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Con, you still didn't come back with a real argument to my comment. As Woodytom said, "The teams are higher up the league because they are better players. If you tell our lads to go and pass it shorter it wont make a difference. Its not about shorter passing, its about creating space which we are awful at - hence why we tend to kick it long in hope". This is more of a factor as to why we are in our current position along with poor formations and tactics, not passing averages. Like This

I second that. We aren't exactly a very attractive proposition at the moment. Run by knob jockey's.

Totally agree with you sharky. Problem is though I also think the wing back system we adopt most of the time because of our weaknesses in midfield allows the opposition fullbacks to push on to much at times, then putting sustained pressure on the back line which in turn becomes too congested. Hence our inability to clear our lines or play the ball out from the back effectively enough allow forward momentum. The system works in a counter attacking situation but if you lose the connection between midfield and upfront as we did against albion, your ****. It's obvious we have massive midfield issues but I honestly think at the moment with the inexperience on the flanks we need to start playing higher up the pitch and attack more frequently. I would make the most out of the senior players now they are all generally fit. Revert to the 4-4-2 system, play Gabby and NZog out wide, Bent and Benteke upfront with Wiemann rotating with either. and get clark in the middle with ireland, Delp or Holman. Thoughts?

Con, Surely if we were passing the ball a further 2 metres than we should be as you put it the League table would be a reflection of the average pass length table you have provided? It provides absolutely no argument to suggest if we shortened our passing we would be a better team. If it did Wigan would be in contention for a european place and we should be mid table battling it out with spurs and everton. Makes no sense! .

I agree with everything in your post apart from I don't necessarily think albion woke up I think we just made the wrong subs. Taking zog off so soon allowed albion to push on further and we became to static and lost the threat between the midfield and up front. We looked really good going forward today that's why I find it more bewildering why we continually take players off who carry an attacking threat and draw pressure on. Bannan was a poor replacement for delph today- was herd on the bench?, if so would've been a better option to screen the back line or even holman would've been more of a physical presence. Tactics and lack of intelligent decision making are really costing us points we could be gaining as well as a shit CM. I am actually starting to wonder now though that if someone like Redknapp was charge instead of Lambert with the same players to choose from would we be better tactically and get more from the players, especially the likes of ireland, Bent etc. Just thought's, but I really believe a more tactical, man manager would get more from this team and I wonder if Lerner is thinking the same but is really looking for more fan pressure to act? Maybe that would explain the lack of support. Who knows either way it's a desperate situation and IMO albion were there for the taking today. 2 points lost.

He's been getting better since brought back into the team. Tthought he was quality today and can't understand why he was taken off so early. I think if he had stayed on we would've scored on the counter again.

Nobody can defend this lightweight clown anymore. My lad play's CM at academy level under 16's and I would put money on him bullying bannan all day. I'm truly suprised he made it through the youth system. He is shit end of!

Lambert gave the game away today with poor substitutions. Should never have brought on bannan and took Nzogbia off to early. Why do we try to defend when we can't. Should have carried on putting pressure on albion instead of conceding the lead like that. He really is a proper prat and will take us down make no mistake.

I would've taken a draw before the game yet after going 2 up and conceding the game with defensive subs putting us back under pressure Lambert has now proven beyond any doubt that he is tactically inept. What a utter turd!

Poor subs cost us. **** idiot Lambert!!!

what the **** is bannan doing on? He's contributing the best part of **** all. Even John Gregory mentioned it.

I think it's a mistake taking zog off. Allowing albion to push on more. hold on tight!!

What a **** goal!!!!

I read this earlier to and felt very angry. Not at Foster though, I think he's spot on.

Not sure if your comments were directed towards me as I asked the question about the possible reaction of fan's on tues? It's obvious if we get through people will be happy,that's a given. But how happy really? I've seen us in 3 finals at wembley yet this year would quite easily I given the choice would relinquish another final for staying up. I wasn't insinuating Villa fan's would be smalltime or should be embarrassed for celebrating and I haven't read any other comments suggesting that either or that we should give a toss what other fan's think. I was only trying to gauge the level of fan's interest to this particular semi with the uncertainty over our PL status.

Personally as much as I wanted him to succeed when he took over as with all Villa managers apart from the ginger prat. I really think that if we lose both games he has to go. You can't keep rewarding failure. I'm not even sure I want us to beat Bradford on tues I'd much rather the 3 points against albion and I don't think our players deserve a final. I am also starting to wonder whether or not Lerner, although he hasn't given Lambert massive funds, is reluctant to give him anymore due to performances and not necessarily restrictions. It's concerning that every other club around us is attempting to boost their squads with fresh faces yet VP is a wall of silence. Nothing to feel optimistic about at all. It's just a bloody shambles.

Lerner and his advisers have to take the blame in my opinion the rot started when he took over although wasn't visible until a couple of years later . I don't blame MON though because you cannot expect a man, ex footballer with the intelligence the majority have to understand the dynamics of running a football club/business. As with most managers, if you give them money to spend you probably won't ever see change. Give your missus the credit card and tell her to buy something nice. I bet she doesn't go to primark!

Just to throw this in the mix then. At what point do you say enough is enough then as far as Lambert and results go? Say we get beat on Sat and go out the cup against Bradford on Tues bearing in mind a League 2 club only 2 goals down,at home etc? would people honestly believe Lambert still had the nuts for a fight? Another thought to throw out there diverting to Tues. I've personally been the last 2 league semis at VP and on both occasions invaded the pitch at the end, memorable times. Would fan's be really up for celebrating with the threat of relegation looming. I really don't know if I could feel proud of the current clearings in the woods wearing the famous claret and blue if we won and reached the final. To do a sha in my mind would be crap. I would much rather keep our top level status. Any thought's though?

Lambert has to go now! Regardless of whether he is a decent manager or has restraints on spending by the board. He has had more money to spend than many managers this season and IMO hasn't used the money wisely or assessed early enough the areas most in need of strengthening. And rather than organise a system that suits the players he has done completely the opposite which has led to shitty disjointed performances through lack of organisation and understanding. As I have also mentioned before good managers adapt their strategies and get the best out of even average players, yet I don't see any of the tactics working or players performing above themselves. After watching us today what concerned me most was that it took 80 mins before we actually started to play like we wanted something from the game. If we had of started with the same intentions as we finished I don't think no one would be slaughtering the manager yet here we are again. I like like Lambert however I see certain similarities with him and Alex Mcleish in the same boring excuses week after week, continual sorry for yourself look on the touchline and lack of plan B. On top of that I also believe that NO manager however well liked or highly regarded should be allowed to turn ASTON VILLA into a poxy championship club and from what we are all witnessing this is now a becoming reality. I care as passionately as anyone about Villa and will not become part of the 'follow the leader whatever brigade'. It's absolutely embarrassing fan's thinking that it's ok for us to go down because good old Lambert will get us back up and we will be in better shape. Where's the pride! Lerner needs to sell and take Faulkner with him and Lambert needs to walk because he is out of his depth at a club like Villa(at least at this point in his career). Disgrace!

Your right about all 11 could've played better nobody can argue with that however I think that although goals were conceded via the wings, passes through the middle were being intercepted to create the counters down the wings. Also it isn't the midfielders jobs to just create chances but to also protect the back four. Even more important in Villa's case.

Firstly I don't think anyone has debunked criticisms based on stats, not even you. I believe the majority of fan's have an opinion based on what they have seen and not read and I doubt very much many have even given the stats a second thought. Secondly when you try to back up your comments with stats that show Bannan has made more tackles than Xavi and clearances etc?! That mate is strange enough which ever way you look at it, even if you then say, "I'm not saying he's better than Xavi though"? What was the point of raising the point? Thirdly saying your opinions are supported by Lambert and a reporter from the Guardian is hardly worth shouting about. The central midfield and defence is where all our problems are at the moment the gaps in the middle in the last 20mins last night were a disgrace. This isn't an I hate Con rant either.

These errors occurring constantly. Any updates on the problem its becoming a nause?

Typical attitude yourself. DB was arguably the most prolific scorer in the premiership until last season. Firstly Mcleish cuts his supply or should I say doesn't replace his supply instead throwing 10m at another player(Zog) who he then decides not to play. Now Lambert comes along and says not only am I dropping our biggest player asset in Bent but then says I'm going to treat you like a clearing in the woods in the process. As I stated in another post. It is no coincidence that Bent, Zog, Ireland and a number of other players have been shit the last couple of years. It's not rocket science as to why, it's just a simple answer. The management is shit! Good managers get the very best out of even average players yet the last 2 managers haven't. Typical attitude yourself. DB was arguably the most prolific scorer in the premiership until last season. Firstly Mcleish cuts his supply or should I say doesn't replace his supply instead throwing 10m at another player(Zog) who he then decides not to play. Now Lambert comes along and says not only am I dropping our biggest player asset in Bent but then says I'm going to treat you like a clearing in the woods in the process. As I stated in another post. It is no coincidence that Bent, Zog, Ireland and a number of other players have been shit the last couple of years. It's not rocket science as to why, it's just a simple answer. The management is shit! Good managers get the very best out of even average players yet the last 2 managers haven't.

Also the Bradford average age was approximately 21 years old. So much for our Kid's eh! Also the Bradford average age was approximately 21 years old. So much for our Kid's eh!

My thoughts exactly. Although head down with the ball on one or two occasions tonight, I thought in the second half he was our biggest threat.