DamsonwoodVillan

Welcome Aly, hopefully a big improvement in a problem position for us these past few seasons. Bon chance!

Yes I agree. I assume on the basis of pre-season so far and Cissokho signing this evening our gk and back line will be: Guzan Hutton Vlaar Okore Cissokho Not too shabby in my opinion compared with Bennett/Luna and Baker for much of last season. For Cole and Richardson I assume they will fit in with a more advanced role, depending on if we get that defensive midfielder. As it stands against Stoke I think he will go with El-Ahmadi, Westwood and Delph as a central midfield 3, then have Weimann wide right, N'Zogbia wide left and Agbonlahor through the middle on his own.

I thought he was a real positive in a truly devastating season under McLeish. In the second half of that season I thought we came to miss him when he didn't play. It's just never got going for him since Lambert came in. Time has rolled on a bit and here he still is at 25 or 26. I think he's got too many people in front of him now in whatever position you would associate him with. I hope deciding to stay at Villa for one more season works out for him and doesn't wreck his whole career.

I got excited when I noticed the article headline but when you read it there is nothing we don't already know. I thought it might speculate on names or say something like a potential buyer has accompanied Lerner to the US friendlies, but it doesn't even speculate!

Probably do two different teams again. Guzan Lowton Okore Senderos Richardson N'Zogbia Westwood Delph Grealish Cole Agbonlahor Given Hutton Clark Baker Bennett Bacuna Gardner Herd El-Ahmadi Weimann Bent As much as it gets you excited for the new season I always panic you'll get injuries on a pre season tour!

With Sylla gone I think Herd and Gardner will get a lot of games this season. I don't think either of them are special players but they have the ability to take on specific roles in the side. If Lowton and Hutton are both suddenly realistic options at right back this season then you have to add Bacuna to the midfield equation as well. Not sure Carruthers and Johnson have the quality at this level. Still think a top quality CM is a must. Also still not sure about the defence.

I think the 3 at the back system could work for our personnel but it puts a lot of pressure on Richardson and Lowton/Hutton. As it stands right now I think his team for the Stoke game will be Guzan Lowton Vlaar Okore Richardson N'Zogbia Westwood Delph Cole Agbonlahor Bent

Don't think that will be the system until Benteke gets back at least. I think he'll go 3-5-2 with Weimann and Gabby up front and Cole in midfield. Apart from up front I don't see where Zog fits in to this. Could be wrong of course.

I think Zog's biggest problem has been he doesn't fit the Lambert systems we have seen. He is clearly a talented player but whether Lambert plays a system that accommodates him? Could he play up front just behind Gabby? Can't really see what else he could do.

August 31st... 2015

As it stands I would go with... Guzan Okore Vlaar Senderos Bacuna Westwood Cole Delph Richardson Benteke Agbonlahor Weimann in until the Beast is back. I would rather have another good quality midfielder in there where Cole is at the moment though to be honest. I think that team will pick results up away from home, I still think it will struggle at home though.

I really think Sylla has been given a bashing on here that is not warranted. 12 months ago fans were applauding the signing as a cheap punt who did make a difference to our desperate situation from the Reading away game onwards. I personally would have stuck with him at the start of last season but Lambert seemed to be straight away in favour of El-Ahmadi. If Gardner doesn't really sort himself out this season and make some kind of impact then I think we may just miss Sylla.

Guzan Lowton Vlaar Okore Baker Bacuna Westwood Cole Delph N'Zogbia Benteke I think with our squad options is good enough to stay up, but it will be tight and we badly need some good results pre-November / December.

Whilst I actually think he could add something to us I passionately hate Barton. Would never feel any different.

Where he plays will be an interesting one. If we carry on with 3 men in midfield I'd be worried to play him through the middle for fear of being too weak. In the wide areas I'd still prefer Agbonlahor and Weimann for their pace. If he can add a bit of craft and ball - retention then I don't really have any problems with this.

Think he may be the sort of character we need. Absolutely fantastic player and must know a thing or two about systems and tactics. Only hope from reading his book that he doesn't completely tear our lot up in preseason because the standards aren't high enough for him!

Senderos is gash. End of.

Andy Gray

"I buy Aston Villa... benefit glorious nation of Kazakhstan." Ha

Yes, British businessman Russell King. He disappeared when no money was forthcoming to strengthen the squad. BBC Panorama tracked him down to a hotel in Dubai where he rarely leaves the building. He refused to talk to them when they confronted him. You can see this on YouTube.

No guarantee Norwich would listen to our approach anyway. They are probably more livid than ever with Lambert now given what has happened to them over the 2 years.

Thats fair comment, I was one over the moon, when we signed Martin O'Neill, but events changed my mind,....events unfold, performances are there for all to see as well as results and a picture starts to develop. The six million dollar question is how long do you run with it before a decision is made and action is taken....some clubs act too quickly, some clubs drag their feet.....Man U obviously don't hang around rightfully or wrongfully. We are in Limbo no doubt, with the ownership, but my point is if Lerner had no intention of selling Lambert would still be there, based on the criteria of complyling with the austerity programme ,not necessarily with the business of team development. Some of us are lauding a manager for dubious reasons. Have we got a manager who is capable of developing the football side of the club or have we got a manager that can cut wage bills and keep us up by our fingernails. ......its your call You could argue for the two seasons he's had Lambert has done everything asked of him. I don't know what top brass at the club have said to him privately over the 2 year period. I've been a staunch defender of Lambert, particularly when it started to click for him in the last 10 games or so of his first season, but I'm certainly not lauding the dismal home performances and the dire 'keep it tight and hope for breaks' football we've had this season. Villa fans have had enough not necessarily only because of Lambert, but because this situation just isn't good enough for a club of our stature, and any realistic fan knows that austerity and relying wholly on a youthful/lower league set-up will not ultimately work at this level. This view is quite right of course, which is why I concur we need change everywhere within the club staff. You could name quite a Premier League few managers who've done well this season: Pulis, Hughes, Bruce, Poyet, Allardyce... But I wouldn't be clamouring for any of them should Lambert be booted, possibly with the exception of Poyet. This is because this league is constantly tough and unpredictable and as well as it's gone for them this season they could just as easily go downhill next. My view is we need a manager who could use us a stepping stone to further his own career, not long-term or loyal I know but at least we will have made progress on the pitch and maybe had some excitement to cheer if that happened. Possibly Laudrup or Yakin would be good shouts?

What we have to deal with is the here and now. Lambert isn't good enough. He was worth a gamble on 2 years ago but it isn't working and IMO it is best for him to go. Agreed.

He would get better offers elsewhere. Villa don't pay big wages. A club like Stoke or even QPR would take him.

Undoubtedly others could have done better. But after we missed out on Martinez I think Lambert was high on everyone's list. It's no good really saying in hindsight Lerner made the wrong choice. Lambert was the one a lot of fans wanted.