wazzap24

Naaaah you are not a shit fan mate, just another caught in the black and white world of everyone being either absolute dog turd or 'world class'. He's neither.

We've got an abundance of squad fillers that aren't good enough, we don't need to sign another one. How is he not good enough? Is he better than Clark and/or Baker? Loads of prem experience, regular for his country and free. What's not to like? Everyone needs a reality check. Club for sale and Lambert has about 50p and a bag of crisps for a budget. Unless Lerner pulls some miracle u-turn or a gazillionaire is about to ride into town, any player we sign is going to be either unproven, unemployed or unhinged so its unlikely any of them will be anybody's first, second or third choice. Cheap, solid and improves the squad - expect more of the same.

You have to laugh at some of the moaning on here! Decent signing IMO. No world beater by any means, but good cover for Vlaar/Okore. Experience of playing for and against top quality sides. He isn't the car crash some are painting him out to be either. Not my first choice, but then I doubt he was Lambert's either. Maybe he did try for Hangeland or Lescott? I imagine he probably enquired about both, but with our budget, this is probably about the best we could get.

It's impossible to tell what's going on in Lerner's clearly eccentric mind and I don't think trying to speculate using logic really works when it comes to trying to second guess him! You would think that common sense dictates he makes reasonable funds available (or increases the wage limit to accommodate some decent frees and loans), even if it's just to protect his investment pre-sale. We could have a pretty decent side next year without spending a penny on actual transfer fees, but not if we can't offer more than 15-20k a week. I think it will become clear by early July, if a takeover isn't on the horizon it will be interesting to see what he does give Lambert. In any event, I think Barry and Lescott would be good additions to the squad.

I would also add that if your diet doesn't contain a good amount of protein and you are not planning on using weights then some of that overall weight loss will be muscle wastage and not fat loss I've been on a fitness kick since Jan, I actually weigh a bit more than I did when I started, but I am starting to look totally different (in a good way) High protein diet, lots of weight/body resistance training and minimal 'cardio' - it really does work. I've seen an ab or two in the mirror recently I reckon by the end of June I might have a 3 pack!

I am sure he can make a dogs dinner out of it as he did last season when all but the Zog were available to him at some points during the season. Eh? Kozak didn't sign until summer deadline day and Okore did his knee 2 weeks later. Benteke was in and out, even before the season ending injury at the beginning of April and Kozak was done for at the beginning of Jan. Lambert's 3 most expensive signings - did they even start one game together?

I believe I have, we will have to await the next set of accounts to be know though. No we don't I'm afraid, the spend was confirmed in the last set of accounts' PBSE note. £18.9m on top of the £21.7m from the year before. Note 27 if you'd care to check. ###Genuine un-loaded question alert### How can the summer 2013 spend be in the 2013 accounts? Isn't our year end May 31st The 2012 figures were y/e 31st May Has this changed? Companies have to include a note "Events after the balance sheet date" which is anything of major importance that happens after the balance sheet date ie 31 May 2013, and the date the accounts are signed ie Feb 2014. This takes in both the summer 2013 and January 2014 transfer windows, and the note confirms that £18.9m was spent. This figure will appear in the 31 May 2014 accounts as additions to the squad, and the May 2014 accounts will then confirm this summer's spend when they're relased next Feb, and so on. Thanks for this Risso

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/mar/01/aston-villa-17m-pound-loss Y/E May 31st 2012 Last accounts were May 2013 Next set will be Y/E May 2014 - these will be filed no later than 9 months from now and will include spend from June 2013 onwards. Have I got this wrong?

I believe I have, we will have to await the next set of accounts to be know though. No we don't I'm afraid, the spend was confirmed in the last set of accounts' PBSE note. £18.9m on top of the £21.7m from the year before. Note 27 if you'd care to check. ###Genuine un-loaded question alert### How can the summer 2013 spend be in the 2013 accounts? Isn't our year end May 31st The 2012 figures were y/e 31st May Has this changed?

I would also say that when comparing spend between Ellis and Lerner there are two main factors; 1. Ellis never spent a penny of his own money. Randy has used a fair bit of his own cash I would say 2. Wages. I'm willing to bet that Dunne for example earn't more per week when he signed than Mellberg and Laursen did combined when they were signed. The wages and lack of 'sellable' players killed the Lerner regime.

If he's got anything about him (Bent) then he should come back absolutely determined to prove he has still 'got it' My impression of him though is that 'determination' is something that he is severely lacking (along with hard work and self sacrifice) It's a myth that PL never gave him a chance and he's a busted flush as far as I'm concerned. I would love him to prove me wrong.

So Doug allowed a better team to be built. I wouldn't quite say that BJ If MON had spent the large sums he was given on better players, we would have had a fantastic side. As it was he signed 3-4 good ones and a whole steaming heap of overpriced turd.

I agree with this. I don't think he's done a good job, but he hasn't done an awful one either. IF the takeover happens and he is replaced with someone better then great, but until then he has my full support. He deserves the sack based on results, but results don't tell the full story and I still think he can do a good job for us if given a bit more time and some decent resources.

So he stays. For now. Good. little bit of wheeling and dealing in the market and some positive new from the treatment room and we will be fine Onwards and upwards

For me, whilst the club has no imminent buyer - it's either full control or no control. He either continues as manager with all that it entails or he is removed. only if the takeover is to be concluded in a mtter of weeks should he be told to 'hold fire' on squad changes. IIRC one of the media reports suggested Lambert had been told to proceed with planning and had been told he needed to move on some of the players who haven't featured before more can be brought in.

I don't think the club being up for sale would affect transfers. All the agent would care about would be the fee, wages and his/her 'cut'. I don't think players/agents would be that bothered about who owns the club - not as a primary concern anyway. Plus, with the bargain basement shopping we do, I think we could attract players with no owner or manager, it would still be a step up from league one or the french/danish/dutch/etc second division! Attracting a manager under the same circumstance would be far more difficult though

The concern is valid imo. If Lambert goes and the takeover isn't 'imminent' then I for one would be very worried about next season. To suggest Cowans could step into the breach for a whole season is a huge gamble. If it were a team full of Villa fans then fine, but it isn't and the players (possibly Gabby/Alby aside) wont give a flying **** if he is a Villa legend or not - there is nothing to suggest he could/would do a better job than Lambert. The only way I could see it working would be if the club brought someone like Graham Taylor in to provide some guidance/support behind the scenes. like him or not PL has kept us up for the past two seasons and with a bit more luck and a couple of decent players, I'd wager he is more than capable of doing the same next year. Cowans would be a huge gamble and if it went wrong we would have nowhere to go (again assuming club still under RL control and seeking a buyer) if Lambert walks/gets sacked with no new owner on the immediate horizon it would be a very worrying time. also, just interested - what has not being in Europe got to do with new season prep? surely you have to plan/prepare for the PL?!

The desperation is palpable. To me re naming the stadium just makes sense whoever the owner as it is something that doesn't matter much and helps us catch up in the league Good enough for Arsenal, good enough for city. Good enough for us. It will always be villa park to us, if someone wants to pay us millions to have commentators calling it something else then so be it. Meh

Shame if we can't agree a perm deal/he doesn't want to come. About the best we can get at the minute and for the foreseeable future IMO. Good player, decent experience and young enough to keep ironing I a decent side.

If it's gonna be 10m or less then we need to spend it on loans and try and get an injection of quality, even if it's just over a short period. Lambert's on a hiding to nothing, I think I'd walk if I were him. I'd be even more concerned if he does though right now. What quality manager/coach would take the job knowing there was no money and ownership could change at any given time?

I'm not certain it can't be done, but it would be very difficult without an initial injection of substantial funds.

Lerner's about to get 'Litt up'

I don't think the squad is in a 'mess' though BJ10. My point is if he goes the new manger will walk in to a young squad, with a lot of potential to improve. Not an ageing squad of overpaid players. I'm not saying its a great squad or he's got good results with it, I'm just saying if he leaves, he leaves one that's in a better state than the previous bunch.

He is leaving one outstanding individual. A far better squad? Not really. I disagree. He is the one manager who at least tried to build a squad that could improve and grow. A squad built around youth and energy, not overpaid journey men or players on the edge of decline. The previous mangers bought for the moment regardless of future potential and value and many of them were acts of desperation. If he goes then he leaves a spine of; Guzan, OKore, Vlaar, Delph, Westwood and Benteke. You put good good players alongside those 6 and we've got a good side. Bacuna has clear potential, Lowton could yet still come good, as could the likes of Tonev, Helenius and Kozak. He's built a nucleus that can be added to, not something that needs dismantling.

If he goes then whilst I won't be shedding any tears, there will be an element of regret. I still think he's the man for the job in the long term. One thing is for sure, if he does go, he will leave behind a far better squad for the next incumbent than the previous four managers did. It's a results games and lambert's haven't been good enough, simple as that. I just think there is a lot more to it than that.