AntrimBlack

Well, I must say that people hyped him up so much, and he played so well at reserve level, that I expected more, so you could say that I fell somewhat for the hype, not knowing any better. Having seen him play for the first team on his limited appearances, he really has shown absolutely nothing, and has not been impressive on loan. I think the two year extension was a mistake. Johnson seems to be a better player.

I thank you for that doubtful honour.

Almost embarrassed to admit to this, but I started supporting Aston Villa in 1956, just a year before the famous Cup Final, in which fellow Ulsterman Peter McParland featured heavily. To be brief, a boy arrived at our school, having been expelled from another local school. We were all 12-year-olds, but he was one of these boys who seemed older and more advanced than the rest of us, bit of a chancer ( he ended up a bank manager). He had a scheme based on the old Division One, whereby you put money in, not much of course, and won money dependent on how your team performed. We drew teams out of a hat. I drew Aston Villa. Not very romantic, but I was hooked and have been a proud supporter ever since.

Whilst I have my doubts, at the moment at least, about Lambert's abilities overall, when he has been able to spend decent money, in Aston Villa terms, he has done well, so if he wants to buy Gil for that sort of money I would be hopeful that Gil would be a good buy.

Lol what a strange thing to say. Jack, you're on the bench this week because MOTD didnt show enough highlights of you. Missing the point? Surely the fact that he featured so heavily compared to others would mean that he should continue to start. Or did MOTD just miss the many scintillating passages of play involving other team-mates.

This seems more solid than Sinclair in my opinion Didn't Lambert confirm that he is interested in Sinclair in his press conference today? I thought another poster had indicated that Lambert had basically said the opposite?

Cannot afford it, or do not think he is worth it. Big difference. If it is the latter, cannot disagree with them. Think Sinclair has had his day.

Good post, Tro, and a whiskey reference too. Extra good for that.

This I like. Sinclair's record is not that good, and I would hope we could do better for the sort of money he would want. The way he has conducted his career so far gives me no reason to think he will get his career on track again.

Why unexpected? He's a decent player, not quite premier league quality but a good footballer regardless. He'll have a career. I agree. I just mean he would not have expected to be given a chance by a Premier League club. Which then leads to him having a good and probably lucrative career in the lower divisions.

I know MOTD is only highlights, but to have featured quite heavily in them, surely that means something. Certainly it means to me that he should be on the pitch from the start.

#nextgeorgebest There's only one!

This was a massive step up for Stevens. I had heard that he was doing ok in the lower divisions, and I would say he is delighted to have been given an opportinity to play in those divisions, instead of in Irish football, where I suspect the salaries are much lower. Good luck to him, nice to see someone get an unexpected break.

I think he is just about good enough for us, so I suspect he will not have that many choices.

Precisely Sorry, guys, but in my opinion you do not quite get it. I agree that our history means little or nothing to anyone else, but it does, and should, mean a lot to us. It makes us that little bit different, as you suggest, Lapal, and that can only be good. Of course I do not think it will get us better players, but to suggest, as you do, Gilberto, that it holds us back, is just incorrect. And it certainly will not sway modern players to join us, but any who do could not fail to feel that history. I get it, I'm just sick of it. Players feel it only because it's rammed down their throats by fans that expect more from players than they are capable of. It's not necessarily a good thing that they feel the history, it's undeserved and unnecessary pressure. You wonder why we've been on the backs of all of our managers in recent years and turned on them easily? Because expectations are too high. Why is this? History! It holds us back because a lot of fans (not necessarily you), still expect us to maintain the standards previously set, which is obviously not possible. Nowhere near possible in fact, when your best players leave every season, which previously wasn't the case. There's nothing wrong in being proud of past glories as long as it doesn't negatively impact the club currently, which I believe it does. I do not think our expectations are based on our history, I just think they are what any club in our position would have. I actually think our fans are very patient and surprisingly understanding. But I do not think our history has a negative impact, so we will just have to disagree on that one.

Precisely Sorry, guys, but in my opinion you do not quite get it. I agree that our history means little or nothing to anyone else, but it does, and should, mean a lot to us. It makes us that little bit different, as you suggest, Lapal, and that can only be good. Of course I do not think it will get us better players, but to suggest, as you do, Gilberto, that it holds us back, is just incorrect. And it certainly will not sway modern players to join us, but any who do could not fail to feel that history.

Never. That is what carries me through the bad times. Our history. Very few clubs have the history that we have. We should be proud.

It is the bit you do not mention, Tro, because we do not have any standout players there. Agbonlahor, Weimann, Nzogbia, that is the problem area, no creativity. Cannot see much changing until we address that problem area.

Think you are being a bit premature.

This is unfortunately very true. Thanks for an excellent report.

Westwood is a very average player, and should not be captain of this club.

That was terrible, especially the front three. Benteke is to good to drop just in case he starts to score again, but Agbonlahor and Weimann need to be benched. Robinson in for Agbonlahor, he cannot do any worse. Grealish did not do particularly well, but I think he can make things happen and he needs time on the pitch in order to improve. Lambert needs to do something, he is being too conservative, and I do not think he would be lambasted for trying to make changes that instil a bit of youthful enthusiasm into the team. The performances are lacking any kind of spark. Sanchez MOM, good performances also from Okore and Clark.

That game was made for Cole to start. Agbonlahor at home - really?

Lambert does that. His attacking front three are based on a row of onions.

Agree with everything but that, Stevo. I thought they had 3 really good chances to score, and luckily for us they did not take them.