Fazilla

The bottom line in this relegation scrap is that we need to concentrate on our own form rather than worry about other teams. The way we have been playing recently gives me confidence that we can stay up. The team has a good balance and players like Guzan, Weimann, Benteke and Westwood are really stepping it up. They all work their socks off for each other and there is no comparison between this team and the one that was relegated in the eighties.

And who signed him for peanuts?

Try blaming the players who should have been more than good enough to see us win those games.

I have read that during the summer when one prospective manager was told what wages we were prepared to pay to new signings he laughed in RL's face. Lambert had a very good reputation and job at Norwich but was prepared to come here and sort out the mess. Last season we were very nearly relegated, have huge debts and a number of high earners who are are not pulling their weight. Apart from an awful run of form around Christmas I have seen signs that we are heading in the right direction. Performances against Man Utd, Swansea, Everton and Liverpool have been really encouraging. The team we played against Reading included 5 from the academy and cost less than £20 million. The wages for that team are well within our budget. Lambert has made some very good value signings such as Westwood and Benteke who we could sell for a profit. I hope he is not sacked even if we go down because who else is out there who would be willing and able to restore the club to anything like its former glories.

Very harsh considering he had been ill all week.

We had no offers for any of our players in the window. We tried to loan out Ireland to Newcastle last year and it all went tits up. I think he has had plenty of chances, but the bottom line is he is not good enough and we will find it very difficult to move him on.

Whoever agreed to him being valued at £8m plus wages of 65k per week needs to be taken into the bullring and flogged repeatedly. We can't even blame MON for this one. If he knew this was in the pipeline, perhaps that's what made him walk out.

Not picking on you but I thought his touch looked quality today; for instance there were a few hoofs from their goalie and defenders he instantly controlled with his first touch which should not go unnoticed. Again his build-up play and one-touch passes with others was very good today and he showed glimpses of exceptional skill, most notably when he skipped past a few players and then got fouled by Pogatetz. On at least 3 occasions he tried to run the ball out from the edge of our box only for his touch to be too heavy and him knock it way ahead of himself. Each time he lost the ball to a West Ham player resulting in us being put back under pressure. He didn't have a bad game but his first touch was at time simply terrible as it has frequently been when he plays. According to the stats on the OS, Delph made 43 successful passes out of 47, 4 out of 7 take ons, 6 successful interceptions and 5 successful tackles out of 5. In the past I have not thought that he was good enough, but those are very impressive statistics.

Although our defence is poor I think that the whole team must take responsibility for our likely relegation. We don't keep the ball when we are in the lead so our defence is under constant pressure. We all know that sooner or later we will crack. Once Everton scored the second goal I couldn't bear to watch any more because I knew what was coming.

I agree because I thought he had a shocker yesterday. With him and Bennett on the left of the defence it is hardly surprising that we have leaked so many goals. I would bring Baker in for West Ham because I don't think Clark will be able to handle Carroll. Who to play left back is a toss of the coin job between Lichaj, Gordon and Shakin. To be frank, none of them fill me with much optimism.

We will be relegated if we keep on conceding goals from corners. Will we stop doing this? Does a bear shit in the woods? Further we need to beef up our midfield. Ireland/KEA/Holman/Delph/Bannan are simply not good enough to keep us up.

This has got to be one of the worst month's I have ever known as a Villa fan and I have seen us relegated to the old third division. Diabolical performances against Chelsea, Spurs, Wigan, Bradford and Millwall have made it plain to every Villa fan that we needed to strengthen during this window. However, here we are with 3 days to go and the only time that a sky reporter has pressed our transfer sign is to tell us we have no money. What is going on in RL's head is beyond me. He has invested the best part of £200m in the club and next season PL clubs are set to share in a £60m bonanza. Surely now is not the time to prevent Lambert buying a couple of players to help keep us up. Lambert has proved if he is given money he can unearth gems like Benteke. Everton have just gone out and paid £7m for Leroy Fer, who is the sort of big, skillful midfield player we are crying out for. Surely if Everton can do business like that, Villa should be doing the same. When Villa were relegated from the old first division, it took nearly ten years to get back to the top flight. I can see the same happening again if we don't act immediately.

I will have a pint of what you are on please.

I think the answer is yes as far as Herd is concerned. He probably met up with Collins again and went to a London club where the pair of them had a skin full.

A big reaction and changes needed for Wednesday. Depending on fitness and availability: out Herd, Lichaj/Bennett, Bannan, Holman, Weimann; in Vlaar, Stevens, Delph, Ireland and Gabby.

Each one of his goals this season have been hit first time, which is a rare talent for a stricker to have. He has made all of his goals look easy, but he proved with his cracker against Stoke last year that he has got a great shot in his locker,

Well said sir!

Above WBA.

I agree. The current trio have played together for years and have looked very solid and mobile. Although I have been very impressed with Vlaar he should be made aware that he is not an automatic choice. I think this is Lambert's great strength. He does not have favourites like MON and BFR. You only have to look at Bent and Given to realise that CR will have a fight on his hands to get back into the side.

Shit refs we always get shit refs and Dowd has got to be the worst of the lot.

For me out of all those matches and great memories it has got to be the 1977 second replay against Everton at Old Trafford. What a team we had on those days. On the night Morty and Brian Little were magnificent. Mortimer is magic and Brian Little walks on water was ringing round the ground. On the train back to Brum it was packed with Villa fans signing non-stop. Happy days!

When we played 3-5-2 under Brian Little we won the League Cup, were in the semi finals of the FA and finished fourth. The next season we changed the system to accommodate Collymore and everthing went tits up. 3-5-2 suits us because we do not have wide men who are good enough to make 4-4-2 effective. I would keep it as long as we are getting good results, but have confidence that Lambert will change the system if and when the need arises.

If he keeps playing like he has done so far I predict that he will have at least 3 songs dedicated to him by the end of the season.

I would hope that under Lambert, he and Benteke can realise their ambitions with us, but even if they eventually decide to move on I would trust Lambert to find adeqate replacements. Every player has his price, even United found this with Ronaldo, and if a player wants to leave there is no point in trying to hold onto them. It is the law of the jungle I am afraid.

PL is quoted to-day saying that we are trying to build something for the future and that none of our young players are for sale. Lambert has got them believing in themselves and hence they are playing with confidence. Westwood said recently that he honestly did not think he was good enough for the Villa, but he is proving himself wrong. Why should he be too good for us when the future is looking bright. We have huge potential as a club but have never been able to fulfill it since Sir Ron left. If Lambert keeps signing players like Lowton, Westwood and Benteke there is not going to be any reason for any of them to want to leave Villa Park. Don't you wish your striker was Benteke. Don't you.