praisedmambo

He's been great this season. He's become a better footballer and we miss him big time when he's injured. In the past I thought he was a bit limited but I'm won over again. I hope he stays at Villa his whole career.

You are kidding yourself mate if you think that's true. In fact it's a load of tosh. Heskey Petrov Carlos Collins Hutton Warnock Have they all featured this yr? Dunne Given Bent Ireland were also regulars in that team That is an incredibly inaccurate statement by supernova.

I think Con makes these stats up. I have seen Bannan take these corners and he is not the best. They are all horrible floaters which give us no chance of scoring.

As I said above and speak for yourself though (I think most people realised we had a shit team—it wasn't all put on Mcleish, you do say some tripe sometimes, imo)—last year we had a shit team AND a shit manager, this year we have a young promising team and a young progressive manager with a good track record that warrants him the benefit of time.

McLeish had a shit team but he was also a shit manager taking us further into the mire, playing the worst football I have ever seen, buying players like Hutton, and he had a bad cv where he had relegated the noses twice. Night and day to what has happened this season where Lambert has refreshed the squad and tried to instill a better philosophy, and to Lambert, who has the exact opposite cv, filled with success at turning a club in a mess around. Yes, it has clearly taken time to get the team performing but, I hazard a guess, the task of turning Aston Villa around from the godawful state we have been in is not something that happens easily, and without the odd setback. And yes, I count the christmas period as a setback, and losing to Bradford, they are all setbacks but what matters most is the long term health of the club and building a real solid base now. We could get that with Lambert—we were NEVER going to get that with Mcleish.

Lots of good points in there. Also some ignoring the fact that we've used more than those 4 players in defence this season. As I said, the game against Chelsea: Lichaj-Lowton-Clark-Herd-Baker

Randy would have been stupid to have sacked him IMO. I don't think there was a call to make. The mess began before Lambert. Lambert has a good record with Norwich but he was given time. I think when you're handing out millions of pounds you're wise to be patient. He did appoint McLeish however. But never mind that.

Please look at the defence against Chelsea: Lichaj-Lowton-Clark-Herd-Baker

Same players against Chelsea too, and Spurs pretty much. It's no coincidence we got nailed.

You've been moaning over the last few weeks stating that we'd be relegated. I think he even went to far as to say it was a foregone conclusion at one point too After we lost 8-0 at Chelsea, 4-0 to Spurs & 3-0 to Wigan I think it would be fair to state that the majority of Villa fans thought relegation to be a foregone conclusion so there is no shame there for Richard. Let's be totally honest here, We all felt it! I didn't think it. Not being smug, and we're obviously not safe yet, but I did think this season was never going to be easy and I could see we were struggling with injuries over that period. I kept the faith, three bad results are three bad results, that's all. The closest I've been to thinking we had a big task ahead, and really might be in for it, was probably the last time we got into the relegation zone a couple of weeks ago. We had to get results though, and we're doing well so far. This season is night and day to last season, and it was obvious from the very start. McLeish had us going one way, at least with Lambert we were trying to solve the financial problems of the last few year whilst also trying to play better football, with a sustainable squad. If Lambert keeps us up this season he has done a MASSIVE job—reduced the wage bill, refreshed the squad, and had us, once he got the team to gel, playing football the right way. He's already done a massive job as far as I can see it. That's clear as long as you look at any other stat/game/performance OTHER than the goals against. We let in more goals this season but we also never played for a 0-0 draw, which makes a big difference. We have the same points as last season now, with about £20million a season less going out on wages, a young team, three games to go, etc etc etc. Keep it going Lambert. As I say, the season is more than three games.

Or maybe it was option three: It's difficult to buy players in January, and if you do you end up paying ridiculous prices—an activity that has pretty much led to this financial mess, which has ultimately gambled with out Premier League future. Lambert is here in part to sort that out and seems quite comfortable sticking to his guns. IMO, some posts make it sound like finances and football teams, the January transfer window, are more simplistic than they all are in reality, where you're throwing long term contracts out (like with Ireland) on stupid wages (like with Ireland), which, if one panics and it goes wrong can cost the club TENS OF MILLIONS and lead to a dud player hanging around the squad for five years (like with Ireland).

He's developed so much this season. He always brings the ball forwards, rarely loses the ball and nobody can get near him. I love those dribbles he does now looping away from the left wing into the centre of the pitch, driving it forwards. The second half of the season he has been one of a group of essential players. We could do with another Gabby to rotate with Weimann and then we'd have phenomenal options.

Shhhhh. Everything's going to be ok.

This kind of thinking concerns me. That defence needs a massive investment to avoid another season of struggle. Despite his improvement - Bennett has some horror performances in a villa shirt. Vlaar is adequate - but we have the alternatives when he got injured - Baker doing ok - but no more than OK. At least on senior full back and another top notch CB before the start of next season. A players ability won't alter dramtically from April 2013 - to August 2013. And we should never start another season with only 1 fit senior CB. A defence of Vlaar\Baker\Bennett\Lowton - will still leak to many goals next season. I don't think you have to worry that we'll strengthen. But I also think it has taken a journey through the season to build a team and to build the players confidence—there has already been a huge improvement from August 2012 - to April 2013, so why you wouldn't expect more I don't know. We have leaked a lot of goals due to the players being under pressure, partly due to them gaining experience and partly due to the pressure situation we have been in with our league position. Also, our worst defensive period came at a time when we were struggling with injuries. We had Lowton and Herd as centre backs for a while, and Lichaj as a fullback—none of which I think is ideal. The defensive unit needs to be stronger beyond the 4 you mention who started last night, but Lambert I am sure is aware of this.

He's scored against Real Madrid too... EDIT: He nailed that header

You're missing the fact that they were all contributing to our awful wage bill. They're in the MON average signings on stupid money category. There has been a mantra of reducing the wage bill (fair enough because it was clearly terribly distributed) since MON left. Collins and Warnock have both been disruptive too. And none of them are very good. Lambert is building for the future, and in a sustainable way. Cuellar was out of contract anyway, and it would have been silly to give him another as he has never shown he was that good—considering we were reducing the wage bill. Anyway. Why is anyone talking about this nonsense. 6 **** 1!!!

Last night he was on another level to what I have seen of him before. He's got the odd rough edge, but against Sunderland he showed so many positives—hassling, tackling, retaining possession, getting into space, some tidy passes—his best game for Villa 100% and he was a big part of a dynamic midfield performance, I think. All three had great games. Sylla's adapted well, if he keeps playing like that and keeps improving he'll show how he is another astute buy.

He's been playing well for ages imo

Though I can see your logic, when you're scraping for points you just simply dont not play a player like this man. He's just too good to leave out. I'd have just stopped at "This sounds a bit ridiculous".

EDIT: When I have been defending him all season it was because I really do think he can turn us around.

Rafael had studs up on Gabby at about 20minutes. Guaranteed free kick if it was the other way. Tonight was a farce and it wasn't really our fault. Still, like someone else said, between Villa playing United and Wigan playing West Ham and us only losing -1GD, this has gone ok.

All three were offside. Some were more marginal than others. There is no excuse possible for all three goals.

He has had big games against United in the other game and Liverpool.

I think they were trying at least, better than last season. Again, 3 offsides as goals doesn't help.

It was always about Sunderland. The offsides!!!