In recent days, particularly after the signing of Carlos Sanchez, but potentially fused with the success of the win against Stoke City, I’ve heard any increasing number of fans ask themselves – and each other – whether things are turning around. I don’t mean that fans think one win means the club are going to be top six finishers this season, but I’ve seen fans questioning whether Paul Lambert isn’t as bad as he may have been made out.

After all, despite an early love-in – anyone but Alex McLeish was always going to get that treatment – there’s been growing disaffection, and even hatred, towards the current Aston Villa manager. In my eyes at least, that’s been a harsh judgement.

Thinking of myself as perhaps one of the more pragmatic supporters, the fury that has surrounded Lambert has been somewhat puzzling. Yes, Villa have struggled in recent seasons, but to lump that blame at the feet of Lambert seems remarkably short-sighted.

In fact, the extent to which the blame had been piled on Villa’s Scottish boss even extended to the idea that – God forbid – Lambert was worse than McLeish. That one of the best signings of the recent Villa years – Christian Benteke – was actually the work of “The Man Who Was Most Hated At B6”.

Which, if we’re going to be brutally honest, is a bit ridiculous. Lambert may not be perfect (who is?) but the suggestion that he could go from back-to-back promotions with Norwich City, to abject tedium at Villa Park with no other factors in play, makes little to no sense.

Of course managers can move to different clubs and fail. They can go from a foreign league and fail in England – Christian Gross and Andre Villas-Boas being two candidates that stick out. They can follow in the footsteps of legends and look inept – David Moyes’ last season at Manchester United being the obvious one for everyone to point out – but they rarely just become bad.

So, when the idea was touted that Lambert had gone from good, to bad, to potentially good again, it felt jarring. Sure, we can have ups and downs in our careers, but circumstance has played a significant part of how the past two seasons have gone.

A prime example? The “Bomb Squad”.

I remember writing at the time of the moniker being assigned that this was a purely financial move, something that was being forced on the manager because – let’s be frank – the balance sheets were a mess. Whether isolating all your highest paid players on the basis that you gave them a contract is the wisest decision is debatable, but it was clear – at least in my eyes – that Lambert was just doing a job and, like all of us, he was getting instructions from his boss.

Further evidence of the manager just doing that job came this weekend when Alan Hutton spoke of his delight of having a second debut. If, as some suggested, it was actually the manager behind the Scottish defender’s “Bomb Squad” status, do you imagine Hutton would have any interest at all in playing for Lambert? Sure, it could be written off as club PR, but wouldn’t he have the slightest hint of anger if he was being effectively ostracised by the man who just picked him?

It isn’t just Hutton, what of Charlie N’Zogbia or even potentially Darren Bent? Why would a manager be playing games, especially when he is financially hamstrung, by limiting his own options? How does that make sense? Can you think of any manager who deliberately makes his job harder?

In addition, what confounds me more is that the idea now is that Roy Keane must – obviously – be behind any successful deals now, and that his arrival is somehow the yin to Lambert’s yang, that Lambert is so inept in the eyes of some that he couldn’t even manage a Sunday league team.

The truth is there are groups of our fans who will, as is their right, choose to create complex explanations for things that tend to be far more simple – Keane’s new so he’s the reason we’re doing better, McLeish scouted Lambert’s best players. Hell, in the eyes of some, Lambert wasn’t picking the team which, given our known reticence of our chairman to spend in recent years, goes consistently against logic. Say what you want about football, but it is certainly emotive.

Regarding the chairman, it is both saddening but explanatory, that recent months have the potential to be the most successful of the post-Martin O’Neill era. After years of penny pinching Randy Lerner has realised that a starved Villa team is most certainly not a saleable asset, and that the manager may well benefit if he has at least the wage bill freed up.

In short, we’re back on an even keel. As with every situation in reality, we’re the victims of our own circumstances, but we’ve got the chance to move forwards. Maybe, just maybe, the manager can prove some of his critics wrong if he’s supported correctly, and give both himself and the club a chance to move upwards after years of struggle.

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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 73

  1. Tony H

    Good write up Matt.

    I’d be with you in that I don’t think Lambert is utterly useless and the whole foul jamboree we’ve witnessed over the past two seasons is his fault.

    When I saw how dismal we were in the last few games of the season and how he failed to make notable impact – I had the strongest doubts about him. Although the excuses are valid, injuries and a thin squad, there was very little to mark him out as a top quality manager, tactician, leader or – I assume – motivator.

    Some of the lads here have become very boring in their vitriol and I suppose people like me can be very boring with the ‘maybe we’re not too bad’ arguments but I have to say I’m a good bit more positive today than I was in May.

    I read this morning that Tom Cox has been poached as our new CEO. He’s the former commercial director at Arsenal and he knows the business side of football. It’ll be a while I imagine before we see a major difference if he’s successful and puts money spinning deals together for the villa.

    We have a decent looking back four, the options to play a three, Sanchez and Okore to make their mark, Benteke and Kozac to return, a promising Irish playmaker being introduced and a couple of very, very cheap players (Richardson and Cissoko) looking like they might do a job.

    Please boys, get something at home on Saturday and begin to take that home form monkey off your backs. I remember the second game of last season. After playing brilliantly against Arsenal we went and were robbed by Chelsea. The ref fecked us and Mourino crowed and patronised Lambert (only to whine like a b in heat when we beat them at Stamford Bridge).

    A win or draw with good performance this Saturday will really see me singing and looking up the table a few places.

  2. The Droyd

    Excellent article again Matt.

    We aren’t going to be world beaters or even top 6 this season. All we can expect is an improvement on where we finished last season. So aiming for the top ten is not unreasonable. There are, after all 10-13 poor teams in the Premiership these days.

    Our new signings look solid. It was massive getting that win at Stoke because we have some very tough fixtures coming up. It is good that we have tough fixtures early on as I would rather us be playing these teams when our confidence is fine and when these top teams are not quite into their stride.

    This makes the Newcastle game on Saturday an important one also. Lambert needs to banish these home form blues. We were beyond abject at Villa Park last season. The reason being, the players were not good enough and highly inexperienced. Lambert has addressed both issues by restoring the bomb squad and his with his new signings. This Newcastle fixture is very winnable but they had a significantly better season than us last season so our expectation levels shouldn’t be too high.

    Home form is key as ever but even more so this season. Lambert has to banish the demons of the past two seasons before the fans will take to him again. I’ve always had faith that he is the right man for the job but I am in the vast minority.

  3. Graham O'Gara

    I welcomed Lambert as a replacement to McClown.

    I have to imagine Lambert knew exactly what he was walking in to and clearly thought it would work… to the point he claimed ownership of the decisions made.

    Lambert was never my no.1 choice for Villa in fact he’d have found it hard to get in the top 5… My preference, much to the disgust of many a Villan, was Glen Hoddle… and still would be! That ship has sailed unfortunately. Do I think Lambert is a bad manager tho? No. Has he made bad decisions? Yes. Has he frustrated the fans? Yes. What he has done is exactly what he was employed to do, keep Villa in the Premier League, which was all the RL wanted to enable him to sell the club… it would seem tho Randy has realised you need to be competitive… and even then its not easy. Look at Everton… although we do have a lot of advantages over them on the field, stadium, infrastructure, commercial revenues, fan base… but the team equally as important.

    Keane is a factor but mainly in the respect he commands, the experience he brings and the standards he demands.

    I would have liked to see Lambert purchase fewer and spend bigger, but understand he had to fill up a small squad… but he has had a lot of misses with his transfers… however I still think some could come good. Lowton, Bacuna, Benteke, Okore, Westwood, Guzan, Vlaar….

    Mr Fox looks to be at least a step closer to what the Villa fans where hoping for, yes he’s been involved with football, has experience in other sports, but will he translate those skills at Arsenal to Villa in a new role of CEO? I hope so.

    The new appointment has fueled a few rumours Uzmanov could be looking to jump ship, sell his shares and invest else where after becoming frustrating at playing second fiddle at Arsenal.
    It’s a rumour that been around for a while, and it might just be a rehash of the same “please let this be true” hope story.

  5. Jimmy Hogan

    Surely Lambert is the yin to Keane’s yang. Aside from that, no-one seems to mention that Mr Faulkner’s departure seems to have had more to do with the reintegration of the bomb squad. There seems to be a myopia on the part of Villa fans that Lerner gave the orders, Faulkner simply put them in place, without altering them.

    I am sure that the ‘bomb squad’ strategy was Faulkner’s. Isolate them which will lead to transfer requests or a voluntary reduction in wages or loan deals.

    Under these circumstances, it entirely understandable that Hutton etc should feel no rancour towards Lambert. If I was Lambert I would have been saying to them ‘ if it was up to me… but you know what I have to work with’ and make an indication in an upward manner using eyes or thumb.

    It could also be possible that the bullying of Culverhouse and wassisname was as a direct consequence of this. Frustration and feeling helpless can bring the worst out of anyone.

    Back to renaissance. I’ve always had a soft spot for Scottish managers who appear to be hard as nuts, which Lambert appears to be. However I always thought Lambert to be a smart cookie given some of the decisions he has made over his career, not just as a manager but as a player too. Lambert was good, went bad and now comes good. He’s always been good but has had to box clever in the first two years of his stint. Does this mean he will now develop us into a Champions League contending club?

    I did say good, that would need greatness.

  6. John Lerwill

    Yes, an excellent view of Lambert, Matt.

    I think there are some who would say that while what you have written must mainly be true, there is some consternation that Lambert has gone along with the owner’s financial plans and methods … and, despite what you say about Benteke Matt, he is about the only true successful signing by Lambert apart from Vlaar and (maybe) Okore before 2014. The fuil-back signings, for example have been eye-openingly poor until now, with lack of strength in midfield – until now.

    There is some issue about Lambert that has not been at all good, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Yes, I know no one is perfect.

    what confounds me more is that the idea now is that Roy Keane must – obviously – be behind any successful deals now, and that his arrival is somehow the yin to Lambert’s yang…

    So, when you stated the above I found the one issue in your article I would at least partly be in contention with.

    Suddenly, we seem to have defenders that can defend, and a stronger midfield. Is that not because of Keane’s influence?

    Anyway, it’s all early days yet. Last season we opened with a win at Arsenal, and then look what happened! But I will say I am more optimistic about this season.

  7. The Droyd

    “Suddenly, we seem to have defenders that can defend, and a stronger midfield. Is that not because of Keane’s influence?”

    I doubt it. This is more likely because of a change in transfer policy facilitated by the owner.

    We have strengthened by adding experienced players in all positions. Especially if you include the bomb squad.

  9. Villalore

    A big flaw of Lambert’s teams is that they can never retain possession. Last year it looked like all our players wanted to do was get rid of the football like its a time-bomb. This does show a limitation in his approach, a lack of a plan B and my biggest criticism of him as a manager. But the amount of abuse he encounters, he could easily walk away which he hasn’t. He may not be one for the future but I appreciate we at least have him today and not Felix Magath.

  10. The Droyd

    I know we won against Stoke but I’d like a different approach at Villa Park. No need for counter attacking football at home to Newcastle. I’d like us to attack with something like this:

    Guzan

    Hutton
    Senderos
    Vlaar
    Cissokho

    Sanchez
    Delph
    Westwood

    Cole

    Agbonlahor
    Weimann

    Admittedly this is a narrow system with no wingers but there is scope on our bench to adapt if it doesn’t work. Plus Weimann and Agbonlahor would work hard in the channels, making runs out wide. Cole has to play in the free role behind the strikers if selected. N’Zogbia could perform this role too.

    If it doesn’t work and Newcastle cope with it then N’Zogbia and Bent can come on for Cole and one of the strikers with the remaining striker going wide on one side with N’Zogbia on the other. Richardson is also in good form and can play out wide or as an attacking left back if we are chasing the game.

    We have options and it is encouraging to see. I don’t think Cole will be anything other than on the bench but Villa Park is where he will be most useful, not in our counter attacking away team.

  11. Roderick Seel (Sam)

    Interesting read Matt,

    Far be it for me to throw the grenade in the bucket, but…it was only Stoke!

    I was ok when Lambert was appointed; I even held my nerve after the Chelsea debacle over Xmas, after all anything was better than the smallheath fool.

    My resolve however has been beaten after last season’s shenanigans and PL’s failure to have a clue what was going on, on and off the pitch. Most games he seemed to always be reacting to problems of his own creating. How many times did we go like for like even though we were chasing the game? No plan B was one comment heard time and time again from the terraces.

    Now I appreciate that injuries played a significant part in last season, but isn’t that what a squad is for? Man management is all part of being a manager, there seemed to be significantly little of that going on.

    Why were players bought in using up transfer funds only to be given no chance to play, considering the state of performances do you not think that was an oversight?

    I still think Bent is only in the squad because someone has told PL to put him there, there seems little chance of a start, how bad do the forwards have to be for it to happen?

    Going back to my opening comment, it was only Stoke and for all the fist pumping and euphoria, when we have got through a tough September/October then I may change my stance.

    But for now, for me, I will keep the bunting in the box!

  12. Heroes-and-Villans

    I shall start feeling a bit more postivie if we get at least 4 points from the next 2 home games.

    Sadly after the fiasco of Culverhouse and his mate bullying people i want Lambert out. That was the final straw.

    If we want to keep the ball more we need a creative midfielder and a winger. If those 2 come in it might be enjoyable watching us again!

  13. Frem

    Droyd- you’d still play those two useless donkeys up front ? Surely Bent and Grealish would be better options

    We shouldn’t set up to counter at home, but Lambert will

    I still Lambert is awful.you do t have a season like last season unless your manager is dire. Stoke was a win yes, but it was the same old tithing. Defensive, very little created and passing non existent. That has to change, especially at home

    Saturday will be a big indication to weather or not he’s changing. We should be passing the ball, having over 50% of the ball and controlling the game. Not the other away around on our own patch. If it’s the same old, then there is no hope and we must hope new owners and manager are in very soon

  14. Frem

    Andrew- indeed. The next two games will show a lot. If we lose both, or pick up just a point then it’s back to square one. We need 4 points at least with our run after that.i hope we win, and see vast improvement in how we play. 10th place should be our target.

  17. The Droyd

    Frem – Weimann and Agbonlahor are anything but donkeys!

    Their movement and work rate is excellent and a big reason for us being a decent away team. They do have their downsides – neither are that skilful and their goal scoring record is a tad disappointing. Much of the poor goal scoring can be attributed to playing out wide but they should still be getting more goals than they have.

    I don’t mind Bent playing but his work rate is garbage. I haven’t seen enough of Grealish to make a proper judgement yet other than he looks about 13 years old.

  18. proxopera

    Matt,
    The abuse of paul Lambert on here was monotonous but I think ur article lets him off lightly. I suggested last week that droyd was approaching the disingenuous by his appraisal of lambert and I think you may also have selective memory. Forget all the excuses , look at the football, look at the absence of coherent strategy as evidenced by lineups and substitutions, look at the ridiculously irrelevant after match comments , look at the farcical bullying activities of his trusted staff. I personally have formed my opinion of lambert from his actions over two years and its not ad hominem. Does the apparent change in villas fortunes have anything to do with keane?…when you rule out the improbable ur left with the likely.

  19. Frankfurt Villan

    Fully agree Matt. I believe a new sense of realistic optimism is blowing through VP. There will be disappointments along the way for sure, but the strengthening of the team together with the news about Tim Fox is very encouraging.

    Newcastle looked impressive on Sunday, so it will be a tough test on Saturday, but one which we are fully competent to deal with. For the first time in months I am looking forward to the game!

  20. The Droyd

    Prox – Change of fortunes? We’ve had one game!!!!! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

    Whilst Keane is an excellent appointment, it is nothing short of silly to attribute his influence to everything positive that happens to Villa this season. Just as silly as it would be to attribute everything negative that happens towards Lambert.

  21. The Droyd

    Have to feel sorry for Robert Snodgrass. I have dislocated both of my kneecaps, destroying the medial ligaments in the process. It’s nasty and tough to come back from.

    Still, at least it’s happening to a rival club instead of the Villa for a change.

  22. Gareth Stevens

    The Renaissance Of Paul Lambert & Aston Villa? We hope and pray!

    The thing that bugs me the most about Lambert is his tactical awareness (or lack thereof)… I just can’t get over it!

    We’ve seen the most ridiculous substitutions and tactical changes… If the game is crying out for some width, he’ll play narrow. If crosses are clearly the most effective method of attack, he’ll take off the wingers and ask the players to bomb the ball into the box. We’re chasing the game and the only spark in attack, (Nzogbia at the time) is replaced.

    Relying on width from your fullbacks really exposes your centre backs if there is no-one to help out (a DM). The Sanchez signing suggests that it’s taken him two years to figure this out?

    As much as I hate long ball, it can be fairly effective with someone like Benteke up front, but he’d use it if we had Messi up front.

    Somehow though, and I say this with a straight face, I still have a soft spot for him and want him to do well…

  23. DarrenO

    What a difference a game makes to the (my) mood, in terms of the current situation, the imminent appointment of Mr.Cox is the most significant as clearly Lerner has returned to the Villa fold and is looking to progress Villa off the pitch. Mr.Cox’s CV is a litany of success at commercial level and his time at Arsenal which is most relevant to us has saw him accumulate a number of sponsorships deals we can only dream of (not sure about Uncle Stabby’s crisps). I don’t believe his appointment would have been made without long term gaurantees and given potential new owners appetites to have ‘their own men’, it’s clear Lerner is sticking around.

    And while he is sticking around, he’s began to fund squad improvements as well, I was very dubious with regard to the free transfers coming in as they are free for a reason in terms of their previous clubs, but I was probably ignoring the finer detail around experience being brought to the squad, The kids have struggled and too much pressure was placed on their shoulders, they may have a chance to develop gradually as bit part players now and this could be more beneficial to them.

    There can’t be a denial that a lot of the blame for performance around tactics and substitutions has to be left at Lambert’s door so i’m not quite sure about the re-defining of history in the article that suggests Lambert was never as bad as perceived. He was pretty bad (but granted his hands were tied such that most managers wouldn’t have succeeded).

    The ‘Keane Effect’ regardless of whether it’s buying players or not, who watching the game didn’t cheer when Keane was giving dogs to the 4 officials or reminding players of their responsibilities. The effect as I see has been to galvanise a fighting to the last ethic, win, lose or draw.

    It would be great to follow up the Stoke game by avoiding defeat at Newcastle, my concern with the team lies in the final third in terms of scoring and not even in terms of build up play. We now have competition in most positions and that can only drive performance as opposed to being a gauranteed starter.

    UTV

  24. Frem

    Droyd- They scored 10 goals between them last season. That’s shocking for so called Premier league strikers. Martin Skirtel scored more gaols that Gabby did. Wiemann equalled is tally for his away gaols last season against Stoke.

    Gabby doesn’t move. He never anticipates anything, only ever recasts when the ball is past him and by then it’s to late. He’s all but useless and his pace isn’t a threat anymore, teams deal with him no problem now. You saw his miss against Stoke. A striker with any dignity would have had his head in his hands and angry, he didn’t give a shit. Wiemann is wasted on the wing, he doesn’t have the pace to be a winger, or the ability on the ball. He’s a poacher, and a decent one so it’s time Lambert plays him there and drops Gabby

    I think Keane will make all the difference. If it was still Lambert and his bullies we would be as dire as ever. All are clueless. At least with Keane we have a winner and someone who will push the players unlike we had last season when knowone at the club gave a shit apart from the fans

  25. Frem

    Droyd- could be a blessing in disguise for us that injury. Hull with European football and now a good player injured, they should be finishing bellow us

    He is a good winger. They type we need

  26. Heroes-and-Villans

    Im not putting any pressures on Grealish to do anything. Learnt that lesson from getting too excited about, bannan, delfounso, gardner….they have done nothing!

    We just have to go game by game and fight for everything. We are in a relegation battle.

    The main computer that predicts everything has got us to go down!

    Bloody machines.

  27. proxopera

    Prox – Change of fortunes? We’ve had one game!!!!! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves…..

    Droyd
    Hence the term ‘apparent change”.

    ”Whilst Keane is an excellent appointment, it is nothing short of silly to attribute his influence to everything positive that happens to Villa this season. Just as silly as it would be to attribute everything negative that happens towards Lambert.”

    Ah yes , playing to the gallery and exaggerated rhetoric…. that political tweeting is serving you well.

  28. B6toBrasil

    Morning Lifers

    Interesting point of view Matt.No,not yet,too early to judge.There is far too much bullshine after one game,not Villa,just football in general.Every 2 bob journalist and berk on the radio TV,Mr Bland Shearer etc,all jump on bandwagons quicker than S75 took my £20.Oh Man u. need at least 16 new buys to come in the top 8,,Palace are already down because Pullis left.So and so is a flop,so and so is the best signing ever,I mean ever ,in the history of the world.
    Matt,present company not included in that,and I do grasp your overall points.We do have,,possibly,the makings of a mid table defence.No longer so physically and mentally weak,indecisive,clumsy,incompetent and bereft of any confidence.Some of the signings have pleased me,especially Cole.I realise I am in the minority saying this,but to see him in a Villa shirt will be great,not the player of yesteryear,but he has bags of ability.
    Keane?Who knows what his input is ,but if it works and we improve,then I don`t care what he does at BMH,Maybe he just makes the tea and collects the towels after the players have left,I couldn`t care less.
    Lambert was a miracle worker in the 1st season,keeping up ,a truly awful squad,which,at times contained Herd,Holman,and a cast of many misfits.Last year was appalling and I lost all my faith in him,when we loaned Holt,and the overall play,from a younger manager was dreadful.
    It`s hard ,nay impossible to be reasoned in relation to Lambert for some.No matter waht he does,he will receive liitle or no credit.For some he is slagged because he is not BFR,others just detest him.I like the way he never makes excuses and never shifted or shifts the blame to the players,unlike McShambles.I am not backtracking-check the archive-I`ve said this before.I also said,I would judge him on season 3,but changed my mind after Holt and the 2nd part of last season.Lambert is not a media man`s dream ,no smart quips and he doesn`t need to be loved like Arry,he doesn`t need to be mates with the journalists.He is dull,and uninspiring,certainly not the poster boy for the modern,me,me,me society we live in.He can be as dull as he wants as long as we start to win games.
    I still believe he is not the man to take us forward.That said I hope we have a better season.
    Our home form only needs to be average to avhieve this.However,as we all know,ifs,buts and maybes win you nothing.A team must go out and do it.
    I am relaxed about this season as we will be sold soonish.No evidence for this,just a hunch.I am optimistic for the future,long term,and for this season (cautiously) 0 I don`t think Lerner and Lambo are the bees knees either,but they are all we have at the moment ,so lets hope we get the home form straightened out and we can hail mid table obscurity,which after the last 4 years,seems like the Holy Grail.If we lose at the weekend,I`m sure I will be hit with a barrage if I told you so-but I will wait for 8 fixtures to take a look at how the season might develop.COYVB.COYVB.COYVB.

    GOG,I have sung the praises of Hoddle on here before,but I was unsuprisingly slaughtered for it.Like Cole ,I think there is prejudice regarding where he comes from.Hoddles from Harlow in Essex,Cole fro Camden in London town.Hoddle IMO would be a great addition as eother an Academy Director,or a DOF type role.I`m sure if they were born in Erdington,they would be hailed to the high heavens.
    I await the stick with baited breath,and I`m off to my bunker to hide.COYVB.

  30. runtings

    Hi Matt and all

    Nice to see a few recent posts from steamer as it was becoming a bit of a PL love in on here recently

    Can we improve on last season with Lambert — yes imo – not because i think he is the right guy for villa but more because we have been so so bad that any part of the sqaud barr tekkers and vlarr could be improved

    Credit to however is responsible for bring in 3 players at the back which now means we may sometimes be outclassed but not bullied like the last two years

    Overall i don’t rate PL as a villa manager even though he has had one hand tied behind his back since joining

    The key thing that will make a manager a major benifit for this club is always going to be style of play and phylosophy

    I find it increadable that English teams in gerneral (not all of course) still don’t realise we are in the dark ages by not insisting on playing football on the ground and developing a style of play that will continue regardless of who the manager is.

    On a positive note i do think we will do better that last season and can see that all the new players have made us stronger

    UTV

  31. steamer

    Answer to question one – yes.

    After two seasons of the worst football and worst results EVER at VP the HC’s are chirping that the the Jock fakir has turned the corner, what a load of old knackers, if it looks like a turd, smells like a turd and feels like a turd then theirs a strong possibility that it belongs down the bog.
    Sanchez has played for those hugely successful clubs Valenciennes and Elche so it must be a miracle that we got him for £3m and kept him away from Bayern, Real and PSG, well done Villa.

    Gabby’s finished, he was average at best but his fitness levels are now on a par with his ability, nil.
    Still according to the fakir, he was outstanding against Stork.
    Anyone can see who’s running the show and it ain’t Lambert.
    Just to show i don’t hold a grudge, i thought Mutton was top man on Sat, followed by Sendeross, credit where its due. Stork were sheer crepe.

  33. B6toBrasil

    Welcome back Steamer

    Credit where credits due?Bloomin ell wonders will never cease.One game ,a win yes,I know,,,but I enjoy Villa winning games ,I won`t apologise for that.I am not a Lambert/Keane/Lerner fan,but a Villa fan.As long as win win,well I don`t care who is in charge,or how we play.Good footy is the cherry on top,beggars can`t be choosers.When we are sold and buying a beeter class of player,then I will be on a crusade for pretty,pretty football.Until then uninspiring wins at Stoke will be fine by me.
    Agree about Gabby,he was never a class player to start with,but to witness his decline isn`t an enjoyable experience.he,along with Clark,Baker, and Weimann could all excell in the division below ,in my humble.Anyway good to see you back on board Steamer.
    COYVB

  35. B6toBrasil

    Joe Benett to Brighton,a season loan,I read somewhere.
    So can someone fill me in with who has left since ,end of last season.
    Fonz,Albrighton,Carruthers,Bowery-all left.
    Hilarious,Looney Sylia all on loans.Have I missed any?

  36. steamer

    Hello B6, hope everything is OK in Brasil. Taling of Gabby, what a ridiculous booking on Sat, just typical of our CAPTAIN, get Bent in. Westwoods was another bad one, he does it too often to be accidental.

  38. Frem

    Thank fuck Bennett has. Can’t believe we spent 3 mill on him

    Hopefully KEa Gabby herd and Baker will follow out the door this month

    You would think by now Lambert can see Gabby is useless but he will start on Saturday, as well as play another striker on the wing

    Grealish and Zoggy should be on the wings. Cole in the number 10 role if he’s fit and Bent up, or Wiemann

    We all know that won’t happen though. Grealish will benched, 5 in midfield and Gabby up top.

  39. Heroes-and-Villans

    Does anyone think Gabby is a villa ledgend?

    Cole has to start if fit…..only with someone like him in the team will the other players think twice about hoofing it and we might see some ‘football’.

    I am excited because we are in a major relegation battle and we have 3 precious points. One game at a time….

  41. Frem

    No Gabby is not a Villa legend

    We still have Stevens and Richardson to play LB, and Clark if needed. If we get Riise it must be a sick joke from Lambert

    Teams like Swansea and QPR are doing some good business. We’ve done alright so far, but desperately need that quality winger and Benteke back to stand a chance of getting 10th

  43. Mark King

    steamer

    hello mate, heres a saying for you “careful what you wish for, you just might get it”
    serves me right, welcome back 😉

    It is really hard to judge Lambert, not because his team selection, tactics or subs are anything but top notch but because nobody really knows the extent of the cuts he was asked to make and did.
    Buying young and hungry ( would of been a good slogan for the YMCA) was filling the squad with hopefuls that cost little in fee or wages. these players filled the squad in anticipation of a mass exodus that never happened . his first season buys on the whole where ok, of the second only Bacuna and Kosak saw much action of worth. so In a footballing sense the Bomb squad made no sense? devaluing an asset whilst appearing to refuse to use it makes no sense either, and being in dire need of their talents to boot really Bizarre. Going into 2014 the team was mid table and had pretty much stayed there since the start. we lost two strikers and were suffering a rash of injuries when we lost all form and really but for hull and some good results elsewhere should of dropped. so with all that going on its hard to judge whether this is how he operates or was told to?

    now if Lambert had bought a mix of players last season, some experience in the 26-29 year old range it could have been different and at least less uncomfortable, the injuries you can’t factor in but what we don’t know is why he didn’t buy older players when it was obvious we needed them. again I think this was down to wages. I always said this season would be the teller but I didn’t think it would be like this (the sale) . we beat stoke fair and square with a solid defensive display that gives me hope we have something to build on and I think we will be ok if unspectacular but one attacking mid, sanchez comes good and benteke back to form and who knows things might look a whole lot better or not.

    the question is given free rein what would Lambert have done or achieved? I don’t think its the squad we see today. but I also don’t think he’s the saviour.
    Martinez saved Wigan from the drop many times but injuries did for him even though many saw them as a better footballing side than us, the football has been dire but with all taken into consideration its a miracle we are here.

    Maybe Lambert and Keane are the new Clough and taylor steamer? 🙂

  44. Frem

    The next two games will show if we are changed side or not. We are playing 2 sides we should be beating really. It’s about time we win 2 home games in a row. The other thing that needs to change is how we play. No more anti football shit

    I expect Westwood to play a more advanced role. Will be interesting to see how he copes playing a box to box role instead of sitting because I expect Sanchez to play there. Westy certainly has the vision and technique to be a decent box to box player.

  45. Mark King

    andrew

    If you get the chance watch the villa v stoke u21 highlights grealish is the best villa player I’ve seen with the ball at his feet since Little. I will be amazed if he doesn’t make it, he’s in another class to the others you mentioned. Gardner was good before his ops but Grealish is shaping up to be something special. got skill athleticism and the brain to go with it.

  46. Andrew P

    Mark, Clough was a genius but twice he found himself in the wrong club at the wrong time. Similar with David Moyes at Man U last season – he couldn’t make an impact but he’s still a good manager. Some jobs will be virtually impossible because you’re trying to replace someone who was irreplaceable or because there are massive financial constraints.

    Like Clough at Leeds, Moyes at Man U, and Alex McLeish at the dirties, at Villa, at Forest and at Huddersfield, sometimes you get brought down by factors outside your control, but it doesn’t necessarily make you a bad manager.

    I’m ambivalent about Paul Lambert. I was delighted when he joined us, because I felt he would stabilise and improve us. 2 years on I’m still waiting. I’d forgive the first season, but expected much better last season and our football was abject most of the time, just really, really poor.

    Injuries were a factor, but were we that unlucky with injuries? You’ll always pick up injuries during a season – particularly if the players have got to train with Ciaran Clark – but were we any more unlucky than 6 or 8 other teams in the Premier League?

    By the end of last season, on the pitch at least, we had made no progress under Lambert whatsoever, and watching Holt and Bowery as a front 2 was soul destroying, A win at Stoke was a nice start but like B6 says, we need to withhold judgement until after 7 or 8 games, and try to avoid the knee jerk responses to every result, good or bad.

    It’ll be interesting, I hope.

  47. Andrew P

    Frem, I think you’re right about Westwood. He was a square peg in a round hole last season. I hope that now we’ll see just how good he can be.

  48. Mark King

    frem

    I agree the home form and the way we approach it has to change, I can understand against city etc as we can pick up unexpected points but hull, newcastle etc we need to take it to them. I’m not convinced he’ll blood Sanchez, depends on his fitness after the world cup and the fact we won at stoke isn’t in his favor

  49. Mark King

    andrew P

    our injury list last season was massive some horrendous long term too, just think

    OKore, nzogbia, gardner out all season

    Benteke injured most of season then out with achilles

    kosak played third of a season

    vlaar made 27 appearences

    luna got injured 3-4 games in and never recovered

    bennett out most of season bad back (thank god)

    bacuna 26 apps

    clarke back end of the season

    baker concussion twice!

    Gabby flying at the start then injured never recovered
    even westwood, KEA, weimann had time out.

    thats a lot for a weak squad.

    I’d give it 10 considering our fixtures 🙂

  50. B6toBrasil

    Frem

    As I`ve said to you since the blog began,good football ,would be marvellous,but I`ll take mediocre or bad displays and the points,rather than high praise as we lose 4-3 thrillers.Good footy AND wins lovely jubbly……….but not yet..Hang on in there for the sale,when I hope we can afford a better class of player.
    That said we can or might be mid table and play better stuff,especially at home,with some class like Grealish,Cole and Zog in the side.Oh forgot to mention your fave KEA as well.Home form is the key to a mid table slot.

  51. Andrew P

    Mark, losing the only striker at the club who can hit a cow’s arse with a banjo and then losing his replacement was a bit unlucky, but the rest was just par for the course. Most other clubs could offer the same excuse.

  52. steamer

    Hello Mark, how are you ? let S75 know when your CD is available, you may get your £20 off him.
    Regarding Lambert, he hasn’t shown ANYTHING positive since he’s been at VP except the ability to lie through his teeth to the fans, condone the bullying at BH, sign a bucketful of crepe, select that same crepe and adding to the fans woe, playing a style ( ?? ) that went missing with Vinnie Jones, ignore some valuable players that could have made a big difference, also the academy, ignore any positive tactics, produce the worst home results since 1874, crawl up Lerners jeer and in general be a first rate knob.
    Now, even his mother must have doubts about her talent free son, so why would Villans want to cheer the tw@ ? and that mate is why iv’e virtually lost all interest in AVFC.

  53. Mark King

    Andrew P

    OK look at the previous season, our injury list was negligible and we were eventually able to string some results together as the team blended together. Vlaar was out for 11 games nearly a third of season, okore all season, and I forgot herd, with clarke and baker as back up! even lowton played there. delph out for 8, its not an excuse but a fact. our squad was inexperienced and we lost our better players ( we haven’t got many) for long periods. that’s forgetting the loss in form of Lowton and weimann.

    if that can’t convince you I give up, have a look at these injury lists man utds is a doozy

    http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php

  54. Mark King

    steamer

    I’m good mate thanks, how are you? you seem more chilled out 😉 Its hard watching I know when you’ve seen the glory days and remember a world with a lot less bull. I hope you watched them sat things turn around eventually they always do. I think we will push on to turd on the crapometer this season much improved 🙂

    the Album has gone off for the last touches and should be ready soon, it is strangely getting more expensive as we speak

  55. Frem

    Andrew- I like Westy as a player when he gets the ball, but as a DM he’s useless.

    Mark- I’m not sure Lambert will change out home tactics. As you say, when we play City, Chelsea etc the counter is ok, but at home against Newcastle, we should be controlling the game

    Brasil- 3rd season for Lambert now. Surely we can expect better football and better results by now if he has any managerial ability what so ever ?

    We park the bus and still lose games. If you play football like that, at least make sure you don’t lose. Atletico madrid for example. I hope the new Owners are close. Micky Arrison names being mentioned again now we are getting Fox as new CEO. Surely he wouldn’t leave Arsenal for us to stay with Randy. Apparently he was on 500 k at arsenal. PF was on 250 k.

  56. Mark King

    fox apparently left the gunners because he didn’t like the style of play, said he wanted to watch a team with proper men. he was seen to be visibly upset when he realised grant holt isn’t a villa player this season

  57. Andrew P

    Mark, losing Herd, Baker and Clark to injuries isn’t really a crisis, more a blessing disguise. Presumably Okore was signed to play along side Vlaar and his injury was a bit unfortunate, but if you look at any Premier League team in any season they could offer the same excuses.

    I think that someone posted a link to a table of injuries suffered towards the end of last season and from memory we were around mid-table.

    We felt the loss of Okore far more because Lambert failed to address it. Even in January when it was obvious we were desperate for a centre half he signed Grant Holt on loan instead.

  59. Heroes-and-Villans

    Im not expecting great football, thats unrealistic in our situation. We are in a battle for survival, id take a point against toon. Always seem to do us. Then must beat hull.

    Mark

    I hope your right about grealish.

  60. Mark King

    andrew p

    our squad was paper thin we struggled to find eleven footballers, in a team with maybe 5 decent players it doesn’t take much. I think in jan we were mid table I don’t think he saw the train coming. he probably thought we’d push on as last season and then we lost tekkers and I think vlaar was out briefly. we should of sacked him for holt in retrospect

  65. Graham O'Gara

    swv its an interesting article, and overall I agree that Villa are a rudderless boat in a perfect storm, but some of the points of fact seem to be way off…

    “Thankfully Lerner, whose intentions have always been admirable and who has spent a lot of money, is acting.”

    Also there seems to be an assumption that Villa haven’t offered contracts to some of the players mentioned… perhaps they have and it is the player not signing them…

  66. southwestvillan

    Graham,

    If the players in question are not signing these contract offers then we should be selling them on for proper money while we still can, the likes of Vlaar and Delph will be worthless come the next transfer window when they have six months left on their current deals, perhaps Fox can sort it out when he gets here.

    UTV

  67. Matt Turvey

    SWV,

    Sell them? For what? We’d only get a pittance and, for me at least, they are worth more in the team this year regardless of signing or not than any fiddly amount of cash is going to help us.

  68. The Droyd

    Matt – Agreed there is no value in selling them unless we get silly money. It is of course possible that we could get silly money. Clubs get more desperate towards the end of the transfer window and big fees have been paid for players with just one year of their contracts left.

    For example we got around £15 for Ashley Young and paid around £10 million for Charles N’Zogbia.

    Offers above the £8 million might interest us in the cases of Vlaar and Delph. Lambert will have possible replacements lined up, in case of such offers.

  70. Gareth Stevens

    I agree with Matt…

    We can’t afford to lose those two this season. I’d risk losing them for free if it meant another year of survival (sounds awful).

    Avoid relegation this season and this time next year we’ll most likely have that new owner.

  72. Frem

    Well Fox is our new CEO. Hopefully can pull some puma deals for 170 mill

    He says it’s great to work with Lambert and Randy. Lol. Lie. Something must be going on. You wouldn’t work with those two useless twats

    We shouldn’t sell Vlaar. Not at this stage of the window

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