nik986

I like Weimann's attitude. The problem is, he is a striker, not a winger but is persistently played on the wing.

Just because people turn up to support their team and don't protest outside VP doesn't mean they want Lambert to stay. Many turn up to VP to support the club/team and don't want to do anything that distracts from that, doesn't mean they don't want the manager out. During McLeish's tenure, many fans wanted him out from the start, in fact a majority did, but only a small minority protested. You just don't see large scale protest at villa.

£7m well spent. He looked decent when fit to be fair, but for £7m couldn't we have got a striker with a slighter superior record?

Westwood is a neat and tidy midfielder - but how many times a season does he impose himself on a game? Last season it was one. A good premier league midfielder will impose himself on a game.

A couple of points. 1. People saying he's been hamstrung financially. Yes, he's not had the millions O'Neill has but he has spent money each window e.g. £7m Kozak etc. He has limited success in the market IMO with Vlaar and Benteke the successes. If we did have more money available, do you really want Lambert to spend it? 2. People are not suggesting Lambert goes because we have lost games vs last seasons top 5. They are suggesting he goes because of the results over the past 2 1/2 years. Have ambitions lowered that much that a manager who racks up all sorts of negative records, with no distinct style of play who just about keeps us up is seen to be doing well?

He doesn't impose himself enough on enough games for me. A poor man's Carrick.

No! Don't you get it, its only Villa under Lambert who have massive injury issues. Ha. Its a joke. Injuries in training too......what does that tell you? It tells me, like the tactics, that there are series issues when it comes to training. I'm sure there is an excuse for that too. Much like the issues at Arsenal and Manchester United which both managers are questioned about, but ours not. And theirs aren't regular long-term injuries.

No! Don't you get it, its only Villa under Lambert who have massive injury issues. Ha. Its a joke. Injuries in training too......what does that tell you?

How would we be raising spending to 35-40m if we spend £20-30m? I know its over three years, but as a club we can now afford to spend £15-20m and be self-sufficient. Obviously, some of this could we be supplemented with sales of those fringe players, thus reducing the wage bill. If we bought two £6-8m players, which would improve our first XI and squad considerably, we would add in the region of 50k a week to our wage bill (if we buy sensibly). Again, due to the cuts made at the club, this is now sustainable. If we were to the cut Bent and Given from the squad (Bent on 60k+ a week and 6 months left on deal) we could spend this money and not increase wage bill. So, I repeat, again, we can spend and still not fall foul of FFP. If we qualify for europe in 2 seasons time, our losses would be hugely under the necessary in order to get a european registration.

He's regularly on the bench for my FM15 game.

I am not suggesting losing one hundred millions pounds and there is where your point falls apart. I am suggesting a slight increase in our investments as we had successfully reduced wage bill and spending over the past few years (although the non-playing wage bill is still far too high). This means that we could add a player or two in the £6-8m bracket without causing ourselves too many issues, especially when increased commercial revenue and TV deals (especially the new overseas deal) is taken into account. This why the likes of Hull, WBA et al can all afford to make these kind of investments even without the kind of revenue that we generate.

He will struggle to keep us in the division and ultimately just about get away with it. Yes, that's exactly how I want things to be at my club..... Even with the improvements in the squad we knew we weren't going to scare anybody without Benteke in the side, and scaring teams is important in terms of those things you mentioned: creating chances, converting them, and ability to come back from a goal down. Considering that Lambert's transfers have made a decent fist of the tiny budget, I agree that the performances can't be excused by the financial restrictions alone, but take the time to remind yourself which of our players have been injured, and for how long. It's been a HUGE problem - we really have been almost breathtakingly unlucky. Breathtakingly unlucky? How many of these long-term injuries have happened in games? .......

First thing I do on FM15 as villa manager - offer Cole a mutual termination.

Yes, I am very aware of how FFP works. I also think its a brilliant excuse for us not spending. We have made losses, but this only effects us over three years if competing in Europe. We are not losing the money that we were, and we are 2-3 years away from Europe even if we spend £15-20m a season. Therefore, we wouldn't be over the limits for FFP, and wouldn't be fined/banned from competition, as our record losses from a couple of years ago would not be taken into account.

Glad he's getting used to playing well in the championship, we may need that.

The precedent that was reduced on appeal? We could spend another £15-20m and not be hit by anything. If we spent £50-70m that'd be a different story.

Him and Delph as a central two might do a job until Delph walks out on us....

Or play him in the right position for a start and utilise him for what he is best at. He has spent most of the last few weeks 'on the left'. Surprisingly, he has looked lost. This a player who has regularly started for England and Manchester United in central midfield. Lambert with his square peg/round hole trick.

We have had a various points this season; Benteke, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Bent, N'Zogbia in our forward line and scored 5 goals..... It's one up top with two out wide, or one up top with one in behind, little variation, and everyone knows how we will play. If we need to disrupt other teams, we can do that sometimes, but when we need to create something, our lone forward is too often left isolated. We have had a various points this season; Benteke, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Bent, N'Zogbia in our forward line and scored 5 goals..... It's one up top with two out wide, or one up top with one in behind, little variation, and everyone knows how we will play. If we need to disrupt other teams, we can do that sometimes, but when we need to create something, our lone forward is too often left isolated.

The FFP that you refer to will only restrict our participation in Europe....which isn't likely....for some time. In terms of the Premier League rules, at worst, we'd get a fine....

I think someone else could get more from these players. He has a squad of players, that he has put together, that he doesn't use. If all players are fit he plays the same XI week in, week out regardless of opposition or form. This for me, alongside his lack of a tactical plan, is a major failing.

The problem is we have a turd doing the polishing. You're basing this on what? His bad tactics and coaching? Or on the results? If it's the results, please tell me what you disagree with about what I wrote, without saying "yes, but tactics and coaching". You are saying that no other available manager could get a rhythm from this group of players? As for tactics - which ones are those? sit back and try to nick a game? As for coaching - what coaching? the coaching that led to his two trusted lieutenants sacked for bullying? He should have a blueprint/a plan, and clearly does not, besides the aforementioned 'cross fingers and hope for the best'. Yes, he's been at a club when spending has been restricted, but doesn't mean he gets a free pass.

I'm sure Lambert will drop him next week for anyone else at the club who will run a lot....