Morning All.
I have calmed down a lot since the result last week, but the fear and knowledge that our team is lacking has continued to haunt me all week. I’m going to be ruthlessly honest and say that I see this game as a do or don’t for the club. If we win, we will bounce back and the team could gain some acceleration as we are only 3 points away from 7th! But if we lose, I think that may be the first of many nails in the coffin which will ultimately secure our relegation. I have to be this blunt because the previous performances have shown nothing other than lack lusting and in the case of Everton, not even appearing. However, it has been pointed out numerous times from multiple people on this site and everywhere else – fans are fickle, and like the majority of fans, I would glad jump on the hype wagon if we pulled a couple of results off in a row. The only difference is that I will be well aware that this team needs a serious make over, and not a 60 minute one.
Right, the preview.
| STANDING | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| 15 | AVFC | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | -8 | 10 |
| 20 | QPR | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -20 | 4 |
If there is a team that is doing worse than Villa’s current form, then it is QPR. They have less points, a worse goal difference but have scored 2 more goals during their struggle. They are also currently in the middle of an injury crisis with 8 injuries! The following players are set to have late fitness checkups today (injury updates found here)
N Kranjcar
R Ferdinand
S Ranieri
N Onuoha
I personally want QPR to suffer as much as they can for this game because we need the result, but that isn’t how these little fixtures turn out really. We have a set habit of being the turn around team for others and we really need to break this habit. I do not want us to be the game that saves Rednaps career at QPR.
ATTACK
This is the fixture we go full out attack in because the goals are there to be taken. They have the worst goal difference in the league by a long shout and we need to capitalise on this sinking ship. Lambert needs to combine what he did last season with what he is doing this season and find the perfect balance between defending and attacking because it can’t be one or the other with us and now that we are finally getting somewhere with our defence, it is time to let the forwards do what we are paying the £1000’s a week to do. Saying that, I won’t be completely impressed if it just the strikers scoring because I want to see more from our midfield, they need to contribute and because that contribution isn’t showing up through assisting, they need to start taking it up on themselves and individually step up. This is a team game, and each member needs to give it there all.
VERDICT
My head and heart says we will win, but both tell me that it won’t be an easy win but a classic Villa 2 nil up and then look rocky for the entire game. QPR will do everything within there power to beat us because they need the win even more, especially for the sakes of their manager and based on their previous game I truly believe they have got it in them to put up the sort of winning fight they need. We need to squash this from the go and be a solid unit. Take note from the games we have lost. Pass the ball into space and if the space isn’t there, you create it and let the players know they need to do more.
PERSONAL OPINION
I hope this is the game that sees Richardson dropped from the starting line up.
GUZAN
Hutton, Vlaar, Clarke (Unless Okore is ready?), Cissoko
Cleverly, Westwood, Grealish
Wiemann Benteke
I would also be tempted to give Joe Cole a starting role instead of Westwood as well as I have a little suspicion that he could be a spectacular, even if only for one season.
I will be unable to watch this game as I am on the lates at work (very angry at the scheduling) so it is down to you guys to fill me in and write in the reviews!
As always, we want your opinions as well. Write an article into us and share your perspective on the matter. Maybe even do a review of the game, the more opinions the better!
R5L recognising that Lamberts tactics are defensive and plain dull…
If we don’t want to push for change consider these stats in all comps…
In the last 12 months – played 39, goals 35.
Calendar year – played 29 goals 26
From start of feb as January was positively overwhelming with 9 goals we have scored 15 goals in 24 Games.
There’s losing and there’s taking the piss. Its disgusting.
Oh dear just how shit was that? And as some have already pointed out yet another record broken (for all the wrong reasons) by Lambert, If QPR can do that to us what will the Spuds do on Sunday??? Worrying times.
The second half was worse than the first. Relegation form – send for Pulis. An awful pass by Sanchez led to their second, but when the ball was returned to the centre both Villa full backs are nearer the goal line than both centre halves, thus playing the attacker on side.
Guzan again at fault for the second. Austin can only put the ball inside Guzan’s left post – a cross shot or even ball to the centre will hit Vlaar who is on Austin’s shoulder. Ffs a premiership keeper should be able to read that, cover the left side of his goal and save the shot. Guzan waits in the middle of goal until the ball is hit.
Just to round it off Lambert brings on Bent who did nothing and Cole who got in the way of a Benteke chance. Lowton was awful, Gabby anonymous. Apart from that though – the rest worked hard, but you need 11 rowing in the same direction.
I posted an article last season saying just that,it might not be pretty but he would at least make VP a fortress and if you are going to do it on a budget I’m afraid to say he’s your man.
Pullis is a safe pair of hands but that’s about it. We will only finish where we have the few seasons under lamberk but at least we will stay up. Just the type of cheap manager lerner will get in
Mate he’s gotta be better than this clown.
The first game this season iv been pissed off. Never expected anything from previous 5 but this one I thought at least a goal…… Gabby n Weimann are terrible, Benteke clearly not fit, Westwood can only play sideways, Lowton still crap, Cissokho crap again, Clarke always shite. And how bad are we going to be when Vlaar and Delphs leave in Jan!!!!!!
There is not 3 teams worse than us in the league this season. I really really want us to keep loosing now. It’s our only hope of getting rid of Lambert. The last few years this would have been one of those games where we picked up points to break the loosing streak and take the pressure off Lambert. LAMBERT OUT NOW !
Sorry lads that’s it I’m done can’t be doing with this negative shit football team and club it’s over there’s no point putting myself though that anymore the real villa gone good luck to the rest of you but I’m done
Don’t blame you
I feel a bit of a tw4t, as I was sucked into the hype of the first few games thinking we may be top 10…… Well that little bit of naivety has long gone and back to normality…… 5 losses without scoring a goal another cracking record Mr Lambert…..
Played the worst defence in the premiership and made them look like Bayern Munich !
RELEGATION SCRAP YET AGAIN
I said last season and this we have a few decent results that paper over the cracks. I’m accused of being negative fair enough but I could see this happening ages ago. Lamberk and lerner are clueless and lerner deserves relegation though the fans don’t. Even in the unlikely event he was sacked the chances are we would end up with keane who is just as bad imo.
agreed oohah, even if they lobbed Lambert (which they won’t) they would replace him with the cheapest option which is Keane……
Keanes the obvious choice but he’s done fuck all for us so far other than flog his stupid book. Useless manager to. Maybe pullis is realistic. Will do a job which is the best we can hope for now
Lambert out now . Clueless . Moyes , Pullis would walk to villa park the managers job . Players r useless , inept , talentless and don’t give a f . Lambert out Lambert out Lambert out Lambert out .
Seriously lambert is a poor poor manager I mean at 1-0 down we had some possession just like we had most the game but no penetration! It was a game crying out for nzogbia or grealish or cole earlier but bent ffs we couldn’t supply anything for benteke how were we gonna do it for bent who needs it on a plate? The man has lost the plot and lost the fans for sure. We need major investment in Jan or we are gone.
One true point Harry said this week was about contract payouts when yr sacked. You don’t get four years salary if that’s what you’ve got left on yr contract…maybe negotiated at six months or so. Please Lambert – piss off now.
Sack Lambert M’lord, sack Lambert!