , as above
    10, The Villa ……………………. fuck that my head hurts thinking about them ATM…..(

    All The Best All

    Jenny XXXXXX hope you have a great one xxxxx

  84. i wonder if we will be as exciting and play the same free style attacking football that we have come to expect from Pep Lambert we are terry lucky to see a goal every 155 minuets and all those near misses and all that goal mouth excitement week in week out perhaps thats why Steamer wont come his old heart wont stand all our attacking and goal mouth excitement or perhaps i will wake up and see the real crap

  85. Never had a heyday mate but i’ll say this, life was better in those days especially the pubs, music, beer, fashion and scooters.
    Just watched some of that vid you posted on TVB, forgotten how good Morley and Bremner were. It makes you realise what a clueless gobshite Lambert really is, are you out there Lambert you tw@, yes you, gobshite.

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