At Aston Villa, there has been a malaise that has lingered for years on end. It transcends individuals, but it persists, so the question is “why?”.
On the pitch, the results stop with the manager. Yes, the chairman has a dramatic impact on the team with his historic choices, and his need to control financial spending. However – and this is key – the manager accepted a deal to work under these conditions.
In that sense, statistics that reflect the football team – and the style of football – are immutably the responsibility of the manager. Yes, the players have a massive impact on how games play out, but the manager – just like any manager in or out of football – has to be the person who accepts the action of his or her team. If the team is poor – and the manager took the job without duress – he has to be the person who takes the criticism.
Against Leicester, Villa were lacklustre. They could, in truth, have lost that game by far more than just the one goal, had it not been for Brad Guzan’s heroics, and when your team is so heavily in need of exemplary performances from key players, there’s a potential for apathy.
Think about it. If you’re Guzan – or Christian Benteke at the other end of the pitch – how would you feel if a seemingly disproportionate need falls on your shoulders? When, in all honesty, you could leave Villa – a club to which you have no actual ties – and have an easier life elsewhere, on higher wages.
Which is, in reality, an honest assessment. If you were Benteke, and you were offered a chance to play in a team where everyone is at your level, would you take it? The truth is there are very few who wouldn’t, just like you or I would consider a move to a better place of work with more potential for success.
The problem going forwards is understanding just how much of the finances are sorted. Villa have stumbled through recent years with a legacy of uncontrolled spending. The initial thought in my head was to say overspending, but there’s a subtle difference – and Villa have not spent abject fortunes.
A prime example of Villa’s current predicament is manifested in the unlikely candidate of Darren Bent. Here is a player who was – rightly or wrongly – deemed worth £24m in fees, and the tag of highest paid earner at the club.
In the season he was bought, there was a strong argument that Villa’s missing link was a clinical finisher who could get on the end of crosses and chances. In that sense, Bent was exactly what Villa needed, and whilst it wasn’t until the Arsenal win that the club were safe, £24m seemed like peanuts versus the £50m that could have been lost with relegation.
The problem then was the money was being spent with no strategy. Randy Lerner, as exhibited in the past, has no policy beyond backing whoever is in the seat at the time and, as we’ve also seen previously, that tends to just involve hiring someone with past Premier League experience.
So it is perhaps no surprise that Paul Lambert remains in post, despite poor statistics being piled against him. Should Lerner take the choice to remove Lambert, it becomes not a question of who you or I might think is the best manager to take us forwards, but who fits the aforementioned criteria that the chairman sets out.
Given those restrictions, the chairman illustrates – albeit indirectly – a complete lack of understanding of what makes a good manager. To take such a simplistic approach regarding previous Premier League experience is foolish. Yes, there is a validity to experience in the top flight, but it means nothing in context, especially without an overarching plan.
Villa are – if we care to be honest – in a somewhat unfortunate and undesirable position. They can change the manager – something many fans would like – but to who or, to be more precise, who would the chairman pick?
Think of the options out that regarding who fits the chairman’s criteria, and things start to quickly unravel. The truth is that getting Tony Pulis in – before he joined West Bromwich Albion – would have been a start, assuming the board maintain their somewhat facile approach to new hires.
Given that boat has sailed – and assuming the board even have any intention of change – the options becoming increasingly limited. Those with knowledge of managerial candidates outside of these shores will no doubt curse Lerner’s name, stating there are many choices who could do better – and they may well be right – but will Villa’s American chairman change his policy?
The next three games are key to the future of Villa. Not only for us as fans – given that it could leave us in a significantly more precarious position – but also in the sense that Lerner may well find his own investment devalued if the team do suffer the ignominy of relegation.
Losing to Leicester, despite them being the bottom team and it being a poor game, will not get Lambert sacked under the Lerner regime. If Lambert takes no points from the next three games, however, there may well be an increasing need for Lerner to save his own financial circumstances – something he has done before when throwing former manager Alex McLeish under the bus for coming a little too close to the drop.
Should Lambert be sacked? On the pitch, the results say yes. Do I have the faith the chairman can replace him with anyone who will improve the team? The answer, sadly, is a resounding no.
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 108
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Hello Matt,
I just ask myself if there’s anyone out there who could do a worse job ? strange, every single time the answer is no.
I read a bit earlier today a site saying they’ve heard rumours that a DoF might be coming in. It’s good in the sense they will see straight away our manager is a joke. I was hoping Fox would see it, but he knows less about football that Faulkner does if HH is to be believed . I believe it now, because if he new anything, Lamberk would be gone by now
I’d like to think we could prize Laudrup away from what ever random club he’s managing. Steve Clarke although only just gone to reading. Eddie Howe has Ben great.
If takes us losing out next 3/4 games to get him out then so be it. We will lose them anyway so might as well get something from it
Steamer – just saw the quotes you posted of Lamberk saying the fans don’t want him out. He’s a deluded wanker
It is a tough one Steamer, but I can’t say I have any faith in Lerner’s ability to pick people either.
I’ll be frank – for the first time in 20 years I’m on the edge of not renewing. I don’t know if that is a good thing (that I’m seeing sense) or a bad thing (that I’m seeing my club go down the drain).
If he makes a change – Lerner – who is he going to get, and what are they going to do? All very well changing his man in post, but I have little to no faith he has any clue who would do anything better.
Sorry I haven’t been about by the way – just had one of Amy’s aunts die this morning, less than a month after another one did.
However, I’m glad people are still posting. I’ve also got a backlog of new people to add as users, but I’ve been spammed by bots so there’s thousands of emails and I need to work out who is legit and who isn’t 🙁
Eddie Howe would get my vote Frem, but I don’t think Lerner would hire him.
Happy to be proved wrong though.
And there is rumours of protests against Pool. I hope so
Just for 90 mins we should be signing for the Berks head. Goals on Sunday shown figures of goals scored, shots on target, chances created etc and we are 20th in everyone one apart from Shot accuracy where we are a dizzy 19th.
Matt- when his side play us of the park and batter us in a couple of weeks, maybe then they will take note of him
Have you seen Lamberks on the ” we have huge expectations” again? What do you think he means because we don’t. We just want gaols and to finish 10th at the min. I think he thinks fans are being unrealistic and should just accept the shit he’s serving up
Complex narrative at play here. Reality is that I wouldn’t want the job if I was a manager.
We’d like mid-table and we may achieve it. The issue, sadly, is that we may do it with the most boring football on the planet.
Viva la Premier League.
Reality is that I’m beyond numb. I still go to games, but I’m not excited any more and often think to myself “I really could be doing something better with this time rather than being bored senseless”…
Matt,
… that tends to just involve hiring someone with past Premier League experience.
I’d go slightly further Matt, and say that he/she must be a ‘nice’ person as well. i.e. someone who doesn’t answer back.
Frem,
Although a DoF would be useful i see this as just another PR exercise, Lerner just WILL NOT boot Lambert whatever happens to Villa, we could be relegated this season and next but if Lerner still owns the club Lambert will still be boss. Lerner regards himself as some sort of font of sporting goodness, he doesn’t make mistakes, everyone else does.
If you want to know what the Lerner family is really like just gurgle his old fella Al.
Tom Fox isn’t an asset to AVFC, he’s several steps up from Chubby but thats not much is it ?
Supposed to stay out of the Holte for the first twelve minutes, do yerself a favour and make it 90.
By the way, sorry to hear about Amy’s Aunts, terrible.
Matt- I don’t think there is any chance of us finishing mid table now if Lamberk stays. Somehow we are 13th and I imagine Fox and Randy’s interest stretches as far as 2 second glance and the table to see the number that is next to our name and that’s it. They see 13th, think” that’s fine” and then get on with the gardening or what ever. The same happens next week. “Oh 15th. Still ok”
Steamer- if the Holte end emptied for 12 mins it would be epic
Ye sorry to hear that news as well Matt
Matt,
If i remember correctly, you wanted Eddie Howe when AVL was in its infancy.
I think all the heart has been drained from the team, i expect some right beltings especially i the next three games. Going down with a whimper, down with a whimper.
I did Steamer but knew Lerner wouldn’t pick him due to his lack of top flight experience.
Bloody good memory you have mate – was almost 4 years ago! Can’t believe we are 4 years old in a few months…
steamer and good memory = oxymoron
like lamberk and management .
pp saw that petition last week and sihned it , but cant see it making any difference .
Brasil lm watching a program about a hydro electric power tranformer being built , and its just shown the slums in Rio and the electrical supplies . jeeezz , hope alls well over there mate
afternoon jenny xxx
afternoon matt,
I’m with you on this, if Lerner passes the poison chalice to another poor choice we are done. no transfer window, precious little time to access the squad plus limited talent is a recipe for disaster. His mode of operation tends to be reactive not planned so you would doubt he even has a pre-planned list, given that how long would it be before he acts? I can seriously see Marshal and Sid getting the reins for a fair few games before we get a new manager.
With the news Lerner has dispensed with the people he hired to sell us you would think something would be said i.e. I’m staying I’m going? the fact he won’t back Lambert says he’s off or as you intimated we are not out of the mire financially which is it?
JL- re: cha I thought you’d like that bit of sleuthery 😉
the stupid thing is the defence is very good, the midfield has talent, and we have a player up front wanted by some of the biggest teams in the world
so we should not be in this position,,,,
you have to play to your teams strengths, not what they say in munich, dortmund or f**king barcelona
its been obvious now for 3 seasons we cant score against packed defences and need to find a way to
cure this,, and we are not talking about the mancs , chelsea or the arse,, we are talking about the baggies
palace leicester qpr and the heavyweights of millwall, bradford and sheff u etc
in this lambert has totally failed, showing no ability to change a game or get anywhere near the best from his players
yet we can sometimes beat the big boys,,,
i have thought about it and to me he must go,,, but where does that leave us,,
so are we better hopping he can get players in to get us scoring goals and that we pick up points against the better teams
its a f**king nightmare
https://www.change.org/p/aston-villa-football-club-remove-paul-lambert/share?after_sign_exp=default&just_signed=true
every one signed this to get Lamert out
Dave B
It or your point,or part of your point is.that a gaffer`s job is to get the best out of what he/she has got.This applies to sport at any level.Dress it up any way you like,restrictions,budgets,suspensions,blah,blah,blah,Lambert has failed to even get close to achieving this.He must go,but the damage has been done,it`s far too late now.
S75
The electrics are lethal here.No matter how many World Cups or Olympics Brasil gets,it is 3rd world and primtive mate,always will be.When a new house is built here they chop out the brickwork and do the electrics last,not whilst the house is being built.Insanity.Nobody is qualified,but they all profess that they can do anything,just to get the work.The result is sub standard and apalling work.The Normans built castles in the UK in the 12th Century that are still standing,a road or building here is falling apart after 2 years.
already done it JD
brasil- went to India in 2003 the electrics there were all on the outside buildings too, when you see a bloke sat on a pile of brick rubble with a brick held between his feet, smashing it with a claw hammer, you know EU rules do not apply
ST75,
Thats the second time you have used oxymoron which for those that don’t know is a fucking idiot from Oxford, remember going there at the old Ground and it went off in our end and Bootsy got twatted by a bird funny as fuck, as for Lamberk i truly give up Lerner will dig his heels in so deep it will take a construction team weeks to get him out lets face it we are fucked we have been for a long time now.
AVFC RIP
S75,
Sounds like even you could get a job as a sparky in Brasil.
By the way am i the oxy or the moron ?
I’d like to know if Fox is a BSer or not, he keeps making noises that suggest that Lamberts job is condusive to results but all the evidence is to the contrary. Fox, is the knob, ( just for B6B ), about to be booted or is he as all the facts seem to suggest safe, i only ask so all the loyal Villans, even the happy clappers who have contributed to this shambles, can have a Saturday afternoon away from VP without the expense and heartache. Be fair Fox, i know its a lot to ask, honesty from VP, but it would make a pleasant change.
yes Mat our fate is in Randy Lerners hands — his bad decisions has now left us holding on for dear life in terms of premier lge status
Ii all began so well and most of us were filled with hope by his actions in the first few years
As it went all wrong and Randy moved his focus to getting his cash back the club has been left bleeding to death
Will randy pay the medical bill to save the club or will he stick with lambert leaving us down at the end of the season
if he knows the club is sold he may not care if we go down — if he keeps the club his poor decisions with cost him even more millions
where’s robbo we need at least one person to pull out some more lambert positives
We know the players aren’t great but I just won’t have it that a different manager couldn’t get more out of them.
I also have no faith that Lerner is even close to a sale. We simply cannot go on like this season after season and continue to get away with his level of commitment and investment. I believe he is too stupid to realise that he won’t get the price he has in mind because any new owner would realise the amount of money they’d have to spend to undo Lerner’s ineptitude.
IMO i think our squad it pretty decent and with a decent manager we would be knocking on the door for uafa
for the last 2 seasons gone most of the teams coming up have done better than us — also teams that had less money , fan base , nternations for the bigger countries have done better
There is no excuse for us to be ths bad no matter how its dressed up
Agreed 100% runtings.
Sorry to hear about your bad news Matt.
Agree Steve, I think Lerners policy is out of sight, out of mind, he doesn’t give a ff, he’s just taking the TV money until he gets in front then he’ll sell whats left to some other mug who thinks he knows about footy. Sooner or later we’ll go bump but Lerner, Lambert and Fox won’t be affected, they’ll be sitting in their multi million pound houses laughing at the loyal fans of AVFC.
just seen some stats on yesterday match
gabby ran .2 of a mile more than cole yet was on pitch for 18 normal time 4 mins injury time extra
4 of our defenders where in top 6 for miles ran
lambert came up with new formation yesterday 4 players playing ch clark okore westwood sanchez then wanted hutton sissko to be wingers he learnt this in germany
dont care who replaces him anyone will do short term westwood cleverly gabby wiemen are doing what he wants benteke has just gave up
motd commentators said lambert excuse when benteke would be back all would be allright where the hell is kozack out 13 months with broken leg starting to sound like dunne injury which wasnt long clearingup
Sounds like we are close to signing Carles Gil. A winger\ CAM
Spend the money of sacking the twat instead Randy
just watched that jed steer what a load of sh ite another of lamberts great buys no wonder yeovil are going down he is useless to be fair to the great Lambert he does buy one good one for every 10 sacks of sh ite
john d
steer was pointless 1.5 m fee plus wages when we had given on 60 thousand a week wages not going any where
lambert has almost 30 signings okore sanchez benteke very good vlar sissko westwood bacuna kozack good rest awful
forgot to add good read on newsnow from espn villa are laughing stock
well heres the problem lads, we all think Lambert should go
but we seem to range from we are a decent team with a poor manager to we have a poor manager whose brought rubbish players who another manager would make into world beaters? lets be honest villa are poorly run from top to bottom, are apparently up for sale/not up for sale. So what decent manager would risk sticking his head in the lions cage? with no settled owner, no promise of funds and Just a glance at our last four games tells you the players create little. we may get a chancer or a newbie but an intelligent man with the know-how we need would run a mile from this train crash unless he got proper backing which doesn’t look like happening.
steamer- cant see how lerners pocketing anything when we were £52mil in debt last season and he’s buying his own shares and forgoing interest owed on loans. if he wants to make the money he’s invested back it will take ten years on our profits. if he is he’s not as thick as we think 😉
cleaveland browns randy lerner song – its all relitive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RT3GN1dgAY
ray of hope or proof he ain’t going?
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/01/11/guillem-balague-claims-aston-villa-have-agreed-deal-for-carles-g/?
another centre mid and no width – we are going down
http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/aston-villa/362/blog/post/2239172/lambert-must-go-villa-are-a-laughingstock
Very true
st75- you sure your ill?
http://www.caughtoffside.com/2015/01/11/video-leicester-city-and-aston-villa-fans-fight-in-street-football-hooligans-caught-on-camera/?
similar stuff steamer
http://avillafan.com/site/16883/proud-history-bleak-future/?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0aMakBweaQ
good laugh
http://7500toholte.sbnation.com/2015/1/11/7528201/aston-villa-valencia-transfer-news-carles-gil
gil and sinclair money = delph money?
… a “tricky little guy with the ball at his feet, pretty solid passer.”
Thing that worries me is that he might be too good for Gabby and Andi to ‘read’ his intentions.
I would welcome a few more signings wingers preferably because I cannot bear the thought of Gabby, Cleverley, Nzogbia, Wiemann, Richardson, Hutton & Westwood playing consistently for Villa, The only chance we have to progress is to get rid of these inadequate dire players including the players on loan and start a new. You cant wait for the promise of improvement we have been to nice to most of these players there are simply not good enough to compete in the premier league, no composure or creativity.
Love the hispanic feel with Carles Gil & Sanchez played together for Elche so have a bond already. Most of all a decent competent Manager would cause eruptions in my household as the current one is not of prem quality either.
I would not miss Vlarr or Delph take any funds for them to improve team dont forget these brilliant members of our squad played against Bradford, which I don’t think that I will ever recover from.
Looking forward to witness new signings might drag me from family days and outta social to use my season ticket again.
These new signings must mean though that the clueless one is staying who else would be choosing potential ??????
http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/aston-villa/362/blog/post/2239172/lambert-must-go-villa-are-a-laughingstock
read this great pice
steamer
it would seem l had a lucky escape at the game yesterday , l would of been involved in the fisticuffs at the game , will tell you tomorrow who it was , yes mark l may have been in nick , fucking lamberk this is all his fucking fault , the tosser
i reckon our new signing will be playing in the vhapionship next season , i cant see this kid lifting the labert gloom
What hurts me the most is the waste.The waste pf 4 years,no progress,the names have changed,the results haven`t.We were in the sheisse when McShambles arrived and with 3 seasons of Lambert we are in the scheisse still.
Also the waste of fees and salaries,please Lerner don`t give him another penny,keep it for the players we need to avoid another rekegation next season.
If Fox is approached to write cheques this Jan,then he should be asking Lambert for evidence that it won`t be wasted.The man has reached the end don`t give him a penny,get a manger in who can get the best out of the current rabble.
does it take a year to recover from a broken leg ? wheres kosak
were is silla , helinius ,- how is tonov dong — why wont he play grealish and robinson — will we play 541 against a lower lge side at home again — how long before our next goal
well done mark alrighton btw — very good performance out wide
Poor Gil signing for us,he will be out on loan to Lincoln next season.We have become the Bermuda Triangle of football careers.They sign for Villa then disappear without a trace.
Mark,
Thats the type of video that gets lads locked up for throwing a few punched annoys the fuck out of me you see worse down town on a Saturday night but do it at football and you get a 10 year banning order and a prison sentence.
New signing Carles Gil – Career total apps 77 – goals 6 – assists 10
Sounds like he’ll fit right in… not much of a goal threat… guessing another Tonev
SWV- yes mate just a bit of handbags.
you have to wonder what gills agent has told him, mid table in the prem, ex winners of the European cup, £5 a week 😉
steve parkes- shows you what aisle we are shopping in at lidl doesn’t it ? poor fuckers walking into a shit storm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/11339109/Aston-Villa-goalkeeper-Brad-Guzan-says-players-should-take-blame-for-slump-not-manager-Paul-Lambert.html
So Gil is signed could be anything they talk of him as being the new Isco but he could be the new Luna are we expecting him to come in and save us, a big question is where does it leave Grealish do we farm him out to a lower league team just like all the other kids, he must be over the moon to hear Lambert talk about lack of creativity no shit Sherlock we have been saying it for three seasons, another kick in the knackers for young Jack.
AVFC RIP
Mark
l take no notice or even bother to read what the players say in the papers because all they are doing is towing the line , they must have a whip in the dressing room giving them handouts to read ,
the clubs dead on its feet ,
Runtins , l just hope they never sent the player to Walsall manor hospital due to cost cuttings , they set my broken leg at an angle and even gave me tablets that stopped the bones calcifying to mend the break , and it took my leg over a year to fix and its 1/2 inch shorter now , they had to re-break both tibia and fibia bones and re-set , it was only when l was sent to the old accident hospital they found the problem when a doctor pinched my toe and l tried to punch his lights out because it fucking hurt so much , funny thing on friday l drove past the pub we played in the semi and where l broke the leg , Aldridge airport (yes l know !!!! eh!!, ) Farmer johns Pub , funny thing is l was lying on the player who tackled me and as he tried to get up l grabbed him around his throat and said “dont move you have broke my leg ” the game was abandoned and l made him stay where he was till the ambulance came ,lol we won the replay and the final , happy fucking days
Rumours of a DoF coming in (etc)…
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/rumoured-aston-villa-director-of-football-management-restructuring/
Now for the bad news –
Joe Kinnear or Dennis Wise.
Why is Lambert attempting to destroy Grealish ? is it because he can do things on a football pitch that Lambert the crab could only dream about ?
A DoF is 6/7 years too late, that should have been Lerner’s first appointment but probably not possible with the personality of MON already in the managers chair, but given Lerner’s shortcomings in absolutely everything he does (i.e. he is not a self made man) he wouldn’t of seen the need to have a football brain on the board to advise on football matters or be the go-between for him and MON.
Having watched MON leave, another ‘note to self’ missed opportunity to bring in a DoF at that point even to oversee the next managerial appointment was foregone. Clearly the remit has been reduce wages, get rid of the high earners and survive with what you have with minimal investment each window, because even with windfall TV money, the purse strings weren’t relaxed. AVFC may move into a profit or a neglible loss but this just papers over the cracks because as a business it’s raison d’etre is not to make money but to achieve on the football pitch which in turn will boost income from being on TV more and attracting more supporters through the gates, better sponsorship.
The club is bein managed in reverse in that if we get the books balanced every year that is success, it’s a strange industry that the wealthy should know doesn’t bring income but brings joy during success and pain during defeat like every supporter feels and Lerner needs to get out of it because he isn’t making his own money but surviving on a substantial family trust fund that probably generates income from share investments but nothing like the income that would be generated by an oil company owner for example. What Doug Ellis saw in Lerner probably was a benefactor type owner with a large bank balance but while Lerner had to do due diligence on buying Villa, there wasn’t any due diligence on how much income Lerner was generating to sustain a football club.
Tom Fox has seen the gap between the board and Lambert and while this will reduce Lamberk’s power, it’s all too late. While I do think that the relative merits of our players are over-stated by some, I absolutely believe that Lamberk is having such a negative impact that the players are going through the motions in the hope Lamberk gets the chop. Will it happen, no, but only because Lerner wants the next owner to incur the cost of another managerial contract pay off.
In an ideal world, I’d love to see Luciano Spaletti given the job but in an ideal world we’d be top of the league and strolling to our 5th consecutive Champions League success. In the mean time, getting a manager in with limited new resources and average squad bar Benteke/Sanchez/Okore/Grealish but with current internationals and getting them to play better, in a better system and impose our game as opposed to the damage limitation style we currently use then I’d suggest any other manager at all could do that job and while Eddie Howe has a chance for real success that rules him out of jumping for a possible poisoned chalice like Villa there are many managers who would thrive on the opportunity.
I signed the petition for what it is worth but Tom Fox as a business man needs to conclude that if he wants to be a success as a CEO then it rests on making a decision to let Lamberk go and building for the future again, he won’t get a chance to grow the club financially if we continue to just survive on the pitch. His hands are tied by Lamberk and it’s only Fox and Lerner that are more powerful in Villa. They need to decide now or it will be too late and Mr Fox maybe going to TShirts.R.Us for the next kit to suit our Championship status.
Darren,
Another good write up how do you fancy writing an article just send it to Matt and he will post it I think he could do with a helping hand at the moment.
You mentioned Lerners first appointment, well in his eyes he felt appointing Doris as the new tea lady was vital to the running of the club, his words not mine ” I know how you limeys love a brew”.
Tom Fox couldn’t see a Gap if he was shopping in the Bullring, the fans have been crying out for a DOF for years and to go with that a bit of creativity in the middle of the park, now three years on we now decide that we need these things in our club, blimey our new shirt sponsor could be the NHS.
How many points do people see us taking from our next three games, with our goal scoring we can only get three points at best but realistically I see a big fat zero, in fact rumour has it that Januarys Goal of the Month looks like being cancelled unless Charlie Gil is the new messi.
AVFC RIP
Some people say the bookies are rarely wrong so read this:
But since that surprise win over Liverpool at Anfield in early September it’s been nothing short of a nightmare season for the Villans. They’ve taken just 12 points from their last 17 Premier League outings – no club in the top flight has accumulated less in the same period – and their woeful tally of just 11 goals scored all term has them by some distance as the lowest-scoring team in the top four divisions of English football. But because of Aston Villa’s good start to the campaign their status as arguably the worst team in the top flight is being overlooked and we can still back them at 4.1 to go down.
They can’t score goals, therefore they can’t win games, and their next three league matches are against Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea. We will be presented with a good trade at that point, but don’t Cash Out there – Villa still have Newcastle, Manchester United, Tottenham, Manchester City, and Southampton to play away from home. They’re going down.
AVFC RIP
SWV
Agree with you on Darren’s piece, and unfortunately, have to agree that the bookies odds are good for covering the cost of a new season ticket in the Championship!
Already received text and phone calls from Villa trying to persuade me to buy a ticket for the Bournemouth game. My investment in Villa tickets is way down the list at the moment….unless we see some real change in management and policy. It is interesting how the battle is rising between the fans over support for Lambert and the team, and those who have had enough……it also seems that a similar battle is taking place with Brummies over the Fox News piece about Birmingham…and it not being a place for non-muslims.. Does this mean that the city may be approaching a summer of discontent and possible riots…The general election and many other things could raise the temperature….
paul p
why dont youprint number so we can all book tickets for lamberts sacking
Thank you very much SWV, the articles posted on here are much better than mine as they generate the debate, I’d rather respond to the debate, I used to write for a Car magazine I owned and so there was always a requirement to over elaborate so I find it difficult to be direct and to the point. If Matt wants help then it’s available.
I know we all use Newsnow but here is an article that sums up the feeling very well
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/paul-lamberts-great-disappearing-goal-act-at-aston-villa-growing-old
I’m amazed there are still some happy clappers out there (other forums), saying give Lamberk money to buy forwards as he’s sorted the defence, like feck he has, he’s just got 8 players to pass the ball around, the distance between attack and defence is so great, we’d need another 5 players to provide the link to the two.
If as a Villa fan you are prepared to see the club go down based on one stubborn, clueless individual then you might as well be a blue nose. This isn’t about expecting to win the league this is expecting us to challenge in every game, win, lose or draw.
We’ve lost the right to win based on the tactics used and if it doesn’t change then more of our good players will leave because the vultures are circling. Lamberk and Lerner Out.
is this a mickey take or did i hear jo kinnear could soon be our dof 🙂 i think randy is just trying to do all the things most fans wouldnt like — surely he can’t be that stupid to take kinear otherwise
I’d like to join in the backslapping for Darren.
This guy certainly gets it.
http://football.chrisnee.co.uk/
Love these quotes from Guzan in defending Lamberk’s lack of results
“It’s our job to defend, save shots, score, tackle, head pass – it’s our job.”. From the horse’s mouth, the teams job is not to score but to defend only
“He can’t go and score for us, the assistant manager can’t score for us, the goalkeeping coach can’t score for us. It appears Brad in his excitement about being interviewed forgot the assistant manager doesn’t exist never mind can’t score for us.
SWV
The bookies are spot on, we are arguably the worst team in the league and we will go down, unless massive changes are afoot. Blues fans have been revelling in our demise, calling up any phone in to say they will pass us as we drop and they go up, a couple of months ago that very notion would have been laughable, but now it seems a very real possibility.
Iv said for years this clueless fraud of a gaffer will take us down, seems this could be the year he achieves it.
I want him gone, as soon as possible, as to who replaces him, I don’t know who we can attract , but surely we can’t get any worse than the current bell end
SWV – CP and WBA have just taken on the best UK managers available, I suspect, so it’s a bit late there.
Darren – first rate post.
John,
I think those two will benefit with having Pullis and Pardew in charge, I think the Bournemouth game could be the final nail in Lamberts coffin, there is a grounds swell of opinion moving towards his removal and though Lerner may be blind I think Fox will see the shift, the cup game may prove to be his downfall, I have changed tack because I did not think Lerner would sack him after giving him a new contract but I did not see us losing to Leicester either.
After a run of only 2 wins in 17 games and so few goals scored his position may become untenable, but I agree not many people about of real quality but if I had to throw a name into the ring I would have a go for Paul Clement.
AVFC RIP
increadabily some of the other blog i.e the main one apart from avl seem to support lambert — i want some of what there on
increadabily some of the other blogs i.e the main one apart from avl seem to support lambert — i want some of what there on
It annoys me the players seem immune to abuse, and lambert however much he deserves it, is getting it all.
No matter who is in charge they can do better, they just dont want to know.
A healthy dose of ‘your not fit to wear the shirt’ should be volleyed at them.
Still want Lambert out of course though. Glad Gill is on the way….need at least 2 more attackers to improve us though.
There is a strange thing that has happened in football since the lge began and that is a manager defines how good or how bad a team is —– if the mood is not right or they are not managed or instructed correctly you will not see the best out of the players
as i have pointed out before a team can put all the in the effort in the world in and run around like mad men and still be in the relegation zone — another manager comes in sets them up differently (hopefully not 541) and they fly up the table to safety
this is because them manager is the most important person at the club and the buck stops with him due to that fact
So what do people think about the new lad Gil, only 22 and not much playing time at Valencia but plenty at struggling Elche, can he be any worse than Cleverly Gabby or Wiemann time will tell, he seems to a younger version of Cole, I would like to see the look on his face when Lambert tells him his role and what formation he has to play in, he probably will not understand him on any level.
AVFC RIP
Some great posts today, DO’s was exceptional and two very scathing articles too ( Chris Nee and the previous one ). Lambert has been given an easy ride by the media, especially the one purporting to have Birmingham’s interests at heart, but judging by today’s efforts, the tide is turning. I’m still not convinced that Lerner will boot him even if his puppet recommends that action.
I looked up a few Browns articles yesterday and was amazed at the hate that Lerner generated, he must be a right knob.
Runtingz,
Only joking about Kinnear, you never know though with these dummies.
Any suggestions for DoF ?
I think David Platt is the best qualified as long as he stays out of the changing room, disaster at Forest.
runtings
think most other blogs have turned on lambert apart from few nutters on tvb even j fear has turned on vital good article from him about mcleish sacking
So Lamberk thinks fans are being unrealistic and should accept 11 goals in 22 games and 2 wins out of 17
If he dropped dead, I wouldn’t be bothered
SWV,
To be fair he looks a good player but another CM !! Lambert is obviously not a fan of wingers and Benteke must be totally frustrated by his stance. Echo Runtingz praise of Albri, i think their was a lot more to come from the lad, still, we do have Tonev.
SWV: I would like to see the look on his face when Lambert tells him his role and what formation he has to play in, he probably will not understand him on any level.
HOW can this young guy be ready to come into the Prem after playing for a weak team for the last 2 years!!! As well as the Sco’s comms factor, as you say!
What is needed, surely, is a real quality player that would cost at least £10m – not the pittance that has been quoted.
It’s absolutely prepos … preposition… preposterous! There, got it!!
Darren for prime minister! 😉
The whole whose fault it is when a team plays badly is perplexing. for instance take 10 average players and put them on a five a side pitch within minutes they have sorted out naturally who’s playing where, the ball will be worked towards goal and shots will be taken. In fact shots will probably rain in at either end from everywhere. alternatively put 11 highly paid talented professional athletes on a pitch, guided by a European cup winning ex-professional player and German badge holding manager and they forget the whole point of the game and how to play it?!!
I have had first hand experience of a managers influence with tactics as we had one that wanted to play 352. every week we would start this way and come in at half time either struggling or losing. second half off would come a couple of players and we’d switch to 442 and win. was it the players inability to cope with the formation? or the managers inability to play the right players for the system? or the players lack of talent? feck knows but it went on for weeks. my point is local lads don’t forget how to play football , why do professionals seem incapable of the same. I’d like to think that regardless of a managers instructions a player doesn’t completely forget why he got in the incredibly lucky position he’s in or his own talent and use it. Surely the manager wouldn’t complain if they disobeyed orders and won? so what gives? unless its lack of leadership on the pitch as well as off. Please can Mr senderos get better.
in fact give him the managers job
wow unreal comments
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-boss-paul-lambert-8425580
http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/9642739/hendrie-time-for-a-change
http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/aston-villa-agree-to-10-clause-in-purchase-price-6-5m
http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=7517962
Good evening all.
It has been with a heavy heart that we read all things Villa related and now even Matt is considering whether to renew his ST. . When supporters like Matt who have trudged to VP loyally as a family event over the generations, the words AV RIP becomes the reality. I hope that Randy Lerner reads your balanced and sensible article Matt as it looks like those in charge are content to fiddle whilst the club burns.
What we see is a club with no leadership and sadly history is repeating itself. The parallels with AM are obvious . Is Randy Lerner going to hide behind Paul Lambert as he and Paul Faulkener hid behind Alex McLeish . Even the players hid behind him in the end and that is what they will do to Paul Lambert, if they haven’t already started doing it. I didn’t see any of them on Saturday who was prepared to fight for the manager, or the three points. They’d have more respect from the fans if they didn’t engage in fighting when there was 5 mins and 1 goal down. But no, Clark put himself before the club and the away supporters. No wonder Roy Keane walked out .
The Director of Football proposition is a complete red herring. As Darren says, we are 7 years too late for that. A DOF is not going to save us this season it will be a distraction from what the fans can see but the board are seemingly blind to. We haven’t even got an assistant manager for heaven’s sake. Sort the training out – sort the players out – change the manager .
We can’t be fear hold us back from making changes. How can the players have faith in the current manager ? They aren’t blind to the stats, the criticism and ridicule. Going 7 hours without scoring a goal must be hurting them – even if it just their own professional pride. The change would give everyone hope – and even if this is a short term measure, it may get us to the end of the season.
IMO there is only one team worse than us and that is QPR. (which stands for Quality Players Relegated as one comic said ) Burnley, Leicester, Hull, Crystal Palace and West Brom have lately been playing better football and showing more belief and fight. They are even scoring goals . I expect Pullis and Pardew to pull them through.
Sorry to hear about your bug ST75. Sudafed max strength is good for head colds. Keep tucked up warm xxxx
Very interesting diversion on my query on cup of char everyone – thank you.
Here is another of my nan’s brummie sayings John which I used to baffle me. If a couple were living together unmarried it was called “living over the brush”. Any ideas ??
I can’t understand Benteke not wanting to move. Kissmet has said today he isn’t moving this transfer window. He looks damned miserable perhaps that is why.
Just watched the Hendrie clip Steamer – well no invite for the Villa end of season tour for him then 🙂 We know what happened to Tayls when he gave his opinion.
I agree Andrew. The players shouldn’t be immune when they look like they aren’t making the effort. My friend went to the Leicester game – he said only two players came over to thank the away support. Can’t remember which ones I will look at his message.
jen- maybe a play on words for “jumping the broomstick” an old phrase for getting married?
some of the lower placed teams have difficult runs coming up similar to our early season run against the top six. after that they play any of the 9 teams in touching distance of the drop so relegation battles galore. unfortunately we are in the same boat
We are all guilty.Not as much as Lambert and Lerner,but by doing nothing.we`ve watched,and are watching the club sleepwalk into oblivion.No protests bugger all.
We`ve stood by and complained and posted,and Lerner and Lambert remain.We have done eff all about it,I am as guilty as anyone,and I am ashamed by this.
Guzan and Hutton were the only ones who went over to clap the away support. Ironical seeing as they are our best players at the moment.
I haven’t heard that expression Mark . It could follow.
The thing is Mark that the lower clubs can score goals – even against the bigger clubs.
Jenny: “living over the brush”.
I didn’t have a clue … never heard it before!
Then I went to http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/living+over+the+brush.html
where it says:
Living together out of wedlock. “They are living over the brush” originates from a form of marriage when a couple held hands and jumped over a besom to signal their commitment to each other, because they couldn’t have a church marriage.
Hope that’s correct.
Seems to be… from http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/9/messages/383.html…
The phrase, “living over the brush”, used to describe an unmarried couple who live together, originated in the tunnel building days of the 19th Century. If a boy and a girl (usually camp followers from the towns, prostitutes in reality) took a liking to each other then the other men and women would respect them as man and wife. They could not afford a church wedding so, holding hands, they jumped over a brush or broom handle held by two older people. They were then “married” in the eyes of their peers.
I know jen no goals no prem survival, only hope is we didn’t have benteke against the top teams earlier in the season and he usually bucks his ideas up against the top teams, wonder why? 😉
Hello Jen,
How’s the Cockapoo settling in, Have you given him a name yet ?
new post i just fell over laughing about it the droyd king of the happy clappers it is people like him who are destroying the club never read such a load of complete bol lox in all my life the man is completely mental
Steamer – he is the most adorable thing I have ever seen (St 75 excepting of course :-))
He has cried every night -but I think he is missing us not his Mom as he literally follows me around everywhere. He is the most affectionate darling dog and the girls decided on calling him Ted or Teddy as he looks like a Teddy Bear. Hard work but so glad I caved in and got him as I swore never to have another dog after the last one.
John – what a fascinating explanation. My Mom told me that was what my nan used to say – in a very disparaging way -I wonder whether my nan knew about the jumping over a brush or whether it was just a saying which was used by folks without realising why.