the_sun_never_sets

Slot Richardson in as LB?

i was thinking about this earlier - our first team without injuries isnt actually that bad (if we signed a new LB and DM) We coul play quite something like this: Benteke Cole/Delph Nzog/Gabby Grealish/ Weimann Westwood/New Dm LB Lowton/Bacuna Okore Vlaar Senderos Guzan that could get overrun in midfield defensively... offensively strong though, depends how wlel the wingers could adapt to tucking in without the ball could then have adaptations around a a back 4 i.e 4 1 2 2 1, 4 3 3,

He talks about playing in the hole and allowing other players to flourish - this is bang on what we need. This is good news as it means a) lambert is fully aware of this weakness Lambert has told JC about it and c) JC fully understands and is happy to play this role

being facetious but - should we close this thread now the "200million" and "US" bits are wrong?

Does anyone have an idea how our massive TV money pay out (73million?) will affect our finances? will this push us significantly into profit for the next financial year (i would expect so?) if so, from a purely corporate sense we are a very sensible investment - however, i wouldnt want an owner who just saw us as an investment really... also - if we are making a profit - and lerner is willing to sell the club for 200mill and take a 100mill loss....then surely that means the profit for last season is available for transfers as this would have been accounted for otherwise?

I do miss Zat Knight sometimes

in the premier league!

if norwich lose and sunderland and cardiff draw we are safe.

i think a draw would keep both teams up?

im going. never seen us lose away form home UTV oh and its my birthday...

4-1 villa

win and we're safe in all probability

worst case: Man City (A) - 0 Chelsea (H) - 0 Stoke (H) - 1 Man U (A) - 0 Fulham (H) - 1 Palace (A) - 1 Southampton (H) - 0 Swansea (A) - 0 Hull (H) - 3 Spurs (A) - 0 i think 37 would keep us up (just i reckon 36 points will be relegated). convert any of the draws into wins and its comfortable

I think referring to past glories and judging current performance against it is part of the reason we are sometimes seen as being 'fickle' fans. I think there sometimes needs to be an appreciation that times have moved on - not saying expectations should be better managed but that getting behind the team when performing badly is maybe missed because our expectations are set so high?

Gabby's lack of composure **** us tonight

Thanks HH - this has alleviated my fears somewhat - at least the backroom staff acknowledge that we are not playing the kind of football we would expect from Villa (points are a separate issue but if we were getting more points then the former would be less of an issue... for now) - I know Lambert is only supporting the players by not criticising but with no comment on poor performances (tlaking about team as a whole not individuals) there is sometimes the belief that Lambert has not acknowledged the nature of our performances recently. I doubt the signing would be from a team in the bottom half who will compete against us for relegation - chances are its a second string player from the top half - Rodwell/Gibson/Steve Davis/ Defoe? could see de bruyne coming on loan, lescott seems the most likely and would be excellent

WHAT'S THE PLAN PAUL? I see no signs of any plan, transition, improvement, direction or clue just a load of absolute shit served up week after week. Yesterday drew the line under your tenure at Villa - my patience is over now. People might point to wins against arsenal, southampton, city etc - we were BATTERED in those games - we were lucky - could have lost 5/6-0 in any of them - the performances were dire and yes its points that matter but those points were flukes, anomalies - our style of football is dire, our ability to compete in games is dire, could see us losing every game.

Our tactics appear to be to wander aimlessly round the pitch with the ball whilst the rest of the team stand still

I hate southampton, particularly that cheating scum rodrigues, so chuffed to bits however - another awful - but effective performance. i dont know what to think

Anything more or less than a standard back 4 will really f*ck me off - it doesnt work.

I thought that too. He's done o.k in the last two home games imo, probably away games are too much for him at this moment in time. He does no worse than CNZ on shooting at goal at every opportunity. i also agree with this - thought he made a reasonable start then faded

step up HELENIUS - villa 3-1 winners benteke 2 helenius 1 simples also I hate 5 3 1 with a passion against anything but the best sides. its shit

bang on

interesting one... 1) I was too young at this point to really judge anything 2) Under MON minimum expectation was 6th ideal would have been 4th - i really just expected us to win against all teams outside the top 8 and give all other teams a hard time i'd merge 3 and 4 as follows - Perosnally i think it will be the 2015-2016 season before we are a real force again - i believe by the end of this season the 'book balancing' excercise will have been largely completed but it wont be until 2015 till we see any >£8/9 mill signings with that in mind the only expectations I have are: a) to be competitive in every game to show progress every season as follows 2013-2014 - minimum expectation 13th - no danger of relegation 2014-2015 - minimum expectation 10th - comfortably mid table - solid in the cups (quarters) - investment/takeover post season 2015-2016 - minimum expectation 8th - good cup runs (e.g. a semi final appearance) - european qualification hopefully!