a m ole

Thanks for the advise but I don't think I need to look up the word fact! I've been goin to villa park probably longer than you've been saying cakey moma!

I'm Not ITK, However many many years in the Holte, Trinity and events sectors have made me some very close friends.

You are one of many, who all say totally contradictory things.

I think we've had many difficult circumstances, and when one problem seems to be solved another rears its head. I think it's an unbelievably hard job and I doubt many other (realistic) managers could do much better. But, there just seems to be a lack of confidence to attack teams in the players that really needs to be sorted out.

I'm not one of those calling for his head, but I'm getting frustrated at how blunt we are. I hope he doesn't really think we were that excellent as he intimated after the game because it's so difficult to watch us give the ball away so cheaply and unnecessarily when we should be taking the game to the opposition and pegging them back. always being on the back foot is beginning to grate.

 

Basically I don't think today should have changed anybody's opinion of the guy.

 

If you wanted him sacked last week, then you should still want him sacked.

 

If you wanted him to stay then you should still want him to stay.

 

I don't think he can be blamed for today. but that doesn't mean it was some magical turn around that should save him his job. It was a competent performance from the team until we lost a player. But that doesn't wipe out the rest of the run of results we've had.

 

I keep seeing this repeated that we can't blame him for today but we can. I not saying it is or isnt his fault but you could say if he had made us a better team over his tenure in charge we would have beaten a poor Spurs team today.

 

We were poor today and a few bad ref descisions might paper over the cracks. We were at home and playing a team short of confidence and basically tired to play one up front counter attacking. Because of Lamberts coaching and tactics over the last 2 years thats all we can really play. Same reason our ball retention was so bad. Same reason we had one shot on target all game.

 

There were to many familar things in todays game to blame it on just bad luck. Spurs had far better chances that us and had more of them. If were being honest and not staring through Claret and Blue stained glasses the only real decision that we can feel agrieved about is Mason not being sent off.

 

Today was just another symptom of the malaise we have been suffering from for the last 2 years.

 

Yes - when we were winning the match 1-0.

After 2 years? A sign of improving.

sometimes even treading water is difficult. I'm questioning why arms are being thrown up after that game, which was a drastic improvement on the previous 5 despite the result and also despite the strength of opposition we have played.

It was a difficult result but to use anything from today to bolster any case to sack Lambert is wrong.

What were you expecting?

We've just played the previous years top 6 + QPR in succession. The QPR game was unacceptable but it's no surprise we didn't do particularly well. We actually took the game to Spurs today until the sending off. It's not the end of the world.

Positives: we scored a goal at last. And the players finally showed a little desire and fight. Too much, as it turns out.

Negatives: the ref was terrible and lost control of the game after the Vertongen tackle, but it was far more worrying to see how our team reacted to it -- complete loss of discipline. This points to a severe lack of leadership on the pitch, and off it. It's getting harder to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

don't agree. we've seen successful Man Utd, arsenal and Chelsea sides all losing it on the pitch in seasons when they've won the league. instead of pointing towards a severe lack of leadership, I feel it points to a tense match between two competitive sides that was poorly refereed. Seeing us compete in a game was as bright a light at the end of the tunnel as I've seen since the Liverpool game.

Many people commenting about it being our worst run in 47 years. Many people posting in the "Lambert - Out" thread, and also looking for our next manager. I'm not going to get into the parts of that because the bottom line is that we played well today.

 

We lost 2-1 after going ahead, having multiple close chances (not just creating them), and then losing to a deflection from a pretty poor free kick (Guzan was already across the net before it hit Bakers(?) head).

 

What I will talk about is the ref, as I voted him poor. Sometimes there is a decision in the game by the ref where it changes everything. A stupid free kick decision, or a peno that never was. This was not the case today.

The ref was poor from start to finish, he failed to control the game, he failed to calm the players down after a fiery 10/20 mins. His fourth official rightly indicated that Benteke should be sent off (read the rules if you disagree with this), but then failed to ALSO follow up on the rules for a 'headbutt' by Mason into Tekkers face.

 

The ref should have had the game under grips early on but he let it spiral out of control multiple times, and that cost us. Did it cost us just because the ref made the wrong decisions? No. It cost us because he let all the players on the pitch lose their heads, and ultimately, and in my opinion, that was directly responsible for the end result.

 

Should Premier League players be able to deal with this, and keep an deserved 1-0 lead? Yes. But this is an instance where this didn't happen.

 

We lost through bad luck, extremely poor refereeing, and a lucky deflection at the last minute.

 

Saying all the above, when Spurs went 1-1, I stuck an inplay bet for them to win 2-1. Was only a fiver on at 3/1, shoulda done it for 5 grand

Absolutely spot on.

Idiots will blame the Ref. People with eyes will blame Benteke.

It was embarrassing control of the game by Swarbrick that led to the altercation, and both players should have received the same punishment.

Cheated

Gabbys man. **** the referee

whether or not it was correct to the letter of the law, the game has been poorly managed by referee, it was obvious tempers were flaring and he should have calmed it down a long, long time ago

so Mason is allowed to put his face in Benteke's but it's a red card offence to push him away? have a **** word

Baker playing well. Fair play to him. Zog did well for the goal although the defending was horrific. Decent all round, I just hope we keep taking the game to them and have more possession in their half. I'd give Grealish 20 mins at the end.

Sanchez has to realise he doesn't have as much time to pass as he thinks - then he'll be ok

Lowton playing Adebayor onside there. he's worrying in defence but does have a good delivery.

Totally agree, we've had a horrific run over the last few years.

 

If you don't mind me asking, how has Okore come to play for Denmark U21s? Are we approving it as games at a lower level to get him used to the physicality again, or is it something we're against but unable to prevent?

 

Okore ain't gonna play for us again.

We've had no explanation as to why he hasn't been given a chance.

Had such high hopes for him aswell

Absolutely hate lambert why oh why has he ignored that kid.

 

Do you really think a manager - bearing in mind this is his career and his reputation also - would sign a player that he thought had great potential and then ignore him and refuse to play him with out any reason?

Sometimes I'm at a loss as to what goes through peoples heads.

don't mean to rock the boat but we're playing pretty well... shame about the goal. geta bit more confident infront of goal and there's still a good chance of 2-1

I despise Harry so I'm not sticking up for him, it's absolutely part of his job to make sure his players are fit and also not use it to deflect from the awful job he's doing. Im just saying Taarabt has a responsibility too and in that photograph is not doing anything to dispel the claim that he isn't fit to play. look at some of the stick Bent has got on here - he certainly looks in better condition that Taarabt.

There really are no winners here... except us as we have the circus up next although no doubt they'll put on the greatest show of their season and beat us.

not sure why Taarabt is so proud of that picture, he's in terrible shape for a professional athlete.

But clearly not three stone overweight as 'Arry claimed.

I'm sure I don't have to explain hyperbole to you? journalists were poking 'Arry trying to figure out why, with QPRs form, a talented player wasn't in the squad. It was his misguided way of saying the player isn't in shape and isnt doing much about it - it wouldn't change much if he'd said "a little overweight" or "100 stone overweight" if he's not fit he can't play.

not sure why Taarabt is so proud of that picture, he's in terrible shape for a professional athlete. There's footballers up and down the Sunday Leagues in way better shape. Not everyone has to be ripped like Ronaldo but if he can't last 90 minutes of football he deserves to be called out for it.

Having said that, I'm not surprised Harry doesn't have a clue about conditioning a team for this level and while players should be looking after their own fitness it's embarrassing for him and his training methods having a squad so out of shape.

Didn't get any service today and when he did get the ball was surrounded. His disallowed goal still shows me he has it..instant reaction to that ball coming off the bar.

Imagine if we still had the Villa version of Ashley Young feeding him....we have nothing at the moment assist wise.

sometimes I really miss that little shit

 Did one good pass in the game.

 

 Completely overrated, didn't do his job as a defensive midfielder.He has a pass on him, but for me is far too cautious.Half of our problems are because we don't compete for the ball higher up the pitch enough.Westwood would get on better if we had Sanchez in the midfield, we lack a physical presence.

 

 Compare Barry to Westwood today, and that is what we lack.

Barry had McCarthy absolutely everywhere helping him out, I didn't see the same energy from Richardson.