srsmithusa

2 - 1 villa 20,500

I don't think you can put a price on the truth. Anyway we should win this. I really hope so after all the stick I've been giving my Manure supporting mate at work! I wondered if anyone would notice

Truth be tolled, whether we win OR lose, only people whose opinion don't matter will be posted at all

Basically, I think ya'll proved my original point If lambert starts the "starters" he'll be criticized for risking injury, overestimating opponents, and not giving youngsters a chance. If he starts the reserves, he'll be criticized for not bedding in the starters who need to gel and taking the cup lightly, Sure, he signed up for the job and is getting paid, but it really is lose lose for him. Even if we win.

That team would probably lose. Clearly I disagree with your conclusion (wouldn't be much point in suggesting a losing side). But I would like to hear your reasons, not just your pronouncement. Because the back four would get terribly exposed against a team that will keep putting the ball in to the box, Fair enough. But I'll disagree. Clark and Baker have weaknesses to be sure. But I think they should be able to manage the LO threat. They sort of managed a number of BPL teams last year. I also think Sanchez will help protect them from through balls on the ground. Balls from the wings should be covered with 4 in the midfield tracking back. I do get your point though. thanks for explaining. Isn't Okore fit? I would have him on the bench and hope to give him 20-30 minutes late. but starting him in place of clark or baker either one wouldn't be a terrible idea.

That team would probably lose. Clearly I disagree with your conclusion (wouldn't be much point in suggesting a losing side). But I would like to hear your reasons, not just your pronouncement. Because the back four would get terribly exposed against a team that will keep putting the ball in to the box, Fair enough. But I'll disagree. Clark and Baker have weaknesses to be sure. But I think they should be able to manage the LO threat. They sort of managed a number of BPL teams last year. I also think Sanchez will help protect them from through balls on the ground. Balls from the wings should be covered with 4 in the midfield tracking back. I do get your point though. thanks for explaining.

That team would probably lose. Clearly I disagree with your conclusion (wouldn't be much point in suggesting a losing side). But I would like to hear your reasons, not just your pronouncement.

It's interesting to me in these games that the PL manager is pretty much doomed to criticism Critics will find fault. 1) Start the best team = critics will complain that it wasted the chance to develop some of the fringe players 2) Start the fringe players = critics will complain that it wasted the chance to solidify the understanding between the starters. I guess that's just part of the job. But managers are still human. That's why I would guess that most find some blend of the starters with some reserves sprinkled in. given lowton - clark - baker - stevens sanchez bacuna - westwood - delph - grealish weimann

Those who think I'm full of crap.... you have to realize I'm using generalizations. You can find exceptions to every rule. You can find VT posters that will support the club and every player, regardless of performance. I'm just stating a fact. When I show villa talk comments to U.S sports fans, they are appalled. Sports fans from the wrong birmingham think ya'll are hostile, angry, and hate your club. They do not understand. I have had to learn to understand. Gabby should not start is the most critical thing I can feel comfortable saying. Clearly, if you read the pages above you will see many more critical comments than that. BTW, penguin. you're right about baseball. it's very different. it's much slower, so wandering away for awhile to the concessions is very common. I would imagine the same is true for cricket?

Since you brits bring it up. The hardest thing for me to adjust to, in the BPL, is the fans. In US sports, including pro-sports, fans virtually NEVER hate or vehemently criticize any player on the team, and rarely ever the coach. It just doesn't happen. If you hate your team and it's players and coach so badly, you just pick a new team. I think the closest a pro team in the states came was the new orleans saints - NFL, They did so horribly badly for so many years that the fans started to wear brown paper bags over their heads to games. The fans were ashamed of their team. But even then there was no rage or venom aimed at any player. It's just not done. Many British fans, or at least the on-line ones. Appear to be different. It's OK to loathe your own team's players. It took me a long time to learn (and some sidebar discussions with a few of the most critical) to learn that the critical fans that seem to despise players on the team are motivated by wanting the team to do better. In the states if you want the team to do better, you backing the players, hoping that confidence will help. When a receiver drops a pass he should have caught you yell, say, or post. "he'll get it next time." Not "oh, FFS, get him out of this club. He'll never be good enough for this league." Now, if a player leaves... then it's fair game to say "he was never any good anyway, glad to have somebody else is in there." But never while he's still your player. At least that's the reality in "the wrong birmingham."

IMO - Gabby needs to sit a bit. The question is, start Bent instead, who won't cover as much ground, help back on defense as much, or spread the defense with threat of speed? Or weimann who will work even harder, but not keep possession as well? When kozak and Benteke are back, either of them in that role would be good. But until then....... Tough call. Tactically, I might play weimann on the road and bent at home. Either way need more attacking support from midfield to keep possession. Maybe Sanchez will permit that?

I've notice a trend about many things in life, if you put aside the really great stuff they offer and focus only on the rest, they never look as good.

It seems possible that we might be willing to sell, but other teams are only willing to offer loans. Just because something is happening doesn't mean it is the intention of Villa management.

Clear photoshop

his goals average is only slightly above blanco. not thrilled with him as AM even if some agent whitewashes his record. Hope he proves me in the dark. YAY ! my point made and 3 ridiculous puns all in one post. Think I'll go have a drink to celebrate.

Saw a couple, but not enough goals per match to be impressive as AM.

The stoke adoring fools on the nbc commentary kept saying similar. Then saying that the defenders failure to react was diabolical. My thought was that you and they both missed that he was a full 2 beats faster than anyone else to react to the karom. And that's what made him clear. Yes his first touch was awful, but his reaction and quickness were blinding compared to all others nearby. You were happy he grabbed it. I was impressed with his first-to-react status, the announcers were frustrated because he ended their preferred script. You would have thought Stoke were in the sky 4 listening to nbc

I voted Ron MOTM. It was close between him and Cissohko. But I thought Ron marshaled well and a couple key blocks. Cissohko seemed, a couple time, confused about who to mark. Probably defensible playing with a new side, but just enough to get him edged out. Sender os and Hutton were solid. Gabby should have scored in first have, pretty horrible miss. But most of the time when gabby annoys me it's because he's not putting in the effort, Today he did that. He ran, he cut off passes, he tackled and challenged. Good to see. Biggest complaint was the way we delayed. Not that we delayed, but the way.... Hutton's card was announced and coming for 15 minutes before it actually arrived. I agree that taking the card is fine, but better to kill the game without the card....pushing the time to the edge, but not past the edge of patience. Oh, and Gabby's card for delay was even more foolish. Delay yes, but delay smarter. In addition. When you delay smarter, (like knocking around safe possession) the referee doesn't add as much time. Having said that, when my biggest complaint is the WAY we delayed, it's pretty clear there wasn't much to complain about.

Guzan Okore Vlaar. Cissokho Hutton Richardson Sanchez Nzogbia, Delph, . Grealish Benteke

To be fair, Daz gave us a little mild amusement, while waited and waited and waited for it to be confirmed. Daz? Is that you?

doesn't it look like the kid has "Keane" on his shirt? So it's a recent shirt, too. He's staying. He's loyal. (until something changes of course)

One of the reasons I think he's seen with such optimism, is that we're pretty desperate for SOMETHING to improve, so we clutch at any thing, and to be fair, with so much in disarray, any change looks good. Sanchez my new hero.

This sanchez guy is a discrace to the badge and will never make it in the premier league. Paul Lambert is an idiot for wasting money on him. There in a few months when somebody posts it - as they inevitably do - I can say. "I said it first!" ( ya see, in case yer slow, I'm not really predicting that he's awful, I'm just predicting some on here will claim that he is, just like they do on every player we own.) well, that dampens the mood

You must be limiting yourself to the Villa squad then....

I sat in my office, following this thread. I wasn't yelling at anyone. The lady in the next office was fairly quiet. She was working on some accounting issues. FYI