It’s becoming a truly predictable pattern isn’t it? Six defeats on the trot, hardly any goals and shots on goal all season and lack of confidence sets in; the hoof ball starts and the absent Christian Benteke is looked upon as the saviour to get Villa out of the mire.
But wait, against Burnley Joe Cole made a magical debut for Villa in the Prem and looked as though he might put some icing on the cake. We looked forward to the CP match, drooling at the thought of Cole and Benteke as a twin force and able to stop the goal drought. Well pipe dreams are what they are; they disappear with a puff, and in Tuesday’s match Cole revealed that, after all, he does have an on-going injury that probably does explain why he hadn’t made a league start before this season.
So we’re back to the same situation as in the previous three seasons: no quality creativity in midfield (Delph’s absence as well doesn’t help) and a desperate lack of entertainment expectation unless ‘the Beast’ gets into full stride. With Weimann’s enforced absence from the upcoming Leicester match we cannot expect his replacement to be Cole (injury) nor any sight of Villa’s wunderkid, Jack Grealish, in the starting line-up. Paul Lambert’s focus (and ours too, I suspect) will be on getting maximum points out of the Leicester match by any means at the team’s disposal. A win here and also against Albion might see the incongruousness of Villa being in the top-8 with 9 goals scored in 16 matches. It’s mind-boggling!
But we could go on about the negatives ad nauseum. In fact there is a plus-side to Villa’s squad that has not been apparent for the last three seasons: it seems that we have a defence that has mostly shown up well when Hutton has been available and another incongruous revelation that we appear to have about four decent permutations of CBs. The worry is that there’s no backup of quality for the full-backs, unless Clark or Baker (when fit) is played there.
Unfortunately, any positives yet again become depleted with the thought that come January we might have lost Vlaar, Delph and Benteke, probably Villa’s best three outfielders. If not in January, we may well lose them at the end of the season.
A new owner and a new manager is becoming a desperate requirement to stop any further rot. To put it in a nutshell, a new owner (or a revitalised current owner) is needed by this May in my view. But it so happens that this May will also see another General Election and it is a possibility that any potential new overseas owner may want to see the result of that before committing his finances in the UK. And Villa also need to be ship-shape by then.
Anyway, there is the mind-boggling thought that we could finish 8th in the league this season having scored 25 goals and showing a goal deficit of 20. That would be another Lambert-like record!
UTV
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The Author
John Lerwill
I'm a Villan of more than 60 years standing and an occasional writer on Villa history. For me there is only one football club worth supporting, but I am now wondering whether I will again see anything like the pageant that was paraded under Ron Saunders or even that by Big Ron and Brian Little. My glass, however, is always half-full! Click here for my Villa website.Comments 106
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JL
I think you have it spot on, as you did in your final comments in the previous article about how Lambert is working these days. He is also damned if does what fans want and damned if he doesn’t. Originally, he had his young and hungry, with some pace and excitement, and then we had the collapse, now we have the old and wise to collect points by whatever means. I don’t like his tactics or his set up, but perhaps with the funds available, it is all we can do. On the other hand, I look at Cresswell now playing for the Hammers and Cissoko for Newcastle, both originally on Vill’a radar like Charlie Austin, and could have been bought for reasonable money, but not sure on wage demands, but the board did not back Lambert to do the deals, maybe not his fault.Whatever or whoever is responsible, we are where we are, but I do have a feeling now that if we can continue to climb the table, as our young players return from their loan spells, there is the possibility that they will be introduced gradually and their development will come, as you have already pointed out John.
If we make it through this season, we could have an excellent crop of young, and by then, experienced players, ready to perform for the 14/15 season. The problem then becomes, is Lambert the manager to do it. Wins against Leicester and WBA will make a huge difference to our position, and the team’s confidence when we come to face United, and we may actually give them a game for once. Can Lambert sustain the momentum and win 3 games on the trot?? Will we all still be moaning then, and the unbeaten run will have been the best for years. So much can change in a matter of weeks….
Hi JL – PP
Some really good points and the Lambert debate rolls on
On PL’s arrival to villa things looked realy exciting but as he put his stamp on the club more and more the cracks started to appear
The fact that he has had to help get the finances under control is a contributing factor however he still has spent more than teams that have finished above him
He has both been outplayed and knocked out of the cups by teams who mostly have spent less on there squads than PL has on his cheapest buy
This along with the shocking football the team plays leads me to believe this guy is not right for us in any shape or form
As far as i am concerned our sqaud is a top 8 one at worst so imo anything less is failure
lambert must be removed at all costs like the good guys go and the sh ite like lambert is still here
i refer to the greatest rock piano player of all time for me anyway in Ian mcLagan died this week will be greatly missed for me in the greatist rock and roll band of all time in the Faces rip ian
and on a brighter note it is Gods birthday today happy birthday big man the greatest player to ever pull on a villa shirt bar none
only player villa will ever have that was voted the best player in the world twice in his position in 2 world cups again happy birthday big man thanks for the memories
he also agrees with us that lambert aint good enough as he states on twitter
bloody hell Jd , only watched a catch up programe on BBC 4 about the small faces , and remember going to see them with Rod at the odeon around 73 , your right mate , great keyboard , bloody sad ,
JL
lm staying safe this december , lm staying drunk with some braindeaders methinks , will be over next week mate ,
lm off now ,
see yo soon Jennykins xxxx
Good write-up, John.
We’ve seen Villa actually play some football, but instead of turning a corner and consolidating, growing and maturing, the team still seems as fragile as it ever was. They’ve looked bad at times, but perhaps never more incoherent than at Palace. Where they somehow managed a win, after looking better against Burnley and coming away with a disappointing draw.
We saw that a player of quality, like Benteke, can make all the difference in the league, but if we didn’t know that before, we certainly did after Suarez’s goal-scoring magic left Anfield. We’ve seen, as I speculated back as a regular contributor, that Gabby and Weimann were very much beneficiaries of Benteke’s presence.
Right now, putting questions of ownership to the side, what Villa need are two players in those roles who are better with the ball at their feet, and able to create. I understand the industry and experience that Lambert sees there, but heart isn’t getting it done. I’ve long advocated the need for a smaller complement to Benteke in the Suarez mold, someone quick and incisive and good on the ball. It’s obvious we also need someone like a healthy Cole who is comfortable on the ball in tight spaces and capable of playing calmly in front of goal.
Overall, I’m usually very slow to make judgments. But the thing I can’t get past is that we just haven’t gotten any better as a team in the last three years. Whatever the approach, restraints, philosophies, we should at least appear more solid and cohesive, less panicked and unable to hold onto the ball.
A lot of this does rest on the players, they’re the ones panicking after all, or attempting foolish passes, running in to cul-de-sacs or not showing for a pass. But one would expect more progress, a more fundamentally workmanlike and competent squad, if nothing else.
steamers 75 think you mean 74 did you see them at the Mayfair in 72 Queen where the support band
went o ever venue in 74 all 54 of them those where the days
Thanks for your comments, fellers …
Paul,
The thing that worries me (as has been recently discussed) is that the players we have should be able to produce a better game than what we’re seeing … except the creative element: we are short there, and maybe it’s that lack which causes it all to go awry. Which brings us onto…….
John C.,
Yes, I particularly share your vision of a couple of players with the nous on how to drive the team forward. The presence of those would bring the individuals together as a team, I’m sure. I was particularly hopeful that Joe Cole would be a significant contribution to that role. I don’t feel that we can rely just on Jack Grealish to do it … yet … although Cleverley (I seem to recall at Man U) should have sufficient nous to help him out.
What I find strange and irritating is that Lambert was a good midfielder himself … if anything we should have expected him to have a team that’s strong in that department.
JD,
Forgot you were a Faces fan, you & Basil if i remember correctly, never liked the artificial Jock myself, Stevie Marriot was the top man in that band, IMO. I suppose that knocks any reunion on the head now, only Kenney Jones and Ronnie Wood left.
Is that THE John Clark ? Hope you’re well mate, did you know your pal McKnob had left ?
Anyone who read Lamberts comments in the Birmingham Mail must realise that he’s got a serious problem with reality. If he really wants to “Do my best for AVFC” then he should –
1 – Beg forgiveness in front of our few remaining fans
2 – Insist on Lerner accepting his resignation.
3 – Bugger off back to that wasteland called Glasgow.
Who are these ‘World best” he played with ? Henrik Larsson, K-H-Riedle ? grade two at best.
steamer though s m was better when he went to humble pie mate the band i think is one of lamberts favs have you sent the big man a card ?
Villa certainly aren’t alone in their struggle. There are plenty of teams across all sorts of leagues and sport that just can’t seem to get it together. I think a team as a whole develops a psychological baggage that pulls talent and results down and it’s hard to shake that personna. Take MU for example. A team that exuded that winning attitude for years and with one falter last year is putting it together this year. A winner’s psychology pervades this team. There have been plenty of good players show up at Villa the last 4 years and only a few were able to step above the level of play we have been seeing. (Hutton finally and Ireland regrettably unable to) A few games have been full of skill, talent and 3 points but how many of you thought “that won’t happen again”? It’s that all is lost mentality that has subconciously gone through the team. A few areas have shown success, the defense has become more reliable and there has been some sunshine in mid field but until the team’s self esteem has improved results are going to be hard to come by. It’s going to be a while and as a Churchill type of figure isn’t going to show up anytime soon to rally the men it’s going to be tough slogging.
I was listening to Jeff Beck yesterday with Rod Stewart which led me to faces for a tune.
Ian,
Very good points you’ve made … I think it really takes an experienced and able player like Joe Cole to help change the mentality, so for me it’s a great pity he’s not likely to be able to do that.
ian “morning Dew” my fav
John–I kinda like that too. 🙂
I was disappointed with Cole’s ongoing problems too. He appears to be an honest type with the team at heart. What is the extent of his injury? Or is it chronic?
Too bad he turned into a lounge singer
I dunno about Cole’s injury, Ian, but the fact that he didn’t last on Tuesday doesn’t make it very hopeful that he’ll be able to put in a sustained contribution.
ian
joe cole been injury prone for going on ten years now it was our muppet of manager that signed him and used another two million of wages budget on some one who wont play along with steer luna bennet sylla helnius tonev his signings bent and gardner as well
Ian,
Was that when RS sang as Python Lee Jackson or whatever ? Had the cassette i think, ok.
If you like Jeff Beck, try and get a copy of Beck, Bogart and Appice, excellent stuff.
No, Cole’s ok, its the rest of ’em that’s chronic.
Hammy i think, longish job, especially his age, we won’t see much of him now.
Yes James, some/most of his signings were of dubious ability yet he refuses to play some of our home grown lads, that’s what the academy is for isn’t it? and theoretically its saves money too, the blokes an eejit.
JD,
After the Telegraph omitted him from their list of the 100 best players to play in the EPL, Brendan Rogers added insult to injury by naming Terry and Adams as the best CD’s.
Being a positive sort of chap I can’t help but think we could be in worse predicaments. Delph, Vlaar, Baker and Sendeross out yet Clarke and Okore filling in admirably. Benteke just returning at the right time and may catch fire with a bit of luck. Sanchez good at what he does. Both fullbacks on current form a big upgrade. Only two wins out of Euro League contention. Keane gone and that’s a plus in my book. Potentially we’ll buy a couple of decent players (midfield) in January and Kojak will return to give us another striking option. If we could win another of couple of matches against bottom half clubs prior to the new year then things may not seem so bleak. I’m an optimist what can I say… UTV
Ronnie: Potentially we’ll buy a couple of decent players (midfield) in January
I really agree with that sentiment, but I distinctly recall that in the two previous January windows we said exactly the same thing! 😉
And bought nothing
JD
the odeon one we could’nt get tickets and when the crowd had gone in we tried to bribe the security , but he wasnt having any of it , so as he walked off , a mate (jimmy foy) had wedged his foot in the door so as soon as he disapeared in we went and thankfully everyone had stood up and moved forward so we just joined the throng , brilliant , try and watch that programe about the small faces , some strange facts , and it would seem they hated lazy sunday afternoon, and why they never made it in the usa , saw some great bands at the Odeon , pity it went , and the Mayfair , l think lv got the programes for them concerts somewhere , while on about venues who remembers wrestling at the Digbeth Civic Hall on tuesday nights , l only ask as l found some of my old programes from there the other day , and yes my mom used to try and belt them with her brolly , mick mcmanus my fav , lol
steamer regards the big man tery and adams not 10 % as good best defender half to ever play in the prem by a mile as i have said best player in his position in 2 world cups how well did adams or tery do at worl cups complete lumps of sh ite perhaps bobby more camr close to the big man but no one else can be mentioned in the same breath bar old franz
stemer 75 in 74 at the odeon we where front row there where no seats after the show we qued up from friday to sunday morning to get best seats Rod gave us a bottel of remy martin whilst singing and we drank the lot those where the days
ronnie johnl ian
january buys last 3seasons
keane on loan for2/3 months
sylla from french div2
dawkins on loan from spurs previous experience played in usa
bertrand on loan from chelsea who now this season starting to look a decent player compared to end of last season
the cherry on top of cake GRANT HOLT a REAL MAN
and for getting fees for vlar delph who in sound mind would pay money for vlar don t know the stats since he signed but the last 3 matches clark and okore best performances by ch partnership, fair enough okore gave away a pen but that came from another gabby fuck up,
delph injury prone and when he plays always look like getting booked,doesnt score or setup near enough
James,
Yep, aside from losing Benteke, I don’t think the other two will be hugely missed. At the moment, though, they do help the overall strength of the squad. It depends on what comes in to replace them.
James I agree with you 100%. I wouldn’t lose sleep over Delph or Vlaar. Poor ol’ Holt. A decent enough guy playing over his ability for a couple of years. Can’t blame him for trying to keep up in the PL. Those players you mentioned managed to play down to Villa’s current level. Except of course Robbie Keane.
evening John,
for me as much as all looks glum a revitalised beneke cannot be underestimated. yes he’ll go in the summer but if he is fitter and lighter and back to his first season form he will win games for us and fetch a decent price. its worth mentioning that arsenal would be 14th without sanchez’s goals. one reason I think benteke can do so much for us you’ve spoken of already, we have a functioning defence, he’s never been in a villa team that can defend.
as clarky mentioned earlier its the midfield that needs sorting and I would add the use of gabby and weiman as midfielders/ forwards must end, its forwards or nothing for them, we can’t afford the mistakes.
I read earlier gabby and benteke have been paired up front 8 times losing only twice, time to try that again I think.
lambert seems to insist on using fullbacks as wing backs why not go 352? we could even use sanchez to drop back and form a 3 as the fullbacks advance in a 4132.
Our own midfield by not retaining possession and providing attacking threat cause our defence more problems than the opposition. don’t know the answers to our midfield but its not playing players out of position.
The take over can’t come soon enough even if it only provides some relief from the grimness of it all 🙂 . The shite have a potential buyer by the way.
on a happier note we have 6 points more than the equivalent fixtures last season apparently Yay! 🙁
looking at gods birthday today reminds me of a tail told by Ray Houghton a few years ago
paul used to live by sutton park and some posh flats by the park entrance ray used to pick him up for the games on one particular sat paul said to hought must stop at the “parson and Clark” on the way for a livener cause hought had to do what the big man said so they stopped in houghtens words 5 of the black stuff later we set off we where supposed to be at the ground at 1 30 it was 210 ans we where just coming out of the pub we gets to villa park at 2.40 20 mins before kick off big rons assistant whose name name i forget says to big fat ron “you cant play macca he is half cut and over an hour late” to that Ron replys there is a full house and 70% of them have god on the back of there shirt so he talked to macca and macca says the usual “boss im fine its only a livener.
paul goes out and is the man of the match on match of the day they all say how brilliant he is in mot letting the at the time the best center forward in the land IAN Rush a kick all game or his mate dalglish we beat Liverpool 1 0 and in my eyes it was the best performance from a defender i had ever seen he went on to say he saw this many times from the big man and simply could not believe it
learyteam lambert team
sorenson guzan
hughes a hutton
bouma sissko
laursen sendross
mellborg vlar
mccann westwood
davies s delph
barry cleverly
milner gabby
baros wiemen
angel benteke
subs
taylor given
delaney baker
ridgewell lowton
berger cole
hendrie richardson
philips zog
moore l bent
and to think lerner has spent over 2 hundred million of his own money to come up with this crap
Yikes!!! And I used to complain about DOL!!!!!!!!
Love that story about Macca, JD. That should be headlined somewhere.
here is the link for you to seehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bbaYA1VYrI
st75
giant haystacks and big daddy , adian street with the tights , honey boy zimber :} >} love the wrestling – funny about your mom bless – and who could forget ol dickie davies
JD,
Does Lamebert really believe that anyone on our books can do those things on your post ? the lads brilliant and yet he’s been kept out by a donkey ( Scabby ) who couldn’t lace his boots. If JG’s talent is wasted AV will lose 30-40 million and a great player also. Lamebert must be the only manager in world football who wouldn’t play him given this set of circumstances.
The undertakers.
na steamer and steamer you two remind me of the bushwankers a great pair just like you 2
Wrestling?
Last time I saw such an activity was in the SP pug a year ago this month-the 14th.You lot westling the 20 quids from me wallet.Loved the Faces,hate Rod the Knob.
Pub not pug FFS.
heres a glimpse of the type of player we won’t get in jan
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/12/05/rumoured-aston-villa-target-fast-becoming-bundesligas-beckham/?
JD / lm on about the real wrestlers of the 60s not the tinsel town twonks around today , had to take my daughter about 2 years ago to the NEC to see this new rubbish , and when they come fighting in the crowd it was like a comedy show , and l couldnt believe there were grown men in wrestling T-shirts !!! mind you l will admit they put in more energy than any of the shits down the villa ,
l may not be on here for a while , my daughter got threatened yesterday on her way home from school which is in the town center and 4 blokes thought it was funny to poke fireworks in their face and they set one off , the police said they can get there in 30 mins , lets see how long it takes them to turn up when l baseball bat them ,
the lamposts favorite at 14/1 as its has a familiar ring to it.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-paul-lambert-considering-8231047?
ST75,
Don”t be a drama queen you know they have computers in nick so no excuse not to get on, go round and sort them mate take Dewer with you its always nice to have a bit of back up, hope to read in the BM soon about four knobs eating their next meals through straws.
AVFC RIP
Dog walkers reckon its Steve Clarke.
The Villa Supporters Trust are doing a snap poll on Paul Lambert. It would seem the results will be made available to the CEO.
http://villatrust.org.uk/?p=1032
John. Just done the survey. It more than likely won’t come to anything but no harm in trying.
Haggis,
You could be right, but AVST seem to think they have Fox’s ear from what I can make out.
John,
Just done the survey or should I say said no, but not sure if it is the sort of controlled survey anyone would take any notice of, to be fair anyone from any club could take part, and you imply that Fox will listen to the fans but I am sure the only person he will listen to is his boss Lerner, nice try though.
AVFC RIP
Good morning John,
An excellent assessment of the situation AV are in. – I hope Joe Cole is fit for Saturday . Our window cleaner is a West Ham fan and I asked him what he thought of us taking on JC . He said great player but you will never keep him fit. Such a shame for JC too .
Steamer made a very good point after the Burnley game when he said that PL seems to be going for a more popular selection and subs – The baggies were saying that Irvine changed subs to go with what the fans wanted. Once a manager does this then their time really is up. Difficult to prove of course but how many of them under pressure takes the easy way out and puts a fans favourite on.
Wasn’t Steve Clark sacked after six games without a win. I think he is worth more than a number two position to Paul Lambert – but I guess it depends how desperate he is to get back into football. But a no 2 – I just can’t see it. But then again, I coudn’t see RK coming to Villa so anything could happen!
I have completed the AVST survey . My impression of Fox is that he wasn’t interested in communicating with the fans so I am surprised to learn AVST are saying they have access to him.
St 75 – That is awful and so frightening for Jesse and her friends. Very upsetting!.
sorry – bit slow on the uptake today. Bham Mail reporting that Joe Cole is out for Sunday game.
To get steve clarke as number 2 would be one of the very few things we have done right under Learner.
Make it happen. He is tacticly very good and likes to play footy.
Jenny,
It seems that AVST believe themselves to be the only group that have access to the top brass at VP. They have managed to remain ‘on side’ with Lerner and CEO since the year dot so they’re the good boys in their eyes.
I also agree totally with what Steamer said about Lambert going for a popular selection. There’s every hint that that is the case, though he’s not doing it whole-heartedly – that Sanchez replaced Cole on Tuesday indicated his caution I think.
Jenny,
Sorry – a very Good Day to you too! 🙂
Interesting points Jen and JL.
Didn’t I read further back somewhere about Ron Atkinson doing exactly the same with McGrath, when he turned under the influence, after having a few liveners on the way to the ground…when he pointed out that 705 of the crowd wanted to see him play…He ended up man of the match and shut out Ian rush and Kenny D.
Sometimes it pays to give the fans what they want…at least then it may stop some of the moans, and get them onside for a while.
Hopefully now there is a little less pressure on them on Sunday they will put in a performance…Depends on weather now, whether I wrap up and make the journey to VP, but would love to be there and see the “Beast” score a hat trick..!!
not 705 but 70%…….
Yes Paul . BFR did put PMcG on inspite of him having a few ” liveners” but I think BFR knew Paul would be magnificent whatever his state – as he’d proved . From his book he admits sometimes he had his best games even though he was numbed with pain killers (his shoulder on one occasion ) and may have had a tto before hand . But then he was unique and there will never be another one like him . The point is , when a manager starts pandering to the fans it means he has lost faith in his own ability and strategy . I can’t see Irvine lasting beyond the weekend of they don’t win .
Agree on Steve Clark – losing his job after a great first season and then six without a win seemed harsh . Shows how patient RL has been with PL.
Hi Jen,
I think most of us have similar feelings towards PL, but I do not see anything changing anytime soon, and would it be for the better? He has struggled with the job and the constraints, but many of the suggestions for replacing him, in the end have not done any better at the clubs they have ended up with. Even Brendan Rogers is struggling, and the fans are very disgruntled, even though they have spent a shed load of money….Replacing players is not easy, especially when they have become an integral part of the team. The main hope now is that Lambert will succeed in keeping Villa in a respectable position for the New Year, and then he can start to use some of our young stars, without them feeling the pressures of a must win situation. If this can be done and we can start on a younger and more integrated squad, it will then put us in a good position for the 14/15 season. Whether PL is capable of developing such a squad remains to be seen, but at least the players seem keener to bring in results now.
don’t see the pleasing the fans angle with the bench strategy myself. you could look at it that way of course.
in my opinion cole had been a regular on the bench for a while, n’zogbia had a stinker and walked off with a trainer against southampton (presumably a knock).
cole got promoted to the position n’zogbia has played in a few times now and did a better job so kept his place against palace nzogbia not on the bench (injured?). grealish ended up back on the bench for the burnley game as the option in n’zogbias/coles place, robinson promoted to replace bent lost his place when n’zogbia was fit.
where Lambert went mental in my opinion is playing four forwards against palace. I believe Lambert thought he’d cracked it with cole in the team and ended up with egg on his face, we were under so much pressure the sanchez sub was a no brainer as cole/benteke had hardly seen the ball in the first 10 mins. sadly it remained that way and he wouldn’t risk Grealish/n’zogbia in a tight game.
don’t forget herd was on the bench presumably to cover the backs hardly a crowd pleaser but he’s all we had.
Mark,
True what you say about Cole being a straight swap for Zoggy, but it was interesting that he also played Grealish for 30 minutes. Now it happens I had been asking for that combination for some time, so perhaps my request had got through! 😉
Also that Robinson was suddenly recalled and appeared on the bench, although if Bent wanted out then another striker had to be found from somewhere I suppose … but Andi and Gabby are supposed to be strikers I thought.
I think there’s an element of trying to keep on the fans’ side … as he did when he decided to go for experienced players in place of youngsters.
http://7500toholte.sbnation.com/2014/12/5/7339347/fabian-delph-begins-comeback
JL- on grealish, If you remember at the time we were in total control at burnley and were until the pen it was deemed low risk by the timid one.
Lambert has been playing a 4231 for 4 weeks now with nzogbia in the free central role of the 3 but no benteke. now benteke’s the 1 it means he should drop gabby or weimann to keep the same formation but he didn’t. against palace we had three strikers plus cole on the pitch so i’m assuming n’zogbia was preferred on the bench as he can play more positions and robinson lost out, benteke’s return pushed him out. in all honesty I don’t see who he has that he would of brought in? the other midfield options bar bacuna are out on loan
Mark: If you remember at the time we were in total control at burnley and were until the pen it was deemed low risk by the timid one.
I don’t remember that was the case at all, mate!! Second half we were not doing too well against ’em … they came out after h-t in a totally different frame of mind and made it difficult for us through a lot of the second half. Not as much as CP though, but against Burnley we raised virtually zilch second period scoring chances apart from Grealish’s attempt at the end .
Nuff to say I don’t altogether agree with your summing up, I don’t want to get into any further argument on this one as I know we see things a little differently. 😉
ST75 a seven iron is much more handy than a baseball bat.
JL- I remember villa still having the majority of the ball second half (possession) up until the pen with the commentator continually saying burnley will get a chance before the end of the game and villa were playing a dangerous game if they don’t get a second but they looked comfortable so we will have to agree to disagree. we still had chances so did they, yes they shut us down more but it was the last ten after the pen that was all burnley.
“Burnley started the second half brightly and almost restored parity in the 56th minute but Brad Guzan denied Kightly from close range after the forward had dribbled past a couple of defenders.
Villa remained a potent threat on the counter-attack and Heaton was forced into action two minutes later to palm a Weimann effort around a post.
Burnley were rewarded for their late pressure as Okore hauled second-half substitute Jutkiewicz to the ground in the box and Ings confidently smashed home the penalty.”
What are the chances of getting Mark and John into tights and go a round or two in the square circle?
JL- ok total controls a bit strong but I remember about the 80 min they looked beat ana we were knocking the ball about, one hoof later.
Ian- it all starts out so well, i’m beginning to feel like the new droid 😉
Mark,
All I’ll say is that second half was literally a completely new ball-game with Burnley scarcely giving Villa chance to breathe in parts. Yes Villa weren’t altogether submerged, but the first 10-15 minutes and the last 10 of the second-half were virtually all Burnley from what I remember.
And please remember that I was looking at the match completely through c-and-b lenses!! 😉
Ian,
No competition there, mate. If I’m cornered I switch rules to Thai boxing!!!!
who oh why does everybody on here want defenders all over the pitch yes Grealish does not track bask as well as some but does ronaldo track back some players are born to be ball players as my link will show you all posted earlier and some are runners who do not have natural skill scabby is a runner plain and simple Grealish is a footballer plain and simple and i for one would like to see a natural footballer in our team again as cannot rember one in the last 5 years perhaps the happy clappers have forgot what one is i for one want to see 2 or 3 in the team but would be happy with one alongside Tekers for a change as i rember Sid saying real footballers know where to run and if you are on that wave length it is easy
that is why we are crap if we do have any real footballers at the club lamberts tactics knock it out of them as he is still saying about our best player by a mile in tekers “he still has a lot to learn”well he is our best playe so what is his excuse for the rest of the garbage he picks
what on earth do we want another assistant how can anybody assist a moron he does not listen to anyone he just plays his way the crap way he is a buffoon who will just blame his assistants if results go wrong as he is a lier and a cheat who will not take one jot of blame for the way we play or the formation he played is a new employee has to come in it should only be to take full control of the playing staff as this fool has not got a clue LAMBERT OUT Make you all stay away on Sun the less the better
nail on the head JD the majority are not on the same wavelength, I have banged on about this before. a good player can easily be made to look out of sync with the team when its the other way around. gabby and weimann are good examples of andprobably the majority of the team.
a player like Grealish has to have people around him who think as quick and make the right runs. him and cole with benteke would be a great combination, in fact preseason those 2 played with bent and guess what they saw his runs and he scored a few.
JL- whats your speciality green curry or red? 😉
Mark – Biryani!!! 😉
Is that your stage name? “Green Curry”
Sounds as if not many have read Weimann’s statement on the O/S as he clearly states the mid-field role, etc that Lambert is making him play, when he has always been a natural striker, but although he has found it difficult, he feels he is now fitting into the role. It sounds as if Lambert is trying to make him a copy of himself. It may be ok for him to learn the role, but he should be used in his natural striker role, or he may just be offered that elsewhere and be off. Looks like most of the injured will be back in contention by the Utd game and there will be some competition for places then.
When playing villa , the frequent incompetence and lack of spirit in the middle third often encourages the opposition to comitt forward but this ironically gives villa their best of chance scoring and teams do have to look over the shoulders until they score because they can be fairly sure that one is most likely all villa will get. What we need is a player of Pirlos mould who will continually collect and look for the through ball whether from his own 18 yrd or the oppositions . Contrary to the usual criticism of a company , villa actually have too many indians and no chiefs.
Prox – it’s gotta be Sergio Agüero for me… 😉
Seriously, he’s a one-man team … almost.
JL- you old curry maker you said one man doesn’t make a team when I suggested liverpool would be poo without suarez! I must grumble 😉
prox- whereas the balti mile has got loads of chefs and loads of indians 🙂
hows the new job? a good summing up mate, its exactly what we have done for three years often very badly. huddlestone would of been a cheapish option in that role. alternatively we could play football like everyone else.
Mark,
I’m not seriously in favour of one-man dynamos such as those two (you can miss ’em too much when they’re not available), and I think that Liverpool have had some hard luck in not having a Sturridge available this season on top of Suraez gone.
If ‘Pool had a decent striker available I don’t think they would be poo.
And talking of them makes me think about Sterling … I just do not see what people rave about him for! I can’t see him developing into anything great.
JL- they have 16m balotelli, will have to wait and see on sterling he’s a bit like tony daley with brakes. we should of had hazard warning lights at the end of the pitch for him 🙂 still don’t think sturridge will fill the gaping suarez side hole in that side but would improve them. those three had as good thing going between them loads of movement
Yes, Mark, Balotelli is there … so I’m told! 😉
Sterling? No I don’t equate him to Daley. Daley did not pretend to be anything other than a winger, but Sterling seems to think (or made to think) he can do a variety of things. If he were to concentrate on just being a winger, then perhaps…
JL- he’s got the same hair cut, was joking about balotelli have a nice evening off out for a meal, not curry 🙂
What is happening at villa at the moment really points out for me exactly what is holding the english game back —- we have three or four younger players that have shown all the signs throughout there development of being the makings of very good players
Johnson , Grealish and Robinson as examples are players that i believe should have been intergrated into the first team asap
Milner and Barry were two examples of english players to be allowed to grow at the right pace and they are now technically to of the best players of there age group
Stirling isnt pele but he is a young talent that has been allowed to develop at the highest level early and he will end up being a very good player proberbly playing for a better side than his current one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyiFDdiU4C4
Here you go Proxopera
runtings: [Sterling] will end up being a very good player proberbly playing for a better side than his current one
To easily knocked off the ball, in my opinion. Too light a player to make a great contribution.
Now, Willie Gallagher … *there* was a small player who could hold his ground … 😉
The true story of Benteke’s transfer request –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRaiE3ZrzrQ
The little bloke with the ‘tache might make a decent gaffer one day.
Some interesting comments generated by your excellent piece John. Incidentally, from what I see on Thai TV there aren’t any recognizable rules in Thai boxing!
I have to agree with the comments that a brilliant ball player cannot perform without the right ‘tools’ to pass to i.e. on the same waves length. I remember Didier Six holding the ball up and throwing his hands up in frustration as no player made the run that completed the move. The same applied to Alun Evans at Walsall – he got the bird from the Walsall fans because the wingers stood and watched his defence splitting passes sail over their heads. (Yes I went when I couldn’t make Villa away matches)
Steve Clark would bring some tactical nous to the team assuming we have to keep PL; but would PL listen?
I do agree that PL has had to work under the financial constraints placed upon him by AL but that is no excuse for a complete lack of judgement regarding team selection and substitutions.
You shifted that snow yet Ian?
Hello All.
Proxopera
“Contrary to the usual criticism of a company , villa actually have too many indians and no chiefs”. How profoundly true. Well, Villa doesn’t have any real chiefs. Villa needs a chief.
Runtingz
I hear Stirling after going off the tracks for a while jacked his ideas up and is a very teachable player and a decent young man/father. Hopefully he stays on the straight and narrow. He’s been pretty well looked after at Pool. Let’s hope the same for some of the younger players at Villa. If players as talented as Grealish is reputed to be can’t make it through, who can?
Good article, John.
Clive: from what I see on Thai TV there aren’t any recognizable rules in Thai boxing!
You’re right … particularly when I’m cornered! 😉
Trinity: [Prox:] “Contrary to the usual criticism of a company , villa actually have too many indians and no chiefs”. How profoundly true. Well, Villa doesn’t have any real chiefs. Villa needs a chief.
Isn’t is just… All the way through the club.
And to think we once had a General in our presence (Krulak)!
John
The general crossed my mind as I was writing the comment. We just need that someone to come in and take the bull by the horns. A very expensive thing to do we all know. If Branson gives up on space travel, he could take over Villa and rebrand it Virgin Villa:)
Trin,
Or Virgin Vanilla!!!!! 🙂 I would be cautious on how he would market the club!
In all seriousness, yours isn’t a daft idea i.m.o. Branson may well be just the ticket. And he’s a Brit: there’s every chance he might speak the same language as us.
In fact he’d bloomin’ make sure we’ll get a museum … he’d see it as good and would get a good return on his dough.
Museums
Oh, I heard this week from Charlton Athletic they’ve got their museum up and running.
If Wolves and they can do it, then what’s stopping the Villa …?
great win for the Toons and especially Alan Pardew……considering ten weeks ago…he was considered rubbish and a significant minority of the fans wanted him out….how times can change…..are the Toons now invincable???
Now Crouch has put The Potters in the lead against Arsenal…….what next..???
Clive, I was out plowing the driveway yesterday.
I was looking at the Championship table and there are 7 former Prem teams from the last three years in the nether regions of the table. There are a lot of strugglers in the Prem that stay up just because they are lucky. After dropping down they aren’t any better.
Ian- i think villa are like Rocky Balboa continually being punched in the head but miraculously staying up, this is our 5th season of struggle rocky only got to 6 films is this an omen? 🙂
Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up. – Rocky Balboa
“Going in one more round when you don’t think you can – that’s what makes all the difference in your life.” – Rocky Balboa
It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward – Rocky Balboa
Please don’t hit me anymore and i’ll buy a season ticket- A Villa Fan
Having brilliant script writers makes for great inspiring life changing quotes 🙂 , maybe we could ask stallone to be our AM, or maybe Tarantino would be a better fit considering AV’s plot so far.
Here’s a quick whinge about referees and their inability to interpret and apply the laws of the game logically and consistently.
Benteke was sent off because he touched a player on the face. There is nothing in the laws of the game that says this is a sending off offence but somehow it’s become ‘accepted’ that if a player touches another on the face they’ll be sent off.
Yesterday there were two ‘martial arts moments’ in the man city game, one of them involving a boot to the head of another player and yet. . . . no sending off although the laws of the game are quite explicit on such dangerous play.
Is this inconsistency because of bias towards large clubs or just because referees are simply not intelligent enough to get together and decide how to ‘sensibly’ and ‘consistently’ apply the laws of the game?
Another example of poor application of footballing laws by referees can be regularly seen in the penalty area. There seems to be a consensus amongst tv pundits that if a defender ‘makes contact’ with an attacker in the area, the attacker is ‘entitled’ to go down. No. . . . he isn’t.
Too often , penalties are given when a foul would not have been given if the ‘offence’ had taken place anywhere else on the pitch.
rObbO – on the other hand, the pundits and some managers say if they are going to give penalties for a bit of shirt pulling, there will be 5 or 10 in each match’
I tend to disagree; this is a foul and a few penalties handed out would soon stop it.
Another thing that gets my goat is throw-ins permitted anything up to 10 metres from where the ball went out, often catching the opponents out as they line up for a throw to be taken in accordance with the rules. I also hate assistants flagging for offside before the player standing in an offside position becomes an offender as this slows down the game for an unnecessary free kick and allows the attackers to get back to defend. Why bother to have rules?
Clive,
Shirt pulling is one of my pet hates too, but not just in the penalty area.
I’m not complaining about referees making honest mistakes or missing incidents in the heat of the game by the way. I have sympathy for referees. It’s a tough job to do well. It’s the poor interpretation of certain laws that bugs me . . . . along with the ‘oh so confident’ post match interpretation of certain pundits. Shearer is one of the worst for justifying diving in the penalty because a defender left his leg in such a place that the attacker was able to trip over it.
Better not rename the Holte. Selling our soul are now. Fox is a twat
Grealish better start. No Wiemann thank god
Going for a LCFC win. We are at home after all and we are helping hand Villa