Pez1974

Welcome to the new rant section of Villa Talk! As for last night, although there were certain players who were not close to good enough, I will actually blame Lambert most of all last night. The line up confused me, as it did not suggest a coherent shape to the team. Barcelona get away with it, but they are good with good players. We can't and didn't. Ireland, N'Zogbia, Gabby and Bannan all seemed to have a 'floating' role, with only Benteke and Delph having an actual role to play outside of the defense. This was massively exacerbated in the second half when we lost a miniscule of creativity from Bannan (who at least kept the ball moving in the first half) for the statue that was Bent, and worse still when we lost some width in the team by replacing Bennett. At this point Bradford only had to deal with a frontal attack, and they did. So for the, the tactics were shocking, and if PL planned this, we have a problem. If the players did not know what they were doing, we have a problem. Bennett made a couple of mistakes early on with passes, and a few in the crowd got on his back and his head dropped. After the played the cross for Benteke's goals, half the team rushed to him - he is clearly struggling with confidence, and I think too many fans are quick to get on at him, instead of trying to support him. Finally, congrats to Bradford. We were shite across 3 halves of football, but they could only beat what was put in front of them.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says he is finding it tricky to bring in the defensive reinforcements he needs. "We've been trying in the whole of the window to try and bring in a defender, but not been able to clinch a deal yet," he said. "That is probably because we have been looking for a short-term deal in loans, as in terms of not permanent deals." Got a left back and a right back for you if you want Sam. Both internationals. And they have both played with one of your centre halfs, meaning that can play with minimum adjustment. You can have 'em both for **** all, just pay their wages. PS. as we are being so nice and helpful, any chance of Diame in return? Or Noble?

Pretty tense - need to start fast and get an early goal or 3 to settle us all down. Made a promise to myself to give the team total support for the game - but will let rip at the end if we go out. I am picking up my cousin who said to "be there for 6:00, if we want to be in the ground for 7:15" **** idiot, hasn't he seen outside this week!

LDV? Not a massive worry for me. If the glass were half full, negotiating a new deal having secured European football by winning the League cup for a record equalling 5th (?) time, we should be getting more next season anyway.

He wouldn't dare **** this up. Would he? Nah, he must know that us going out would be major headlines. After the Southampton penalty, and his previous with us, any controversy will be plastered everyone. Surely the little **** wouldn't dare?!?!

Yep. But no player excahnges unless we initiate them

Agree on the need to keep PL, as consistency is the big issue at the club. I would love to think that next season would be the brave new dawn, but I thought that this season was meant to be the new dawn too. Yes, we lose another couple of high earners, and perhaps we can shift some of the clutter both in the high earners (Ireland, Hutton, Given, Bent, etc) that are left, and some of the ex-academy players (Bannan, Delfouneso, Albrighton, etc) but that leaves us needing to bring in another shed load of players, presumably from the lower leagues or overseas, and another rollercoaster. I am desparate for us to stay up and show real progress under the new business model, but fear we could stay like Wigan for another few seasons, rather than make progress.

Hutton for me is a big no for me. He has barely put a foot right since he joined the club; poor defender, walking yellow/red card and contributes almost nothing going forward. Why we would play he ahead of Lowton, who has been sound, sometimes very good, and has great potential. Warnock is another matter. He clearly has ability, and has shown some form for us in the past, albeit infrequently. However, LB is a problem position for us, as is DCM where he did OK for a few games last season. For me, he is worth a punt, perhaps Milwall, if no-one else wants him. The fact that he is a tosser doesn't really come in to it - are there many footballers who aren't tossers nowadays?

Get rid of ASAP: Warnock Hutton Bent (I think Weimann does his job much better and cheaper) Ireland Makoun Delfouneso (useless) Get rid of as soon as we have a replacement Dunne Given (much cheaper 2nd choice keeper needed) Lichaj (surely we can find a better reserve FB) Stevens (see above) Bannan N'Zogbia (get rid whilst we can still get a fee and get someone more consistent and cheaper) Albrighton Gabby (too inconsistent and wages are way too high - probably move him off to the north east!) There is simply too many there to get rid of in one transfer window, although I would expect at least 6 or 7 to go given the states of contracts and playing time this season. However, I think there is some resale value there, ut no more than £30m, which doesn't come close to replacing them all. This is why Bent and Ireland made the top list, as they would probably command some fees, and maybe Gabby and N'Zogbia are the others for whom we can get decent money. Next season is the last chance for: Clark - either step up or be a squad player Bennett - deserves a second season KEA - deserves a second season Holman - deserves a second season Herd - settle for him being a squad player Delph - looked OK in some games, either step up or be a squad player Good luck Paul!

The balance in the squad is all wrong, and with the injuries we have had, this has been shown up. The likes of Clark, Herd, Delph are fine as squad players - it's just that they are first teamers. However, Lambert inherited this - he didn't create it. Yesterday Lambert got his tactics right (for the first time in a while), and the team looked good. Then Delph got a knock, and we brought on.....Bannan. Not even close to a like-for-like replacement in the circumstances. No problems with the Zog for Holman subtitution - Holman ain't got a lot of talent, but we can't afford better. For me, a really good DCM and we look much better for the rest of the season, esp if we can keep Vlaar and/or Dunne fit. Once Dunne and Warnock go at the end of the season (plus hopefully a few others who add little value - Ireland, Given, Makoun, Hutton (I know), Bannan, Delfouneso, and perhaps Albrighton and Stevens depending upon what they earn), Lambert can afford to continue the work he has started.

Spot on. Plus, nobody seems to take account of the fact that if they are ITK, they may only have been fed the 'story' that the person wants known, not the 'facts'.

I agree, as he has been known it the past to have a bit of a weight issue. But.....given the tweet below, this does kinda suggest he isn't too far away (he said, probably reading way too much into the word unlikely, because he needs some hope!) Mat Kendrick ‏@MatKendrick Lambert hinted that Vlaar will start for #avfc at #wba, Bennett is back from flu, Bent should train today, but Dunne unlikely to make squad

Aston Villa FC ‏@AVFCOfficial Paul Lambert confirms Ron Vlaar is available for the West Brom clash. Richard Dunne and Darren Bent are hoping to train this morning. #AVFC That'll learn 'em! If Dunne can come back, does this reduce the urgency for a CD, and shoft the focus fully onto midfield?

Wow, some of the vitriol on here really surprises me. I suspect that 99.9% of posters on here love the club and are desparate to to see it get back to where we all believe it belongs. Yeah, we can disagree on what we need to do to get there, but some people seem ready to mutiny! No problems with opinions, no problems with people spreading gossip, as long as they identify it as such, but is does disturb me a bit when we start to turn on each other like this. C'mon, group hug........

I know. This sums up the difference between where the club is and where it should be. January is the time to make shrewd additions, and picking up a highly talented young keeper on the cheap fits the bill perfectly (esp. as it would piss off the scum). The fact that we have so many other priorities and so little money.... makes me want to have a little cry

James Nursey ‏@JamesNursey #BCFC still struggling to shift Butland for big-money. But been assured if he stays this month, then club WON'T go into admin despite fears I know we aren't that sort of club anymore, but I would love to think we could put in a bid for this guy. If they need the cash, £2m or £3m may do it, and he would surely earn a lot less than Given and is clearly one for the future. The issues would be - would he come? would be displace Brad? would they sell to us? do we want to save them? we have more pressing needs. Probably a non-starter then. Not sure why I bothered!

Gotta love the man. People slag off the club, but a lot of people come to the club, especially from Europe, and retain a real love for the place and the fans. Not the best defender technically (think McGrath), but made up for all of that with courage, committment and being **** immense!

He could fill a hole in our midfield. A bloody big hole to be fair

AVFC on twatter - Villa Park's main club store to reopen on Sunday instead of Monday. With such earth shattering news, this can only mean that we will be announcing a plethora of major new signings on Saturday evening / Sunday morning. Can't.....quite.....reach.....straws..........

I think the point on the Habib Beye thing is that a day or 2 after he was singed Luke Young's brother died in an accident, and he was rightly given a lot of time off. So we lost our first choice RB, and what did MON do with our new £3m and £40k + a week RB, put him on the bench and played Mellberg at RB. So we payed all that money for a third choice RB. A terrible signing and an inexcusable waste of money - sums up what MON and RL did wrong for me.

Great. Can we all set up a ITK accounts and talk about Sissoko, Stephens, M'Vila, Boateng, Coutinho, etc. etc. etc.

Gary Karsa is PLs man, someone to help him with his job of manager. What is being called a DoF is the owners man, someone to give him independent advice on the actions and suggestions of the manager and his team.

It isn't going to happen.

Funny. And then not because of the truth of it.

Apparently Fulham are wanting rid of Riise, and are wanting Warnock. Of course, it could be lazy journo's (who would have thought!). Maybe give 'em a call about a swap?