expat007: how many cliche's can I get in one posting?

Jonnah

Yes it is Lamberts 'fault' the the team's average has been significantly reduced, though some people may 'credit' PL with achieving this as to attributing blame. It is also fair to say that through injury and or simply not stepping up to the mark that a number of senior players have not delivered (Vlaar, Dunne, Bent, Ireland, Zog & Given). Howver, the buck does stop with the manager and it is he that needs to plan and anticipate for these eventualities. In his first transfer window at Villa PL got this wrong but without the benefit of the clarity of hindsight I am sure many other would have got it wrong too.

In appointing Lambert we brought in a manager without Premiership experience (other than 1 yr with Norwich) who had demonstrated the ability to win and deliver throughout is playing career and his short managerial career. In doing so, Villa took a risk and it would have been a reasonable expectation that PL will need a bit of time to bed into the Premieship.

Yes things could have gone better but we are getting through this. I know people thing we have our weakest squad ever but I would disagree with that, I believe that last year's squad was worse. There are signs of improvement and I think that in order to judge PL properly we need to give him time.

@Bloggert

To be fair Benteke, Vlarr Westwood and Lowton have all been ok its only bennet n bowery

Vital and Expat

I might have been at bit strong with the terminology used to describe Lambert, he is our manager after all.

Anyway I have given my supporting evidence why I do not think he's up to standard.

But and there is always a but.. we have to be happy with the win at the weekend.

It's set me up good and proper this week!!!

Woo Hoooo!!

good afterrnoon all,

SJH,
im afraid even if we stay up,with lerner not being bothered,and still cost cutting.
unless he sells up,we will continue to be a struggling club.
as for lambert,im afraid he does suit lerners fit.but as for being a top manager,im afraid he is well short.
if he was that good,he would have walked after not being backed in the transfer window.
on the team,well we are not out of the woods by a long shot.
one win against a poor west ham,doesnt paper over the cracks.dont forget they nearly got a point,and that was with us being two up with only seven minutes left.

A manager ultimately is judged on results, but for the first half of the season it had to be on the general style of play, also this season we have had a lot of new players, players in the main brought in by PL so when we judge the team it is PL's team if he gets criticism as a result it's what goes with the territory, PL himself must be the first to acknowledge that he has been in football long enough. If we do not show improvement as the season progresses there is more wrong at the club than we can all see, so the criticism of Lambert will reduce as a natural process unless we get worse or at least get no better.

jcv

A good dose of reality from you there. I just feel that to prove Lambert is either the right guy or the wrong guy needs some time.

VITAL,
hi mate,im just keeping my feet on the ground.
as for lambert,i feel the one really on trial at this time is lerner.i just wish we knew what his plans are.
it does appear that he has given up.and funds will continue to deminish.
lets just hope that there is fit and proper people out there,willing to buy us.

jcv: its all about results now nothing else matters. A pretty display that gets us no points is not of any use, so when we win its simply 3 points closer to survival and a little hope nothing more nothing less. As for Lambert its a tough call, survive and that may be harder to call for him to stay, go down and his Championship experience may be invaluable.

windofchange,
yes mate it is all about grinding out results,at this time.but it is still a concern when we concede a goal and go into freefall,even when winning.
mind you it is marvelous how we back this attititude now,and yet we crucified mcleish for the same.

jcv

Mcs***e was a known loser whereas Lambert is new to this, he has even said he will make mistakes but the big difference is he will not single out players to blame its always about the team but Mcs***e always blamed individuals to cover his own arse.

Some good discussion on here today. Much more interesting than the sack the lot of them and spend millions debate.

@jcv,
Yes Lerner's position will become clear in the coming year. And particularly so if we are in the Premiership next term. Our spending and planning for next year will tell a lot

@windofchange
I hadn't thought that PLs experience would be invaluable but you have a point. Let's just hope we don't need it

jcv

we will continue to be a struggling club.

EXPAT,
hi mate,yes but i we dont want to be another wigan.
we must move forward as a club,and the only way for that to happen,is for lerner to go.
new owners fresh ideas.
and a proper rebuild from top to bottom.

Keith

but the big difference is he will not single out players to blame

jcv

We will not know until this season ends, If Lerner gives PL £25 million to buy players and he brings in 3 or 4 quality players like Benteke then I would imagine we would be in a reasonable position to push on. Probably not enough to challenge the big boys but enough for best of the rest and then we will see what Lerners intentions are when we need to go for the top 4 places.

jcv

and a proper rebuild from top to bottom.

KEITHJ,
i think the window indicated lerners intentions,plus him only attending one game this season.
lets not start all this x amount to spend again,we had enough false promises in the winter.

expat

survival has never been in doubt I'm just so pissed we are not challenging the top 4 but hey there may be still enough points to get there

jcv

news came from the USA that Lerner had made funds available so who was making the negotiations? As I have said before I think Faulkner is the fly in the ointment.

keithj

I am with u on Faulkner. I agree that RL is not a footballing man and probably doesnt understand the game as much as others but these are not necessary qualifications to be a club owner. Randy's biggest error which I believe is still costing us dearly is his lack of recognition that our CEO is a problem and the fact that he is still in the job.

Keith

If Lerner gives PL £25 million to buy players and he brings in 3 or 4 quality

lerner is reported to now be interested in motor sport.
and surely faulkner only acts on lerners behalf.the cost cutting must have come the top.
i suppose when ticket renuels are due,the usual bull about money to spend will raise its ugly head
again.
i dont think the fans will fall for that one again.

expat

It was reported everywhere that Lerner had made money available, all Lambert ever said in his interviews was that we couldnt agree a package what I am saying is who the f**k was doing the negotiating. I would also like to add that I have not said I would like to see the back of Lerner but would like to know what his intentions are for AVFC.

KEITH,
mate if you remember,lambert and faulkner went over to meet lerner during the window.
and if lerner wanted to invest,why didnt they.it doesnt make sense.
i can only assume that,it was that meeting where lerner said thats it.no more funds.

right lads,im off,
catch up next time.

Keiththat Lerner had made money availableHow much? Finished up with a lower division French player and a nobody from Spurs.
The two that mattered, The Yank and The Fat Controller never said that funds were available. Lambert made it pretty clear that not enough was there so do we believe the Media, did they have Lerner’s telephone tapped

jcv

The Aston Villa chairman, Randy Lerner, has backed the club's manager, Paul Lambert, to reshape the squad and to reverse their poor form. However he added that, while the manager and the board have discussed transfer targets, none of them have come to fruition.

Aston Villa suffered back-to-back cup defeats against lower league Bradford and Millwall in the space of 72 hours and have taken only two points from their past six league games. They have been struggling with a young squad too and Lerner admits it is "frustrating" they have not made any signings.

"In the time that I've come to know Paul what is clear above all else is his strength of character and belief in his approach to football," Lerner said. "The Villa board knew that with Paul we would begin to address the club's multi-year lack of competitive stability by reshaping the squad with seven new signings in the summer.

"It has been rewarding at times this season although certainly frustrating as well, particularly recently. During January, Paul and the board have discussed a variety of players although nothing has yet materialised, which I know also can be frustrating as fresh players always give at least a sense of progress and optimism.

expat

The above was Lerners statement and as we know he is in America so who is doing the negotiating?

keithj

The above was Lerners statement

Please Keith dont tell me the Press Association becuase thats run by crooks like the Aussie Ba*tard.

Bye Lads must do some shopping and onto the Bar!!

expat

But Lerner has released a rare public statement to back Lambert ahead of Tuesday night's crucial showdown with Newcastle United.

This was from the telegraph.

Some news just in about Gary Gardner.

On Twitter 5hrs ago.
Timothy Abraham Express & Star

Gary Gardner ‏@Gards38
"On the way to London to see the surgeon! Hoping for some good news! Hopefully not long now till I'm back playing! "

Given the paultry amount Lerner provided PL in the window I hold onto the hope that a buyer is lined up but the price will depend on which league we are in after this season, the players we brought in were at minimum cost and could be passed off as meeting our buying criteria without breaking the bank. A vain hope I know but still a real one.

(DanielM): he seemed to be picked to make the numbers up it also seemed a mystery where he was supposed to be playing. Very strange choice.

I see what JCV means if Lambert was a top manager he would not risk the mess he has with us before getting out and jepordising his chances of getting another top job. As it is he could be in The Championship for years if he stays with us. He must be seeing something we cant or know something we dont.

just come on to see whats happening,whilst listening to the football.
them utd lot are drawing,i was hoping for a big defeat.
very quiet on here,but some good discussion today.

TRINITY LONDON,
thanks mate,yes its all about opinions,and sometimes we all differ,but it all comes down,to our support of the villa and how we all see it ,panning out.
for me its first of all about where we stand with lerner.
for me,he has to sell up,thats if anybody is interested.then its about getting the right people on the board that know football.
then they will decide wether lambert or somebody else,can do the job better.
but if lerner remains,im afraid we are stuck in this nowhere land.

goodnight to me
and any late night posters.

Now that Villa fan Mervyn King is stepping down as govenor of The Bank of England surely he would be well placed and have the right contacts to get together a consortium to buy us from Randy?

Wasn't it something like 5 more games that we need to win to stay up?
If you look at the remaining fixtures I think we could do this if we beat:

Reading (A)
QPR (H)
Stoke (A)
Sunderland (H)
Norwich (A)

And then we still have Fulham as well as Wigan last game of the season.
Am I being too optimistic?

Just a thought, but, god forbid that the team does get relegated, our current manager has plenty of experience at that level to know what to expect on the levels of work involved from an non-forgiving Championship schedule?

Just realised I botched that up. Got distracted.

My question was simple - Paul Lambert has experience in the Championship, wouldn't it be best to just stick with him?

beef: yes mentioned this yesterday, however if we stay up do we want more of the same? difficult times ahead whatever happens!

It's hard for me to remark to much on the season as I've been on the road pretty much since the season started, but from what I've briefly seen & read, I'd take PL for another season if not another 3 or 4.

Some managers need to be worn in for the magic to happen, perhaps the same applies to Mr Lambert.

Let's not forget what he's achieved (prior to 2012-2013) with back-to-back promotions.

Good morning all,
LAMBERT:
The only reward Lambert should get if The Villa are relegated is his farewell Golden Hand Shake and a P45. Lambert would then be on a par with failed Bankers getting paid for his failure.
Lamberts job is keeping Villa in the Premiership not taking us down into the Championship.
The Ginger Scot kept Villa up and got the boot why should Lambert if he takes us down not receive the same? Is it because one was an ex Blue Nose if so there is no logic in that.

beef
What’s that shirt you are wearing QPR???

expat

I think the reasoning behind not sacking Lambert if we go down is that we've had a new manager each season so far and continuing the trend obviously isn't working. Lambert also seems to have a plan which is better than McLeish just parking the bus ever match.

good afternoon,
i see lambert still maintains some support,even if it means relegation.because he has a plan,well that plan so far,has given us the worst season for many a year.i just dont get it.
and if we are relegated,surely the plan has failed,full stop.
are we now going to reward failure.

jcv

And what's the chance of a manager next season being another Fergie that could turn this around? I'm honestly thinking that we're gonna have to stick with Lambert else the musical chairs of managers will just keep going on.

I see Michael Laudrup is having contract talks at Swansea. Wouldn't mind him at Villa Park.

GUZAN,
mate,i just think that a man who has spent £23 mill this season,to leave us in a relegation battle,
hasnt come up to the mark.
but even though i dont think he is good enough.the big problem is lerner,as i posted yesterday.
no decent manager would work under his restrictions.
lerner is the main problem at villa park.

Guzan

I think the reasoning behind not sacking Lambert if we go down is that we've had a new manager each season so far and continuing the trend obviously isn't working.

Dare I say, we start with the same players / formation upfront against Arsenal as we finished against West Ham?

Dawkins.......Bent.....Benteke......N'Zogbia

jcv and expat

You're definitely right about the money that Lambert has spent for these results. I'm not a massive Lambert supporter or anything. Thinking about what beef said earlier that if we back him for at least another season we might see results.

And yeah, Faulkner/Lerner seem to be the main problem but I don't think we can do anything about that.

FERGUSON v LAMBERT
Man U had 7 managers in 7 years before Fergie took charge. More than The Villa.
Fergie never failed at Man U and I get fed up reading those on here who try and compare the early days of Sir Alex Ferguson’s at Manchester Utd with Paul Lambert at Aston Villa this season.
It was said that Fergie was in trouble one season and that was 1988/9.
If Ferguson was in dire trouble that one season let me remind that Man U finish 11th with 51 points and won the FA Cup in that poor season. This was his worst season in the Premiership (11th and 51 points) and I would love for Lambert to emulate him in his worst season! No fu*king chance, Rab C Lambert could not lace up Fergie’s bootlaces, get real.
Have a look at the following;
He has won 48 trophies as a manager, making him the most successful British football manager in history.
St. Mirren
Scottish First Division (1): 1976–77
Aberdeen
Scottish Premier Division (3): 1979–80, 1983–84, 1984–85
Scottish Cup (4): 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86
Scottish League Cup (1): 1985–86
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1982–83
UEFA Super Cup (1): 1983
Manchester United
Premier League (12): 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11
FA Cup (5): 1989–90, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04
League Cup (4): 1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10
FA Charity/Community Shield (10): 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
UEFA Champions League (2): 1998–99, 2007–08
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1990–91
UEFA Super Cup (1): 1991
Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999
FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008
Individual
LMA Manager of the Decade (1): 1990s
LMA Manager of the Year (3): 1998–99, 2007–08, 2010–11
LMA Special Merit Award (2): 2009, 2011
Premier League Manager of the Season (10): 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11
Premier League Manager of the Month (27): August 1993, October 1994, February 1996, March 1996, February 1997, October 1997, January 1999, April 1999, August 1999, March 2000, April 2000, February 2001, April 2003, December 2003, February 2005, March 2006, August 2006, October 2006, February 2007, January 2008, March 2008, January 2009, April 2009, September 2009, January 2011, August 2011, October 2012
UEFA Manager of the Year (1): 1998–99
UEFA Team of the Year (2): 2007, 2008
Onze d'Or Coach of the Year (3): 1999, 2007, 2008
IFFHS World's Best Club Coach (2): 1999, 2008
IFFHS World's Best Coach of the 21st Century (1): 2012
World Soccer Magazine World Manager of the Year (4): 1993, 1999, 2007, 2008
Laureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year (1): 2000
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award (1): 1999
BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year Award (1): 1999
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award (1): 2001
English Football Hall of Fame (Manager) : 2002
European Hall of Fame (Manager): 2008
FIFA Presidential Award: 2011
Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992–93 – 2001–02)
Premier League 20 Seasons Awards (1992–93 – 2011–12)
Manager of the Decade
Most Coaching Appearances (392 games)
FWA Tribute Award : 1996
PFA Merit Award: 2007
Mussabini Medal : 1999
Orders and special awards
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE): 1983
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE): 1995
Knight Bachelor (Kt.): 1999

TRINITY,
mate,it also has that effect on us,the fans as well.

EXPAT,
and a 98 minute watch.

I think Laudrup would join Aston Villa, if offered, if we stayed up.

Are you saying that Swansea are a bigger club than Villa ?

We have more money than Swansea, a bigger stadium, bigger fan base.

Laudrup is tactically a better manager than Lambert.

You would not see the the squad’s average age falling so dramatically, meaning a lack of big-game experience is targeted by opponents as a key weakness.

Laudrup would use the funds available to buy players a lot better than what Lambert has done, Laudrup would be able to attract a better kind of player due to his reputation, plus we would see more players from the Scandinavian regions such as types of players similar to Melberg and Laursen wanting to come and play for us.

hope that was a copy and paste job expat,you didnt waste any of your time typing about that muppet did you?

JONNAH,
mate under lerner we are no longer a bigger club.
a club is only as big as its ambitions,and ours are now zero.
no more money being spent.dwindling gates.
LERNER HAS TO GO.

jcv
I will never understand those on here backing failure and \I never will. They must be able to see something I cant, mind you I did marry the Missus so I’m not perfect!
I am off, have a good day.

sjh
Just seen you post before leaving and ask if Fergie is a muppet what the fu*k is Lambert
jcv
Even more impressive than I thought!

SJH,
mate,its because people keep comparing lambert to fergy.
i cant stand fergy,but its a no contest.
lambert can only be compared to atkins,holloway etc.managers of a similar ilk.

p/s,and atkins got the sack,with southampton being higher than us,in the league.

JCV

Alright mate, true we're only as big as our ambitions.
I'm going on the basis that 25m has been spent this season.
Which even if Lerner was here next season, I would assume that funds are to be invested again next. Even though nothing was spent in January.

JONNAH,
january,was a sign of things to come.if lerner wasnt prepared to invest when we needed it most.
i cant see anymore coming in the summer.
he wants out,thats my take on all this.one visit to villa park this season.
the novelty has worn off.

No manager will walk into a club that has struggled for 3 seasons the way we have and turn it straight round - if there is anyone capable of that he would be a genius, also we have to recognize as I have that the players simply are not good enough - cant really see any point of a new manager next season who is likely to fail with the squad we have, because unless Randy is going to provide £100m +, no one is going to change anything. Somewhere, sometime we need to start having continuety sacking crap managers season after season wont give us that as each manager will only bring in another bunch of crap players. Sticking with what we have if there is no real money is our best chance of moving forward, sadly cashing in by selling our best player and re-investing the money each season - not what any of us want but unless and until Randolph decides he wants to spend again we are just going in an ever quicker downward spiral.

WINDOFCHANGE,
well put mate,
untill lerner puts up or shuts up.nothing will change.

sorry,packs up.

thats me for today,
cheers lads.

jcv
Agreed that Lerner wasn't prepared to invest when needed most but how much of it was down to players not wanting to come?
The lead up to the January window and during the window was catastrophic on the pitch.
My take on it is that there has been a large amount of money already, and will happen again being taken off the wage bill.
Who know's if Lerner had told Lambert you have 25m to spend this season and that your lot?
But then as we heard in the media supposedly there was 10m for January ?

If there is no money in the summer for new players then agreed he's lost interest.
Hope this is not the case.
And as you say the best all round from what seems to be happening is if we do get a new owner.

These manager comparisons are fun.

Fergie - "3 years of excuses and it's still crap - ta-ra Fergie". Remember that?
Moyes just avoiding relegation in his first and third seasons with Everton.
Roberto Di Matteo winning the CL with Chelsea after only a few months in charge.
Me winning the CL on the xbox with Villa after only 2 weeks.

That makes me the prime candidate, right?

At the moment Aston Villa are a club in constant turmoil Summer after Summer season after season. No decent player or manager for that matter will want to join us, I dont think Lambert is the man for the long term, but neither do I now think constantly shelling managers like peas is the answer.

pitbull inferno: Martinez is a manager who skirts the bottom 3 sooner or later if he is to be considered a decent manager and wants a bigger job he needs to prove he is capable of more than just escaping relegation season after season his squad at Wigan is not the worst in the PL and all he ever does is struggle.

Wind

I would keep shelling managers if we keep having managers that causes the squad’s average age to fall so dramatically, meaning a lack of big-game experience is targeted by opponents as a key weakness.

These types of manager are sending us down to the Championship quicker than Bolton managed it 5 years ago.

Jonnah and Windy.

I would be happy to change managers at this point if we had an Owner/CEO capable of hiring and keeping someone decent and providing the necessary investment. They've had the opportunity to do that 3 times so far - we were a top six team when we started. As it happens, I think their last choice was the pick of a bad bunch.

I wouldn't trust seeing who'd they try and bring on board next time. Especially in the position we're in.

I think we have to be very careful what we wish for.

I agree with Expat.
Everyone wanted Mcleish out of the club because he was ex small heath and played dire football.
We are now in a worst position than last season under Lambert.

What is the difference ?

jonnah: McLesih was a crap manager, I did not want him for that and only that reason, I was happy when he went because I like many others expected the new manager to have a war chest as that was what was being suggested and I actually was impressed by Lambert's Norwich especially against the better teams, I was wrong on both counts had I known what was to come I would have been happy to keep McLeish at least we did not ship goals ok we did not score many but we would probably have drew more than we lost this season so would have been clear of the drop.

pitbull inferno: better the devil you know and all that!

I love Villa to bits and no matter what division we play in it makes no difference to me i'd never stop going to watch us but in the premiership we are no longer a big club we are a medium club at best that is being mismanaged and people still go on like we are Real Madrid

jonnah: McLesih was a crap manager, I did not want him for that and only that reason, I was happy when he went because I like many others expected the new manager to have a war chest as that was what was being suggested and I actually was impressed by Lambert's Norwich especially against the better teams, I was wrong on both counts had I known what was to come I would have been happy to keep McLeish at least we did not ship goals ok we did not score many but we would probably have drew more than we lost this season so would have been clear of the drop

I would be happy to change managers at this point if we had an Owner/CEO capable of hiring and keeping someone decent and providing the necessary investment. They've had the opportunity to do that 3 times so far - we were a top six team when we started. As it happens, I think their last choice was the pick of a bad bunch

I would keep shelling managers if we keep having managers that causes the squad’s average age to fall so dramatically, meaning a lack of big-game experience is targeted by opponents as a key weakness

Agreed that Lerner wasn't prepared to invest when needed most but how much of it was down to players not wanting to come?

well put mate,
untill lerner puts up or shuts up.nothing will change

Mid morning rant time is it mintvilla?

Every time I go to post something, you post a rant about something slightly different. You're quoting pretty much everything from yesterday.

No manager will walk into a club that has struggled for 3 seasons the way we have and turn it straight round

january,was a sign of things to come.if lerner wasnt prepared to invest when we needed it most.
i cant see anymore coming in the summer.
he wants out,thats my take on all this.one visit to villa park this season.
the novelty has worn off

I don't understand the 8 posts in a row, is something wrong with the comment system?

Mid morning rant time is it mintvilla?

Every time I go to post something, you post a rant about something slightly different. You're quoting pretty much everything from yesterday

Being a " new" old boy to this blog ,so thank you for the opportunity to express my view ,I would argue against throwing money into the transfer bucket and ending up with players on a par with what we already have .
I think the problem lies at the training ground . Through out our history we have been at our best when we played to our strengths , in other words forwards ran the opposition ragged and defenders ensured that any counter attack was snuffed out before to much damage was done. Now it seems that it all about playing in position and maintaining a formation which is so predictable that it makes the other teams game play reasonably easy .
Now I am not sure if it is the fault of the manager in pursuing such a policy or the players for not pointing out the obvious and attempting a little free enterprise but the sad fact is that we will have to play with a lot more commitment in the lower division than is being shown at present to avoid going down further .
Just a footnote on the owner . The late Doug Ellis had a strange idea of when a manager needed replacing but at least he acted with a degree of predictability ,the present incumbent might as well live on the planet Zog for all the use he is .