Well guys, the new season in almost on us. A fairly modest transfer list, the bomb squad is back, and injured players will soon be back if they haven’t already.

So, what do we have exactly? Same manager, new assistant, a change in the administration end of things and an owner who tends to mess things up more than fix things up. And enough new bodies and returning injured bodies to give a noticeable difference to last year.

Three pre season games and three wins. Looks good on paper. Can’t help but build some confidence. Three more to come before a kick off has meaning.

A slightly easier start to the season than last year. The new teams up from the Championship are low in Premier experience, Southampton has been savaged in the transfer market, most teams have only picked up frees this transfer season. Is it possible that Villa will do well in the middle of the pack? (I don’t see the top 6 as a viable goal to shoot for at the moment)

What exactly do we want for 2014-15?

Now, look at the team as any neutral fan would. Not a dyed in the wool Villa fan and certainly not as a Blues fan and what do you see?

Here’s the plan. Pick players whose last name starts with the same last letter as yours and give an honest appraisal of them. Managers and assistants too. Give them a score of 1-10 with 10 being the highest. No gushing and no venting just an honest opinion and score. Use their career not one offs. For example Vlaar is good but is he really that good as his showing in the World Cup? Why have Lambert’s teams shown up for the top teams on more than one occasion and not the bottom teams?

And if you haven’t thought pack sand Gibson, do the same for the teams around Villa in the table.

We can do a quick count and average things out and maybe it will give us a bit of clue as what to expect.

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Ian
I'm an Aston Villa fan who lives in Magna Bay BC Canada

Comments 315

  1. steamer

    Hello Ian,
    Agree about Saints but at least they have a half decent boss and a few bob. Leicester are well run and Pearson has put a unit together that’s hard to beat. Burnley have a very good manager and a good goalscorer in Ings. I have to be pessimistic because we have the worst manager and owner in the division, little ££££ and a P-poor set of players, the only consolation is that the season ends in May.

    This Frems getting a bit cheeky, taking the P now.
    Dunno about the phone bit Frem, my moby is about ten years old, they said i didn’t qualify for a smart phone at the shop.

    Trin,
    Did you ever see that film about Aussie rules, The Club, starring Jack Thomson, one of the funniest films iv’e ever seen.
    Won’t catch me in those seas, since i saw Jaws iv’e been wary of the sea, can still see that head coming out of the ship.
    Give my regards to Harold Bishop unless he’s died again.

  3. Roderick Seel (Sam)

    Over the season just gone, on an individual game basis, nearly every player was given between a 6 and a 3, making an average of 4.5.

    There were exceptions but overall i’ll stick with the 4.5, obviously players returning from injury can be judged differently, ie most scored 0, add that to the 4.5 and that gives a team average of 2.25.

    Take away 1 point for the complete miss management at the top…we are now at 1.25, take from that 1 for the farce over the managers tactics and we are at .25.

    The appointment of Keane -1 and thats -.75, add the 2 signings Cole -25, Senderdross -1 this gives a grand total of -2.

    The club have a grand total of -( thats minus) 2.

    As a Villa fan since 1972 my expectation has never been so low, i can see a lot of teams dumping us on our arse this season!

  5. Frem

    How did last season end? Wasn’t it like 8 defeats in our last 10 games or something? Remember Lambert after Spurs saying it’s his greatest achievement as a manager. Wow. Also said the players should be proud of them selfs. Even bigger wow. 12 home defeats, piss poor football and they should be proud

    What will this season bring? Going by pre season so far we will be Be more defensive and anti football than last season. The new signings aren’t getting anyone excited, the current players aren’t getting anyone excited. Is all we have to look forward to is when a take over happens and Lambert finally gets the boot

  6. steamers75

    steamer
    cridgey just been in touch, John fentener van vlissingen offering £150 million to take the club off RL .

    l couldnt give a round of fucks , but some on here might be interested ,

  7. Frem

    ST75- did you get that of TBAR? Think that might have been started by a blue nose

    Just passed my final exam mate. All 3 done now thank god

  8. steamer

    Recently he has been wrongly linked to a takeover of Aston Villa Football Club, based in Birmingham, England. Speaking to the media in his homeland he stated: “I can state now that I have no interest in any sporting ventures, I am enjoying other ventures at this moment in time”.

  10. Frem

    I’ve passed mate yes, my tutor just phoned me.

    Well ST75 is hopefully going to be teaching me so maybe I’ll be doing it all wrong as well 🙂

  11. steamer

    One piece of good news at last, well done.

    Well ST75 is hopefully going to be teaching me so maybe I’ll be doing it all wrong as well 🙂 arf arf

  12. steamers75

    well done frem , from now on you will be my work mate on all jobs l get and l will be passing your name round to other spark mates , so you get a lot of training , you never stop learning in this game , also you will need to drop into the social/sacred hearts club to meet them, and make some contacts , just waiting to hear if dewar has got any sense out of that bloke or just throttled him, as at the moment thats what l want to do to someone , also you can run the new rules (bollox) what the 17th have bought out now ,

    no frem he just rang me for a catch up , he’s one of the blokes with that piss take banner at the world cup , in the pic he had the red shorts on, you will meet him mate , l dont really no how l can describe him in all the 40 odd years lv known him , (he’s a steamer ) other than tosser (in a good way)

    steamer
    do you still want that fused spur fixing at yours ?? well bollox to ya , ring Frem …………….

  13. Frem

    I’m guessing he’s probably just throttled him 🙂 would be great if you get the job, would learn a lot fm it. BS7671 is a bastard. So many rules and regulations.

    Is that the ” arriving after elimination- priceless ” banner ?

  16. steamer

    Alopogies for repeating this post. Just in case Jenny pops in –

    I use it to download to itunes.
    1) Get Youtube Converter up
    2) Get itunes up
    3) Select which music video ( only the music downloads ) and copy the video Https to the converter
    4) Press download.
    5) It’ll tell you when its downloaded, then press convert and an arrow will point down on the bottom left hand side of the screen.
    6) A box appears and then press open, the music will appear on your itunes.

  17. Jenny Truman

    Thankyou so much for this highly technical info Steamer ! I will try and do this at my PC later on. I will prob be back stuck though – this techy stuff is beyond me ! 🙂

  19. Jenny Truman

    Ian – it’s getting frighteningly close and the usual “PL trying to get more players in” PR releases in the local press .
    But as the Who sang ” we won’t get fooled again”. Bet fair have us as 3-1 to get relegated according to VV . I haven’t a clue how we will do as the mix of new old pros , bomb squad returns and last seasons favourites is such an unknown quantity.

  20. Frem

    Season ticket sales are at an all time low so the papers will be linking us to decent players for weeks with the club hoping fans will sign up. We all know we will end up shite like we’ve already signed. Lambert will try and blab it until then as well. ” we want to play good football” ” last season was excellent ” ” we have a bunch of young exciting lads” he says that now but them we lose 13 home games come march he will blame the players for being to young. Words cannot describe how much I despise him anymore. Just thinking back to the first 45 mins of Saturday night makes my blood boil. It’s pre season, attack, let the players express the, selfs. He out 11 men behind the ball.

  24. Frem

    Thanks Jenny.

    Coles list isn’t great is it.

    Ian- I did 8 months of plumbing at college actually. Decided to do electrics after for some reason

  28. Frem

    Didn’t have to touch a turd in all that time:) it was just messy really and not very challenging. Electrics is the other way around. Gets you thinking

  31. Ian

    A few I guess. Here we go. Lifeguard, Swim coach, waiter in a pub, teacher, pharmacutical sales, fire fighter, and while I was a fire fighter I did renos-painting, decks, fences, finish out basements on my days off. I would do all the work except carpet and plumbing.

    Reading about your success in the electrical department I took a look at the job prospects in Alberta for electricians. There are plenty of jobs to be had you just need some experience for most of them. Alberta is a huge vacuum for trades and is always looking for people to fill the jobs. Ask Steamer75 about Canada. He will fill you in.

  32. Frem

    Life guard ? A busy beach? My brothers in the fire service. Loves it. 4 days on, 4 days off. Great shifts. Gets paid to sleep most the time 🙂 you like your swimming then

    Can I move to Canada then ? Never been there yet but seems a lovely place

  37. steamers75

    Frem l told you to go to Canada , you wont regret it mate , fuck all here in this country now , wish l had gone when l had the chance , was in Cambourne 2 years ago and there was a English woman who owned a art gallery , she was from Newquay and moved 5 years before , she told me there and then she could pick up the phone and l would have 2 years work just for starters , they cant get enough sparkies , at the time if you were a hairdresser or butcher you were able to go with no problem of a visa , take a look mate , while there l couldnt believe how the places like Calgary and Toronto had changed ,,made what they have done in brum look like Lego-land , will ring you around 10-30 later today ,

    morning Jenny xxxxxxxx

    Ian xx ))……………………………………….you happy now

  38. Ian

    s75 very happy
    Frem I follow the Whitecaps but not like Villa. I lived in Calgary for 35 years and am now back in BC. Magna Bay to be exact.
    S75 is right plenty of electrical type jobs here. Get some experience and start the application now if you are interested.

  39. Mark King

    frem
    well done mate, friend of mine has gone for a year he’s loving it, the women love the accent apparently, not sure if that extends to brummie though 😉 .
    he is a refrigeration engineer the money is much better than here for trades and you can eat all the snow you want…. just not the yellow patches near bars 🙂

  40. Ian

    I lost my accent in a week. It only shows up when i am in the company of Brummies. There is a lot of snow except for the mainland of BC. Or dog parks. 🙂

    Off to bed

  44. John Lerwill

    Gentlemen,

    Though I’d back Frem every way, and it’s his choice at the end of the day, this country should be given the first chance i.m.o. If this country is to improve then it needs it’s best people.

    I’d recommend this formula:

    1. Get experience here for up to 2 years.
    2. Think then about other options and if Canada is top of the list, go for it to at least try it out.
    3. Way up the pros and cons and come back if your sense of integrity tells you to. Otherwise, good luck!

  47. Mark King

    are we having a meet up at any of the friendlies Lads and lasses? seems to have gone quiet on that front.

    frem

    I hope st75’s not charging you for his tutelage, he’s minted, he’s got my £20 for a start

  48. Josh Cattier

    Alright boys. I’m back from me Graduation and Festival, recovering on the sofa now. Eventually I’ll be able to think of the festival without mad head-spin. K & M is bad for you, kids.

    Looks like the USA tour was a success. Good news. Hope they can crack on with finding some money now so we have at least one worthy addition to the squad as opposed to hoping Bent, Charlie and Hutton can somehow muster up some confidence and/or ability.

    Depending on work and what-not I’ll try to either get to a game or get to a central pub to watch a game in August. Hopefully I won’t be working in a green shirt much longer.

  49. Frem

    Thank you John. Good formula also. I will certainly have to get a few years experience yet here. I don’t want to live in England all my life that’s for sure. I’d love to move somewhere eventually.

    Mark- I’m not a Brummie, don’t worry:) born and bread in posh Stratford Upon Avon. When I went to America they loved our accents as well. Need all the help I can get with the woman

    ST75- I’ll have a look. Would be nice if they are similar to ours but I doubt it

    Thanks Runtings.
    My season ticket has just arrived. What have I done ??

  50. Andrew P

    Hello people

    Mark, I’m off to Groningen at 6 a.m. on Friday morning and there’s plenty of room in the car because Mrs Bibulus has put her foot down this year.

    Well done Frem, and JL’s right, the grass isn’t always greener. If only someone had told me that before I emigrated to Kiddie.

  51. steamers75

    Frem
    been in this game too long mate , l was told 8 years ago that the next year l,d be earning £2000 a week with the Hips bollox for house selling ect , it was a disaster , l paid £650 for a 2 day course only thing l got out of it was a pencil !!!
    you keep hearing a recovery is on the way , my arse it is , you wont remember but ask your dad , all goverments saying a house boom on the way 400,000 a year , biggest load of bollox since hearing PL was a good manager , forget the romantics and get the fuck over there , as you know my daughter is 14 at the moment and l have already told herto get out of this country , lv told my nephew who went to that Carrillion Building college , got distinctions in bricklaying , they could’nt give a shit , could’nt wait to show them all the door for the new batch and the handout off the goverment ,he’s now got a job driving this fuck-off fork truck , lv told him to get over there , and as you know my cagefighting nephew flies to california sunday for a fight camp training session for a month and l told him if you get the chance to stay there dont come back , , i’ll help you kid as you know but my advice , go over there , your young and will make a good life in a booming country , l got 4 mates over there and now we know Ian , you’d have contacts ,

    Mark , think the friendlies died a death mate , you cheeky Fuck , l would’nt charge Frem for my expert advice ,
    and you all should have come to Geds charity do last saturday , had a great time ,
    well back to fitting this steam room …………………………………..

  53. Clive Evans

    Back from 3 weeks in UK- well done Frem – you wouldn’t believe the electrical installations here. I went to tap into the water pump switched spur to run and outside light and found 2 white and one black. My air cons are fused for each room as are the showers in the bedrooms. Each bedroom has a separate fuse (power and lights) and my lounge and kitchen share one fuse – 2 washing m/cs 2 fridges, one fan oven and 2 microwaves as well as tv and 2 pcs, 8 double sockets and an external socket!

    I am 72 and would probably be dead before I re-wired it all to UK regs! Anyway, this is a football site so—
    I’m not impressed with the close season imports; 7500 to Holte article re diamond formation is interesting.

    It’s wait and see time isn’t it?
    Super 15 Final Saturday – hope the Tahs win – Kiwis getting too brash!

  54. Frem

    That’s crazy Clive. What’s the rules and regulations like where you are ? ST75 has told me a few things he’s seen. Some chaps shed set on fire because he ran 2.5 mill down to it from the kitchen socket. Think he went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea, had the kettle on, and left the heater and computer on down in the shed at the same time. Boom!!!
    Another one was some cable running through a door key whole to an outside light I think. Can’t wait to see things like that. Take it your an electrician as well ?

    Diamond formation could work. Cole behind Benteke and Wiemnn. Westy sitting, Delph on the left of him and GG on the right bursting forward Into the box. Prefer a good old 442/ 4 411 though. WINGERS!!!! We need sign a couple and fast

    ST75- isn’t the county back to its best now ? How’s your nephew doing ? I’ll have to save up a bit first before I move. I’m moving to America to live with Monty as well 🙂

  59. Frem

    It’s not a tough choice for Vlaar is it. He says Villa wants him to stay but not that he wants to stay. Why the fuck would he.

  60. steamers75

    no JL lm not motivated by money , l give more away than l spend on myself , l dont go for designer stuff either and thats what l always say , “you cant take it with you ” its just an opinion of mine , if l was thirty years younger l’d be gone , even the villa aint worth stopping here for now , people who brag they have this n that bore the fuck out of me,

    time to go methinks

  61. Mark King

    st75

    I was in Ireland last Saturday mate otherwise would of come to geds do

    Andrew P

    thanks mate would of loved that but booked up this weekend

  62. John Lerwill

    S75: no JL lm not motivated by money …

    OK, but that’s not altogether what I meant! 🙂

    That you choose a country because of the way the economy is being run can be said to be equally money-orientated. Not saying you do, but that’s how it came across.

    I nearly went abroad, too, 40 years ago, but not for reasons of the economy. I was looking for a peaceful way of life – in New Zealand. In the end didn’t go because NZ is rather out on a limb.

  64. runtings

    I think it will be a good indicator to wether the club will be sold into good hands or not and wether the sale is in proccess of going though by wether captain vlaar sits tight or starts sounding off about leaving

  65. steamer

    Think anyone would want to get out of this cesspool, bent politicians who criticise Russia for protecting their own people yet ignore the deliberate bombing of hospitals and schools in Palestine, this country is always bragging about values, well iv’e never seen any in my lifetime just rampant imperialism and wars, and don’t get me started on the Royal arse……. family.

  67. runtings

    i agree Steamer but if player know that something good is around the corner for the club they may want to be part of it

    I reckon the player can work out as well as the fans that villa are only a good owner away from glory — t the moment thou we are a current owner away from oblivion

  68. Josh Cattier

    Definitely amongst the ‘get the fuck out of Britain’ camp myself. I’ve never felt patriotic, nor do I give a shit about National values. Immigrants make life interesting. Change makes life interesting. We’re a bumbling nation of incompetence across the board, our best assets are being privatised for no one’s gain and the countryside is slowly becoming a railway.

    Get out.

  70. Frem

    Aston Villa Starting 11: Guzan, Lowton, Herd, Donacien, Bennett, Gardner, Johnson, Carruthers, Burke, Tonev. Robinson.

    Thats more like Lambert you twat. A BALANCED SIDE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLLY FUCK WE HAVE A BALANCED SIDE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    two full backs who can attack, two wingers who can make shit happen

    Leave like that for ever. NEVER EVER play baker again in a back five, never play him again full stop. never play KEA again ever in any formation. never play gabby again, never play bull shit 532 or 4 3 3 again.

  71. Frem

    Two game changers in Zoggy and Grealish on the bench. get Mosses and Ki in.

    Maybe hes learning ?

    or will it be back to 11 men behind the ball, shite footballers all over place

    for once apart from Herd we have 10 players who can play football

  74. Frem

    No surprise Runtings. He was 1 of only 3 bright sparks last season so Lambert sells him. How dare he keep a creative player. Hed rather play KEA

  75. runtings

    frem we were both at palace away and whitnessed albri come on for the last 12mins and do more in that time that the whole team of starters

    strange bloke is lambert

  76. Frem

    exactly. Got the assist for our win against Chelsea as well. still can’t believe that palace performance. Its Lambert sown to a tee. Ant football and tactically clueless

    We have major problems at full back. bennett and Lowton getting ripped apart tonight, Herd as well at the back. All the back for are in fact tonev’s last chance probably but hes been dreadful so.

    only positives are Burke and Robbinson. Carruthers being played out of position

  78. steamer

    Runtingz,
    Enjoyed that, always like the IB’s, got the original by Seals & Crofts, great song.

    I reckon the player can work out as well as the fans that villa are only a good owner away from glory — t the moment thou we are a current owner away from oblivion – Brilliant

    Albri will rip any of our LB’s apart this season, and he’s got a point to prove to Lambert, not us.

  80. Mark King

    its virtually the next gen side and chesterfield were beating everyone last season so no big surprise. we should buy there left back tall quick and skill full , compare that to lowton and bennett who are unlikely to be first choice for us

  81. runtings

    hope the home fans really make a fuss of albro on his return — the lad clearly wanted to stay and always tried hard with his limited time under lambert

  89. Frem

    Hopefully yes mate. Him, Zoggy and mosses can supply Benteke and Kosak for fun. Robbinson’s movement of the ball looks very sharp tonight

  94. Frem

    Guzan just gifted there 3rd goal. Jesus. Not sure on him or Okore

    There is some hope runtings if Lambert changes. think he will go back to last season though

  97. Mark King

    I can see us starting the season with three mcleish signings in the first eleven, stevens, nzogbia and hutton. I thought Okore did ok frem? bit ring rusty but ok and donacien looked better with him than herd. shame gardner went off for KEA as he would of made more of it with better players on than mr duracel. Guzan made some good saves first half but really sloppy for 3 goal. to be honest will be different whit first choice centre half’s if we have any left

  99. Frem

    Mark- there’s a real possibility that will be the case. Just shows how much of a disaster Lamberts time has been. Bent as well coming back. I’d start Hutton over Lowton. Don’t know what’s happened to him but he’s useless now unless he’s crossing. Bennett just show how awful he is. Herd isn’t a football player so anyone alongside him will look suspect. He did better with Okore as you say. Hopefully Vlaar will stay and partner him but can’t see it my self. Why would he stay ? Lambert loves KeA mate, truly useless footballer but he loves him. He will get the captains arm band in Vlaar leaves

    We need another wing in and a proper midfielder to partner Delph or else no chance of improving. full back area as well huge concern and I’m not convinced on Guzan from last season. If given a go

  102. Mark King

    frem

    no he meant chesterfield had just come back from Majorca on a stag do 🙂

    I still think delph, gardener and westwood will do ok in the centre for us we need a steady DM. grealish will flit from wing to number ten role, you could see he’s got it, always looking for the ball even coming back to our box to get on it.

  103. Paul Pears

    Glad to see Lambert gave the youngsters a run out tonight, so that now everyone has had a chance to play.

    he and keane maybe want to see all their options in action.

    See we now want Russian wonder kid, as well as Moses and Ki.

    Was impressed by the music Steamer, have now downloaded it to my Utube a/c and also Runts soul piece by the Isley Bros…maybe we all have a lot more in common.

    Frem….my youngest son went to Oz in 2000 with nothing, married his Ozzie girlfriend, became an Ozzie citizen, and has never looked back. He now is in a top job, and married with five great kids and loving it….His only drawback is, he became a BinDipper fan during the years I was in business, and neglected to take him to VP. I wish i had taken a chance to go, coz if you are a grafter, you will make it in Oz or Canada….Still they are both lands of opportunity.

    My season ticket arrived today too.!!

  104. Clive Evans

    Coming in late due to time difference as usual. Good to see the kids get an airing even if PL said it was only because his first choice players were jet lagged! 5 hours difference? I flew back from UK at 2130 UK time after getting up at 0500 and landed in Thailand 1930 next day (1330 UK) and after a 3 hour journey home was up and mowing the grass next morning.

    It’s looking more like RV will be tempted away; with his usual foresight PL got a replacement already – no guesses please.

    Steamer enjoyed the Cavaliere.

    Frem regulations here are not adhered to, all laws exist to be ignored. I am an amateur electrician but I worked to BS7671 standards when I did jobs for myself and family in UK. I checked all my sockets after the builder had handed over and found one where all three holes were live! I soon changed that socket!

    If you want to read about the poor standards paste this into your browser
    http://www.siam-info.com/english/electrical.html

  106. Frem

    How many of them are we going to sign? Mosses maybe that’s it. Ki staying at Swansea apparently. Club will be be putting the rumours out for season ticket sales

  108. Graham O'Gara

    Also Linked with Ravel Morrison by am “apparent” Villa insider… Keane rates him as a talent and wonder mentor the boy through his tough times… its reads…

    Can’t see it, but you never know he wouldn’t be the first troubled talented youth to come good under the stewardship and a firm mentor… but if Big Sam or SAF couldn’t handle him what the odds of PL and RK?

  110. Frem

    ” What is a club in any case ?”
    “Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it. Its not about the television contracts, get out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes.
    Its the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in our city.

    Its a small boy clambering up the stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his fathers hand, gawping at the hollowed stretch of turf beneath him, and with out being able to to do a thing about it, falling in love ”

    Sir Bobby Robson

    Then there’s our manager blaming jet lag and saying the players should be proud of them self’s after the spurs game. One of those is a proper football man

  111. Graham O'Gara

    BAH Frem… It was a friendly… The lads had just flown back, if he’d of picked a full team and one of them got injured you’d be slating him for playing them. You have also been whinging about the fact the youngster don’t get a game… bosh they get a game… you find something else to criticise him for. If it was a game that mattered i’m sure I’d join you in being baffled, however this is preseason… about bringing up fitness levels, getting games in to the whole squad… it’s a nothing game.

    Wouldn’t it be nice if that romanticised view on football where true… In fact football is, and has been for a while, about ££££…

    I’m not a fan of Lambert at all, but find my self constantly having to put some perspective on the constant needless crap being thrown about.

  112. Frem

    Hardly any of the players who traveled to America played so how is jet jag an excuse ? I’m glad he played the youngsters. Lambert will be criticised a lot because he some of our worst managers in history, if not the worst. He’s disgraces football with how played last season

  113. Frem

    He disgraced football last season. He shouldn’t still be our manager. Of we had an owner who gave a fuck, he would have been sacked in January on 2013 after Bradford done the double over us and Milwall saints Wigan and Newcastle beat us. He was lucky Randy couldn’t give a fuck. 2014 wasn’t any better. Fulham beating us aVP, a rugby team battering us 4-1 at Villa, losing 8 of our last 10 games, losing pretty much every home game we played. He’s lucky he’s still in a job

  115. Paul Pears

    Lambert statement about jet lag was in reference to Guzan, and he was trying to cover his embarassment for poor goalkeeping, and he spoke highly of jack Grealish.

  117. Graham O'Gara

    He’s not using it as an excuse for losing, merely stating that he thought it would be best not to play most of the lads that had come back from texas.

    I’m not saying don’t criticise him Frem… at least do it for justifiable reason. I get the pent up frustration I really do, but be that wound up by a preseason game is barmy.

    Its your opinion he is lucky to be in the job, I don;t know what the decisions are being made on behalf of him are. I’m not sure the “bomb” squad was his idea… more a derivative from the owner and board.

    Lambert is not a stupid man, he is in this for himself, not Villa… he wouldn’t dismiss anyone who he though would make the side better and thus make him look better.

    His style of football has left much to be desired, perhaps he’s seen it as the only way he could keep the club up, which if we’re honest going by what the owner is putting in is our only target.

    Lerner has brought the club back on to a reasonable financial footing… however he has also shot himself in the foot by effectively dismantling and selling a whole team in doing so and thus knocking million off the value of his club.

    Lets save criticism for when its deserved… rather than picking on the petty in nothing games.

  118. Graham O'Gara

    Without fans clubs have nothing… said that for a while… however its like smoking, its a hard addiction to give us. We are a captive audience… but this is being eroded season on season… will the penny drop with the clubs before its too late? This isn’t problem for Villa… its across football…

  120. Frem

    Frimpong. Take it Ki deal ain’t happening if that’s true.

    With out fans clubs are nothing, so surely the club should respect the fans and not plAy anti football and not lie in post match interviews ? Surely a manger in the best league in the world, with a great club would have standards and dignity? Ours has no none. He has no shame. He doesn’t care about the fans pain. I’m sure he’s not a stupid man, but he’s not a very good manager what so ever.

    The football we played didn’t work though did it. We lost most weeks so it wasn’t Effective. I wasn’t the only way we could have stayed up. Not even Mcliesh would have lowered his standards to play the football we did at times last season.

  122. steamer

    Dog walker told me that the odds of Jurgen Klinsmann being next Villa manager have dropped from 40-1 to 4-1 in the past couple of weeks due to employees at the London branch of Meryl Lynch BoA nipping into their local William Hills. Just saying.
    Paul Lambert is a pathetic excuse of a human being never mind a football manager, just a lying, clueless gobshite who’s lucky to have another dumb arsehole as his employer, we’ll never be a proper football club again until this filth is removed.

  123. steamer

    He’s not stupid and he hasn’t any integrity because he’s fucking up a historical institution and taking home £25,000 per week doing it without a thought for its fans or, indeed, the club. It went past the point of no return after the Chelsea game so why’s he staying ? The idiot Lerner is just as bad, clueless to the core.

  124. Mark King

    Lambert is staying because nobody of note would take the job in the present circumstances unless they hadn’t worked for years or lost there marbles. this is lerner and Lamberts mess and at least he’s sticking around to see it through. he could easily piss off and take a post somewhere else to lessen his already damaged reputation. most of us wish he would but what would we get instead? maybe a gamble too far at the moment its a tough call.

  125. Lionheart

    Everton buying Lukaku for 28M shows what can be achieved..

    What a disaster the Lerner era has been.. Us and Everton were on the same level.. yet with no takeover and not much money they consistently finished near us and now are a million miles away from us..

    Just shows how badly we pi$$ed away a fortune with no structure and scouting system in place..

    The Lukaku deal is a damning verdict on the state of our once Great Club…

  126. Mark King

    lionheart

    it is but we did piss £25mil on bent because we had to. There is no saying Everton will repeat last seasons form, saying that neither will Southampton. liverpool, city, man utd, chelsea and arsenal and probably spurs will be get better, its going to be tough at the top

  127. runtings

    GOG – one thing is for sure – no one else of any note was willing to work under the current conditions or conditions of when lambo took over – so in that respect he is a brave man indeed or just nuts

    On the other hand Lambo has shown little or nothing of what i look for in a manager — i.e system of play – style of play — man motivation — communication — ability to find the right players consistantly for the club — decision making

    Along with mcliesh imo he is the worst thing to happen to villa in living memory

  128. Lionheart

    Mark.. agreed but at least they have some structure.. players that are assets.. we are a complete mess and considering we had a takeover at a decent stage in terms of Premiership timings.. we totally wasted it..

    Instead of having the right man at the top.. a vision.. a scouting system etc etc we have Martin Oneil still living in the 1980s looking for the next Guppy Elliot and co..

  129. steamer

    Mark,
    Nobody of note !!! I’d have McKnob, Phil Brown, Ian Holloway, anyone over this clown, the worst manager in the entire league, championship, leagues 1&2.

  132. steamer

    In Morrisons today and had a squint at Football 2015 which had a preview of all the clubs for the coming season, Jon Fear did our review and just about sums up the club. Mentioned that if Lambert had any integrity he’d have walked, unfortunately he’s got as much integrity as talent.

  133. Mark King

    wasn’t putting villa in there category gents far from it, just saying things are far more uncertain at the top than ever before, so Everton might find that £28 mil well spent but for the size of club and revenue probably not. I’ve no doubt most of the league will do better than us so we have one option watch and wait because it will certainly be what it will be

    steamer
    Lerners not going to pay his wages up at this point and employ someone else on equal money. plus no transfer kitty and a divided squad isn’t appealing.

  134. steamer

    GOG,
    Strange how Morrison is in court for one dig and Keane gets away with what was a disgraceful assault on AIH. Just goes to show the power that Untied have even off the pitch. I remember reading about Bliais pet monkey Al Campbell, when he ran the country and he had a problem he’d phone up Ferguscon who put him right ( in his rancid mind ), he’d then give Bliar the lowdown and bang Roberts yer Uncle, problem solved by a dumb dockyard sparky, wonder if there’s any Untied fans in Iraq ?

  135. Frem

    Just listening to Koemans philosophy for The Saints. Says he wants to dominate games. Proper manager

    Lamberts philosophy. HOOOOOOOF!!!!!!!! We aren’t even good at it either. Don’t even do the basics like one player running of the big man. I don’t think we train on anything

  136. Ian

    The Saints just pulled a Villa. Sold all the talent with the explanation that their youth is up to the task. Well you’ve got shit for brains if you think that is going to work. And what did you want him to say? Of course he would say we want to dominate games. So does fucking MU, MC, Arsenal, etc. Jesus give your head a shake. The experienced teams are going to eat them alive. Just like Villa got eaten. God, Buddua, and Mohammad wouldn’t be able to get Villa to the top now Saints are expecting too? NFW. Maybe bring on Moses and have him part the defense like the red sea. Not going to happen. ARRRG! The bottom 10 are all going to struggle–again. Maybe there should be a super league with unlimited spending because this is getting tedious. All Lerner (bless his little black heart) wants to do is keep the status quo with the team.

    When you are working with the minimum amount of talent that the bottom teams have, attacking football won’t work as you will get shredded. Wigan for example played good footy big fucking deal. Now Martinez has some talent his ideas are working. Same for Lambert, if he had talent on the pitch his style of footy would be overpowering too. Plus he wouldn’t feel anxious doing some stuff out of the box as he would know the team would be able to recover. You play what you’ve got and the financial penalties are too great to risk entertainment–just survival no more no less.

  137. Frem

    I bet the Saints still do better than we do next season by far. Never heard Lambert say he wants to dominate games. He’s happy to let the opposition pass the ball around for 90 mins, win 4-1 and then come out and say we were excellent.

    Last season 10th place should have Been easy for a manger who is in his second season and had 20 mill to spend in the summer before hand. He fucked that up big time, and the season. Hughes got Stoke walking circles round us 8 months into his reign with players who hoofed it for 10 years before hand. Our manager was 16 months in and we looked like the team with a manger who has only been in charge for 8 months.

    It doesn’t have to be Barca attacking football, just get out of our own half, retain possession for a bit and excite and create. We never did that all season. Always back to the walls, everyone behind the ball and piss poor counter tactics, even at home. Even teams like Fulham played us of the park and did the double over us.

  139. Frem

    What do you think we did in training last season Ian? What’s our main game plan?

    Retaining possession? Hell no
    Staying compact and organised ? Might have been the plan but teams scored with ease past us most the time
    Long ball? Was defo the game plan , did we master it? God no. Didn’t even get the basics right

    Lambert doesn’t even know what he wants, let alone the players

  140. Frem

    If he wants to continue the anti football long ball tactics then at least go full out at it and master it like Stoke did for a while. We can’t even score from corners

  141. Frem

    Lowton on loan to Boro. How far he’s fallen since his wonder goal against Stoke and his perforce against Sunderland. Lambert apparently had a falling out with him

    So Hutton number 1 right back and Backed up by Bacuna who no right back what so ever.

  143. Ian

    Hahaha Frem. Touche. I see your point and have seen them for a while but I can’t help think that survival surpasses all and tepid football is the result. Doesn’t matter what you do in training, if the opposition are strong, players revert to protection not attack. It’s that fight or flight syndrome and Villa are more flight that fight. I am hoping that Roy will put more spine into the team. I am also hoping that the experience that was brought in regardless of the cost will instill some confidence in the team. The legs might have lost it with these guys but the brain hasn’t. I do expect some surprises this year and I don’t mean 9 nil. 🙂

    Sorry if it seems like I picked on you, but I was pissed at the whole scenario and you were the proverbial straw.
    On another note I am having the house re serviced and a service put into the workshop. Everything underground. 200 amps to each. It would have been nice if it was you and ST75 doing the work.

  144. Mark King

    Ian

    your not setting up Frankenstein’s lab are you? will take more than a few volts to liven up are team.

    I do feel sorry for saints to lose so many really good players pisses off every one but you can’t turn down the kind of money they got. It will probably take three years or more to get back to their previous level.

    to be honest I think with all the players fit and maybe another one or two in we will be more solid than last season, he’s clearly trying to address are short comings even if its with frees and nzogbia, greakish and cole to a lesser extent we have more creativity. johnson is getting better and i believe so is gardener. adef mid and a left back required as long as we keep Vlaar

    discuss 🙂

  145. Frem

    Hopefully Keane will add some fight and winning mentality to our players because it was non existent last season from the owner, to the the manager and the players. Even the people who care the most just went numb eventually and gave up.
    We can’t do any worse than last season anyway. We might get 40 points this time 😉

    No worries. I’ve been pissed at Villa for ages now and can see why people get pissed with me but I don’t mind. It’s a blog. It’s going to happen.

    Do you have a big house Ian ? I wish I was doing as well. Would love to get to Canada

  146. Ian

    Hey Mark, everything here is electrical. No gas. No water. No sewer system. No garbage pick up. Post goes to a box down the road. Our heat is electric base boards that’s why its 200 amps. But I am building a footballer in the workshop. Gonna sell it to Villa.

  147. Frem

    Mark- The Saints still have time to turn it around this month I think. They have plenty of money and a good manager. Still expect them to be strong this season although it may take some time

    We need at least 3 more players in. As you say, a LB big time. We need another winger and a real CM partner for Delph. As you also say, with Cole, Grealsih, Grealish, Zoggy and someone like Mosses we should have enough players to create chances for bent Benteke and Kosak. Even Wiemann seems to have a final ball on him this pre season

    One question- If Lowton is going because of a poor season, then why can’t Kea, gabby, baker and Wiemann join him ?

  148. steamers75

    lan , 200 amps to a shed , houses over here only get 80 now as the 100 are being replaced , would me and frem get travel expenses , would need a terminal, cutters and a hammer !!!!
    watching common wealth games and a canadian has just won gold for lifting 229 kilos, fucking hell l picked up a bird that size in skegness butlins , big deal !!!!!

  151. Ian

    100 is normal. But we have 115 volts as the norm with 230 the exception for sockets. We are allowed 15 sockets per 15 amp breaker. Switches don’t count. The shed (that’s what my daughter calls it) is heated by electricity. A 30 amp breaker for 5000 watts (I think). All major appliances are stand alone with one 15 amp (or 20) breaker.

    You need a lot of beer on board for a 229 kilo bird.

  154. steamer

    Ian,
    This footballer your making, use sub standard parts and make sure it doesn’t work, we’ll sign him, he matches the DNA of all the other bosted arseholes at VP.

  156. steamers75

    Ian
    that is no shed mate thats a bungalow , the kind of thing lm looking for now as this house is to big now especially as my daughter wants to go and live with Runtins family down London !!!! bet he’s just choked on his cornflakes if he’s reading this . and dont send that pic to steamer as you’ll have him on your doorstep , as he’s on the move ,

    Mark saw some of the air/underground in their hotel/appartments . the place we had in Cannata was like a multi storey hotel with a whole floor as a shopping area and your appartment was as big as a 3 bed house , and that was the kind of heating , mostly air , you could go set up over there and have Frem as your spark mate , let me know when your bands on again, that was a great day out at Geds , always fancied going to Galway , steamers on about walsall , l fancy that as it was my moms team , will let you know mate .

    have a good week-end all

    Ian xx

    Jenny xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

  157. John Lerwill

    Steamer: Think anyone would want to get out of this cesspool, bent politicians who criticise Russia for protecting their own people yet ignore the deliberate bombing of hospitals and schools in Palestine, this country is always bragging about values, well iv’e never seen any in my lifetime just rampant imperialism and wars…

    My dear friend (as you all are: we must have something deeply in common for us to continue our support for a club that has become a mess!), I recognise and empathise with this point of view.

    Sadly, though, the basis from which our politicians work is based on our material considerations. It’s because Israel is such a great purchaser of arms from the UK that our politicians bend in their direction. We – the electorate – seem to support that view as we want to prosper, and as Israel puts so much in our coffers we decide that is preferable to making ourselves materially poorer by applying sanctions on that country.

    It’s us to blame as we support the system that does not change with elections. The system seems to be fixed. We have all gone to sleep.

    Last night I was watching an Al-Jazeera programme about workers acting against their US-owned employers in France and Canada and going so far as to hijack their bosses and keeping them imprisoned to make their point!! In this country, we went to sleep after Scargill. No-one now dare acts against the system in place in this country.

    It’s us to blame is it not?

  158. John Lerwill

    BTW, as to values in this country, at least we had a Labour leadership (before Blair) that produced the NHS and The Open University. They were in our (yours and mine) lifetime and we should applaud their creation as the true symbol of our values i.m.o.

  159. Graham O'Gara

    “We – the electorate – seem to support that view as we want to prosper”

    I think you giving a lot of credit to the electorate many of whom are ignorant to the facts.

    What Israel is doing is a down right disgrace… the fact the the Uk, France and America are reluctant to pull them in to line shows the there is indeed a price on lives… their billions in arms seems to be worth more then the suffering of many to our politicians.

    Conservative, Labour, Liberal… meh they’re all as bad as each other, talk the talk, but afraid to stick their heads above the parapet and show true integrity and morality.

    Its got to the Point where the Green Party have actually become the leading light in politics and would urge the lethargic masses who have given up on voting because nothing changes to take a look at their policies. Their sums add up, their stance on Europe is sensible, their ethics are correct and they are lead by someone who I would happily call my primeminister.

    Its time that huge lump of middle England that have given up on politics to make their force felt… Give up on traditional political parties and their private school, professional politicians, mates club.

    Long go are the day the green party was an excuse for hippies to dream about a utopian state… they are now an intelligent, well thought out, well lead party with real ideas to offer across the whole range of issues.

  160. Mark King

    John L

    as graham said most are ignorant to the facts and will continue to be as the media/government want it that way. free handouts buy votes as does giving the middle classes a lot to lose. we have been great proponents of propaganda at least since Napoleons times. As for me I’m ready for whole scale change.

    Graham

    will look at the green party, do you get involved with Avaaz they seem to get things done or at least make governments sit up and think

  161. John Lerwill

    Graham/Mark

    That ignorance is precisely why I made the remark I did – that “We – the electorate – seem to support that view as we want to prosper”.

    THAT is the over-riding criteria that the electorate have blindly been following since Harold MacMillan (“You’ve never had it so good!” – 1959) – that economic progress is the basis for our future, purely and simply (I’m not going back to Napoleonic times as back then few people had the vote and the system was mostly corrupt anyway).

    Today’s thinking is a lot of rubbish, but out of fear or laziness (maybe a combination of both) people go along with it even when virtually all countries in the world are operating at an unsustainable level.

    As to the Green Party. In point of fact I’ve already written to Caroline Lucas congratulating her on the sense she speaks and wish that she could be leader of the Labour Party! 😉 A coalition of Labour and The Greens could be a good step forward if more people would follow closely what the Greens are saying/doing.

    BTW, I was following the Ecology Party way back in the mid-70s before it became the Green Party.

    Avaaz is also worth following up, but it’s a fundamental change in the entire direction of government policies that’s needed – here and everywhere.

  162. steamer

    GOG and JL, superb. My view on the electorate is that most of them are either too self centred od too dumb to vote, do away with this false democracy and replace it with a one party state espousing socialist policies. David Camoron said the other day that Karl Marx was evil, perhaps he would like to explain why thoughts of equality and compassion are evil. He also said that Thatcher was his hero, a warmongering imperialist who destroyed hundreds of lives and wanted to dismantle the NHS. The only way forward is if the entire establishment should be taken apart.

  163. Mark King

    john L

    I was referring to the use of propaganda/media by government to keep us divided, it started in earnest back then as Napoleon was seen as a threat to the status quo of royalty and old boy networks and printing made it possible. Who would of stood in a line to be shot at if they were not convinced the other lot hate them? same game goes on today, sleight of hand on a global scale. the only power they have is that which we give them in return for fear and the death of true compassion

    that said ST75 where’s my £20 ?

  167. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    Hey, that’s some inspirational work there! 🙂

    Now past 70 with wife and myself having health issues I now regret not getting into this line many years ago – but we now just concentrate on living as simply as possible, making the least possible demands on nature.

  169. John Lerwill

    Steamer: …do away with this false democracy and replace it with a one party state espousing socialist policies…

    Broadly I again empathise. Our so-called democracy is indeed a sham, but most people don’t bother to think about it.

    As far as a one-party state is concerned then I’d agree but it’s only viable when we really have a set of human values that everyone is willing to sign up to. Ego has to be put in its proper place and people must be able to trust one another, otherwise it could turn into Orwell’s vision expressed in “1984”.

  170. runtings

    Very intersting thoughts from all re politricks

    i guess it is impossible to get the right balance that fits all – human nature is such that self gain will always rear ts ugly head and the ton 10% will never look to share what they have wirh everyone else

    One good thing is dispite in high places makng the rules there are still many many great people on this planet that gunuinly care for other less fortunate than themselves

  176. B62 Villa

    All the chickens are coming home to roost, AVFC have wasted the last few years, Lambert has taken us further backwards over the last 2 years, he has wasted £30-£40m on players that were nowhere near good enough for this level, this is proven that they are all now leaving for lower tier teams, Steer, Luna, Sylla, Lowton, Bowery, Dawkins, Holt, have all gone/are going in some shape or form.
    It’s looking more likely we will starting with a team resembling the one Mctwat left behind, only devoid of confidence having been treated like shite by a fool of a manager. You really couldn’t write the soap opera that is Villa, whilst all around us clubs are strengthening.
    I predict we will finish 18th, the sooner the cancers that are Lambert and Lerner are cut out of this club the better

  177. r0bb0

    Not been on here for a while and now find I’ve been missing discussions on green politics and permaculture…who’d have thought it!
    I was on the first ever environmental biology degree course in the UK back in the 70’s when theories of ozone holes and greenhouse effects were far more controversial than they are now.
    Hoping to set up our own permaculture haven when we finally settle properly down here in Devon.

  178. John Lerwill

    r0bb0

    Very interested in what you’ve said. Yes, the old ozone was a talking point, wasn’t it?!

    Devon is my family’s ancestral home would you believe – on BOTH sides, not just one!

    Would be interested to know which area you’re in. We’re from (broadly) Braunton and Bampton.

  179. r0bb0

    John, It’s a great part of the world down here isn’t it. I’ve been living in Dartmouth for the last couple of years but going back home to the midlands most weekends.
    We’re planning to move down here properly soon and it’ll be good to be able to settle down here properly.
    Do you ever get down here these days?

  182. John Lerwill

    r0bb0

    I was down there just a few weeks ago, on a research assignment. But that was to Barnstaple – my visits tend to be to north Devon with the very odd visit to Exeter.

    Good luck with your settlement there, but there should be no problem – it’s a great area to be in.

  183. steamer

    Think that was Dartmoor Ian where the hound of the Baskervilles was providing shite for the permaculture.

    Anyone thinking of buying the new shirt take into consideration that the players have asked for body hugging shirts this season so you may need a bigger size, heard this off a few peeps and one was told by the big frog in the shop. Good job Holts gone but Gabby and Weiman have problems.

  184. Clive Evans

    Hi Ian – the prison’s on Dartmoor.
    Coming in late as usual – why do you need all that electrical power for heating, sitting as you are on MAGMA? No heating required here mate, just air con inverters.

    I reckon Lambert is a subscriber on here – all the football chat gets diverted to permaculture, weightlifters just to stop us having a go at him. He would do well at Prime Minister’s Questions in HoP.

    I’ve given (sic) up on speculation and, as I’ve often mentioned before, I’m going to wait and see who runs out for the first match and who’s on the pre-season injury list,

    In just over an hour I’m off to watch the Crusaders v Waratahs in the Super15 final – hoping the ‘Tahs’ stall the Kiwi domination – then I’ll try and work myself up for a fortnights time debacle at Britannia Stadium.

    PS John – passed on your regards to Rob Bishop when we met – Corner Flag no longer opens on non-match days so we went to the Bartons Arms – as if I really wanted Thai! I can recommend it however as it is genuine Thai not the masquerading rubbish.

  185. John Lerwill

    Clive

    Re: Rob Bishop. I have never been able to quite forgive him as he is a Baggies fan in disguise! 🙂

    … but that is true of so many in Villa’s Media team – that in most cases their personal allegiance is to some other club. It might be a good thing in some respects, but I’ve never been able to quite square with that situation.

    Anyway, you had a good Thai! … I hope the feller wasn’t too tough! 😉

  186. Frem

    Anyone else bricking the up coming season ?
    We still have arguably the worst manager in our history at the club, we have by far the worst tactician in the league. This is a man who has no clear game plan and it shows on match days.
    Then there are our full back options. Would any of our full backs get Into any other side ? No way. That needs sorting. Bennett, Lowton, Stevens and Hutton. Scary
    What was Also a major problem last season? Creating things. Most games went by with out us having a single attempt on goal. We had no players to s are the opposition, no threat, no creativity. Grealish will help in the number 10 role, but either side of him need to be Mossess and Zoggy. Players who can at pace and supply Benteke and bent. No more playing clueless strikers like Gabby and Wiemann on the wing.
    And off course CM partner for Delph we need in big time

    Still a lot of work to be done this month to even give us a chance of staying up

  187. Trinity

    Steamer
    Trin,

    ” Did you ever see that film about Aussie rules The Club starring Jack Thomson, one of the funniest films iv’e ever seen. Won’t catch me in those seas, since i saw Jaws iv’e been wary of the sea, can still see that head coming out of the ship. Give my regards to Harold Bishop unless he’s died again.”

    Sorry mate for not answering more promptly, went out on the Great Barrier Reef for a couple of days, except today. Today, I went crocodile watching down a river called the Daintree. Saw a few salties basking in the sun.

    You know more about Aussie rules than I do. I’ll catch up on the Jack Thomson movie when I get home.

    Saw a little shark, a timid little black tipped reef shark that was hiding in a little cave, hardly jaws. There was an inquisitive and persistent barracuda that liked to swim along with me underwater. I was wary of that brute, he was pretty big and liked to bare those prongs cudas have for teeth. That aside, saw a couple of varieties of turtles, lots of clown fish and dozens of colourful fish I couldn’t name. All-in-all it was worth the outlay in cash. It’ll be back to Wellington, NZ for a week then back to the humidity of a Korean summer.

  188. Mark King

    frem

    not really mate I have no massive expectations but a sneaky feeling we could improve if grealish and nzogbia continue their form. would rather have benteke from the start but he would probably get sold so maybe September Octobers best. oddly enough the defence is my biggest concern if vlaar goes, if not i’m happy enough especially if we get a decent DM. the rest of the midfield will be enough to keep us up and kosak, bent , benteke, gabby and weimann should be enough up top if they all have patches of form. i’m not talking about mid to upper-mid just 12-15th but as long as vlaar stays i’m not flapping yet

  189. steamer

    Apart from having a porous defence, no midfield and only one decent striker, who’s currently injured, i don’t think theirs a lot wrong with the team that £80m or so wouldn’t shore up. Of course i didn’t mention having a knob as manager as i don’t want to be perceived as negative. Expect us to fall off the coupon after a few tonkings.

  190. steamer

    Don’t know who coaches the youth team but after two years with them Mutton is now the best RB in the club, gone from bomb squad to 1st team, does PL know what he’s doing ?

  193. Frem

    2 down already. 5 at the back, strikers on the wing and our strongest possible so called line up. Lambert doesn’t learn does he

    look at our bench as well, our squad is so so bad

  194. runtings

    nice one for the link steamer

    Frem i think we will be poor but just stay up if we keep concrete – i think kozak and tekkers will help on the goal front albeit there supply line is rather limited

    agree with Mark in that zog and jack could make a difference to our creative play

  201. Frem

    Wiemann is now playing CM is a flat midfield 5. Gabby has spent most the game at left back

    Villa fans booo’s at half time

  202. runtings

    got into the stream now — we are truely in trouble with lambert — the way he sets up and gets us to play is so sterile — if things don’t change it will be a head in hands season

  203. Andrew P

    Hello people. In Groningen. Shocking performance first half. To rub salt in to the wounds, they wouldn’t sell tickets to Villa fans on the day so we’ve had to spend 60 euros on Groningen club shop tat to blag our way into the home end. Free wi-fi though.

  206. Andrew P

    Thanks Frem. The football’s just an excuse for a couple of days away, thank God. No signs at all that next season will be any better than last. Hope it’s not one relegation battle too many. UTV.

  207. steamer

    Just what we needed, hope its 10 something may change then. Aberdeen won here last week, gone from pathetic to pitiful, Lerner, Lambert and Keane OUT.

  216. steamer

    The thing is that Lambert is so arrogant that he believes he’s actually doing us a favour by managing us. I know its futile but i would urge everyone to go to the Walsall game with banners criticising Lerner and especially Lambert and give the bastard hell, he’s not the bravest and hopefully he’ll buckle then theirs only two to remove.

  220. Steve W

    I read a lot of pompous rubbish from ‘real supporters’ online constantly making excuses and lecturing Villa fans that have the nerve to offer criticism of this ghastly incompetent club. Never mind that these deluded clowns can’t point to one positive fact, they still keep getting on our backs. Well, they’ve been well and truly proved totally wrong. By every single measure.

    In fact these sycophants give licence to Lerner and his piss poor manager to get away with running this club in this fashion. They should be run out of the club and their continued presence made intolerable, just as they’ve made watching Villa.

  221. steamer

    Well said Steve, iv’e been very disappointed with the apathy shown by our fans, its ok saying its about opinions but you’d have to be pretty stupid to rate anything at VP at the moment. Wonder if they’ll be so happy when we’re in the Champo.

  222. steamers75

    Yes Steve w one breadth they’re saying lets see what we can do in these friendlies to get off to a winning start then next breadth they come out with the excuse oh its only a friendly. fucking unbelievable . feel smug at the moment as l said it when this clown walked through the door he’d be a disaster and l have’nt been proved wrong
    Keane zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    Steamer . fuck the walsall game , think l will watch the paint dry in the bathroom mate . you can come and join me , will get you some of Prox’s beer

  223. Mark King

    steve w

    who exactly are these sycophants? because other than John L’s efforts by sending a letter signed by many of us asking for change, I haven’t seen a fat lot of anything done by the fans negative or positive that has made a shit of difference to the situation. the club is being sold and the whole situation is a fuck up. if you have any ideas that would magically change the situation, maybe organise a rally to get lambert sacked etc. personally I haven’t got the time and what will be will be. we all wish it was different, it isn’t.

    steamer

    you have contacts amongst the fans and have shown consistently that you don’t like the regime, why not try and do something instead of criticising others for not doing what your thinking?

  224. steamers75

    Mark you wont see a fat lot done either , at the ground you get thrown out for voiceing your concerns and if you unfurl a banner your thrown out and banned , and outside the ground you get nicked by the cops , 4 of our lot are banned for doing just that , (banners and shouting) quite a few of my mates arnt renewing , whats the point , and you said it yourself you aint got time , neither have a lot of fans . you do just get a teeny bit pissed off of people saying its going well when you can see it fucking aint , it does make you wonder when your watching a shit game (again) and someone on the other table say’s l saw positves !!!!but they cant explain them to you when you ask , the only positives l have seen are the bloody balti pies ,

  226. B62 Villa

    I hope the dinghy sinks with Lambert and Keane in it, our only hope is Lerner has forgot to change his will, and leaves the club all his money, then jumps of the Empire State Building , even the blues have got more to look forward to this season, I fucking hate Lerner, I hope he leaves soon and suffers like we have for the rest of his miserable life, he is scum , no better than the cunts that rob and burgle pensioners.

  229. Jenny Truman

    Very disappointing from AV last night and the usual excuses from PL. If it’s all about fitness , who arranged these friendlies so close to returning from the US .

    It’s hardly a good vibe going into Stoke with two crushing defeats to lower opposition

    . If it is all about fitness then who is in charge of ours as Matt Kendrick worrying reported

    “Villa were sluggish, laboured and lacklustre. Defensively they were awful and going forward they weren’t much better.

    It’s hard to find any positives at all from the performance.”

    ST75 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxc

    Matt K ought to look out – there’s a ban on speaking the truth now .

  230. Jenny Truman

    Very disappointing from AV last night and the usual excuses from PL. If it’s all about fitness , who arranged these friendlies so close to returning from the US . Nice for Bacuna to get a standing ovation from the Groningen supporters – even if his old team gave us a bit of a pasting .

    Fitness or not, it’s not a good vibe going into Stoke with two pathetic defeats to lower opposition . Ido t blame Shay Given either , last season he was sitting on the bench after being told there was no future for him at AV .

    As PL says it’s all about then who is in charge of ours as Matt Kendrick worrying reported .

    “Villa were sluggish, laboured and lacklustre. Defensively they were awful and going forward they weren’t much better.

    It’s hard to find any positives at all from the performance.”

    ST75 xxxxxxxxxxxx

  231. John Lerwill

    Jenny Matt K ought to look out – there’s a ban on speaking the truth now .

    Only now? It’s been quietly developing for several years – since I was there, Jenny.

  232. Jenny Truman

    John – the stupidity knows no bounds it seems as the press delight in this unenforceable, ridiculous nonsense

    The directive is said to have been proposed by Villa’s head of marketing and communications, Russell Jones, at a meeting at the end of last season.

    It was then approved by a steering group including Jones, supporters’ club liaison officer Alan Perrins and a handful of Lions clubs chairmen – but has sparked a storm of controversy.

    Although many of the clauses are straightforward, calling for good behaviour at games, ruling out racism and sexism, and upholding the club’s reputation, a number have angered longstanding supporters.

    In point seven of the code, chairmen are effectively barred from criticising club officials, even on their own personal social media pages.

    “It reads: “You will not partake in any abusive conversations towards anyone associated with the Club in any public forum, whether this is on a page that is personal to you and bears your name, OR on a page that bears the name of your Lions Club (including social media, Facebook, Twitter, etc).”

    The controls imposed on the use of personal accounts have particularly upset fans.”

    Alienating the Aston Villa Lions – unbelievable . They may be able to silence ppl like Ian Taylor by sacking him as embassador and their employees , but they will never be able to silence the fans . As one tweeted , I will say what I like about AV , what are they going to do , take me season ticket from me “. Unbelievable from the head of PR – oh the irony .

  234. Frem

    This club is unreal. Lambert and Randy have to go down as the worst people to ever set foot inside of this club

    I’m really starting to hate this club now instead of caring about it. Yesterday’s performance was a disgrace and now a ban on opinions.

  236. Frem

    Great chant from the fans yesterday which hopefully we will sing on Tuesday.

    ” we are even worse than last year, we Are even worse than last year “:)

    Lambert says the result is not irelivent. When are results ever important to hi ? He never seems to care

  237. steamer

    Mark, I do, iv’e personally persuaded several people not to renew ST’s, its the folk that keep putting ££ in the winkers pocket i’m getting at and that includes people on this site, if they want to see AVFC disintegrate then thats OK, but to come on here a moan about it is out of order, if i offend any of the above let them think about it. I missed under 20 games H&A in 13 years before Ellis came back, i never went to VP again till he’d gone, PRINCIPLES is the word, tore me apart at first but if you gain pleasure from watching some thick yank moron ripping the heart out of a club then VP is the place to do it.

  238. southwestvillan

    Jenny,

    The club said the new Lions club rules were put through after full consultation with the chairmen, which was actually six out of two hundred and only two from our main fanbase in England and i can guarantee they were hand picked because they lacked the balls to tell the club to shove their rules where the sun don’t shine.

    Steamer,

    Can you ever remember our club being in such a fucking mess because i am struggling, these cunts are ripping the heart out of AVFC and some so called fans are still getting behind Lerner and Lamberk, they are nothing short of a disgrace.
    We know the only way we will get change is to see an empty VP it hurts me to say that but short term pain for long term gain is the only answer.
    Lerner out now and take all your idiots with you, these people should never be allowed anywhere near a sporting institution ever again.

    RIP AVFC

  239. Frem

    Steamer- did you keep going when we were in the 3rd division ? We’ve only sold 10 thousand season tickets anyway, I think the club get the picture

    I don’t believe that fans shouldn’t have to turn up for actions to be taken, or that fans need to put in massive protests for the club to act. 80 thousand could still turn up and not protest after we’ve lost 12 home games. The club should know it’s not acceptable anyway

    Most managers that get sacked are through the board recognising the situation is shite with out the fans having to say anything. I’ve renewed because I love where I sit. I’ve sat there for 10 years now and missed 1 home game in all that time. I love the people who sit around me, I love the atmosphere. I hate what’s going on at Villa though and just because people renew, it doesn’t mean they are fine with what’s going on.

    I guess I’m also hanging on hope that things will change soon with a new owner and a new Villa. If we got relegated to division 3, I’d still go and watch Villa

  240. B62 Villa

    Frem
    I know what you mean mate, I know blues and Albion fans who hate Villa(as it stands) less than me. It’s got to the point that now I’m hoping for ill health against Lambert so he had to resign, and the same for Lerner so he has to sell, that’s how low it’s got. With these two in charge we will go under, we will soon be playing Walsall and Pompey, whilst Albion, Wolves and even blues turn the corner.
    This team and these tactics would struggle in the championship, thank you Randy and your wanker employees, you have murdered one of England’s finest sporting institutions, I wouldn’t piss on either you or Lambert if you were on fire, hope you both leave the club soon and your next shit is a hedgehog

  241. Steve W

    Quite right steamer. As I’ve said before I won’t set foot in Villa Park again until Lerner and all his clueless appointments are gone.

    And Mark, I’m talking about everyone who has buried their heads in the sand over the last 4 seasons as this club has had the life strangled out of it by an incompetent owner and succession of imbecile managers. The people who still say give them a chance and insist that signing players nowhere near acceptable standard is a good idea. The people who make excuse after excuse for the inexcusable. You won’t have to look hard to find them.

  243. Mark King

    steamer

    unfortunately not enough then, and those places are potentially filled with the very people you despise and one less voice of decent is heard inside the ground. if a mass rally was held on the park outside the ground nobody would be arrested but plenty of publicity would be had. As far as I have seen anything done so far has been small scale at best and that is seen as a minority and not the majority and ignored.

    I can’t get down about our situation as dire as it is or the people that sleepwalk their way through supporting it. There are worst things happening in the world that put villas plight in the no big deal box and the same apathy applies to those problems too. Villa have gone down before and returned better for it at least for a while. so with no white night riding in we are what we are and protest probably would not have the desired effect. so I will put out my opinions of what I see on the pitch and if theres positives i’ll say and if not ditto

  244. Frem

    I think Stoke will batter us on the opening day, they have a great balance now and will dominate the ball. Then even just going into the second game against Newcastle which is home so we all know what will happen. It will be obvious to everyone in football that Lambert is not improving Villa and in fact making us worse

    Lambert will be under huge pressure come the end of August

  245. Mark King

    frem

    your probably right but we thought the same on the opening game against arsenal.
    I haven’t seen anything yet close to a starting line up except the one half when bent scored a couple.
    we put out a weaker team in the first half and get hammered then bring on players who should of given us the lead to build on, instead they are chasing the game. didn’t see the game yesterday but sounds like it was very poor. vlaar and okore at centre half would make a difference but a goalkeeping error and a thirty yard shot in the game didn’t help. would of thought Lambert would of been putting out his strongest side to start by now then trying out alternatives in the second he truly is baffling. Whats more I’m still waiting for the Keane effect?

  246. Johnie M

    Hi all

    I haven’t commented on this site for some time but have read this & other Villa blogs regularly and it’s the same moans & groans regurgitated without any real protest to the hierarchy. I signed John L’s petition which regrettably drew a blank from the accused & now I read Chairmen of supporters clubs globally are being gagged. The lunatics have indeed taken over the asylum. Well fuck em !

    The situation with our beloved Club is quite appalling & I’ve followed Villa for over 50 years !

    6 of us have shared 4 season tickets for some time but only 1 has renewed for next season, I dropped out because my lad prefers being on betfair Sat pm loosing most of his inheritance & also because I’m not prepared to drive up to V P to watch complete & utter garbage, which sends my Blood Pressure soaring sky high.
    Even in the 3rd division we played real football at the Shrine

    The 2 jokers have parted company – Hardy ( the clever one ) has decided on a solo career & Laurel ( the clueless, silent one ) is attempting to sell up as he can’t make anyone laugh on his own.
    I said to get behind PL ( the narcisstic one ) for 2 years in my first post on this site, which has now passed & he simply is not up to the job, albeit he hasn’t had the full deck to play with from day 1. Had the 2 jokers been removed he may have fared better but I somehow doubt it
    That leaves Roy ( the Edgey one ) on whom our survival depends because he is the only catalyst I can see to change things – it may not be nice but that’s currently part of the Club’s problem – no real winners in our ranks. We need “edge” big time,

    This site needs it’s edge back, it’s become “comfortably numb” – 1 day last week I read it on the homebound train & it was a cross between a Sparky’s exam paper / How to make cider / Are all politicians corrupt ( yes – Guy Faulkes was the last honest man to enter Parliament ).
    I know it’s close season but not even a mention of Olof Mellberg’s retirement – a solid citizen who always gave his all in a villa shirt – I salute you Olof as one of the great servants the Club has had in recent years. Even got up the Blue noses with an edgy comment about only 1 Club in the Midlands

    I strongly agree with the minority who advise boycotting V Pk as the only real form of protest under the current regime & for that reason I’m out

    Live, laugh, love & leave a lasting legacy folks

  247. Mark King

    johhnie M

    totally agree with all you say but I have never been a season ticket holder as I prefered playing to watching. maybe we should write to sky and tell them not to televise villa any more as we can’t stand the management . This would probably be more effective but I can guarantee the majority of us will watch the majority of villas games whether on the tele or a dodgy stream this season even if we don’t attend. I agree this site has become broader as the issues at villa have become tedious and the football worse. I came on here initially to talk about the match as I’d lost my dad the only person I had to discuss it with but rarely find anyone writing anytrhing worthwhile because theres little to discuss and most people go into meltdown

  248. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    Yes – we’ve just about talked through all then angles. The only thought I can add is that the situation is that public relations from the club is worsening as I see it.

    I actually wonder how complicit AVST is in all this. They were campaigning hard for members a little while ago yet I read them as being another body of yes-men.

    It all smells of ‘1984’ again. The Orwell version, not the occasion of the sacking of the manager by Doug.

  249. John Lerwill

    Not Villa Men

    I mentioned yesterday that so many Media people at Villa are not born Villa men. They claim to have adopted Villa, but one wonders how much they would follow Villa if they moved elsewhere for a job.

    And the same came be said about Russell Jones (who seems to have brought up the idea of clamping down on the Lions). Decent feller I suppose, but a Wolves supporter. He’s far more concerned about his job and keeping his boss happy, I suspect.

  250. steamer

    Sorry to hear you and your nipper are knocking it on the head Jonnie, Lerner and Co should be made to read the blogs to see what a negative effect they are having on peoples lives not just the club.
    Frem,
    Never missed a game in our relegation season and only a couple in the 3rd Div days, BUT, we attempted to play footy and the club was transforming itself into a modern outfit. Most Villans will tell you they were the best days of following AVFC.
    SWV,
    Just find it impossible to find anything positive, even the tiniest thing that is up to scratch, we’ve gone past laughing stock now, this is EASILY the worst team iv’e ever seen at VP, managed by someone neither capable or suitable for the job, Lerners record with sporting clubs speaks for itself, makes even Ellis look capable although the two combined would still be a handicap. This club is dying, but you still find mugs telling you different, these delusionists are damaging the club too but Villa still find a way of shooting themselves in the foot, hence someone called Russell Jones, never met him or even heard of him and don’t want to either, well Mr Jones if you don’t want to hear any protests against this shitheap of a club don’t go to Walsall, in fact read the following, YOU ARE A PRICK, AS IS LERNER, SO IS LAMBERT, IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT TOUGH, YOU CAN FUCK OFF AND DIE YOU WANKER, hows that Russell ?
    Olbyon appoint respected journalist Martin Swain to PR we have a gobshite.

  251. steamer

    Ifa new regime comes in we need a complete clear out of admin, obviously Lambert, but Jones, Russell, Dougan, and the other hangers on who have bought this club to its knees.

  252. John Lerwill

    Steamer,

    Yes, I have to agree. The names you’ve listed are pure white collar office workers and have no feel for the club. Good at their professional work but not the ones you should let loose in this football club.

  253. southwestvillan

    Steamer,

    Completely agree a clean sweep is needed none of this lot deserve to be at our club they should be hung for destroying one of the best football clubs this country has ever seen.

    People think Keane will bring some much needed steel into the players, well not much evidence so far after a mauling at the hands of the mighty Groningen who had one of their top players pulled just before the game due to a possible move to Brighton.

    RIP AVFC

  254. Frem

    Steamer- it is impossible to find something positive because there honestly is not one single positive at Villa at the moment, not one.

    You stuck with Villa when they were in the 3rd division because you love them. I still go because I love The club. I hate our manager, our owner and most our players but I love Villa Park, the atmosphere, the fans and what We use to stand for. What’s going on at Villa is so wrong on pretty much every level but for 90 mins you have support them and hope they can muster up the odd win, then for the rest week of the week rip them apart 🙂

  255. steamer

    Frem,
    Is it Walsall on Tue ? if i go i’ll pick up S75 and a couple more and if you want we can meet up and discuss our plan of action, you bring you AK47 with you.

  256. John Lerwill

    What we’ve learnt since 2006…

    I remember as though it was yesterday how so many crowed about Doug having gone and getting themselves into a state that we had been bought by a billionaire. And the next 2 or 3 years seemed to keep most fans on a high.

    But, I hate to say it, I was one of those who said “Hang on, the grass always looks greener on t’other side” … and though I was not exactly a fan of Doug, I was unhappy about how he was badly harangued.

    The fact is, though, that Doug’s choice of the next owner might well have been a reflection of his own perceptions (which were, as we know, susceptible to wobble from time to time) and it rather looks as though he wanted someone in who would be more-or-less a replication of himself. Certainly, Doug could not have looked very carefully into Randy’s standing at the Brown’s.

    After such a sloppy start this season (yes, OK, they’re just friendlies) my fear now is that all might become such a shambles that Randy might have trouble in selling at all. Or perhaps potential buyers are waiting for a disaster to occur so that they can buy Villa at a knock-down price of £50m or something like that.

    And we would still be completely in the dark about just what kind of buyer is coming in.

    Many of us who know what the club is really all about are probably getting a little old in the gills for pushing (Buck Chinn style) for a fans’ takeover, but a fans’ takeover may well be the only satisfactory outlet.

    Ah well, winter approaches. Perhaps going into hibernation is the best option for us!

    Or perhaps just get a copy of Aston Villa In A Nutshell and take in how things were yonks ago!
    http://www.lerwill-life.org.uk/astonvilla/nutshell.htm

  257. steamer

    Hello John,
    What a pathetic way to treat a great servant of the club, i cannot believe that the hierarchy at VP can stoop so low, honestly iv’e not come across anything as vindictive as this in all my years following Villa. What kind of people do we have running Villa ? To be honest i’m ashamed to support this club any more. Hope they’re proud of themselves.

  258. John Lerwill

    Steamer: Moi? – “A great servant of the club”?

    I’ve done what I’ve done because I love the club’s history – simples.

    When I did that research at the British Library (2006-07) followed by 12 months research (and working) at the Villa’s archives was a massive love-fest!!!!!!! 🙂 There are Villa stories in old 19th c. sports journals that bring goose-bumps all over your arms. Wonderful.

    To be quite frank I was shocked when I was escorted to the gates in January 2010 (subsequently to be vindicated at the ET when one of the tribunal was a Villa supporter but voted in my favour!), but what has happened now I take as par for the course.

    At least I now know the truth – that today’s Villa is run by people that can’t match up to the old club’s servants by one iota. Today’s lot are simply business robots – the pound (or dollar) sign is all that they can see by the looks of it. Yet in the old days the club’s board members were never paid!!

  259. Frem

    It is mate yes. I’ll bring a big ass Bazuca to blow all the useless fuckers up

    Just played footy with my Stoke mate who I’m going to the opening game with and he said he couldn’t wait for the season, went on about how quality Bojan and Diouf are and how much better football they are playing. Then he started taking the piss out of our signings, taking the pies out of our result yesterday and asked how we are playing so far this pre season? For a moment I thought I’d lie and stick up for us and sAy we’ve been playing well and that I can’t wait for the season either. I didn’t Speak bull shit unlike our manager in post match interviews. I told him it’s an all time low at Villa, the football we play makes your eyes bleed and that I’m absouslty dreading the season. I told him how we played yesterday, 11 men In our own half, 1 attempt on goal and passed of the park. He didn’t believe me so I told him to wait and watch us when we play them. I said we won’t create anything, we won’t have a shot on target, we won’t string 3 passes together and we will hardly step foot In to your half . It’s how we played all last season

  260. Jenny Truman

    John I would echo what Steamer has said . It’s a privilege to have a contributor of your pedigree on here and for you to be treated like that is disturbing to say the least . We can only hope that we get an owner who values our heritage and your contribution and intellect.

  262. Clive Evans

    Jenny – pity I cannot open the link in Thailand as for some reason the Military government has blocked the Daily Mail but no other UK newspapers – must be something they wrote? If you think it worthwhile reading can you copy and paste it into an e-mail for me?

    I did pick up something from the Guardian today in an article about Alex Salmon that might show the reason for PL’s inane post-match comments, viz:

    The first minister has had fresh training from a longstanding adviser, executive coach Claire Howell, who works for big companies and English Premier League managers, on presenting an upbeat, optimistic vision to voters and avoiding nationalistic, partisan rhetoric.

  265. southwestvillan

    John,

    Sadly I think you are better off out of AVFC because the place is a complete shambles and it will not be long before we see some players leaving the sinking ship, Vlaar, Delph and Benteke will all be gone soon and to be fair who can blame them, Aston Villa are a shadow of the club I supported through good and bad times Lerner and his imbeciles have nearly strangled the club to death.
    I agree with you buyers out there are just going to wait until the value goes down, we are in the favourites for relegation so what price a championship club, the vultures are circling just waiting to pick the bones and I think it may be the reason why Everton cannot attract a buyer, their stock is as high as it has been for years so buyers will wait until some millions can get knocked off.
    Can anyone really say they are looking forward to this season I personally am dreading another battle at the foot of the table.

    When are the squad numbers out i want to get my number put on the back of my Senderos shirt.

    UTV

  267. The Droyd

    I am looking forward to it SWV. I think we will do a lot better than most of our supporters do.

    Lambert has or is in the process of getting rid of the cheap dross. Luna, Lowton and Tonev are seemingly on their way out soon. Sylla, Helenius, Bowery, Albrighton and Steer have gone.

    Bent, Hutton, Given, N’Zogbia, Cole, Senderos, Okore, Richardson and Gardner will come in.

    Albrighton is the only one departing that I am sorry to see go but I’m not that bothered.

    The players coming in will improve the squad not only in terms of quality but also experience. Lack of experience and leadership were almost as important as the lack of quality last season.

    We also had awful injuries to key players last season. With a bit of luck in that area, I don’t see why we can’t finish mid table, providing we keep Vlaar, Delph and Benteke.

  268. Andrew P

    Droyd, of that “cheap dross” that Lambert has got rid off, he actually signed 7 of the 8 players, and the only one he didn’t sign is the one you are sorry to see go.

    Bent, Hutton and Given were all binned for a reason and those reasons still apply, but I agree that Richardson, Gardner, Okore and N’Zogbia could make a difference.

    We must keep Vlaar and hope that Okore turns out to be as good as many of us think he is, and those 2 have got to play instead of Baker and Clarke, We have also got to hope Benteke (and Kozak) are playing sooner rather than later and that Benteke’s up for it.

    Talking to Villa fans out in Holland and the most optimistic prediction for next season was 15th to 16th. I had us finishing 17th. I was optimistic going in to last season based on the way we had finished the previous season, but given the way we finished last season and the uncertainty over the club’s future, I’m papping it this time.

  269. The Droyd

    Andrew P – The “cheap dross” was down to Lerner controlling the purse strings and vastly reducing the wage bill. This is the same reason that the “bomb squad” was created.

    Lambert carried it all out but his bosses gave him the parameters to work within. This summer the board have completely changed this plan again due to the club being up for sale.

    It’s easy to criticise Lambert’s signings but it’s also worth pointing out that Benteke, Westwood, Lowton, Vlaar and Bacuna have turned out to be fantastic value for money. Guzan had also left the club when Lambert arrived, so he can take credit for that as well.

    It seems that we are in for either Victor Moses or Scott Sinclair. Either would fit in very well to our 4-3-3. At times last year we needed alternatives to Weimann and Gabby in these positions and we were found wanting. I would love us to sign one of these two players.

    Lambert is addressing the areas that he needs to address within the parameters of his remit.

  270. southwestvillan

    Droyd,

    I truly admire your optimism and hope you are right as I would not like to see us go down, years ago it may have been seen as acceptable to take a step backwards to enable the club to regroup and move forwards but the football landscape has changed dramatically where the money in the premier is now vital to even hang on to the teams in mid-table.
    Most of those players you have mentioned were signed by Lambert and I think most on here realised almost straight away that they were never good enough for this grade of football.

    I agree we lose those three key players and the writing will well and truly be on the wall.

    UTV

  271. The Droyd

    SWV – If you can’t be slightly optimistic as a fan at the start of a new season then there’s not much point in being one.

    Don’t think we can break the top half but if things go our way, like injuries, then we can steer clear of the relegation zone. The good news is that the entire bottom half of the Premiership these days is inhabited by really shit teams.

  272. Paul Pears

    Do I detect a smattering of hope and positivity here once more?

    Good to hear from you Droyd,Andrew p and SWV.

    I am understanding all the various comments here in recent times, but may not fully agree with them all. It is always very difficult to know the way forward as a fan, who just wants to see the team perform well and create some excitement, something we have been devoid in the last season or two, excepting the small ray of hope during the 2012/13 season, which sadly did not continue through to last season.

    I am disgusted at the treatment of people like JL and Ian Taylor, but not surprised, as it has been the way that many American companies operate their bully boy tactics, and am aware that many of the problems that crept into Villa originated from Lerner’s spy in the camp, who had a lot to do with O’neill’s walk out.

    Hopefully, we will have new owners sooner than later, and Lambert will either have put together a squad that can survive, or he will be quickly replaced, whether that is initially by Keane, which seems to be an opinion held by many, or someone else.

    As for fans showing their disapproval, whether by staying away, or by their vocal disapproval through the various fan sites, media comments and polls, or by making a positive attempt at trying to bring the club back into part ownership by the fans. Perhaps the most important thing is for the fans to unite in one constructive voice to stand up to the board and Lerner and actually take some positive action, which may even have to include getting the support of the staff at Villa Park.

  275. Graham O'Gara

    It was the best appraisal for Villa I’ve seen soon far.

    Not overly critical, a fair analysis of our weaknesses and potential sparks of hope.

    I like droyd still want to have some hope for the new season, its what people decide to define as “success” this season…

  276. Graham O'Gara

    Funniest thing I’ve seen in a while… has this guy watched us? Read below for a snippet about Bowery adjusting the life at his new club.

    The £250,000 striker, who signed from Premier League side Aston Villa earlier in the summer, has had a mixed pre-season campaign as he finds his feet at his new club.

    He hit the net in friendlies against Tamworth and Stocksbridge but was frustrated in a number of other outings, and Raynor admits he is taking time to adapt to the Millers’ methods.

    “He has been playing a totally different style of football,” the number two said. “Aston Villa are Aston Villa, they play a possession game.

    Possession game? WTF

    http://www.football365.com/championship/9406290/Championship-Jordan-Bowery-having-to-adapt-to-new-style-of-play-at-Rotherham?

  277. runtings

    Can’t say i am remotely optimistic about the forthcoming season

    Yes the balance of the team may well end up being better than last season but the managers methods leave a lot to be desired (being polite here)

    it’s all good gertting a few half decent players in but when you don’t know how to coach them and we get outplayed by every team you come up against it doesnt exactly fill me for one with hope — more fills me with dread

  278. southwestvillan

    Lambert has the worst win ratio of all the premier managers excluding the likes of Dyche etc who have never managed here before, 28.2% to be exact, he holds the record for most home defeats in a season since gods dog was a puppy, so for him to be still in a job is a firkin miracle, I cannot think of any other chairman who would allow this to happen except of course Lerner, mainly because he is doing Lerners dirty work, running the team on a shoestring so his employer can claw as much funds back into his US coffers, this will allow Lerner to keep dropping the sale price until someone takes the bait.

    UTV

  280. Graham O'Gara

    I don’t know SWV… Could this lot?

    Guzun
    Lowton (of first season form)
    Vlaar
    Okore
    Richardson
    Ki
    Westwood (of first season form)
    Delph
    Grealish
    N’Zogbia
    Benteke

  281. steamer

    If we had the 1970 Brazilian WC winning team plus Messi, Eusebio, Di Stefano and Maradona we wouldn’t stop up with Lambert as manager, he’d make Westwood captain.

    Guardian sport is brill.

  283. Paul Pears

    Squad is

    Guzan Given Hutton Baker Bennett Stevens Richardson Sendeross Okore Vlaar Clarke Herd Cole Delph Westwood Nzogbia Weimann Bent Benteke Agbonlahor Kozak Robinson Grealish Donacien as far as is known.

  290. Frem

    Jesus that squad is awful. 3rd season in charge and Lambert has by far assembled the worst squad in the prem.
    Wonder when he will finally sign some good full backs, a CM and wingers? I’m guessing never. He hasn’t leant anything from last season, you could tell that from our last friendly. Same tactics that has made him the worst manager in our history but he won’t change. No intent to win games, everyone behind the ball, no creative players on the pitch and let teams walk through our midfield

  291. runtings

    If Randy is about to sell the club it would make no sense to sack PL as bad as he is — as mentioned no manager worth anything would take the job as it stands – so its grin and bare and hope for change — gulp

  293. steamer

    I think if we lost every game next season Lerner would give him a new contract.
    Strange then that the positions everyone knew needed strengthening still haven’t been – LB – Richardson looks like playing anywhere but – No10 – Joe Cole doesn’t look like playing full stop – CB – Sendeross, does that need a comment.

  294. Mark King

    I didn’t realise that our Dutch opposition are at least 2 weeks ahead of us in their preparation due to European qualifying which they lost to Aberdeen? that makes me less bothered by the result, we fielded a weak defence. when all our team are fit, by that I mean benteke and kosak and presuming we don’t lose any of our better players we won’t be totally awful. especially if Nzogbia and grealish are given time.
    he seems to to be looking at defensive mid and a winger, personally I’d get 2 defensive mids and at least a proper fullback. I also have a feeling johnson will be involved this year
    if we end up with the injuries we had last season we will be truly fucked however.

    all those worrying about the mighty stoke who are apparently learning to play football all over again heres their pre-season so far and I think we will get a draw

    http://www.stokecityfc.com/fixtures-results/fixtures-list/

  295. Mark King

    of all our opposition in the lower half this season only Leicester and Swansea have had a good one the rest have had mixed results, no thrashings but pretty average stuff

  297. Frem

    Mark- it wasn’t just the result, it the was manner we played which was disgraceful. We play a half decent side and we get ripped apart and that wasn’t far off our strongest back four options. I don’t think Okore is going to be this god people seem to think( on twitter) because of the little I’ve seen, he doesn’t look to great. Will probably change once Vlaar is alongside him. We had out two best CM playing, and Lamberts fuck buddy’s who will start every game in Wiemann and Gabby. We had our first choice RB staring and Sendeross according to Lambert will be a huge help but he was dire. It wasn’t a weak side by our standards that’s for sure. As you say, fucking Aberdeen beat them. Jesus. Scottish teams better than us now. The Dutch side didn’t even have there best play playing

  298. Mark King

    frem

    okore doesn’t need to be a god just better than baker can’t be that hard 🙂
    they did say he steadied the ship when he came on but to little too late, don’t know who he partnered though? was it dross or half baked?

  300. Mark King

    I must admit I can’t understand why he has picked the most random teams out, mixing good with bad and never what most people would say is our strongest side until we are 3 down??

  302. John Lerwill

    Mark: of all our opposition in the lower half this season only Leicester and Swansea have had a good one the rest have had mixed results…

    Aye, but Man U look as though they’ll be back to strutting their stuff again next season … with Ashley Young taking on a new kind of role it seems.

    As in the country’s North-South divide, I suspect the Prem this season will see the top half way ahead of the others.

  304. Frem

    I can’t remember who was alongside Okore Mark. Either one of Dross and Baker are crap anyway

    It’s because he has no idea what he’s doing Mark. I don’t think he knows where he is half the time let alone remember how to manage or who our best players are( we don’t have many)

    I honestly don’t think we do any tactical situations in training. I dont think the players are prepared well for games what so ever and I think they go Into match days utterly clueless about what to do.

    John- Young has been doing very well. I think they will challenge for the title again but I think Chelsea will be a real force

  306. Jenny Truman

    Evening everyone and ST75 xxx

    Well Tayls made his first appearance on the Goalzone (steamers close your ears) since his ommission from the US tour. From the horses mouth, he was available to go (so Lee Hendrie was incorrect when he stated otherwise) and the reason he didn’t go was because the club didn’t like an article he had written. He also does not know whether he will be welcome at VP on Saturday – “I just don’t know”. Seeing as Matt LAw of the Daily Telegraph is a great fan of Tayls and has published another article on AVs requirement that Lions Club personnel do not criticise the club on social media (personal or otherwise) it looks like the Villa PR dept are close to achieving their obvious objective to alienate 100 percent of the villa fans.

    I read this from my fb feed tonight – the Sutton Coldfield Lions have been removed from the club website

    “Further to yesterdays comments of not signing the “Code of Conduct” The Sutton Coldfield Lions have been removed from the Lions Club website already, which is also totally against the “Code of Conduct” as we were told we had 3 opportunities to sign (see Point 15).

    15. Any Branch not corresponding with the Football Club will be notified in writing and if non responsive to three attempts of contact the Branch will be removed from the website and assumed vacant. ”

    I understand five other local clubs have also been removed. Ludicrous.

  308. Frem

    Carruthers could be off to MK dons. Another talent wasted. He only signed a new contract last summer and Lambert him for exactly 0 minutes last season. Nice

    Donacian, Robbinson and Gardner will go down the same root after new deals this summer. We won’t see them kick a ball, but shite like KEA and Gabby will

    We are fucked up

  309. Jenny Truman

    Clive – that’s very interesting . It is fairly common amongst management or any company bods who have to speak publicly to be coached . The coaching involves body language techniques , language and most importantly being able to come across as trustworthy and genuine. It is easy to spot who has been coached when you know what to look for. If you watch Barrack Obama he is a master communicator and uses some very clever body language gestures to get people on his side. He obviously has terrific charisma and natural charm but he has also benefitted from being coached. I would say that Brendan Rodgers has had coaching as his interviews have improved. Maybe some managers poo poo it and say I am here to manager football . However, when an important part of your job is communicating with the media and the fans then why wouldn’t you get training to improve this aspect. Fans want honesty and transparency and whilst the manager will want to protect his players for obvious reasons, he can still offer more constructive feedback than the usual “we were excellent and we gave it a right good go” bla bla. How about “we did x well and we will pay attention to improving y and we need to do z in training ” AV obviously do not think it is important to communicate well or perhaps they think they do. Paul Lambert’s interview technique is dreadful and Dougan’s is nearly as bad.

  310. Jenny Truman

    I wondered what had happened to A Young – he started off brilliantly for Fergie then just went missing. I appreciate he had injuries but considering they paid about 20 mill for him, he was in danger of being an expensive flop. Be interesting to see if he plays a part in the VAn GAal team.

    What disappointed me most from the reports of Chesterfield and Gronigen was the lack of creativity AGAIN. How long before we sort out our midfield as this has been lacking for the last four seasons and buying injury prone players like Cole is not addressing the problem fully. Interesting to hear Ian Taylor’s take on our summer signings – Senderos no comment – Cole – worrying that he hardly played for West Ham “he is going to get more injuries not less” with Richardson being the best of the three – but is he going to be played at LB or def midfielder ?

    Very good article in the Guardian that Graham posted. Also the comments on Keane. Not only have the young hungry players failed to make the grade – they also failed to improve which is another Lambert legacy. Now that we have got rid of Culverhouse there must be a chance that players will improve their technical skills. I can’t think of any of Lambert’s signings that actually progressed – most got worse. Even Bertrand lost his polish. Bacuna, Sylla, Tonev, Luna, Lowton, Weiman (not PL signing but regressed anyway) deteriorated. With new coaching staff we can hope that this decline is halted.

  313. Jenny Truman

    Yes John , I chat regularly to Mark Goodwin and he has just got back from Groningen , arranges tickets and transport for every away game and never misses a game. These groups form the bedrock of our support home and away. Note that it is the local clubs who are being struck off . Disgusting treatment of supporters and catastrophic business decision . Idiotic in view of trying to sell the club – well we had a loyal fan base but we’ve now excluded them and the chance to grow local support . There are some very angry Lions Club members on my fb page today and wait til the local journalists get hold of it – the ones like Matt Kendrick who has been frozen out . Foolish to take on the people you need the most – your own fans and the media. Unbelievable .

  314. Jenny Truman

    Thanks for posting J Fear’s excellent article John – apparently Talk Sport spoke about it . More bad press – surprised some haven’t lost their jobs over this .

  315. John Lerwill

    Jenny and all…

    Just after my last posting I just happened to receive a message from the Villa Store (after my prompting Lee Preece last week) asking for further details about my Nutshell book so that they might consider selling it. However, after a few minutes consideration I sent the following reply:


    Hello Alan,

    Thank you very much for your reply.

    A week or two ago I would have been very happy to take this matter further – indeed, I was anxious to do so – but matters have got to such a state at Villa Park (the matter of how the Lions Clubs are being treated has pushed the matter over the edge for me), I do not want to deal with Aston Villa any further until it’s got itself in order.

    If that means that I will not have a future association with Aston Villa, then so be it.

    Personally, I wish you, John and Lee all the very best.

    Regards,

    John Lerwill

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