Grasshopper

I think we are in a dangerous situation.

The blind (RL) being led by The Blinkered (PL)

Yes PL has kept us in the Premier League

Yes he's cut the wage bill

Yes he has signed players that have benefitted the team/squad

Yes he has the players giving their all for him/AVFC

and yes he protects the players from the media by not critisizing them in public (aside the mumbing, this is what I admire most about him)

All good for the club immediate & long term.

But to approach the games like he has done/is doing is playing with fire in my opinion

Benteke or no Benteke, we should be creating even more going forward because Gabby & Andy don't score often enough.

To have missed chance after missed chance in the hope that we eventually score is surely better than hanging on to the hope that one, two or a few chances will be enough to get a result?

I really think a DoF job would suit him better. He's very good at what he can do, but there's too much he can't do for my liking

We need a good coach and tactician.

I fear the only thing that keeps him onside for many (incl RL) is the fact that he gets enough points on the board to survive.

One can roll out all the "Situations/Circumstances" all day long, but eventually, what PL is doing won't work season after season.

Simple - we need 3pts

How we get them doesn't really matter.

Our current fortunes suggest that to win we would have to:

1) Get the ball, keep it, do something with it

2) Create as many chances as possible so that eventually enough goals will go in

3) Counter tactical changes made by the opposition during the game

4) Give Burnley the feeling "not gonna happen today"

Unfortunately I see only a good commited start till the first goal goes in

If we score it, we'll sit back. Then it's a case of, if, when and how many Burnley score

If Burnley score, it'll be painfull no doubt

Roll on 1983

The best player Burnley have ever had in their history was Steve Kindon

........and someone is considering an away draw as some kind of result?

Stats for AV in PL 2014/5

Goals Scored 20th

Shots 20th

Shots on target 20th

Shot conversion rate 20th

Shooting accuracy 20th

Chances created - take a wild guess (clue - 20 teams in PL)

SSN 26.11.2014

I would have taken a point before the game so I'm not gonna complain about ending up with one.

However, having been gifted the lead by a Goalie howler, we should be able to build on it.

Guzan - Premier league Top Goalie

Hutton - The only outfield player who seems to be playing consistantly effectively in his suited position.

Okore - MotM. To come in and perform like that wow, RESPECT

Clark - Didnt get my MotM simply because of Okore

Cissokho - Does his job but nothing to really shout about

Sanchez - Slowly learning what to do, but Still doesn't know what not to do in the PL. Shows signs of getting better

Westwood - Good player but needs a better Sanchez to really shine. Asked to do too much so neglecting his strengths

Cleverly - Still don't understand this signing, what is he? what are his strengths? If he can be creative then he should be given a role to show it

Weiman - Played out of position yet again, asked to run, run and run some more. No wonder that by the time he got into a position to score he'd run himself in to the ground by then

                Expected to cover 70% of the pitch length and 50% of the width - wasted

                Was too spent when Betrand woke up for his run resulting in a free cross.

N'Zog - Talented player played out of position then has to take stick for being asked to do what doesn't come naturally

Gabby - Snapped up a gift. Since bulking up, gained power lost pace over distance and tires.

              Years of bad management have cost him. Either let him loose up front or teach him a wingers role.

              Not intelligent enough of a footballer to be multi-dimensional effective player

              Especially not as helping out a fullback as evident with the goal

              Shame - talent wasted

Ref - nothing major wrong

Soton - were not good tonight and still dominated us. Say no more

Did I forget something?

oh yeah

Subs - Understandable and OK if you want to hold on

           Should have been to seal the game though

Manager - Where do I start?

1) Basically sets up to not lose - In basic English = Toggles between Holding out and damage limitation - Mean difference between 1 pt & 0 pts ( 1/2 pt per game ????? ) HOME & AWAY!!!!

2) Doesn't play players to their strengths/out of position - Westwood, Cleverly (does he have a position?), Weiman, N'Zog & Gabby- thats HALF the outfield players

3) Tactics during the development of a game (or is that not allowed?) - Rule nr 1 in sports regarding opposition -NEVER give the opposition an inch to let their stature grow during the course

     of a game. Try to change the course of the game before it gets out of your control. Sub to gain an advantage and/or nullify opponents advantage. - no sign of that here

4) Motivation/Belief - the players will be running/not running on empty soon (some already are)

5) Style of play - Simply disgracefull for Aston Villa FC

6) Villa Goal - a gift thanx - take it

7) Soton goal - well it was coming wasn't it - Can only point the finger at the fact that the 2 defining components of the goal were tiredness from Weiman & Gaby not being good defensive cover - Tactics - Lambert

8)9)....etc Can't be bothered

10) Paul, please be even more of a man and walk. You'd earn many a respect by doing so.

first 25 mins so inspiring I went for a C**p

Come back and we're one up

Used To look forward to "Gewin' down the Villaaaa"

Used to look forward to seeing us on the Tele

Tonight I'm watching it on TV but I've moved my office to my coffee table to catch up on some paperwork when the second Soton goal goes in. (wonder how long we can hold out for)

I'll predict a shock 1-0 win or 0-8 defeat (or somewhere inbetween - probably 0-3 or 4)

Anything over 4 and PL should walk

Hi All,

My first post so here goes.

There's 2 sides to every story, so those of you justifying your support or dissatisfaction with Paul Lambert are both understandable.

However, I'd like to look at it this way.

If everything just carries on as it is, we'll be down sooner or later.

THINGS MUST CHANGE if we are to survive and improve as a club.

1) The situation is such that RL wants to sell and is limiting what he can/will do regarding the finances (transfers/wages) of the club.

2) The Management and coaches cannot get enough out of what we have in the squad to have a relegation-threatened-free season.

3) The players appear to be able to beat teams in a better state than us sometimes then lose to other teams who could be described as being "teams we need to beat to survive".

Something HAS to change.

The owner? Well he tried to sell but couldn't. Current status not 100% clear. Doesn't look to be happening sometime soon.

The players? We have what we have and that seems to be enough (sometimes). Maybe they could do better more often under better leadership?

The Manager? igoring the constraints, circumstances and records set. Results are what matters. The table doesn't lie and never will.

Which change COULD have an effect?

Owner? yes but not happening

Players? yes but not happening this transfer window (or the next........)

Manager? YES and other clubs have proved it (but some went down anyway)

I believe there's an arguement for a change in Manager as well as trying to see it through without a change.

But if I'm honest

We're Fooked without a change and I'd rather risk the inevitable for the inevitable anyway.

Grasshopper

New to posting - long time reader.

I'm Grasshopper, Grew up in Great Barr and started supporting "The Villa" the Season we went down to the old 3rd Division.

Used to walk to the ground as a kid to save busfare for a bovril at HT.

Was there to see Pele, us beat Bournemouth at home, Away games v Walsall, Tranmere, Torquay, Chesterfield & many more, LC SF victory against ManU, 5-1 win against L'pool, v Everton @ Hillsborough LCF replay.........

Remember dark days of Tom Docherty, Andy Lochhead, Jim Coombes, Trevor Hockey........

Idolised Charlie Aitken, Ian Ross, Chris Nichol, Bruce Rioch, Alex Cropley, Sid, Andy Graaaaaaay, Withe, Mortimer, Spink, Rimmer, Shaw......

Current state is peanuts

Villa forever

Grasshopper