Raver50032

It's easy to dismiss a competition when you've already won it several times (along with league titles, FA Cups and Champions League medals). I'm sure if you asked someone like Bardsley or Fletcher if they fancied a Wembley final, you'd get a different opinion. What the players say to their closest mates I'd imagine would be very different to what they say in the media. If I were a player, and it just so happened I ended up at Sunderland, I'd treasure more than anything the Capital One medal a lot more after my career than anything else in it - especially avoiding relegation. If it were a case of Villa winning the Capital One Cup or relegation then it would be harder, but I'd probably still choose the Capital One Cup. I remember when we won it twice in the 90's and those memories I treasure a lot more than any league position we obtained. And we finished 4th in 1996 as well... These days, such an average league placement gets you CL football... If only the goalposts at UEFA had been moved earlier...

Some people just cannot be reasoned with... Who gives a flying fook what that Gooner thinks... He was probably on Wenger's back after we stuffed them on opening day. You may find Youtube smattered with Gooners besmirching Wenger after that result - now look where they are... You told him that what he said, was not what Lambert said, and if he still argued with you and still hopes we go down, let him have that belief. He ain't worth the effort dude. And if all else fails, "Have you won the European Cup?"

Come on Gareth, you can do better than that... where is the graphical meme?

Gosh... I really don't know what to think any more. Horrid to admit but I am was actually 'glad' (note the ironic, inverted commas) that we failed to earn a replay as that really is what we cannot afford. Let Sheffield have their day. They won the game fair and square. As for Villa... Lerner... Lambert... Meh... I'm just sat here, shrugging, 'grinning' (irony again there...) with disbelief not knowing where to start. I think it's all been said and done either way. Somehow, we're 11th... What does that say about the quality of the Premier League per se? That's off topic I guess. So, £30 to Villa Talk if we beat Arsenal and complete the double. I will go further still - another £30 to VillaTalk if we finish 11th or higher.

So many other clubs seemingly seeking a striker too... I would imagine either loaning or buying is going to cost a bit... Step forward Mr Helenius. This is your moment... (cue Martine McCutcheon...)

Damn you TheTrees... You forced me to face up to the fact that I am no longer a young man :-(

Ask Dave Whelan what he thinks... Ah...second thoughts, don't... Still, at least he is a chairman who still cares about his club.

We simply don't have the squad for it. Not a hugely controversial opinion, but seemingly used to beat Lambert with. Whether it is the right thing to do or not, I think he would have been better served by dodging the question. Perhaps not having the squad for it is something that Lambert can be 'beaten' with rather than his horribly realistic comments? Or does that re-open the Lerner and MON debate? Yeah sod it... Lerner out. On a different tangent - we won't grow our business by getting relegated from the Premier League. It won't grow much finishing mid-table either I guess in real terms... It won't grow if we show simple contempt for the FA Cup either I would hedge. 56 years and counting... UTV.

You may find this is why there are two polarising Lambert threads right now and screaming about it won't get you your way I'm afraid. And screaming about it won't get you your way... two polaring Lambert threads... right now... IMO, we should have the resources at our disposal to 'stay in the division' and have a crack at the Cups... I doubt Mr Lambert would come out and say that our team will be having a serious crack at winning the FA Cup - first, it probably would make the opposition try that bit harder to finger us into submission. Second, he would end up with egg on his face if we go out on penalties in the replay at Bramhall Lane etc. And then, VT would of course hold it against him in some quarters. You are right to a degree that he can't really win, whatever he says, and maybe, he should have just sucked a boiled sweet when asked that question. Hairyhands will no doubt be along soon to explain. But, like a stuck record, there are two polarising Lambert threads and whilst they are there, this is exactly the kind of debate that you are powerless to prevent, no matter your rage. All I need to think about is whether or not I actually need to go to Villa Park tomorrow or not... Is it worth my while? Will the club repay my support with a team performance befitting of Aston Villa where they will actually try and win the game? Hmmmm, a conspiracy theory brewing there... Might be worth putting money on Sheff U tomorrow... Daily Mail - Monday 6th January... "Villa Manager in match fixing scandal..." Angry Villa fanatics etc etc...

Bad news for any player, regardless of form, ability or popularity. Get well soon Libor... So... does this mean we won't be selling Benteke to Arsenal this window now?

We're 11th after having played 20 games. If we were just judging it on the last result against the bottom-placed club, we'd be joint top with 3 points after one game. I honestly don't see how you think that our results after 20 games are not a valid argument to defend the manager in charge...extrapolating from past results this season is more useful than simply assuming we've all our players are shite and we're going to lose all our remaining games and get relegated, despite what we've already achieved this season. Morpheus is not small minded by any stretch of the mark to judge our season on that one result. Be fair PV. Yes, remarkably we find ourselves in 11th place after 20 games. 11th, but far from comfortable - not helped at all by that 'blip' of 6 games without a win and inclusive of a 4 match losing streak. That, along with our home form is largely (IMO) why this thread was started. It's a good job therefore that we did so well during our 'horror show' fixture list start to the season - those games are just around the corner in reverse again now. We have our 'big players' back, and an opportunity to add experience to our squad. So... no excuses for not repeating those great early season heroics then? If Paul can really do something positive with our home performances, we 'only' have Chelsea and Arsenal to worry about until the end of the season. We need to start winning the winnables... at home. Show a bit of spirit... value for money. We have a lot of very tricky away fixtures to come... but I have doubts that even our current run rate of away victories or draws is likely to be enough to keep us out of danger if our home form continues as is. It's so tight above us and below us... it really is like that Carlsberg roller coaster advert right now. And that, is no different from last season. I feel that, is why some people got 'antsy' during our pre-Crimbo and Crimbo period. Me included. The first half of the season for us had two halves - the hard games at the start where we did really well and it was very nearly grounds for Paul to get a knighthood, or at least freedom of Villa Park. Then we had the winnable games and fluffed our lines to the aforementioned run of 6 games without a win etc. It isn't a disaster (yet)... but it isn't good either (yet).

This... We now know that there isn't a wage cap... we just won't pay stoopid wages. Circa 50k is not stupid if you are playing week in and week out and your team have ambition enough to stay in the division.

Ah but the moaners will say they could of had so many more and against a better team we'd of lost. LOL - do you not believe that then? No I don't believe that. Once again possession doesn't equal goals. It is however, remotely possible that, against a better team... we may have lost. We didn't lose, and credit where it is due.

Well not really that unbelievable. It shouldn't be forgotten that up until yesterday, we had been playing pretty dour, rubbish football (and from all of what I have read of yesterday's game, it sounds like it wasn't actually that much better after all? Great result not withstanding). Up until yesterday, we had not won in six games (most winnable) and had suffered within that run, 4 straight defeats (one debatable dead rubber). That is reality. It shouldn't be forgotten either, that 'pretty much every other team' that has suffered such a poor run of form has actually then changed their manager? Now, I am on the fence with Paul right now. Kind of like wanting to believe in life after death (Hell please, with all the other horrible sinners), I really want to believe that Paul is the one to restore parity to my club. Fluffing the winnable fixtures (largely) with such rubbish football and that undoubted run of defeats just has me wringing my hands with uncertain angst. I can't help it. Some (and I say 'some') elements of what we have experienced of late remind me of last season and had me questioning the progress we should be or are making. Boxing Day was our fourth straight defeat... hopeless, uncommitted football... Howls of discontent from the Holte and the North... Rightly so... So, for me, it's not all that unbelievable that we have a thread of this nature. I really hope he pulls it round. I really do. I think after Boxing Day, his honeymoon is well and truly over - the fans have been uber patient with him and supportive of the team up to that point. It's going to take a fair bit of effort to win back the Holte - we'll see if he has the nous for that.

Ah but the moaners will say they could of had so many more and against a better team we'd of lost. Wouldn't call them moaners more-like realists, but let's not start the name calling, and enjoy the day. Tough game to watch at times, but I'm happy, and what a start to the new year. Realists? Although we've won every game where we've had less than 37% possession? Realistically if we give Arsenal and Liverpool that much possession they will beat us. That's my view, and you are more than welcome to yours. Nice to be able to celebrate a Villa win. Opening day of the season? 3-1 wasn't it? I'll take that bet... What are the odds of Aston Villa FC doing the league double over Arsenal? We're long overdue a win over them at Villa Park. £30 to Villa Talk if we pull that off.

Ah but the moaners will say they could of had so many more and against a better team we'd of lost. LOL - do you not believe that then? Actually, you will probably find that 1 win after a winless run of 6, including a run of 4 straight defeats might make people just react with less jingoism that everything is rosey again, which of course it isn't just yet. Just like the 'moaners' get told that 1 defeat shouldn't make it feasible for the panic button to be pressed. What I will say is, this is a very welcome win and buys us a bit more time, alleviating some of the mounting pressures we have seen of late. Great to have Vlaar back and I guess Benteke too. I didn't see the game so I cannot really comment on individual performances or tactics on this occasion. I gave up braving MOTD ages ago. My MOTM went to Gabby this time, as Iain Dowie's snippets of match report during Sky's football afternoon report was full of Agbonlahor this, Agbonlahor that. Thank you for the win Villa, and thank you for restoring a bit of pride in our great club. Don't think you're billy big bollox just yet though...

Charlie Adam won't come here. We're nothing but a 'half arsed club.'

Why? For all their pretty football they managed the same number of shots on target as us. If you really need me to answer that then I fear for your sanity. But, alas, I'm pretty confident you're just trying to point score. If you watched the match you'd know they had battered us, which doesn't just take into account shots on target.. I was at the game and yes they had a lot of the ball but ultimately ended with the same as us. They didn't deserve to win the game, I'm just bewildered at the myth about possession meaning you should win a game. Well, Palace showed us how to play a counter attacking game, with just one move... And Swansea showed us how to keep the ball, look more of a threat etc, and despite only scoring one goal. If we were consistently winning games/drawing hard games with such small possession, I wouldn't care. The occasional smash and grab just doesn't thrill me with any sort of optimism right now. If you are still bewildered, then fair play, that is your view. For me, Swansea looked the most likely winners of that game, especially in the 2nd half. Guzan was my MOTM once again. Unlucky Swansea. I guess I am grateful that our team didn't get raped...

The popular media are clueless. I was there for QPR at home last season. We won that game because the fans refused to accept relegation and pushed and pushed and pushed the team to succeed. Boo boys my arse, we have had hopeless football at home now for years and I agree, the crowd tried to lift the team in the second half against Swansea but the ones who boo are all the media will report Only way to stop those reports is to cut out the booing Too many though think it is their right to boo, like it's gonna help the team! Of course it is their (our) right to boo. I'm sorry sir, but coming back time after time to watch crap like we saw against Sunderland, United, Palace and now Swansea - you can't expect people to be happy clappy. These are/were our winnable fixtures... While they are playing - of course they get my undoubted support. And if they lose a game but having played attractive football and with a modicum of effort, as a paying customer, I would be more likely to give them a cheer and pat on the back. At the moment, they deserve to get the boo from whoever, cos they just are not trying. It is debatable as to whether they are good enough or not - if they can score that goal against Swansea and play like the first fifteen minutes, then it proves there is a team in there. A team that can play. The crowd were with the team from when Fat Boy Slim started, right up to 45 minutes and half time. Then again, from 45 minutes to 90 minutes. The crowd just then simply let their collective feelings known. But the media have fook all else to report on the game and it's plain and simple lazy journalism to fill a couple of internet/colum inches. Remember - when we won the league back in 1981, the bigger news was that Liverpool didn't qualify for Eurpoe. Little old Aston Villa... Nobody else cares but us...

Difficult to know what to type really without sounding sensationalist, even after sleeping on the matter at hand that was a fourth straight defeat... yet another no-show at home etc. Remarkable then that we are still 13th... and just 3 points off tenth. That's a double edged sword in my book. It's nice and close so that if by some act of magic we suddenly turn the corner, we can see a lot of light at the end of the tunnel at the tope end of the table. However, because it is so tight, we sit just 3 points above 'the zone.' All of a sudden, that Swansea game tomorrow looks very 'loseable.' My concern is, it has been well trumpeted just how difficult our opening fixtures were, and what a remarkable outcome we had at the start. Suddenly, our 'easy' ne 'winnable' fixtures came and we blew it. Failing to beat teams that had been bottom of the league (that Sunderland game) and especially our long standing difficulties at home continued. Normally, United at home is almost written off as a dead rubber, but them having lost two home games on the spin, suddenly we had our best chance in years to beat them. In fact, we made United look World Class again... We flunked at Fulham, flunked at Stoke... In amongst all that was a horror show first half at Albion, with a remarkable fight back in the second... You see, there is a team in there somewhere... But then the Palace game. I had seen it coming for a few weeks that this would be a pivotal game for them as a club/team, and us as a fan base. Yet another home fixture tossed away... a winnable one too. We showed a total lack of creativity/quality, a lack of movement (not for the first time, were the players REALLY trying?) and it felt like nobody was really playing as a team. Bowery for Kozak... Guzan the hero... Crowd still singing... even though a draw wouldn't be enough. Four minutes of added time... where the **** from? Then Dwight Gayle teaches us a lesson in counter attacking jazz. 0-1 then, full time, and it became predictably nasty as Lambert lost the Holte... and the North. I booed... Sorry... I booed and cursed. Nearly made myself ill. Yes, it hurts to lose a game at the death. But yesterday was the culmination of a long running trend in this team. We were playing rubbish long before this result. We are not progressing any more. I'll park that there. I said to my mate before the game that I felt a little sorry for Lambert. A win would be met with 'and so you should beat Palace' and that it would simply paper over our recent (and seemingly long term) cracks. A draw would not really be met with anything other than a round of frustrated Boxing Day boos... unless we came back from 2-0 down or something. Even then, that would paper over the crack again... And defeat, gosh, the spectre of defeat would be the point at which the fans would turn. And so it seems to have transpired. Okay, enough procrastination... MOM - Guzan by a country mile. Kept the score down. We didn't really deserve anything but misery from that game. Super Brad... Nailed on player of the season for me. That tells you all you need to know about where we are right now as a club. The goalkeeper is our star. I turned my back on Eck after the Swansea game in 11-12 nearly gave me a heart attack. Paul - please, prove me wrong. FFS, prove me wrong. I fear you are running out of time.

Crystal Palace on Boxing Day - be ready for that.

Erm, no. Yeah, as frustrating as things are in general right now, I really hope that is tongue in cheek Brum... We hardly ever beat United so as much I would hope that United will capitulate for a 3rd successive league match AND on my Birthday weekend... AND on TV, I think it's a bit much to expect us to sword them frankly. Hopefully the lads will deliver for us. We've never had a better opportunity in recent years to get a win against them. However, we've had one really good result against one of the big boys at Villa Park, and seemingly two big performances against big boys away from home. Odds are that this will be a dead rubber as in most previous years - not withstanding taking a 2 goal lead and still winning well into the last ten minutes... lol. Or maybe Grrrrr!!! ;-) Looking ahead to Boxing Day and that 'winnable' fixture against Palace is looking tenuous. Yet another club who have recently changed manager (Mackems, Ful-Ham and now Palace) who we play soon into their honeymoon period. Not now expecting a win there either given our recent track record. But as is often mentioned, we're 10th... or is it 11th? So things are great. No need for banners, or Bannans or boos.

Not me. I think we will lose against ManU. Not the end of the world they are an expensive team. I do hope we play a bit better though. Damn you C'n'B... :-p It's my birthday weekend when we play United at Villa Park. We better had **** win!!!!

Exactly Last season everybody was saying that defense was a problem, which it was, but Lambert was incapable of building a defense. This season the defense has improved, it's not perfect but there is definite improvement. Lambert is not stupid so he'll be well aware that the home form is very poor and the tactics we're employing are not very easy on the eye. I'm sure that he'll be looking to address those issues as we progress but everything can't be fixed all at once. He should be given time, as long as there are tangible signs of improvement, to address these issues. Obviously the home situation is extremely important, it's where the majority of supporters pay to see us play and is the bed rock of success. Again Lambert will be well aware of this and I'd be surprised if it wasn't high up on his 'to do' list to sort this out. Good post Pongo... Kind of how I am hoping things will pan out. Though the hairs have stood up on the back of my neck at times, I am not looking for a change of manager any time soon. Bring on the cottagers... (I really feel for Morpheus going into this weekend's fixtures... I have a feeling some of his 'knockers' will have a field day if we bump Fulham, with Bent and Berbs in tow - keep the faith Morph...)

Why there have to be a focus on anything else? There are to main bits to football. Results, and style of play. One of them has improved this season, the other hasn't. If they were both decent, there'd be no complaints. I was just under the impression that even if we were both playing well and getting results there'd still be something to moan about. Probably still moaning about the moaners...