Marka Ragnos

I think Rafa would be a dream manager, too. But yeah, he won't leave Nap.

I think the Brits on the board will dissuade Lerner from picking an American manager. They are too conservative, too afraid of a big change -- just like Lerner! (I think I may have just alienated ... like ... half of Villa Talk with this arguably stupid statement. I hope I am wrong!)

For real? I think you need to dial down the hyperbole just a mile or so? Love the story, but would rather see him get more seasoned. Would love to see Arena. Would be shocked it it happens tho. Too insightful a move for Lerner. Nope, not at all. I think you're forgetting the other chap in the US who has a little bit of a say in this matter.

Yeah this would be safe and dull appointment- but is realistic and he could keep us up. I'd take a dull 17th over an exhilarating drop.

The new Crushed Beaks album. Love it!

1. Neil Lennon 2. Rafael Benitez 3. Roy Keane's Beard 4. Bruce Arena 5. Jurgen Klinsmann

It's been a rough week or two or 20. But here are 10 reasons for an AVFC supporter to have hope: 1. You're not a Nose. 2. We're not relegated YET. That's a fact. 3. Gil. 4. The feelings of supporters are more united than I can recall. 5. We have a run of winnable fixtures ahead of us. 6. We can now say we're legitimate "underdogs." Yay! 7. There's some great dark wit and gallows humour on Villa Talk. 8. No matter how bad things get, there will always be some sad fool Villan who will see the bright side. 9. It's not YOUR millions of ££££££ that will be lost if we get the drop. 10. If we go down, cheap replica kits!!!!

Don't agree. Relegation as a kind of club therapy is too big of a gamble. We could be down for years -- decades. We could slip down and down. It must not happen!

And here's the good news ... And that complete's the good news.

A match, a manager, and group of players not worth even weeping over. The only thing I feel sorry for is the Aston Villa tradition. It's been tarnished tonight.

It's days like today when I guess should also expect my wife to leave me, the doctor to give me a scary diagnosis, and my tea milk to be sour.

It's very disappointing. Hard to stomach. I blame Lerner.

Will Lerner sack himself?

Come on Villa!

One important quality about managers -- and it's not one I've seen discussed with Lambert -- is THEIR ability to put pressure on an owner. Yes, a manager serves at the owner's behest, but that's doesn't mean it's a simple master-servant relationship. A good manager has to be able to squeeze milk from a stone and rebuff stupid tactical intrusions, etc. This kind of thing takes charisma, cunning, and experience. When all is said and one, would it be accurate to say that Paul Lambert has been able to handle Randy Lerner? I, for one, doubt it. My guess is that they do not say much at ALL substantive to one another, but rather exist in a kind of mutually beneficial ignorance of one another. My guess is that their relationship is like those of two clams sitting on the bottom of the ocean.

Lack of goals, OK? That is the only problem. That is the entire problem. There are no other issues this year. Dress it up, spin it, sniff if, tie it in a bow, smack it with a hammer -- but no matter, it always comes back the same -- lack of goals. And did I mention, lack of goals? Would love to see how, under the current owner, the Post-Lambert Savior changes this. Not gonna happen.

You mean in the game, or the transfer window, or both?

Well, at least you're honest lol. And I agree, no Sherwood, please.

Yep. Huge. For us -- and for them!

Something "off" there with the young lad. I feel bad for him but we can't risk him again. He's a liability and too big a risk. Should be moved in next transfer window.

Honestly don't understand this whole "belief" thing. We're outclassed in terms of resources. I was actually really impressed with our spirit apart from Benteke.

Yeah, that should be it for him. Time to prepare for summer transfer. He's worse than useless. He actually hurt us. I don't have any thing against him personally, but something is just off there. Seems almost bewildered. I actually feel bad for him -- but I feel worse for us.

No. Totally disagree. Villa didn't lack belief. We lacked a clinical striker.

I am no Lambertian but Lerner's left him with no options. I think he was right to give Benteke a last chance but that should be it. It's just too bad PL didn't have many choices. Look at Chelsea. They bring on a player as a discretionary sub whom they just paid almost five times above what we failed to pay for a slightly over the hill striker. It's just obvious what the issue is, and it goes way deeper than Lambert. Chelsea could have left Willian on, too. Very hard to compete against this mismatch in resources.

Somehow this one really hurts especially bad. Was just beginning to get carried away with hope. Real let-down. I feel mad at Benteke.