AntrimBlack

Looks great - persaonally I don't like 'this is' - as it just seems copy liverpool - whom we have no need to copy. A big picture of Frank Carrodus would have been more appropiate IMO. Loads have Stadiums have that though - it's not copying it's just the English language. It is Villa Park?? what would you suggest? WE ARE

Beautiful. Quite a statement. Let's anyone passing through understand the greatness of Aston Villa. Past glories - yes - but glories for all that. Has got to be inspiring for our team going through on matchday.

like Man City then It was a great result, but we were comprehensively outplayed. And Spurs are at City's level at the moment.

I find it hard to believe that anyone could possibly think Kozak offers the same quality as Bent. As for future potential, it is too early yet to know, but if Kozak reaches Bent's level we will have a terrific player on our books.

Nice words from his former manager, who must have been disappointed to lose him.

Agree & to those who claim we didn't need Kozac as a replacement for Benteke, he actually came in as a replacement for Bent. Not sure about this at all. I think he was brought in as a back up for Benteke, as evidenced by recent events. I think Benteke's replacement has still to arrive. No reason for Lambert to bring in a replacement for Bent, as he did not fit the system any way, unless you mean he was brought in to make up the numbers.

Can you not see the actions? High paid parasites shipped out-Young, hungry players in their place No more Heskey/Harewood type strikers signed-Benteke & Kozac signed for similar amounts (when wages taken into account) After 3 years of anxiety & relegation battles, stability & progress instead (early days this season admittedly but signs are great) The club running on a more even keel in terms of wages paid to players A complete re-vamping of players like Fabian Delph & Brad Guzan-Both of whom have developed into top 6/8 players under the current regime Lets stick with this bloke & get behind him. I honestly feel theres a lot more to come. The majority buy into this but you have the hardcore few who still moan. Lambert works with these lads on an almost daily basis. He is more equipped to decide what is best for our club than people like us (who care deeply about it.admittedly) Only one man can make the decisions & we need to trust that man. We've proved in recent weeks that we would all pick different starting line ups/ formations etc.We will never all be right & never agree with PL all the time. His job is to manage the playing side of things-We need to support him & get behind the team. We're moving in the right direction whilst shopping at the lower end of the scale. How can anyone criticise while we are improving whilst doing this? I think this is a complete misunderstanding of what is involved in supporting a club, particularly if you've been doing it long-term. It's perfectly possible to support a team passionately whenever they take the field in Villa shirts, yet still be critical and questioning about performance and skill levels, managerial decisions, investment strategy etc. And, really, it would be a horrible world if that wasn't allowed, wouldn't it, and we all just had to keep our heads down and support the current manager on the basis that "he knows best"? I wonder how Sunderland fans and the doings of Madmano di Canio fit into that world view? At any time, the current chairman/board, manager and players are really just like stewards of the club they are involved with, and fans - particularly long term ones - will quite legitimately ask, "how well are they serving our club?" I think it's much too early to answer that question about Lambert and his current squad, although this season is certainly looking better than last. Randy Lerner has been around long enough to be assessed and the judgement has to be: "probably well-meaning, but mediocre outcomes so far". If it's OK with you, I'm going to continue to take a critical interest in how the club is progressing and not kowtow to the manager just because he's the manager. At the same time as cheering them on and following the emotional highs and lows of every match we play. Oh, and it's probably not great to use phrases like "the hardcore few who still moan". It's good to work on the basis that everyone on here has an individual opinion that needs to be respected in its own right, even if it is completely bonkers. It's not OK with me but I'm sure you will still do it anyway. If you've supported this club long term, you will know that success is far outweighed by failure. The Lerner era at present is not a million miles away from the Ellis era with DOL at the helm. Both managers under these regimes were forced to work with limited budgets. The hardcore few who thrive on moaning will never change, their glasses will always be half empty. Since Xmas, I can only think of Southampton (back in January) & Newcastle (January & recently) outside of the top 6 who have beaten us. What exactly is there that makes you think theres something to criticise? I'm genuinely interested. I'm not sure if you people have ever actually got yourselves involved in any form of sport but with the defeatist attitudes you portray on here, you would not have got very far. You would have lost before you started. When we have a manager like PDC then maybe that is the time to moan & criticise but there is no need for this at present as we are moving in the right direction. Presumptions are for the defeatist's amongst us who have lost before a ball has been kicked. Man City 2 weeks ago should have told you that we can compete. People need to start believing in the manager AND the team a bit more. Otherwise, point us to this benchmark that previous AVFC managers have set & to which Lambert should aspire. I really like this manager, and do feel that he could be great for us, and I do not think that it is a `defeatist attitude' to support the club and the manager and to want them to do well, but to temper that with a wish to see how things go over time. I have been fortunate to have supported this club since 1959 (yes - an oldtimer) and I am well used to the ups and downs of doing so, from League and European Cup winners to relegations, so i am wary of false dawns. I think I am positive - I am always hopeful that better days are just around the corner.

Can you not see the actions? High paid parasites shipped out-Young, hungry players in their place No more Heskey/Harewood type strikers signed-Benteke & Kozac signed for similar amounts (when wages taken into account) After 3 years of anxiety & relegation battles, stability & progress instead (early days this season admittedly but signs are great) The club running on a more even keel in terms of wages paid to players A complete re-vamping of players like Fabian Delph & Brad Guzan-Both of whom have developed into top 6/8 players under the current regime Lets stick with this bloke & get behind him. I honestly feel theres a lot more to come. The majority buy into this but you have the hardcore few who still moan. Lambert works with these lads on an almost daily basis. He is more equipped to decide what is best for our club than people like us (who care deeply about it.admittedly) Only one man can make the decisions & we need to trust that man. We've proved in recent weeks that we would all pick different starting line ups/ formations etc.We will never all be right & never agree with PL all the time. His job is to manage the playing side of things-We need to support him & get behind the team. We're moving in the right direction whilst shopping at the lower end of the scale. How can anyone criticise while we are improving whilst doing this? A bit of a presumptuous post. For all we know this will be another season of 'anxiety and a relegation battle'. Our progress will be determined this season. It hasn't been proven yet. Also your argument about the manager being best played to decided etc can be used for any manager in the world. Not presumptuous at all. My post has been based on the football played since the turn of the year. My argument about the manager being best placed can apply to any manager in the world. It cannot however apply to anyone who plays "football manager" throughout the world. Paul Lambert has forgotten more about professional football in the last week than many of us will ever know in a lifetime. The point of my argument was that whoever is in charge, be it SAF or Barry Fry, we need to trust & back him. Winning the 1974 Birmingham Subeutteo tournament does not qualify you to claim you know better. We are no worse than any in our "mid-table" pack & better than most. In addition, we are still improving whilst some are stagnating & going backwards. In addition, as much as you & your ilk moan about the standard of the football we play, we still play better than most in that group. Don't get me wrong - I am a big supporter of Lambert. I think he might be the guy for us and I hope that his will be a long and successful tenure.

I doubt that. Didn't he get an improved contract after last season. I think he will come good again.

Nice letter, but time will tell. Actions not words.

Just looking for sympathy from his big brother. Happens all the time.

Unsurprisingly, our midfield 3 are different in their attributes: - Delph tackles hard and likes to take on the opposition with his runs - KEA harries, plays short passes and moves into space - Westwood plays deep, has an eye for a pass and is usually the target when playing out of defense I wouldn't call Delph head and shoulders above the rest - but I would say that he is playing well because of the roles taken by Westwood and KEA. Take them out of the equation and Delph's influence is stifled. Yes, I know what you are saying, but my point is that I think we need better. And you cannot take them out of the equation without replacing them with others, and the idea would be that those `others' would be better than what we have. I just do not think that our midfield is good enough.

I know I am only repeating what many are saying, but I think a creative midfielder is top of the list.

Delph stands out head and shoulders above the rest of our midfielders, and I find the others a rather unexciting, uninspiring lot. El Ahmadi shows occasional flashes, but that's it. Now I may be missing something, but I think they are really only good squad players, and we really need to spend decent money on an attacking mid and a defensive mid.

I had thought he was going to be a really good player, but when he went through that bad spell, I thought he was going to be one of those players that shows promise but does not fulfill it. Really glad to see that he has come good again, and hopefully he can keep on playing the way he is now.

I wish our guys would learn to whip in corners. The most dangerous corner on Saturday was a mis-hit from one of their guys which caused chaos just in front of our keeper.

We do seem to be becoming a long ball team, and becoming more so with every game. And it will be the same when Benteke returns. Cannot remember the stats, but the ball retention from long balls to strikers, for all clubs, not just ours, is quite low. The game on Saturday, I may be wrong, looked the worst so far for long balls from our keeper.

I have always thought that Kozak was bought as a back up for Benteke for just this eventually, not a replacement. I just hope I was correct. To be fair to Kozak, it is early days, and he is at least a useful additional to the squad.

Is that a midfielder?

Delph was easily our best player today. I thought Agbonlahor, Bacuna and Clark were decent. Would the second half perhaps have been a good time to switch to three at the back to give Bacuna and Luna a chance to get forward?

I agree with this, but for this particular situation I would still rather have him than Bowery.

Hate to do this to you, but I will never be convinced that Darren Bent would not be a better option hanging about the penalty area than Jordan Bowery. Especially since we are presumably still paying a hefty slice of his salary.

It is pretty obvious that Benteke has only ever seen us as a stepping to the big boys of the premiership. Whereas he may well want to play for his country.

Several people, including at least one journalist and Schmeichal on MOTD2 pointing out that Bacuna ran straight to Lambert after his goal. Lambert really does have their hearts.

He really is turnng into the player we thought we had bought years ago. His energy and determination is great, he is maintaining a high standard of performance, and he may well get even better.