ReasonforRevolution

Totally agree on the Delph front. A while back I heard something along the lines of this one:

(To the tune of the Addams Family)

He came from Leeds United

He's fast and he's exciting

He should be (word removed) knighted

His name is Fabian Delpth

Fabian Delph <clap> <clap> <clap><clap>

Fabian Delph <clap> <clap> <clap><clap>

Fabian Delph, Fabian Delph, Fabian Delph

Also, I read in the Metro today that Liverpool are after Benteke. So I started singing this:

(To the tune of "Give Me Joy In My Heart")

Keep Benteke at the Villa. He's a lion

Keep Benteke at the Villa I pray.

Keep Benteke at the Villa. He's a lion.

And we'll score every (word removed) game.

Not sure what has happened with N'Zogbia. He has a little cameo and then is banished to the U21's. There was talk of him going to Everton in January. To play devils advocate although his performances were poor earlier in the season I don't think they were any worse than others. Also I do remember a few season ago when we were looking precarious he decided to turn up against West Ham and get a vital 3 points. That was two seasons ago so maybe he is due a good game.

If Leicester win they are 2 points behind us. Fasten your seat belts for this ride.

 

 

 

 

So will he be in the dugout against Leicester tomorrow then

Pete Colley (SSN) said he'll be in the stands.

 

I'm gonna call it now.

 

We're losing at HT and playing poorly.  Sherwood will take over at that point, we end up winning and benteke and sherwood share a salute that lasts for minutes.

 

Most are happy, some see it as a clear sign that his ego will destroy us.

 

Classic Sherwood.

 

 

Followed by him punching a player.

 

 

Or his gilet. 

 

The biggest criticism is that he seems to have an ego. What a crime that he believes in himself! 

 

He'll demand more from the players and ship out the players who have been coasting for a while. 

Totally agree! The players have been having it easy at this club for too long. Lambert constantly shielded them. He gave them two days off for their efforts after the Hull game! It is time a manager upped the ante. Lets hope Sherwood isn't so sympathetic. 

Any competent manager should be relishing working with this lad. Credit to Lambert (and/or) the scouting system is due for plucking him out. He has hit the ground running and is technically a class act. I must admit I had never heard of him before we signed him. In fact the image in my head of someone called Charles Gill was something like this:

Scott Marshalls claret and blue army.

Marshall have an amp / pedal called the Blues Breaker which is quite apt.

A refreshingly sincere statement by Paul. Now the dust has settled with Lambert I actually feel for the bloke. Something had to give and it wasn't working but I don't think the players should avoid all blame here. They could of put more in for a manager who never (and had several opportunities) turned on them. That said, I think he has left us with a squad to push on. I wish him the best in the future and thank him. Enjoy your pay off, I hear California is nice this time of the year.

You have to laugh. I just saw his post Hull press conference:

“Now it’s about winning ugly. This is not the time for pretty football.

“We’ve been trying to play the game in the right way but now we have to win ugly."

A few points:

1. The fundamental aim of football is to score more goals than your opponent. We have the worse goals / shots on target etc. record in the league. We have not been trying playing the game in the right way.

2. If we have the capabilities to win "ugly" why haven't we? I'd love to see us win.

3. If what we have been witnessing is not ugly. I can only imagine what the next 13 games hold!

We are deep in the dogfight!

The attitude of Lambert has been a laid back "we'll be fine". Quite an arrogant approach as no performances point to us being fine. I don't buy that losing at home to Chelsea is enough to inspire us as fans that this is enough to secure safety. It is not enough. After yesterday's loss to Hull, Lambert has had a slight realisation and said we have "13 cup finals". Maybe a little too late. Was it just the fans that could see this coming months and months ago?! It seems the only fight and desire to change has come from the terraces. We have a lacklustre (and/or) poorly managed players, uninspiring management and a hierarchy not  aware of the trouble we are actually in.

A massive concern now is that other teams in the relegation battle have been rolling there sleeves up and trying to rectify it for a while now. Take Palace with the appointment of Pardew. Sunderland with the acquisition of Defoe as examples. More worrying now is QPR, Hull and Leicester have began picking up points all of who have done so at our expense. As Josh previously mentioned this is huge psychologically.

Something I highlighted at the end of last season we were lucky in sense that we won games against Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Southampton; bonus points on the tally for our survival. Without them though we would of been doomed. In contrast this season we are following the trend of losing teams around us but I cannot see points coming from elsewhere. For what it is worth this is the first season I am genuinely concerned about relegation. The fans have known it for months now. It is just a shame it has took us dropping into the bottom three for our manager to realise it.  

Happy with the draw. I am more confident against Bournemouth than I would've been with SHA. Leicester strolled the Championship last season and they fell at fortress Villa Park this season. However, if we are going to lose keep it below 8.

I think we can take positives from Joe's performance. He can still offer us a lot. Nice to see a player attempt to take on the opposition and try to create, which must be a frustrating task in this side. He looked for balls beyond the opposition defensive line which is a rare yet refreshing sight. We all know he is injury prone and past his prime etc. that said he has natural technical ability which we are lacking and could make a lot of difference. Not only on the ball but he also tried to sort out players positions going forward. Like a lot of them though we have to play to their strengths to get the best. 

Here (we go again)..... Surely I am not the first.

Anyway, in the fairy tale world of football maybe the script is wrote for a Joe Cole cameo. Having said that on the flip side, a Stuart Downing back in the England squad and high on confidence is sure to put in a performance. It is probably going to be the later isn't it. Until Bentekes sending off against Spurs I think it was the best we have played all season. If we can take that into Saturday we will beat them. Then again no Benteke and we could be completely deflated. I am getting splinters from sitting on the fence. That is the extent of my optimism about this fixture.

Jack was fantastic last night. It wasn't a one off either, he is consistently performing at a different class for the U21s. Even to the extent that last night Wolves fans were commenting in amazement he isn't getting first team time. Not that Wolves fans know best but it is high praise from opposition fans. I think he has to be considered. It isn't like we are firing on all cylinder's and I honestly think he can be a sensation in the Premiership.

The fact is we are putting a lot of faith in Paul Lambert. Many a manager would have gone earlier but we are being fed the line of a long term plan. I have been supportive but sooner or later I want to see progression. Next year? 5 years? When? Is he the right person for a long term plan. He had relative success at Norwich but in the grand scheme of things he is unproven at this level. The issue is he seems to be proving himself now and proving to be incompetent.

We are going backwards. I don't see any improvement. We have played narrow all through Lamberts reign. Why not try to actually test a team like QPR with width. Forward runs! Please someone try and run beyond a defender.

After Jerome hit the bar when he should've scored and Howard Webb admitted his mistake we had pushed our luck to the limit. If we weren't going to make a change it was a matter of time until they scored. Surely someone on that bench thought we'd pushed it too far. Uninspiring and desperate. I can only rationalise that we were playing for the draw. I am concerned now it is going to get worse before it gets better. Every opposition player and manager will relish the opportunity playing against Villa.

Half time and on a positive note we have a clean sheet. Admittedly it is only half time and we are playing West Ham who are playing an awe inspiring 4-6-0 formation.

There we go! Ravel Morrisons on Weimann was 100% more of a foul than Noble there! Am I biased or do we get a rough deal with decisions. Probably biased!.

Watching it in real time I thought it was a lack of strength. Replay shows he is all over him. Can't help but think it would of been given elsewhere. Webb knows he has to send him off if he gives the foul.

Saw on H & V that someone had taken their lad to see Villa and he had starting singing (to the tune of Pussycat Dolls):-

"Dontcha wish your striker was Ben-t-eke"

Surely that's got to be better than "oooh Christian Benteke" which EVERY team sings about one of their players?

This is brilliant!!!!!

I am naively optimistic. Crucial point being we need to play for 90 minutes and we need to play with width. Second half against Newcastle showed 4-4-2 might be the route to go down. We cannot afford to leave our inexperienced full backs exposed they will need support from wide players to help track over lapping runs from Baines. Truth be told we have to start picking up points and that will mean coming up with some surprise results. No better place to start. 

I am opting for a 9am drinking start. Away days. A fine excuse for alcoholism.

2-1 Villa.

All the best Dawkins. We needed new players. Obviously not who we expected in name and position. However it can only be a good thing. I am hoping it is a sign that we are going to start playing with width. My fear is that we have had ample opportunity to play wingers so why would it change now. We have had the likes of Curruthers who could of easily been used as a winger. Hopefully Dawkins coming in and the second half performance against Newcastle will sway the decision. I'll reserve judgement until after his 30 yard winner against Everton. Good luck.

All together now.....

Simon! Simon Dawkins! He's the greatest guy in history. From San, Jose Earthquakes, he'll keep us in the Premier League.