DelboyVilla

Plus Keane seems to have far less publicity about how he visited Gary Ablett throughout his fight with cancer sometimes driving from Ipswich to the North West every night. Hey if it doesn't fit with the lunatic persona then it's ignored?

You do realise we actually won that game, right? Do you think Hull fans came away from the game celebrating because they had more possession? But we sat back and let them come on to us and they could have taken something from the game? I know we won. I never disputed that but we should have killed the game by keeping the ball. We need to control games better at home when we have worked hard to build a lead IMO.

What about setting up some stocks and putting Lambo in them? I'd pay a couple of quid every home game to throw something at him??? LOL!

We have Westwood, Delph, Cleverley, Richardson and N'Zogbia who have shown they can all control and pass the ball but under the current manager we can't even manage to equal Hull at home in terms of keeping the ball and on Saturday looked like rabbits in the headlights. Blimey, even Weimann and Gabby have a ggod enough touch and control. People say it will get better with Benteke back but I remember last when we were dire with him in the team because we just kept on hoofing it up for him to knock on/down which didn't work as Benteke likes it to his feet, tigh or chest. We need a new manager with tactics and someone who can motivate the team??

I don't get your point at all. He came on, you think he did OK and had no influence on winning or losing. But this = Lambert's fault and he's a terrible manager? What? Furthermore, surely you see this as beneficial to Grealish? I know you are struggling to understand so I will make it simpler for you. Generally when a manager makes a substitution he is using that player to have an influence on the game and try to change the outcome/result. Therefore when a substitution makes no difference then the manager has failed in what he tried to do. This is par for the course for Lambert as he is useless! It's not Jack's fault but IMO Sanchez would have made more sense if we were hanging in for the draw!

I wasn't putting words in andym's mouth r.e: joyful, expansive football - just highlighting that that's a dream. We should definitely create more chances and that's probably our biggest failing right now. Possession really doesn't worry we; we have a fairly pacy attacking outlet so breaking/attacking quickly (and hopefully creating) is likely to mean a sacrifice on possession because we don't build up play slowly. Our biggest concern of the last 2 seasons (arguably?) has been having a leaky defence - it wouldn't be the greatest shock in the world if this is the area we've looked to improve on the most. An attacking play style is more a subjective 'want' than a necessity in matches. Plenty of teams build on a solid defence and counter attacking - perhaps we lack the quality to do this, perhaps we've missed having a main focal point up top with Benteke injured. Lambert has reportedly "gone in" for attacking midfielders recently (certainly with Hoolahan) but, likely due to stringent financial controls, we haven't purchased this kind of player. This may well be the reason we signed Joe Cole on a free? I don't accept that it's simply something we overlook or something that Lambert doesn't want. His Norwich side scored the most goals in League One when they won the league (89), the most goals in the Championship when they came 2nd (83) and the most goals of any side outside the top 6 in the Premier League (52) in their first season. But apparently he doesn't have the capability to achieve this? Bollocks, to be quite frank. I couldn't give a shit what he did at Norwich when to be honest there was never any pressure on him to get results because when a small club like them get's to the top league they expect to go straight back down. His record here is dire and the performances on the pitch have been as poor as anything I can remember down VP. Lambert has made it clear during his time here all the football decisions were his and to quote Hoolahan is silly as it was Norwich refusing to sell to Lambert because they hate him and it was not down to money. As usual Lambert had plan B a bit like his on field tactics. He has obviously risen above his limited capabilities and I am sure he can't beleive how big an idiot Lerner is for keeping him employed for so long without spotting his major failings. Though a Yank with limited knowledge doesn't seem to spot much from thousands of miles away. He should make the most of this situation as when he does loose his job here he can go back to managing at his level, i.e. League 1!

Well just the same as someone who critises Lambert is not 'pathetic, boring or a hater'? Plus people who critise cannot be a fan apparently? And apparently you don't need the ball or have to shoot on target to win games? Yes we can all act like idiots and make stupid statements it's really easy! Who has actually said this? You missed the point I was making that certain people make stupid comments to justify the excuses.

Exactly, how can people possibly be calling a performance 'embarrassing' in that situation? Their reaction is more embarrassing to be honest. Heard it all now? If Grealish was 'embarassing' then I don't think there is a word in the Engish language to describe how bad Bacuna looked. In the circumstances Jack did OK against City and defended well. The fact he was brought on the pitch under the circumstances is the only embarassing performance evident here as I can't imagine what Lambert was thinking? Fans call for youngster to get game time. Lambert gives youngster game time. Lambert in the wrong. ****. Hell. Yeah inspired management bringing on our least experienced player in a game where the pressure was on to hold out for a draw, where we had minimal possession and were starting to be over run? You honestly beleive that was valuable game time for Grealish? FFS he was only put on the bench at the last minute when Gabby had his funny turn! Sanchez, Clark or even Joe Cloe would have been more sensible options in the circumstances but Lambert can do no wrong though! Edit: When has Lambert ever done what the fans ask anyway? He left by now if that was the case? I think he shifted Grealish to be a more attacking option/outlet ball and brought Bacuna on at the same time to be defensively solid. He possibly even dared to think that we could nick a win and didn't want to go too defensive or something - I'm not the manager though, so I don't know. I haven't praised Lambert for this either. I'm pretty neutral to the substitution to be honest. I find it fairly hard to criticise bringing on a young player to get some game time against some of the best players in the country in a game that was 0-0 with 20 minutes left. I certainly don't attribute that subsitution to us losing the game - it just... happened. But yes, it's definitely a case of Lambert doing no wrong rather than Lambert doing no right. Definitely. I'd rather see Grealish reserved purely for games against "lesser" opposition. Probably Lambert's fault then too. I think Jack did OK and in no way had any influence on us winning or losing. And that's kind of the point really! But he had 20 minutes against one of the best teams in the land and hardly touched the ball! Managerial Magic!

Wouldn't be VT if it was any other way??

Well just the same as someone who critises Lambert is not 'pathetic, boring or a hater'? Plus people who critise cannot be a fan apparently? And apparently you don't need the ball or have to shoot on target to win games? Yes we can all act like idiots and make stupid statements it's really easy!

Exactly, how can people possibly be calling a performance 'embarrassing' in that situation? Their reaction is more embarrassing to be honest. Heard it all now? If Grealish was 'embarassing' then I don't think there is a word in the Engish language to describe how bad Bacuna looked. In the circumstances Jack did OK against City and defended well. The fact he was brought on the pitch under the circumstances is the only embarassing performance evident here as I can't imagine what Lambert was thinking? Fans call for youngster to get game time. Lambert gives youngster game time. Lambert in the wrong. ****. Hell. Yeah inspired management bringing on our least experienced player in a game where the pressure was on to hold out for a draw, where we had minimal possession and were starting to be over run? You honestly beleive that was valuable game time for Grealish? FFS he was only put on the bench at the last minute when Gabby had his funny turn! Sanchez, Clark or even Joe Cloe would have been more sensible options in the circumstances but Lambert can do no wrong though! Edit: When has Lambert ever done what the fans ask anyway? He left by now if that was the case?

I didn't say everyone who disagrees with me is pathetic. I said that people who would rather see Lambert suffer than have Aston Villa gain results is pathetic. It seems to be the way a few people are (no names); look at the negatives in victories and, obviously, lambast the defeats. Boring - be a fan rather than a hater. Personally I always want us to win and I am as pleased as anyone when we do but if there is an area for concern or critism even when winning then raising it does not make people pathetic, boring or a hater. I don't hate Lambert but quite simply I think he is a poor manager and I think his record for the past 2 seasons is testament to that. Some may choose to ignore weaknesses and bury their heads in the sand, that's their choice. I surpose they are the 'fan's?

Exactly, how can people possibly be calling a performance 'embarrassing' in that situation? Their reaction is more embarrassing to be honest. Heard it all now? If Grealish was 'embarassing' then I don't think there is a word in the Engish language to describe how bad Bacuna looked. In the circumstances Jack did OK against City and defended well. The fact he was brought on the pitch under the circumstances is the only embarassing performance evident here as I can't imagine what Lambert was thinking?

For everyone except Lambert's teams it does apparently? What about blocked shots? We usually have more than our fair share especially with Baker flying round the box.

As you may have guessed I do not want Lambert as our manager and having watched 2 seasons of mostly turgid rubbish be served up on the pitch the sooner he is gone the better IN MY OPINION! You have a different opinion and that does not make everyone who disagrees with it pathetic. Some of us have sticks and some of us have excuses. It's all about opinions though!

Completely agree. And the previous two years aren't going to be wiped from peoples minds. Yes Lambert has the chance to improve things this year and I'm behind him. But I can see why plenty of fans aren't going to change their opinion of him. Considering that there are very obvious worrying issues with the evident again so far this season I think people do have the right to point them out and hope they are resolved. And some of us still wonder what he did to earn a new 4 year contract and will for some time to come!

Southampton and Everton are working to a similar model to one another in that they are buying and developing players integrating them into the first team, performing well and then the players stock rises massively. When the players stock is at it's highest they sell some of those players to the rich high earners and replace them with cheaper alternatives with potential and further develop their youth players. They both also have an ethos around the club and appoint new managers that fit the club rather than having to change to a whole new team every time a new manager is appointed. Their style of play runs through the whole club so young players can fit straight into the first team. Our main problem has been the owner has never kept the ethos of the team and therefore most of the managerial appointments have been poles apart in terms of style hence we ended up with a mish mash of players that was difficult to get playing well together. Lerner then made some poor decisions regarding the reinvestment and in particular the treatment of the so called 'high earners'. He also chose poorly when replacing players like Milner, Young and Downing.

There's only Everton really from last season bucking that trend and showing how to break into the top 6 using a business model not funded on unsustainable owner spending? OK they haven't had a great start to this season but I don't think they will stay in 17th for long?

That would have made far more sense as Bacuna is clearly not up to the job.

I thought he did OK against City considering he isn't known for his defensive play. Why he was brought on I am not to sure though it was a big mistake in my eyes but not as big a mistake as Bacuna who is obviously not anywhere near good enough.

He was our only creative player on the pitch on Saturday. Westwood, Delph and Cleverley were woeful the few times we had possession in the City half. The Zog was head and shoulders above anyone in claret and blue and why he was replaced by Bacuna I'll never know as Bacuna looked like a pub team player and I am so glad we have Hutton at right back because everytime Kolarov got the ball he skinned Bacuna and left him on his arse!

I agree with this. I've watched Stoke a few times this season and they are capable of putting a few passes together without losing the ball. So saying we are the new Stoke is rubbish. I think the comparison was with the "old " Stoke. Mind you, they used to win at home more often than not, so that's bobbins, too I know. Id actually be happy if we were the new old Stoke. Would normally mean a mid table finish. Ah yes, the happy-go-lucky, possession-based attacking play of Tony Pulis. You obviously didn't see Palace last year? Very un-Stoke like. What he does do is play to his sides strengths and the oppositions weaknesses.

I am sorry but the old "excuses" of injury and illness are just a weak one. even if you accept the illness one that was in one match against Arsenal. In terms of injuries, who exactly, Vlaar and Benteke - is lambert so dependent on these two players that if they are not available then its a certain loss? As said previously in this and many other threads there has been "wait unit Okore is back" , is he back now? Also you mention our "ridiculous" start - again a weak argument. You have to play all of the teams twice so that has no relevance at all. What about the loss to Orient was that due to the fact that like previous years we have played some of the top teams? Was the turgid display against Newcastle down to this, was the past two years awful football down to this, was the defeats to lower league sides down to this? ....... etc etc No we are not the new Stoke, that is because they at least had a plan that threatened the other teams goal. They also had a good chance of finishing mid table. Now we may see a massive performance increase in terms of threat and attacking ability, and let's hope we do, as we play the next few matches, but please lets not throw out frankly weak arguments if they do not. But you have your views and while I respect them, I am struggling to see their validity based on the excuses line Much as I like Lambert and have been supportive of him up until now - I am coming round to the viewpoint above - I don't really see much evidence of change - if there is a change we have become better at scrambling out narrow victories - we haven't actually improved as a football side. Of course we could really turn it on v Everton, QPR and I would forced to eat my words - but I don't see us winning both games - and I don't see us winning either game convincingly - Love to be wrong of course. The only creativity yetserday came from the Zog. Delph Westwood and Cleverley were all very poor going forward. Probably becasue they were so knackered from defending?

I'm convinced he still wants to sell but he just can't find a buyer. That's when the PR kicks in and we hear stories about him being "re-energised" etc. I don't buy it. We spent, what, £8m in the summer? If that's him getting the buzz for football back God help us if he ever gets fed up again. Totally agree definately wants out! I would take no notice of the spin from Fox etc what's he going to say? 'Randy, oh yeah he really couldn't give a shit and wants away from the place as soon as some schmuck coughs up £200m'?

No one has said that Trent! What we can do is make it difficult for them not just roll over? Otherwise we may as well just concede the games at Emirates, City of Manc and Stamford Bridge and not bother turning up? Save on the petrol and the confidence loss?