jackbauer24

Or alternatively he is badly managing the team and he has limited ability to resolve the mess that he has partly created. I think he's done what he needs to so far, which is to keep us up. I think that's all that has been asked of him and has been a deciding factor on budget and player signings. Lerner gave him an extended contract based on this rather than four games in all likelihood. He's been given the transfer and wage limits to survive and nothing more and he's done this. So whilst I hate where we are, I think Lambert has done what's been required. It all comes down to where you believe our ceiling is at the moment, for me we could not get higher than 12th with any manager with our transfer and wage limitations. So whilst there is room for some improvement, which early season suggested was possible, I don't think he's done an awful job. I firmly believe a lot of other managers would have seen us relegated whilst only a few may have made us reach 12th. Lambert is the safe, sensible, stable and proven bet to keep us up until we are sold are can start competing again.

If we are to judge Lambert on purely the results and ignore all outside influences, mitigating circumstances and the modern game then there is little to support him. We are having awful season after awful season. HOWEVER, then surely the same should apply to Lerner. Ellis was a better chairman than him; it's simple, we won two cups under his stewardship and were frequently in Europe. We are not allowed to look at the environment surrounding their tenure - simply what results we have while they are in charge. And this, for me, is why saying Lambert is awful is too simplistic. I hate as much as anyone what is happening to our club but I don't feel changing the manager will change our fortunes. I think he's doing a good job based on what he has to work with, which is unfortunately bad players. He's made mistakes but to judge him on all the awful records we have broken is too easy - he's just head of a badly managed company with a limited chance of being able to fix it. But I know this will fall largely on deaf ears because we're all hurting too much at the results. I just think we're looking in the wrong place for the fault.

Ok, I'll put it this way; We all hate Lambert - worst records ever We all hate McLeish - worst records ever We all hate MON - spent badly and abandoned the club We all hate every manager we've ever had unless they have brought us some silverwear. With this in mind, which manager should we hate next because no-one is going to get us anywhere near silverware/ Europe / respectability. So change the manager, I'm not that fussed if he stays or goes, but expect to all back here in another 18months to two years saying the same old crap; he's had time, we're not progressing, all our players are crap. I don't think changing the manager will alter that future. Changing Lerner and/or the way modern football is run is the only way we will now escape this fate. This isn't even just Lerner's time. Please tell me the last manager we had who was liked by the majority? Little?! Different world now, and changing a manager who has not relegated us, has bought what we seem to all agree is our best first XI in years and has just signed a new contract is counterproductive to me. I'd rather spend money on more poor quality players to at least help fight relegation than pay off another manager who couldn't make a cake out of horsesh*t.

90% of those records would have been 'achieved' whatever manager we'd had. They would have broken some other ones instead of the remaining 10%. Alonso is not a cr*p driver because his Ferrari has been useless for last few years, he's made some mistakes and has some say over car setup and performance but he is limited by the cr*p car. Lerner has Villa the cr*p car.

IF Lambert were to leave, and that's a big if, then surely we all know who will take over in the short term. Who is cheap, available and would love the chance to take on the managers hot seat again? He is also currently working with our players! Yes, Keane will definitely get the job, if only in the short term. No extra costs, let Given take on coaching again and the easy option in a time of uncertainty that is noncommittal. If Lambert goes it is Keane in charge, I'm convinced this is our options.

What always surprises me is the black and white nature of supporters views. Whilst I'm in the 'he deserves longer yet' camp I also see the grey areas where he's messed up substitutions or bought bad players etc. But a large majority of the Lambert Out group see one, admittedly important, statistic and ,eat him with it. NO-ONE is happy with the last few years, they have been awful. But neither McLeish, Houllier or Lambert have had sustained success in their attempts to create momentum/ progress with ever diminishing resources. The change was not losing MON but losing cash! Just because he's had to deal with scraps doesn't mean it's all his fault. I feel like this is a recurring argument but without meaning to sound condescending, some people are never going to get that as they get lost in the emotion of being hurt by this horrible time to be a Villa fan. He has made mistakes, all managers do but how can even the most bitter Lambert Out campaigners not even recognise there are massive mitigating circumstances. I think some managers MIGHT have got us higher up the table and some managers MIGHT have got us relegated. Look at the desire for OGS... However there isnt a single manager out there (pick anybody from any team in the world) who could get Villa in to the top 6 in the current climate we find ourselves in. We buy cheap youngsters as gambles, we buy free veterans to stabilise. We buy NO proven quality. Cleverly is closest we have come to a 'name' in Lambert's reign and people aren't exactly ecstatic. Changing the manager will do basically nothing and the risk of it all imploding is as great as the chances of a small improvement in form. Personally I'm not willing to gamble a possible 10th place finish with the flip side of us being relegated. Lambert has, just, kept us up before so has track record and this year fully fit our side is better than it ever has been under him. It's horrible, I hate what is happening to my club, it's painful and sole destroying. I'm also a Ferrari fan but realise that Alonso isn't at fault for a cr*p season. Much like a car, Villa is being run on crappy wheels, poor engine and pathetic fuel. It's not all the drivers fault even if he can control some of the settings...

I don't think anyone is saying it's been a nice journey! But this season Lambert has been allowed to play high earners and has bought some experience. Hutton has played well. Our midfield, whilst not great, is far better than last year and the defensive signings of Senderos and Cissoko have been good improvements. Our record against teams outside the top 6 is W2 D1 L1. We've been playing slightly better too. It's not great, no-one is saying that but there is improvement and enough mitigating circumstances and CURRENT evidence to suggest, at worst, Lambert deserves more time.

Vlaar, Benteke, Delph - all starters/ our most important players who have missed key matches. A spine if you will.... There have been other players who have had injuries too (Kozak would have taken Benteke's place for example). Hutton has been playing brilliantly and is injured now. Senderos was forming a good defence, and is injured now. We then faced all the top 6 from last year in our last seven games. We beat Liverpool but lost to QPR. We were arguably robbed against Spurs. Unfortunately we also play two very in form teams in West Ham (5th) and Southampton (2nd) without Benteke or Delph. The above is enough mitigating circumstances for me. No the games are awful, yes the talent we have is barely talent but I think largely that's down to investment. I think Lambert has made mistakes and will continue to do so but changing him will result in nothing more than perhaps the tiniest temporary jumps in performance that will dissipate quickly and result more players being chopped and changed for the worse. Bring in the likes of Pulis and we'll be setting our stall out for the next decade to be mediocre rather than trying to ride out this very very challenging time to possibly improve. And that's the key word - I think we are slowly improving. Keane seems to have had a positive impact, we had performed well at the start of the season and have just had some very bad luck with fixture lists and injuries. At the very worst he deserves til January when we will have faced teams we are more likely to be competing with. Let's be honest - between the start of the season and the end of 2014 we would hope to seriously compete with: Stoke - Beat them Newcastle - Drew Hull - Beat them QPR - Lost West Ham Southampton Burnley Crystal Palace Leicester West Brom Swansea Sunderland So for me he's got 7 points from 4 games so far. There are 8 to go, and if he kept up the ratio of two wins and a draw from every four matches I'd be ok with that for now! We'd nearly all realistically write-off games against last years top 6 and yet we're up three points (Liverpool) on that too. If he kept that ratio up without taking ANY points of last seasons top 6 we'd be in the mid/ late 40's come May. Nope, the more I write the more I believe Lambert, despite being far from perfect, has had some bad luck as well as the well talked about lack of finances etc and deserves more time. We are/ were heading in the right direction and our fit, starting eleven is not bad all things considered.

I've been asked to find a genuine shop/ website for Aston Villa signed memorabilia but, other than Villa OS, I'm not sure where to look - not something that greatly interests me (unless it was gained in person). Does anyone have any ideas? I found one site; http://www.midlandsmemorabilia.com/aston_villa_memorabilia.html but not sure how genuine/ trustworthy it is. Any help would be appreciated.

I think I'd sum my feelings up on this matter by saying 'I don't care'. Stay/Go, whatever. There'll be no mighty change in our form if we get a great manager or a crap one. The players aren't good enough, the investment isn't high enough, football in Britain is broken and I'm nearly at the point of accepting this is Aston Villa now - partially our own (Lerner's) fault and partially because of the modern game/ financial 'fairplay/ status quo maintainer'. We're going to be a mediocre club who may occasionally have an average season and then have all our better players sold (Vlaar/ Delph signed yet?!) or have an awful one and be relegated. I just couldnt care less if Lambert stays or goes now as i think any change in fortunes will be both miniscule and short-lived.

I had one a little over three years ago, was £50. I'm sure they still do them but in 'phases', so phone the club and ask and they'll probably be able to tell you when the next load are being sold.

I just don't like loans. Unless I'm missing something here, we aren't guaranteed to buy him even if he sets the world on fire. He plays pathetically and we return to sender in January/ season end (no great loss) He plays ok but turns down permanent move and stays til January/ season end (minimal impact) He plays ok but we don't want him permanently (minimal impact - other than fans complaining we can't buy anyone) He plays well, the likes of Everton/ higher placed clubs return and take him cheaply as only 6 months max left on contract and he snaps their hands off as he doesn't really want to be here. (we did all the risk taking for other teams and the disillusioned player who got bumped for him has to try and get back in the swing of things) I can't see any situation where this becomes permanent. If he plays well enough to interest us the he'll interest others and be off like a shot! I can't think of a single loan we've had that has worked out positively. Best case scenario we get an amazing player for 12 months but that's it.

I went over Xmas/ New Year and this was the place for Premiership football, met a few Villa fans there and right next to Empire State so easy to find.

My bad. I did admit I wasn't sure on the regs. I looked under all the forums for site rules but didn't look at the bottom of the page!

Potentially two tickets WITH travel for sale. I bought them but probably need to be saving the cash (reluctantly). However, I will only sell them with the Official Travel tickets as well, otherwise there's not that much point and I might as well just go! So Face Price for the two tickets with Travel will be £90, no offers, no splitting them etc. I'll just go if I can't get my cash back. Bought a new car, have a season ticket, do I really need to go to another game....?! Collection/ Delivery in person would be necessary now probably to ensure you got tickets in time. I've PM'd Avflife as he was first person to search but then I'll offer them in order to anyone who posts below this. If I'm not allowed to post this here please say and delete - I looked for the rules but couldn't find any and a few people had put requests in above.

A midfield trio of Delph, Cole, Richardson and Westwood feels a lot better than last years potential of Delph, Sylla, Eh Ahmadi and Tonev! Add N'Zgobia, a possibly fit Gardner and the young Grealish then it's not an awful looking midfield anymore. Strangely enough, after looking so promising for a while it's now our striking options that look weak. Benteke injured, Kozak injured, Weimann and Gabby lacking form and no more Helenius or Bowery (as bad as they were). Bent's back but not on fire and looks a little like he spent most of the summer in Greggs with Holt so I'm hoping the lack on a no.9 in the squad indicates there will be some movement here.

Completely theoretical and based on no rumours or anything but would you swap Vlaar for the return of Ashley Young? You could look at it as Vlaar leaving anyway or just on the merits of a deal/ overall value. If Vlaar is to leave (and to Utd) I think this may sweeten the deal despite Young's poor few seasons. He likes being a bigger fish in a smaller pond. But if we could convince Vlaar to sign for another few years then I'd prefer that.

Well it went on eBay, sold to an idiot who wanted me to wait til end of month so he could pick it up having not seen car in person. Very limited communication. Dead end. Put it on Gumtree. Limited responses, one guy wants it but possibly a bit of a dreamer. Not heard from since. Put it on Autotrader. Loads of advert views. One guy gets friend to testdrive it, agrees price and just wants to 'check colour' at local dealer (it's black!). Not heard from since. Oh, and Autotrader actually cost nearly £40 for two week advert, not a tenner as I thought. It's cheapest in country including private sales. Has below avg miles. Has nearly a year MOT and tax with brand new tyres and is in very good condition and is a popular make/ model. So why isn't my hand being bitten off for it? Priced around £6k. Do people spend that much privately? Bit stuck what to do. There's always we buy any car but that's such a rip off and not that desperate/ urgent. Any more ideas?

It feels like, understandable, clutching at straws. I don't for one second think that we are secretly sold - it makes no sense. If they were keeping it secret to keep prices down when buying players, the likes of Merson would know jack all. With one massive bid all the clubs would reveal we do have money to the press and furthermore, I'm not sure other teams care if you can't afford things - the price is the price for 90% of the teams, they don't give discounts for poor ones and we're not going to be a £50m a player team regardless. I think, for once, what we know is the truth. We're for sale and we're not sold. Let's be honest, us small fans are the last to know: Chairman/ Board first, Manager then players. Players tell mates across the premiership. Maybe they let slip to one genuine ITK on a board who no-one will believe (for good reason because of the other 99%), press pick it up, write a story we believe or don't depending on journalist/ paper/ player and slant! Finally we get told last. We might hear before it is official but really that's just an ever so slight edit of the grapevine: Chairman Board/ Execs Manager Players Players Mates, Coaches, Other team players, players families, pundits and very occasional ITK slip Rumour Press 'Hardcore' fans on forums etc BBC/ Sky/ Official All the other good fans who enjoy matches but aren't on Villa Talk! I think it gets stuck between the first two for ages but once it gets to players I think the gap between that and official is days not weeks.

Yeah fair point I suppose. Already spent £10 on eBay one. Probably put it on Auto trader in a bit then.

I'm selling my car and it's on eBay and Gumtree. I won't give a link cos I'm not sure that's allowed on these forums! There would be auto trader but that's another £10 or so and wondering if anyone has any advise on other places I could advertise/ sell. We buy any car offered at £4.5k P/X was offered at £5k Privately they go for about £7k but I have 40 watcher and no bids - about week left. Not in a rush at all to sell but can't buy new car til old one sold. If it takes three months it takes three months! What are people's experiences selling privately? Only ever done p/x before.

Ace! That means we'll win EVERY game this season! I am somewhere between "we have to play them all twice" and "horrid run in September" as momentum is important. If that run had been in Feb it might have had less impact but going in to Christmas sitting bottom of the table might not be good for our fragile minded little first team...

Not so much a joke as a quick wit so to speak; Was taking the piss out of the gf regarding her height, normal on-going joke as relationships go calling her a short arse basically. She replied "I'm just the small package good things come in..." To which my instant reply was "thanks, nice to know you think I'm a good thing..." One-nil... To be fair even she laughed. Bad form to laugh at your own jokes but even I gave my mind a little high five for being that quick!

Last Fifa I bought was 11. Not much of a gamer anyway but the tiny changes aren't worth £50 a year, especially since they devalue quicker than any other game as regards trade in etc. Not buying another FIFA until Villa Park is included. Ok, we're biased but come on - used in Euros, for finals, for semi-finals, ever present in Prem, considered a great ground by neutrals. Only thing thatll make me 'upgrade'.

It's been known to happen http://www.independent.co.uk/news/parachutist-breaks-legs-in-santa-stunt-1191299.html Too soon?!