Big_John_10

Preparation, especially in the bigger matches, can certainly be taught.

Agree with that, its something Lambert is unable to do most games. Maybe Keane could bring that.

But Keane wasn't brilliant because he was prepared. I just don't think you can coach the qualities that made Keane the player he was.

Your not going to get much different than now under a new owner other than the possibility of us being run better

Rubbish. There is no way that all we can afford to sign under FFP rules are the likes of Holt on loan and players like helenius, tonev and sylla.

You're trying to use FFP to justify the way Lerner has run the club up to this point. Reality is we've run on the cheap to make sure lerner's loss is minimal.

I've also said (many times in fact) that in terms of wages we just haven't been able to compete with most other Premier League clubs.

But you've defended our level of spending. If you think what he's been given is OK then surely you can't then use it as a reason to defend such poor performances and results.

I think it's a good move by the club, as we're a bit of a pushover at the moment.

I've read this kind of thing a few times. Do people really think Keane can teach people his way? I don't believe courage, desire and aggression can be taught.

There's only so much an assistant can do. He's not going to make us world beaters and he's not going to relegate us. While Lerner is still here any people coming into the club are short term thoughts to helping us survive.

I keep hearing about expectation again but for some reason they continue to be lowered to defend Lambert. Not one single person said they expected two relegation battles and club record lows when he arrived and had his first transfer window.

I didn't expect top 8 but I also didn't expect a season that was similar if not worse than McLeish.

I just read bigger picture again. I thought after yet another shocking year in which we finished with 38 points that argument wouldn't really be thrown out anymore.

If you can only talk about things once they happen you might as well close the site. Be a bit boring if every post on most threads was let's wait and see.

I'm not really against this appointment, I have doubts over what impact any assistant manager could have with our current circumstances but that's different.

Under other circumstances I may well have been excitied by this appointment. But while Lerner is here no decisions are part of a long term strategy or part of a real ambition for us to be successful. Personal coming into the club are being brought in to give us a slightly better chance of surviving and keeping the owners investment in the league and available for sale. There's just nothing to get excited about over that.

Seems nailed on then. Not sure what to make of it. What will he bring? Will there be another addition? What's does it mean if we get taken over? It poses more questions than answers. Hopefully Keane will stand up to Lambert a bit when he comes up with his formations as the other 2 didn't seem to do anything and for every good result against bigger teams there was 2 bad ones against lower teams. I'd still like an attacking coach of sorts as our movement is awful off the ball!

I think Keane may be able to help with this. We never have enough backbone to see off the teams we "should" be beating, and for what ever reason Culverhouse couldn't put that backbone into the players. I don't think it was so much as just tactics, just that we seemed to roll over or be too nervous against those teams.

Hopefully Keane will add a bit of bite to the players so they can stand up for themselves in the scrappier games.

won't that bring even more stupid tackles and unecessary bookings?

Tackling and closing down requires technique also, something our players don't really have.

To be honest, if being hard to break down against the "lesser" sides in the division means we have to be a bit dirtier, get a few more bookings and give away some silly fouls every so often, then so be it, especially if it means we don't have to worry as much about relegation.

All hypothetical of course though, we have no idea whether Keane will give us some backbone or whether he'll alienate every man and his dog at Villa.

I'm sure I read recently that we committed more fouls than any other team in the league. So not sure that approach will make much difference.

Keane is a dreadful appointment IMO. What is he really going to add other then add a bit of fear into the players....they have enough of that playing at Villa Park as it is.

They're too wrapped in cotton wool though. Lost to a league one team over 2 legs because they were bullied, they are due a big kick up the arse.

Well I disagree, I think they are just poor players with an awful manager. The players really struggle passing the ball to each other, this is nothing to do with being wrapped up in cotton wool, shouting at them more certainly isn't going to fix it. We're poor at football because the coaching is obviously poor, the tactics are poor and ultimately, the players are poor.

How Roy Keane is going to improve any of the above is beyond me. In fact, I think it's more likely to just have yet another negative impact on our season next year.

Couldn't agree more. I don't see what Keane can possibly do to improve the awful squad Lambert has put together.

Just have a bit of patience and maybe stop slagging Lerner off at every opportunity?

Deserves every bit of it for how he's run the club and the state we now find ourselves in.

By giving a chance I mean not writing him off, which is what many seem to be doing.

Sigh! I can't be bothered to repeat myself so I'll say it one last time. Forming a judgement of a player's ability based on nine-seasons at this level isn't "writing him off". He has never ever looked capable at this level, fact. Therefore the logical conclusion is that he isn't a good signing.

It seems you can't use years of watching him to judge this player but we've judged okore brilliant based on YouTube and a couple of appearances.

If you'd judged this signing as good no one would have an issue. Its the same people moaning because you've formed a negative opinion.

We should be pleased we're signing average players to try and survive on the cheap yet again?

It's not just about senderos as a player. This type of signing is just the level Lerner has dropped us to. A short term gap to give us a slightly better chance of surviving while not spending much money.

Aston Villa under Randy Lerner.

This is the level he's dropped us to now.

Keane used to turn on united players if they didn't perform to the level he expected. I'm sure he'll stay calm when he sees sylla or tonev kick a ball.

Its only a stop gap to new owners come in. That seems to be way off though

And that's the depressing thing.

Well I think this means there is no takeover in sight.

Not at all.

Paying an ex average manager a decent salary to work as a coach while managing two other roles stinks of Lerner in my opinion.

Sounds like doing it on the cheap and probably only way someone would come to work at villa at the moment.

Keane and senderos?

Oh happy days.

That guys on Twitter said there will be an exclusive later, so probably 10.30 tonight?

James Nursery has the exclusive I think so probably not going to be a nice surprise of someone who will push Lambert out of the way.

Didn't Trent say high profile? If so then it'll most likely be a good shock.

If it's a big name then I'm convinced it's to do with new owners and he will eventually be the new manager.

Praying for this!!

Lambert with Meulensteen coaching could be immense

Would it? Not sure what a good coach will do when the manager can't pick the right team or adapt during games.

I just hope this assistant can sort out a defence.

Fantastic news. A shit manager will be in charge for next season, I am pleased to see us fight relegation with poor football for the 5th consecutive year.

Look on the bright side. We didn't go down last season with a shit load of injuries and 2 staff members who were having a negative effect on the squad. Surely we can do better next season with an Assistant who isn't a bellend, and hopefully a slightly better squad. Even if Lambert stays we could be taken over and could bring in some more experienced/better players.

People said it couldn't get much worse after his first season.

My hope is its a big name who will replace lambert when the takeover happens and is being named number 2 until formalities take place. Its just a complete pipe dream though as I'm sure reality is another year of lambert.

Snore zzzzzzzzzzzzz

The sound of villa park next season?

Fantastic news. A shit manager will be in charge for next season, I am pleased to see us fight relegation with poor football for the 5th consecutive year.