nycVILLA

If you look at our squad, I believe 12 of them would get regular footie in the Premier League somewhere.. But.. With Given, Hutton, Warnock, Dunne, Ireland and Bent clearly not Lambert Players... Leaves 7/8 Senior(ish) players I believe worthy of a Claret and Blue shirt squad number, from what I've seen. So 14 Squad players (young + potential). I see us needing at least 6 Senior players added to the team for balance, not to win anything, just to compete. We need a squad of individuals that covers the spectrum of consistent maturity V youthful volitility to providing competition for all positions. Then these players with potential need work hard to get a game. I just don't think this will happen until the summer.... My random guess will be 2 grade -B players, "with something to prove" or "Stepping Stone" this window. Fingers are crossed I'm wrong.

Do you think the DM we need could be Clark? Lowton Dunne Vlaar Baker Clark Westwood Sissoko Gabby Benteke N'Zog

We don't know what going on behind the scenes... To have So Many senior players not in the team for one reason or another is far too fishy for me...

We need to own the middle of the park..... This is going to be our downfall. But Delph turned up today!

In the first 80mins only when we attacked through the middle of the park did we look like we might do something. But we had no creativity in the middle of the park so rarely did it. This was a match with Stephen Ireland written all over it... Gabby changed everything, he played with Conviction. I can't understand the Bowery Substitution, nothing against him, but we needed an old head. I thought the midfield was vacant for most of the game, we tackled well, but didn't use the space when we had the ball. Delph did it in the second half, distributing the ball in a positive manner. Today's loss is down to bad team selection and poor motivation. Simple! This youth team doesn't have the killer instinct or the zip. We needed someone that was capable of controlling a game, Ireland or to a lessor extent Banan. (Who did exactly that). One of these two always need to be on the park. If only Benteke has put that sitter away.....

We are a 2.5 on that scale, but this retooling has made us a 3.5. Lambert isn't a clown, he knows what needs to be done (I hope). But that's the damage this season so far has done, I don't trust him now. He seems too stubborn, or he is learning about the players... I so hope he knows what he is doing! I can see us being a 2 under Lambert, maybe even next season. But only if he makes it that long. We are Aston Villa, the Original #1. Thank you William McGregor! We have done it before, we can do it again.

It's not going to happen.... It just can't!

We stay up by the skin of our teeth!

"Why are they tackling my boys in the middle of the pitch, can they do that?

If you were Lerner what would you do? Given time he will build a solid team, but how much time? It makes no sense to sack Lambert, but we can't risk going down because he is too proud to admit his errors. Director of Football anyone?

At this rate we can only get him on loan then...

It's not raw emotion, it's been half a season of moving backwards. We have two youth teams and a reserve team, only half a first team. Long term I'm with you, but Lambert needs to swallow his pride and bring back some of the mercenaries. He has tried and failed, making massive changes too quickly, he needs to man up and get the job done with what he has. Yes we need new players, but he needs to "manage" the squad he has got. Focusing on the squads individual strengths, then he can play with the revolution once we are safe (40pts)

"The Alarm bells are ringing for Claret and Blue"... I have officially lost faith in Lambert... He has alienated senior players that have performed well (mostly) in the past, Sorry but if he is not good enough to motivate these proven highly paid real footballers, perhaps he should coach the youth team and we get a real Manager in the role. Even the mercenaries are better than the children. If Lambert can't motivate kids to get to their first Wembley final, how will he get them up for Southampton? I will be happy to have someone ram this down my throat if we win the Cup, but sorry, it ain't going to happen. Honeymoon is over, the fact is, We married a munter!

I really thought lambert was the man, but this is gross incompetence! Maybe Pep wants a real footballing challenge?

Imagine we get through, then play like this at the final... I can't believe that I have lost faith in Paul Lambert and the current squad as quickly as I have. We need Warnock and Hutton back ASAP... I never thought I would say that. We need some Grit as soon as we can.

This is a REAL FA cup draw isn't it, Millwall are a proper old school team. One of the grounds I'd love visit. But let's face it, you need brass balls to wear the away shirt to that match, and 100/1 odds on the shirt getting back to Brum without it being soiled...

Zog is going to be a the man by the end of the season (positive thinking!) But where is his best position do you think? However... Up front is not the problem, it's the center of the park...

He looks like a real quality player, is it acceptable to be so one sided though? He did score a screamer with his left and a tap in. Other than that he only used his left to stand on.

Lescott,would be wonderful in our team! What kind of idiot thinks an England international doesn't have a place in our team... Really? Some people spend way too much time playing FM than in the real world. He is EXACTLY what we need! On loan for the end of the season with Man City being able to call him back, perfect all round, then if we stay up we sign him... The only way we will get a massive player like this is if we loan them first...

Please let me wake up in the morning to the headline "M'Vila and Villa to Villa!"

Why do formation always need to be symmetrical? Play Lowton as a wingback, with the back Three of Vlaar, Clark and Baker. So traditional back four if needed. Westwood and Herd in Middle, (herd for his hight, weight and heart) Then N'Zog on left, Ireland in Hole. I just have a feeling N'Zog is going to turn up.... But could be Holman. Simple, but could work.

This rubbish dirty looking kits is to blame for all 8 against Chelsea, Not PL not the players, it's that cheaply nasty kit. If you look like crap you will be! Randy, go to Umbro and ask for THE kit. Once we win the league we can have a chat with Le Coq Sportif.

With all of this happy talk, As I said before Joleon Lescott as the Experiance in defense (assuming he will get over the sledge hammer to the knees rumor ) But we still need to replace Petrov... We need an older head in Midfield, do you think Ian Taylor would do a Scholes? Its the middle where we need to be much much stronger. But Who is that player? Is there a new Michael Essien in Rochdale? Creatively, Ireland should have more time in then park as well. But if there is ever a time for N'Zog to prove himself it's would be right now.

joleon lescott anyone? Villa fan and all... Or am I dreaming here? I hope PL thinks we need some maturity in the squad and he could be it.

We have totally given up on Villa being a big team haven't we? I too am already expecting one of the big boys to come in and buy our best players in the summer, i didn't realize I was doing it until I read and agreed with this thread. Does that make us the Crewe of the Premiership?