On the site this week, needless to say there has been a considerable change of tune from the community, with questions that have been quietly bubbling at the surface for a number of weeks having the light shone upon them.

It would appear that fears are growing regarding Lambert’s capacity to match, let alone improve, the fortunes of Aston Villa following last season’s strife under the guidance of Mr. McLeish. Indeed, Villans have reason to be concerned, given that we currently reside on a points tally that was worse than that procured by this time last campaign.

However, I would be inclined to maintain some optimism, in spite of a 20-year stint as a Villa fan that would suggest a contrary view would be more sensible.

It’s quite easy to point to the negatives, that is to say the points that are on the board. What is more significant at this stage, though, is the way the team is playing. For me, there can be little doubt that this aspect is far superior to last term, and while the unpredictability of the team can be infuriating, as I alluded to a couple of weeks ago, it might just be Villa’s greatest strength.

Darren Bent

Among the Aston Villa Life community, one frequent talking point has been that of a certain Darren Bent. There have been some not-so-hushed suggestions that the 28-year-old is on his way out of Villa Park in the near future and debates arising around such discussion as to whether this would be a positive thing or not.

Put simply, I think it would be the best thing for Bent to leave in January, and not solely for financial purposes, though his sale would undoubtedly raise some funds for investment elsewhere.

Aside from the fact that Darren Bent has the potential to be one of the most clinical strikers in the Premier League, I would argue two things. First, the current crop of Villa players is not one that has the skill-set to provide Darren Bent with the service he needs. The team is more important than an individual striker, quite frankly.

Second, and perhaps the most key point here, is that when Bent plays, I believe there is a predictable nature to the way we look for goals. Everything seems to be geared towards putting the ball onto his foot. Many will argue this is not a bad thing given his natural instinct in front of goal but in consideration of the conflict discussed in the first point there is an issue. This is not something we can afford – predictability – and apologies at this juncture for harking back to my first column.

Lambert’s Philosophy

Thus far, it has been difficult to glean exactly what Lambert’s thinking is with regard to the way he thinks we line up most effectively. Nevertheless, there is more tempo and confidence on the ball, which is something that was entirely absent last season. The game against Tottenham was not ideal in terms of the result, but the first-half performance was encouraging.

Perhaps encouraging is not enough for a lot of people, and I can understand why. To have fallen so heavily from grace in recent seasons is a jagged pill to swallow, but I sincerely believe Lambert is taking us in a new, more positive direction and it will pay dividends to remain patient.

We’ve not had an easy start to the season and while that is rather evident with the worst ever start to a Premier League season, there is no room for defeatism just yet. As indicated in another article this week, the run of games on its way against Fulham, Norwich, and Swindon is a proper opportunity for the claret and blue army to step up and assert themselves in this wavy campaign.

Norwich is the vital one. There is a natural desire for Paul Lambert to want to beat his old side, of course, but on top of that, I expect this to be the game in which a victory will serve to propel the team’s self-belief and that of the coach, too. It is a chance to illustrate that he has gone forward since leaving Carrow Road, and will underline his progress with a young Villa side since his arrival at Villa. Fulham away will be a tough game, but Norwich at home must be the landmark game. If we lose both of those, then my attitude might change.

In the meantime, I remain hopeful that Lambert will prove to be the disciplined tactician we need. Our crest highlights exactly what we will need to be following the international break: Prepared.

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