Ghost_of_Pongo_Waring

So we increase our points to games ratio to over 1.5 during the next 7 games following a ratio of just over 0.96 in the previous 31 games. Amazing transformation! In our last seven games our ratio is 1.43 points per game. Not such an amazing transformation at all.

That just shows how bad we have got ( not something we should shout about ) With that sort of thinking the players will be doing a lap of honour every time we get a corner. We are not shouting about it. It's a newspaper article thats mentioning it. We are called Aston Villa .... not the Mirror.

The problem has been though that it has taken Lambert within an inch of our Premiership status to find the right system with the players available. But the problem is we've had different players available far too often this season. We went through something like nine games where we had injuries every game. There has rarely been a run of games with the same squad available. With new players trying to get used to the club, level of football etc, the regular enforced changes hasn't helped them settle and adapt.

The current form table is looking better. http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/form-guide.html If we can keep, or better, this form we'll be ok. Sunderland are looking in trouble with only two points in their last six games.

We have'nt beaten Shitty,Reading or QPR in the league. We beat Reading in November

If it comes down to Wigan away we've every chance. Our record at Wigan is excellent, just as they've got a great record at Villa Park.

Wigan beat us easily but there's no way that Southampton did. We created chance after chance against them, not forgetting that the penalty should not have been given. Newcastle had an easy first half but were under the cosh the second. They deserved the victory because we couldn't get the equalizer but it can't be classed an easy victory for them. Yes we're looking likely to go down but that is not the same as guaranteed to go down. If in the remaining games we win one more point than Reading and Wigan and don't lose more than three points more than QPR we will survive. Whether anyone thinks thats likely is one thing but many on here are acting as if it's impossible.

I'll give you odds of 1000/1 that we won't go bottom today. Go on lump £100 on, you know you want to

We've already been relegated. Despite being in the relegation zone by goal difference and the teams around us being as bad as us this season so far, or we'd be adrift on our own, apparently there is no chance at all that we'll get one point more than those teams in the remaining games. I hope the team have more bottle and fight than some of the supporters.

It's ridiculous to say Lambert shouldn't have got Benteke in. Bent was coming back from a lengthy injury and has been continually picking up niggling injuries all season. Getting a winger wouldn't have stopped Bent getting injured. Without Bentekes goals we'd be in even worse trouble than we are.

Yes he did. From the BBC on-line match coverage 2228: Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert: "I know the game. You take it on the chin. I am the manager of the team it is my responsibility to pick them up and get them going." 2227: Loads of names of restaurants in Bradford flooding in to us on text and Twitter - I'll have to do a recce and try them all I think... 2226: Aston Villa 2-1 Bradford (Agg 3-4) Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert: "We got the second goal but it was too little too late. It is no good doing that after the horse has bolted. You either lay down and accept it or come out fighting and you have to come out fighting. You will get criticism but you have to pick yourselves up and keep going. "Good luck to Bradford and congratulations for going through. It is a great achievement and anything can happen in the final." 2225: GET INVOLVED Aydin Saribal on Twitter: "But can Bradford do it on a warm, moonlit, Friday night in Barcelona." 2223: Aston Villa 2-1 Bradford (Agg 3-4) More from Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert: "The first half we played very well and got a good goal, but if we can't defend corners then that is not good enough. We are losing too many goals from set plays, you have to be able to defend a corner and that is the bottom line. "You are going to be hurting no doubt but you have to pick yourself up. You have to get going again. That is football for you." 2221: Very honest words from Paul Lambert, who looks gutted. More to come... 2219: Aston Villa 2-1 Bradford (Agg 3-4) Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert: "That is the worst day of the season. We had two chances to do it and haven't done it. "We've lost four goals from set-pieces over two games which is not good enough. "I am embarrassed. We will never have a better chance to reach the final." 2219: Here comes Paul Lambert...

Yes, he was ref at the Capital One Cup game against Man City.

Probably couldn't pick a better game to go into, form often goes out of the window in derby games. They'll know their fans will be expecting them to beat us comfortably, especially as they're at home, so all the pressure will be on them. Vlarr will be back in the team, which will mean our defence will be more organised. Personally I'm looking forward to the game.

Even if he is, he's cup tied.

No we shouldn't have been 4-0 down after 11 minutes. Hitting the post counts for nothing except one added to the 'shots off target' statistic. We could have been four down but we could have equalised against Wigan when Holman hit the bar. Does that mean we should have gone in level?

Norwich made three changes from the side that had won a swansea, we made four changes.

We should get through without too much trouble over two legs but that doesn't mean we should be arrogant and dismissive of Bradford. They're in the semi finals on merit and deserve all due respect for getting so far. I'm sure in 1971 Man Utd, a team that included Charlton and George Best and finished I believe as league runners up that season, thought they were through when they drew a third division side in the semi finals. We should have the sense and class to have confidence without being arrogant about it.

I'd definitely agree with that . Great to see and hopefully there'll be more to come.

A good read Papillon but a few things I'd disagree with " even after this win we can possibly be under the line next week given some unrealistic results " - Only if Newcastle, Sunderland, Southampton and Wigan all win ..... and Southampton and Sunderland are playing each other. "Liverpool is a team in deep trouble after all" - They'd lost once in eleven games. They're not the Liverpool of old but they're not in deep trouble. "They should have had a clear penalty when Agger was dragged down in the box, that happened at 0-2 and clearly would have changed the game for them" - Both players had hold of each others shirts, the ref was right to play on. Absolutely delighted with the result. Really thought we'd do well to get a draw but the sheer hard work of the defence and the clinical way we took our chances mean that we certainly deserved the three points even though Liverpool had the lions share of possession. Immense team performance. I can't smile wide enough tonight.

Our first nine games saw us gain six points and keep one clean sheet. We've picked seven points up from our following five games and kept three clean sheets. Yes we conceded eight goals in those two games where we did concede but considering the teams we were playing and the circumstances of some of those goals there is, in my opinion, some mitigation. It's also worth remembering that as well as rebuilding the squad and the very young age of our team we've had abysmal luck with defensive injuries. It's bad enough having to change the defensive lineup game to game but we're having to do it at some point during most games at the moment. It has been difficult, but did anyone really expect it not to be? There are definite signs of improvement in performance and results, Not necessarily in the same game yet but things are improving. Of course this means nothing if the improvement doesn't continue and I'd say the shoots of our recovery are still fragile but we have the opportunity in the next two games to really strengthen our League position and confidence.

Anyone else got this? I've had a guitar for years but never made much progress with it. I can play some basic chords but I'm no guitarist. After four days on this I've certainly improved probably because I'm playing much more frequently but also because can 'see' where I'm struggling and the riff repeater is really helping me practise those areas. Especially the ability to slow down tricky sections and slowly increase them upto full speed. Really loving Rocksmith.

Waiting for my steam pre-load to unlock. Can't wait. I used to love the original. Played the demo and like the little that I saw of this. I like the idea of a memorial page for all your men who have died and the chance to customise them. One reviewer changed all medics armour to red so they were easily identifiable on the battlefield, which is a good idea. Come on midnight ... hurry up. Until then I'm messing about on the original game.

It's going to take time for the changes Lambert is making to take effect. The saddest thing, for me, about the Southampton defeat was the way we resorted to just belting the ball up field. Hopefully Lambert will rectify this. I'm really looking forward to the game tonight, even though I can't see us winning without needing pens, to see whether we're back to the way we played against Newcastle and Swansea.

Does that mean relationships are 'thawing' and does it raise any hopes that further volumes might be written?