Philosopher

Personally I think this is just media bullshit! The only quotes of Benteke wanting out are miss-quotes!

He actually said if he had to stay at villa he would be happy to do so.  Even his agent who has been heavilly critcised by some fellow Villa fans has said any deal would be subject to ALL parties being happy! The only team Benteke wants to really join( that have been linked) is Arsenal and its clear he is a fan.  I personally don't see Arsenal spending in excess of 25m (which is what it will take to sign him), as we all know they don't spend more than 15m on any player, which is probably why thats the proposed fee in the media.  The media are just spewing the bullshit the agents give them. Benteke is the hottest striking property in the league outside of the two manchester clubs in the prem and probably every agent wants a piece of any deal so are probably trying to worm their way in!

Lambert knows how important benteke is to us and that it is suicide two sell a player we have just built our entire team around! we will end up in another relegatiion dogfight! Randy knows how much selling our best players has hurt us so I cannot see any possibility of Benteke going unless he really did go to 'war' with Villa this summer, which is unlikely as the player himself has said he won't do that. 

Benteke owes Lambert (not so much Villa) as lambert not only brought him in in place of a proven goalscorer, but built the entire team around his talent.  That is some major faith which need more than just one good season to repay,  as he will put us back in the shit if he leaves this summer.  Plus its in his own interest, he still needs regular matches, under Wenger's rotation his form is bound to suffer, plus Benteke may be unplayable but he missed a lot chances last season so still needs to polish his finishing! In the Braford tie he should've have a hat-trick in each match, such were the chances he spurned!  For all the talk of us being a one man team, we really played to his strengths and brought the best out of him as a result, he won't get this at a 'top' team with his current status.

And as a passing thought if we improve the defence with a quality CB, bring a good creative midfielder and keep that front three (Benteke, Weimann, Gabby) at the club and fit we could have one hell of a season!

I think we will get something out of this one.  I don't like to say we will win or lose, but in this case I am confident that we won't lose! The form is good, We seem to be getting it together at home (since that Newcastle game where we found our will to fight in that second half) add in Fulham's poor away record and I think we can be positive obout our chances in this one, but they aren't a one man team! 

I predict a month ago 38 points would be the cut off point so we need two more wins. Looking at our remaining fixtures that looks a reachable target. Lambert has done a good job and if we stay up then he will definitely be able to push this team.on. diame is a good player but sylla potentailly is abetger player. What we need in midfield is a goal scorer and a creative spark. A replacement for dunne is probably lamberts most important task and he has to be quality.

Sounds interesting this yacouba link! Get him in!

they have enough chances to prove that they deserve our support and to prove the doubters wrong. nothing of that happened so please, do not call us f*ckers.

Our team don't need to prove anything to us! I didn't support Villa because they proved they were a great club, they just are in my eyes! That won't change not matter how the team plays, good or bad.  I will always get behind the team, because otherwise there is no point in calling myself a supporter.  If you will only support Villa when we play well they what kind of fan are you? Get behind the team and quit your bitching as right now it only harms the club. This is the time the players need our backing the most, so what are you gonna do?

I cannot understand all the **** on this site that are writing off the team when if you look at the table we are still well and truely alive right now, get behind the team, get behind the manager and we may very well be playing premier league football again next season.  The players gave there all in the second half tonight and all people can do is run them down.

They lack experience, some lack quality, the manager has had a very tight budget to work with and there seems to be no money forthcoming, but when players fight like our boys did in the second half anything is possible. Even teams like bradford can get to a major cup final, chelsea can beat the best team in the world away from home with ten men.  You negative wank stains need to do what supporters are supposed to do and support your team!

Us fans are the only thing going for team right now, which is rather depressing given the **** shit a lot of them are spouting!

The second half was excellent, we showed, fight, bossed the half and Nearly nicked a point from a game where with our recent record and performance could easily have ended up being a hammering after the first half we had!

Bannan, what a contrasting game he had, overran in the first half, but ran the show in the second.  If we show the fight and determination we showed in the second half for the rest for the season we will be safe, but thats a big if right now.  That could be the first seeds of a recovery.

Personally the way Braford have behaved since the first leg feel like its rubbing our noses in it. I hope they get well and truely hammered! If we could defend bloody set piece we would have gone through comfortabley.  I'm not bitter, honest!  

Having said that when I came on here after the draw for the semi, and saw all the' hope we get swansea in the final' and 'booked wembley travelodge room' talk I just knew somehow we would lose the tie!

Warnock is only wanted by championship clubs which for me tells us he has no place here get his 50k per week for the liability that he is. Clark in midfield no because he and Vlaar have an understanding developing and Baker is injured!

I would go with Delph and Westwood, Gabby and Zog wide (zog with a free role from the right) and Benteke, wiemann up top.  Bennett need us to stick with him, because he is showing sign of being a good attacking fullback and we look really dangerous from the left with him and Gabby or Zog.  I say lets attack!

Delph and Zog look like they are turning a corner. They could really be good for us if they stay in the team and injury free! Delph is playing with his head up a bit more these days and has benefited from it! 

we just need to suck it up and get behind the manager and the team, otherwise we WILL DEFINITELY get relegated, and we all know Randy won't sack Lambert before the end of the season at least.

The people saying bring back hutton and warnock with that statement prove they are complete imbeciles. They were complete liabilities last season! At least bennett and lowton have time on their side.  Bennett ran with the ball from the halfway line and set up ireland who had strayed offside, and set up the first goal, defensively he was poor, but certainly Warnock wouldn't have been an improvement. Hine would have done Warnock even worse as we all know how he would struggle against pacey wingers. Lowton didn't let a single cross into the box from his flank last night, going forward he was poor as his crossing was terrible last night, but Hutton the guy that fractured shane longs leg last season with a horror (as well as getting sent off for a similar tackle) and seems unable to position himself properly defensively. 

Dunne coming back would improve us yes, but **** the other two!

Sack lambert for who?  Hughes who got sacked from QPR after spending silly money on players like cisse and bosingwa! Adkins who did well for saints but got sacked, Lamberts Norwich did far better last season on less money than adkin at saints.  The reality is there are no better options than Lambert right now.  No top manager wants a club that can't afford to buy experienced players.

Set pieces dreadful but what do you expect? Only 3 six footers in the team, and Vlaar and Clark aren't exactly aerially dominant in the way Dunne and Collins could be, even though set pieces was a problem last season too.  Benteke is a beast in the air but can't mark for shit. So set pieces are going to be a problem until we get a big strong CM and Dunne back in the team. The lack of height was the main reason MON would play Cuellar at RB because he knew we would struggle with aerial balls into the box otherwise.  Mourinho believes a team should ideally have 4 players over six foot in the team in order to defend set pieces effectively. 

We can complain about manager, tactics, weak midfield till the cows come home, the fact is we created enogh chances over the two legs to score 10, and all four goals conceeded were due to poor defending of set pieces. Benteke had a shocker of a tie, he could have had a hattrick in each match and and two of the goals conceeded was him losing his man on corners.

Delph and N'Zogbia played well, Ireland once again showed why he should never be in the team, Bennett attacked well, but defensively had a mare. Must be said though Hines could do a job for most premier league teams with his pace, balance and touch. Weimann showed why he is a star in the making. Bannan was poor, Vlaar and Clark did quite well, except for the set piece defending. Vlaars composure in defence really makes a difference. Clark's yellow card was very harsh, as was Delph's. Gabby ran the channels well but needs more games, he is lacking sharpness. Lowton worked hard but too often tried to cross from deep and generally the crosses were poor. Given had nothing to do except pick the ball out the back of the net. Bent offers nothing if he dosen't get a proper supply of balls into the box and through the back four in behind them.

First half we were excellent and Bradford should have been dead and buried. Second half they looked a little complacent and conceeded an early goal heads dropped! The confidence of our players is rock bottom.

We need westwood back in the team too, shame he was cup tied. Would like to see Westwood, Delph and N'Zogbia in the middle with Weimann, Gabby wing strikers and Benteke through the middle, as I think that team could score goals and show some fight in midfield.

Warnock is a liability, any team that wants him can have him! Last season he looked half decent in central mid, but as a LB was diabolical in a team that finished a point off relegation. Hell cuellar and lichaj managed look better than warnock at LB last season!

I would say delfouneso has a lot of talent. I also think he is doing quite well at blackpool. Has 6 goals in 16 starts and 8 sub appearances and most of those appearances have been as a winger not striker. He is still only 21 as well, so I am not going to write him off. I would agree that every years he fail to make the breakthough at this level is the less likely that breakthrough becomes. I think this loan spell at blackpool is doing a lot of good, he is playing regularly, has scored a few goals so hopefully he can really push on. He hasn't had a manager that has shown any real faith in him since MON ushered him into the first team squad as a 17 year old. So maybe....

However the problem is his lack of aggression. The lad needs to really harrass and get physical with centre halves. Weimann has the agression he is really competitive this is why he is making an impact as I believe that most young players at good acadamies likes ours have suffcient talent to make it. Those that make it however, have a more competitive spirit, they work harder, try harder, they won't shirk a challange, plus they have luck with injuries and oppourtunities. Top level football is cut-throat. Part of the problem is his talent, to make as far as he did as a youth came pretty easily for him, thats how it is with very talented youngsters, then they get to senior level and they have to fight tooth and nail for everything they get, it can come as a real shock to the system. So my feeling is that Nathan will never make it until he gets tough. My gut tells me he needs a real wake up call. He needs to be told he is not wanted at Villa, or released, he needs to hit rock bottom in order to find his fighting spirit.

Comparing him to Weimann is like comparing chalk and cheese they are both strikers thats the only similarity. Delfouneso I see as a striker that will drop deep pick up the ball and then run at the back four, and also has the potential to hold up the ball. Weimann is a fox in the box, outside the box he works hard and has a dangerous long shot, inside the box he is deadly.

Without trying to take the Sissoko thread too OT, the reason quite a few players negotiate these low fee release clauses such as Diame's is because the buying club is not paying a large transfer fee, the player and agent will ask for a larger fee for themselves. So if Diame put this clause in the contract, surely he would at least consider a move. He also is back from injury, was in the team on Saturday.

Anyways though, I do agree that Sissoko and Westwood would be a good CM pairing. I still would like a solid CDM to sit behind them though, if we did get Sissoko or a box to box player of his ilk.

But if Diame were to leave it would require large wage, which I doubt Villa would pay, plus to him, Villa and west ham are very similar propositions at the moment.

Westwood is a sitting midfielder he is the guy that would sit in front of the back four and keep it simple, Sissoko would be putting himself about and then look make surging runs forward and support the attack. A midfield with two defensive mids and a box to box is very defensive so while our defence would be very solid, we would struggle to create as much if not more than we are now. A hard working playmaker alongside them would be my chioce, that or another high energy box to box player. Dale Stephens is supposed to be a box to box player, so that is probably why he is a target and that type of player is clearly a necessity right now, but obviously quality is questionable.

Maybe if Dunne is over his injury problems and Vlaar get back up to speed before the transfer window shuts we will see 2 CM's rather than a CB and CM. Whatever happens we need a CB though by the end of summer as Dunne is as good as gone at the end of the season.

Why would people even mention Diame? He just joined wet spam 6 months ago, they are probably paying more than we would pay, he is injured, and has settled in very well there. It won't happen, maybe at the end of the season he could be persuade to leave but only for a champions league team and corresponding wages.

Sissoko is just the kind of dynamic presence we need in midfield. We have too many static, sit behind to ball midfielders. Sissoko and westwood could be a fine combo.

All the doom and gloom on this site is well and truely annoying. It was only a month ago people were saying we only needed a creative midfielder! Now we need a whole team. The the team we have and the way the league is we were bound to hit a rough patch of form. If we get a result on sat (I won't be betting on one though) everything could change! We need 3 players a defender because Dunne is injured and leaving in the summer, a strong, athletic midfielder that can retain possession and a Creative midfielder. If we get these and they bed in nicely we will be laughing, if we don't we will be sweating. I still have faith in lambert and this young side though they can turn this around. We have seen some good football and a few good results. Like beating Citeh, inform norwich and Swansea, Liverpool too.

Got a feeling we will get a quality player or two in this window, and a defender seems to be the priority.

Talent and workrate are there. His technique and finishing are first class, but he needs to be scoring 15+ goals a season for at least a couple of seasons to value him at 25 million or more. People compare him to Carroll, but Carroll scored 12 goals in half a season, he scored around 30 the season before in the championship and was destroying defences almost single handedly for most of the 18 month period, the way Benteke has done for us a few times this season. Weimann has a way to go, but I won't bet against him bagging another 8+ goals this season and doing something similar next season, injuries permitting obviously.

Barry was a CB in a back 3 and did ok there especially for a 16 yr old. Then he played LM for years, where he was really crap, before finally moving to CM, which is where he should have been from day one IMO. He sometimes covered at LB. I think Westwood is quite similar to Barry in some ways..

Correction Barry broke into the team as an 18 year old under JG, CB (as you said) where he was good but soon found out! At the time people were talking of him being a potentially excellent ball playing CB. Then Graham Taylor took over and moved Barry to Left Midfield, byt this time he had spend a while out of the team. When DOL took over Barry established himself as our best midfielder. It was Barry and Solano's delivery from wide positions that got Angel 20 goals and a 6th place league finish. DOL briefly tried Barry out as a central midfielder but it didn't really work and we were struggling at the time. Only when MON arrived did Barry get a run of games in central midfield and the rest is history!

Con I totally agree. Personally I think our young midfielders all have talent, but they need time and they need some support. But most of all they need luck. Delph needs an injury free season. Bannan needs more support and he is a player that can make the team tick with the right players around him. Gary Gardner needs new knees.

Westwood is the safe bet! His game is simple, he plays safe, plays the percentages. But is isn't particularly outstanding in any area. What he has going for him is a 25 year olds experience as a 22 year old (thanks to his 123 games in the crewe first team) so his reading of the game once he has fully gotten used the the premier league should stand him in good stead.

Yeah and then he argued with the ref and got himself booked. If I was Weimann I'd have slapped him after the match.

I saw him get booked and thought WTF he barely said two words to the ref. Weimann probably would have missed his goal if Delph hadn't given Weimann a telling off. Getting booked for kicking the ball away is just stupid. Plus Weimann was throwing his hands in the air everytime he lost the ball (usually because he was being fouled). Weimann at that point was wound up and distracted and Delph helped the refocus Weimann there.

I see Bennetts potential, he looks like he could be a useful attacking fullback, but is lacking confidence, and has been struggling with injurysince he arrived. As a result I think its very unfair to write him off now. Unfortunately today he had a bit of a mare, nearly giving away a penalty and giving the ball away quite often, clearly hasn't adjusted to the pace and physicality of the premier league, unsurprising given how as soon as he gets in the team he has gotten himself injured.

Thought Delph did today. Looked like he was trying make things happen. In the first half everyone apart from him and albrighton seemed afraid of the ball, unfortunately they all made a few silly errors mainly due to not having any decent options. I liked the fact he gave Weimann a bollocking after he got that stupid yellow card, it sorted weimann out who was behaving very petulantly up until then.

Great draw! Over two legs we should have too much for them.

Best league cup moment, 94 semi final second leg (v tranmere) after losing the first 3-1 (bloody John Aldridge) we came back to win on penalties in probably the most dramatic and nerve wrecking game Villa have been involved in since I became a Villa fan (I was 12). Then to beat Man U in the final, who beat us to the first ever premier league title the previous season was the perfect end to a victorious league cup campaign.

Apparently Dortmund are using a special training facility where the players stand inside a square with miniature goal posts around the perimeter. A player stands in the the middle and a ball comes toward him from any direction and one of the goals lights up and he has to pass it in first time.

Be nice if we were looking at something like that.

This sounds interesting.