A common attitude to take regarding league cup matches is to play a weakened 11, with most clubs treating the league cup as either beneath them, or an unwelcome distraction for clubs with smaller squads.
Last night, we saw the PR implications of fielding a weakened team as Manchester United were beaten 4-0 by MK Dons, a club that have only been in existence for 10 years or so.
So, with that in mind, do Aston Villa play some of the fringe players and hope that they have enough to dispatch Leyton Orient? Or do we play it safe and wheel out the big guns to try and get the job done?
In a sense, these early games provide little but unnecessary banana skins for Premier League clubs. Win the game and you’ll be told that’s the expectation, lose it and you’ll be destroyed by pundits.
Being candid, Villa’s track record in recent times has been less than stellar. Not only did Villa get humbled by Bradford City when they were within touching distance of the final, they’ve struggled in the league, leaving a cup run a somewhat dangerous outing to pursue.
Why? We’ve seen with clubs like Wigan Athletic that winning a cup can be your downfall – would Villa trade a cup win for a relegation?
Of course, there is the chance that we can go on a cup run and not succumb to the impact it can have on a team. That said, believing such an idea would imply progress of some kind, no matter how small.
So, as we kick off against Orient this evening, questions will be asked about how the side turns out. Too many youngsters and Villa risk a humbling. Too many experienced players and there’s the risk of injury.
In a game where either option guarantees nothing, Villa will need to walk the tightrope if Paul Lambert is wanting to avoid a public grilling by fans who are less than impressed with his tenure.
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Hello Matt,
We have a playing staff of over thirty pro’s, if Lambert can’t select a team to beat the O’s then i suggest a parting of the ways. Possibly he is only a caretaker until December anyway, they’re going to be the longest few months in our history.
Some debate on here about low crowds, JL may correct me here but if i’m right, in 1967 we had just over 7,000 versus PNE, then we were taken over and the next game 28,000 turned up followed by 35,000 for the next home game, the point being that, if fans can see some progress aligned with optimism then Villans will turn up in numbers, they just don’t see it with our current admin and manager, in fact most, even the attendees, think they are a waste of skin, lets hope history repeats itself.
Narrow win for Villa.
Ha Ha!
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/video-paul-lambert-roy-keane-7679296?
loved the mancs getting caned last night
i hope we got first option on carruthers
Evenin all!
Matt talking sense as always.
Steamer that’s a positive post, go on my son Hope is what its all about.
its important to win well tonight and try 3 5 2,,,,,, bent up front with weinman or cole behind and lots of crosses in from the flanks
just go for it,, give cole and grealish a start with bacuna and richardson the full backs
and lets get some goals
I think there will be strong team out and a 10-0 win ( or at lest (2-0).
there will be another clean sheet or at most 1 goal conceded.
we better win though, as i only just got over summer ending and don’t need another to fell crappy
i am getting projector,pc set up and getting away from the missues for 2 hours, well i say away its only the next room and shes bound to come in and start talking when it gets good.
Mark, you took a one hell of a pounding on the last post, chin up 😉
Dave welcome to the site, unless you already been here (lol)
thats not a bad line up
if not 352 it may be 1-4-1-3-2
given
hutton vlaar deross cissko
sanchez
westy cole deplh
wieman bent
Sorry Rog, let myself down there.
welcome dave
roger
Ive got broad shoulders mate , keep getting up and move forward that’s how winnings done 😉
3-1
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/08/27/bundesliga-star-clueless-over-3m-aston-villa-link/?
Hello Dave, welcome to AVL.
Rog, Don’t you mean next cell ?
Bundesliga star clueless over £3m Aston Villa link
Is that his name or his ability ?
Also linked with Bologna CF Robert Acqufresca, who has a bit of ability and can head a ball, £1m.
In three weeks Cole has gone from the number ten Lambert’s been looking for to “a good impact sub” do i smell something fishy ?
Still no width, Grealish absence is not only a disgrace but an indication of Lamberts intent towards our academy, fuck me if he can’t get a game against these !!! Lambert BS again about how highly he rates him, just fuck off tw@.
steamer
na always a backup was wonder cole. he’s an impact sub, slightest impact they sub him
steamer
what’s the team?
happy days 🙂
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/video-paul-lambert-roy-keane-7679296?
given
hutton vlaar deross cissko
sanchez
westy cole deplh
wieman bent
according to rog
well that bottle wasn’t gonna hit him in the knackers was it ? he lost those when Lerner appointed him.
steamer
🙂
looks a strong team orient must be good 😉
steamer – don’t i mean the next cell!
Ha!
Steamer
i was guessing on that team.
on wm they said vlaar and cissko a doubt
so okore and bake or clark ?
not sure whoe else thers is
right back home from work
5 mins of sit ups, pressups,
then shit shower shave eat and match
Just heard the Steward say there is only 18 thousand expected tonight. I’m guessing 3 thousand of those are orient fans
Sign of the Times Randy and Lambert
YOUR SHITE
yes hello every one,,, team line up ok but bent needs crosses,,,,
i think he has taken a sensible choice of selection if above is true
and if we get a couple of goals up i suppose he can always change it
and momentum is the key,,,,
maby we need to walk a bit before we run,,,
and we should have a lot of possession tonight
something we are not used too
Grealish better be starting with Gabby left at home
Given, Baker, Bacuna, Cole, Senderos, Westwood, Richardson, Bent, Hutton, Sanchez, Grealish. #AVFCLIVE
subs Guzan, Clark, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Delph, Herd, N’Zogbia. #AVFCLIVE
front 3 of grealish bent and cole woohoo!
he going for it
confirmation
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/match-commentary/325039/aston-villa-v-leyton-orient
hmmmmmm interesting selection coe bacuna sanchez baker and grealish gets a start
looks like 4 4 2,,, ish
benty up front
No Vlaar in the squad. All the other first team players are
Man U?
It is one awful attempt at a turn out
never seen so many empty seats
It’s what you get when you become the worst manager in the club’s history and break the home record
hope not,, but they did say he was suffering with structural cracks and minor spalling,,,,,
probably at home going off,,,,
hey everyone!!!!
dammit from I come back for one second and ur still here!!!!
jk jk. hope everyone is doing well, ive missed you all, been busy as all hell for me, and a little lack of passion for villa, but it was renewed when I went to see them in Texas play in Dallas. It was great!!!
Steamer- u go off on lambert for not starting greanlish… but he is starting… im confused. lol
not from*** frem***
as Dave said, interesting, still only three genuine attacking players.
JP,
Hello mate, wondered where you’d got to, couldn’t stay away from the moaning could you ?
Just a misunderstanding regarding JG.
Left Uni yet ?
uni?
Well I looked little around TbaR website, they had some good leads on transfers, but I was also tied up with work and stuff. Just busy.
Started to ride my motorcycle a lot too, took up time, but Villa is still my team, and I love them dearly.
81% possession to villa… fuck me…
Roy keano made us into barca!!!
It’s absolutely shocking
Orient had the two best chances. Never seen a team so clueless trying to pass out the back. Never seen a bunch of players so static. No movement of the ball what so ever
When Grealish gets it everyone just stands and watches. You can see he has ability though. Benched for Sunday then. Cole can find a pass. Bacuna is useless. Need a winger in
Good evening each, first post
I’m an old hand like few of you guys, late sixties (not in years, first attended VP) , so seen it all.
Used to have a pre match bevy in the Imperial hotel Upper Temple Street in the old div three days, the crew I was with later relocated to the Aston Tavern mid 70’s and remained ’til it closed mid 80’s I think.
Anyway enough of that, love the blog and the banter, still 0-0 as I speak.
I don’t read that much into Vlaar not playing, I think he’s inclined to be a bit injury prone, seems to make sense to me to save him for the weekend. The side he’s fielded should be too strong for the O’s.
To be honest I’m no fan of PL but the playing philosophy of the last two seasons has obviously been reappraised and a new plan applied and I’ll watch with interest. I think the best case scenario is mid table finish this season and although we all have great expectations being fans of our great club, on the current resources, thats about as good as it gets.
What does everyone thing, mid table or better and a bit of a cup run, do we give PL a new contract, (assuming he wants one) or appoint a new manager?
Of course we may have new owners by then, (I’m not so sure about that one) so we may have a new manager anyway.
Anyway to conclude, would a moderately successful season, (mid table, cup run) earn PL a new contract,
Over to you.
JP- we were shite against Dallas. You actually enjoyed that?
Welcome back
Archie, welcome, that was one of my watering holes too in that era, does your surname begin with an H ?, if it does then i have to ask, who the fuck are you ?, just kidding, i think i know you.
Well one shot on target so we’ve matched our seasons best, what was it Lambert said when he arrived ?
Where’s Mark gone when you need someone to abuse ?
Steamer, starts with a G
some of blokes in the crew at that time were Goldie, Kleptoe, Goddard, Roscoe and many more
post match was usually the Hole in the Wall. During the 80’s we were regulars on Premier coaches which picked up back of the Retunda for the aways matches. if you were part of that generation, everyone new everyone, and who was doing what and where. Those really were the best times to be a fan IMO. So I’m sure we’ve met at some time.
Ex Villan Adam McGurk scores against QPR for Burton, very good player until he had a bad injury.
Know them all, see Roscoe in the caff most mornings, great set of lads and i agree, i loved those days.
steamer
he’s been listening to the new album with the band mate,
80% possession no gabby no weiman grealish and cole! what you got to moan about now? at least we know why bents not been playing fatter than gabby 😉
hows grealish and sanchez played?
steamer
there you are your days complete 🙂
Why do we bother ?
Sack Lambert now?
Bacuna is fucking shite. Left Zoggy on the bench all fucking game
Bradford. Millwall. Sheffield now Orient
Hope the few fans there give the gobshite some welly, the blokes a complete joke.
When will the media destroy Lambert for how shit he is?
Needed Zoggy and Delph on 30 mins but no
God we better do something before Monday
17 thousand here tonight
do you reckon this is why he’s looking for a striker?
Jack Grealish was our only good player tonight. Bench for Sunday
” I thought we were excellent”
needed to win tonight,,, looks like that final ball or finish was missing,,, rather than being crap
creativity eh,,, where we going to get it,,,
Can i remind everyone moyes is out of work…….why the hell are we not getting him.
He could re build us.
Wasn’t he talking about getting Zog fitter yesterday ? sitting on yer arse for 90 minutes doesn’t get you fit dummy. At least its wiped the smile off the smug gits dial.
Seriously, whats the deal with us playing at villa park. Its mental. Is vp cursed?
13 shots 1 on target and that was weimann shocking sack Lambert and while your at it sack rednapp and that keane bloke
Damn, i thought we’d be unbeaten at home this season.
Did anyone read about the woman who put a bet on Untied to win 4-0 last night and buggered it up by marking Dons down to win 4-0, wonder how much she got ?
We need creativity.
Hope those owners are in next month
At least we can concentrate on the league now.
Dont worry frem , we’ll easily overturn that 1-0 in the return leg. All part of the plan.
Muck fee that is bad.
Steamer, well over a grand.
pretty much dave , lets hope he buys
LO were 12-1 for the win , were’nt they? hope some of you boys put on a consolation bet.
Can’t score from open play, can’t defend from open play… can’t score from set pieces , can’t defend set pieces… can’t cross, can’t defend crosses…
You carry on like this and you will never win a game of football!!!!
And my boss is an O’s fan…
I’M FUMING!!!!!!!!!
I’ve NEVER known any manager keep his job after producing such poor results and even worse performances, how does he get away with it ? These results are knocking the stuffing out of our supporters.
Pleased for Arthur Askey though.
heckin fell! need to make sure we consolidate 7th in the league now
i mean you gots to laugh or you cry
Never seen a team so shite at crossing either
You watch Lambert say we deserved to win.
We won’t break through Hull that’s for sure.
Need to splash the cash.
What’s that, 1 shot on target in our last two home games
Okore is a sick note ain’t he.
Thought Keane would change something but our uses of subs the last two have been disgraceful
Frem,
How did the crowd react ?
prox did u do the 12-1? wish i’d thought of that – instead thinking we’d actually win at home
what was the team? anyone know?
radio said there was 7 changes from the newcastle
at least jg and jc got a run out
Did i fuck Rog ! My surname ain’t Iscariot !
we cant buy the italian surely his strike rate is gaby-esque.
guess the argy ( blanco was it?) playing in the Ukraine war zone didn’t want to leave that bombed out dump for ours , must feel safer where he is
thats better i can breathe now.
Right – time for something completely different, i need a laugh ,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQlvW0aFnKo
this will do it
prox – ha!
i cant bet for shit for never try it anymore
An effin laughing stock again…………………………….Millwall,Bradford,Orient and the rest.Jeez can`t we just pack it in?Just shut the club down,not fir for purpose,a totally dysfunctional organisation.Ship `em all to the ,assisted suicide establishment in Switzerland.One way tickets the lot of`em.Don`t bring your overnight bags you won`t be needing `em, a shower of monkey droppings.
Many were calling for Bent,well he played,ditto young Jack,he played.Drop Gabby you cried,well he was dropped.Where the feck do we go from here?Allah ,Buddah,Jesus,Mahommed,or whoever,please answers on a postcard,to AVFC,Scheisse Strasse,B6 6HE.
Good night and you can stick footy up your airholes.
well im pissed of and gonna take it out on the dog,,,,, someone should report lambert to the rspca,,,,
you just know we will hump hull now,,,,
Well , at least we’ve cheered up the people in leyton orient . Where the fuck is leyton orient anyway?
its in the orient,,,
bah,,,,
Prox
East End of London.
All those of you who want to change alegance to the Whitecaps I can help. Ferfuckssake.
I’m beyond words, 17k home gate, and another defeat to yet another lower league side.
We are in Lambert’s 3rd season and look as bad as at any time in living memory.
They should just give us our money back and fold the fucking club if this is their idea of success.
Pair of absolute cunts in charge.
RIP AVFC
Another season over, no trophies, can we pull out of the FA Cup to save the embarrassment of losing to Halesowen Town
Orient fan on the radio said it wasn’t even there strongest line up tonight :0
Talk sport taking the piss out of Lambert interview. Couldn’t understand a word he said and they said he’s never once sound motivated in a interview.
Cole was dead after 55 mins. Richardson was awful at left back. Bacuna. Maybe can sell him
B62
I think just under 18k is outstanding,considering our home form.I salute each and every one of you who attended.
Well done Orient.
Yet another kick in the rollocks from the club,when wil it all end?.Grim,grim performances at VP.
Musn`t grumble though,Lambert in his last year and we will be sold-I sincerly hope-soon.
B62 when is the baby due.?
Frem,how did Grealish perform.?
Brasil
Nipper due Oct 13th mate.
Best thing iv read tonight
“Paul Lambert is a Portal to a universe of sadness”
I am embarrassed yet again to be a Villa fan, we are a joke of a club, it’s getting worse