AndyHowell

Some good points there Rob. There was this global crash remember? The Lerner's probably don't have the cash any more and have been looking for investors (i.e. sale) for a few years now. My biggest criticism of them rests with their footballing decisions, appointments, transfer budgets and so on. There's not much sign of them understanding what is needed. Personally, I'd have been happier if we had gone down last year. At least we could have started rebuilding more effectively. Lambert doesn't have much to work with and there's not much in the Lerner's history that suggests they will give him the time. Prediction. We will sack Lambert and avoid relegation by a point or two. We'll make another odd appointment who will be once again told to work with the kids. And we will struggle again next season :-(

We certainly are in a relegation dog fight although we may be lucky that there are 3 worse teams than us! A third year of scrambling at the bottom is certainly on the cards though. We may always be in the game for 60 minutes but its the other 30 that worry me ...

Nobody wants them and we know why. Why should they give up lucrative contracts? They will go at some point I suppose if some club gets desperate but the future for Hutton I imagine would involve a massive pay cut and probably a move North of the border or to a mid table Championship team.

Lambert's only problem is the poor quality of the squad — the core of this team is nowhere near good, as we have seen over the last couple of seasons. Some of players probably do look OK in training but when it comes to it you can't rely on Ireland or Bannon as creative forces. Herd is full of endeavour but is never a top 6 player — which is what we should be looking for. Of the new boys Holman doesn't look up for this league yet and Vlaa looks to me as if he could be one of the worst buys in recent years. We move the ball too slowly and don't have midfielders who can get beyond the centre backs. Bannon particularly annoys me — his assist stats must be dreadful. And let's hope Given get's over his wobbles. A long season ahead I fear.

The core of this team is just not good enough — we know that after watching them for the last two years. Bannon flatters to deceive but rarely causes any problems with through balls and almost never finds Bent. Herd works hard but is not a top 6 player. Ireland is all too often a wste opf space and he hardly ever plays a killer ball or gets beyond the centre backs — what he's there for in that case confuses me. Holman and Vlaa — not looking good so far :-( Major surgery and investment needed.

Wouldn't surprise me at all if we suddenly announce the signing of Fletcher. And a good one it would be as well.

Oh, and I should say that at no time over the last two years have we looked like a "Team". Lamber will have to deal with negative and problem players very quickly.

The Manager is a cause for optimism, the squad is not. Arguably, Lambert's achievement of finishing on the same points as Rogers' Swansea was the geater one. He seems like a man who is a modern coach and a quiet winner. But the squad is very threadbare. Three foreign signings may come good but experience suggests it will take a while. I agree with those who think we are three players light. A new striker with a proven record would be nice, I'm still not convinced of Bannon or Ireland and would like to see soem more quality there. A new Left Back we all know is needed and personally I wouldn't mind seeing a new central defender. And let's hope Given refinds his form because his deputy is not top Premiership material.

Whisper it quietly, but maybe we should also get a new head of domestic scouting ...

Having watched Delph since he came he just doesn't seem to me to have the uality to play in the top half of te Premiership. He doesn't impose himself on games and his pasing can be wayward.I reckon he'sll slip into the Championship.

Mid table or lower. MOst players who come in from Europe take a year to settle and, sadly, we don't have that much time. I'm surprised we have made no real domenstic league signings. If we get off to a poor start we could be trouble!

prediction. AC will stay at LIverpool until the winter window. Then he'll go to anyone who will take off Liverpool's hands!

Bruce Rioch, Macca and Dennis Mortimer.

I haven't renewed yet — which must be the first time in 30 years or so! Lambert is a good signing — his team finished on the same points as Swansea with arguably poorer resrouces. But it's the owners that worry me. Will they support some proper investment in the squad. I keep seeing these comments about signing yougn players (cheap) and relying on our youth team (even cheaper). Does this mean the same as last season! I can't face another season of struggle and relegation fight — nothing I've seen so far really makes me feal optimistic. We'll sigh international players who will take 12 months to settle!

I doubt that the issue is that he will not raise the funds, rather that he cannot! This is not fantasy world or charities this is business. We are screwed because there is no new cash for investment and we have owners who really don't understand the game and the business. I suspect they know the themselves now. But sell now and they stand to loose a lot. In their position they may well think it is wise to play and waiting game and see if they can't crawl back over the next two or three seasons. For us though, this does not make for much of a prospect over the next couple of years. To be fair to the Lerner's we are seeing the result of little more than a footballing financial bubble. I don't like where we are but I'd settle for this over being owned by some dictator or crook :-(

Hey common folks. I've seen too many great talents get stuffed by being thrown into struggling teams too early on. Remember Ray Walker? This is not a bad move. Gardener has a great future but we don't want to fluff it. This seems liek a decent move to me.

Too similar a player to Petrov. Keeps possessio well but in a Ray Wilkins, sideways, kind of a way. Few penatrative passes AND we need midfielders who get get past the holding forward, in this system.

N'Zogbia is always played well against us but he does suffer form the 'hole' syndrome. He has always looked more dangerous when he has moved inside behind the front striker. I guess he's probably the best we can find at the moment but he is nowhere near as good a passer or crosser of a ball as Downing. I wonder how long it will be before he and Ireland fall out !!!

There is a real problem with Ireland even though he has announced that he wants to seriously compete for a place in the team. He will be in competition with a lot of players — many of the good youngsters — who were as good if no better than him last year and who certainly showed more determination. He may get a go in pre-season but he will have to wait his turn if he isn't explosive. And here is the problem — will he just throw a wobbly if he's sitting on the bench. Even if Downing goes he will have competition from Bannon, Albrighton, et al in the hole or wide positions. I hope he can show something but i fear we're stuck with a very expensive non-player who very few people are interested in taking off our hands.

Don’t agree with any of this. FFS what the hell are you talking about?! He hardly played last season. It’s shocking the crap some people will come out with! :oops: Excuse me — me and my season ticket had enough experience of Ireland to make a decision — keep you abuse to yourself. He did play last year, enough for anyone to have made a judgement about him. And of course, there is all the other bollocks ...

I watched him play too much last year. Silky skills but no brain and no application. If he misses a chance in the first few minutes his head goes down and you can forget it. This was nothing to do with Houllier. For whatever reason this guy is a car crash. Basically, he's crap and he thinks he's a genius. He'll disappear without trace into the lower divisions ...

I don't think it is an issue of supporting the Board or getting behind them or not. The issue for any up and coming manager is simple. Can this club provide me with the platform on which I can develop and achieve? It is already clear that many in the game simply do not agree that Villa can meet their ambitions. The club does not have the financial resources to kick on to the next level. Lerner is known to be looking for new investors. How secure does that make the club in the short and the medium term? The squad needs some major surgery, five or six significant buy and not just one of two. I reckon most managers can see that they are not going to be able to get these resources. Hence the issue with Moyes. If he likes Everton and Kenwright he might as well stay there if Everton are fighting for the same kind of league position as the Villa!

Cropley wsas truly frightening. The guy could have broken his leg, his back and his arm and would still be diving in for the tackles. A truly great player.

McClaren is a proper manager and coach. He's probably gained a lot from his European experiences but unlike Houllier is a modern manager. We could do a lot worse. My real worry is Lerner. I know a lot of you hear love the guy but I'm not sure he really undertsands our game and, most importantly, our business!

Wolves ARE a better team than us when it comes to scrapping. Most of our players have no idea how hard the remaining games are going to be!