Now that we’ve all but ensured our survival in the Premier league, I’ve got to thinking about what the future holds for us.
First off, as it’s the biggest story surrounding the club at the moment, has to be the rumoured takeover.
Is it going to actually happen?
I don’t have a clue and neither does anyone else, regardless of what comes out in the media.
There has been a lot of speculation though which has been fuelled by Randy Lerner’s somewhat puzzling statement that he’d address the issue when the season has ended.
My thoughts on that are that if he isn’t going to sell, he’d have come straight out and said so.
The fact that he didn’t surely means that there’s at least going to be an investor coming in, although I don’t see that as likely myself. It just doesn’t strike me as the way Lerner works.
So, with a takeover seeming most likely, you would hope that would mean a decent amount of investment.
Which leads us to the manager.
As an outsider looking in at the Villa with a view to buy the club, would you really want Paul Lambert to remain in charge?
I don’t think so. While you might want him from a financial point of view, what sort of message would retaining him send to the fans?
To my mind, it would send a message that says things stay pretty much as they are and that would surely be unacceptable.
While I’d maybe concede that the manager has done a decent job of working on a shoestring, I could also counter that he’s spent a lot of money on players who hadn’t a hope in hell’s chance of taking us to the level we require. Not yet, at least.
In Lambert’s defence, he has made a couple of decent signings in the likes of Benteke and Okore, but I think that most of us would say that his signings on the whole have been pretty poor.
Then again, I could say “well, what do you expect when you’re signing dirt cheap players on relatively dirt cheap wages?”.
I could debate with myself all day on this, but what sums it up for me comes down purely to the football itself.
And for the vast majority, it’s just been shocking. Never in all my years of supporting the Villa have I felt so bored watching us. And that surely can’t be right.
I can partly understand him taking a pragmatic approach, but I’m sorry, this is Aston Villa we’re talking about. While we don’t have a god given right to anything whatsoever, we’re at least entitled to watch an entertaining game. I don’t see Lambert bringing that to us.
He has to go, simply for that reason.
I’m going to add a poll asking the question here, as because even though this is known as a somewhat negative site, I’m wondering how many would be in favour of him staying. Not many, I suspect, but we’ll no doubt see.
So, on the assumption that the manager leaves, who will come in to replace him?
I don’t have a clue here, same as most of us and the subject has been done to death.
But surely with a new owner coming in, he’d want to create a good impression wouldn’t he?
Which would have to mean a decent manager. By that I mean someone who has achieved at a higher level than Paul Lambert. And no doubt someone who would want a sizeable pot of money for new players.
Which leads us nicely on to the current squad.
Who would we keep?
Off the top of my head, I’d be looking to keep Guzan, Benteke, Delph, Wiemann, Bacuna, Vlaar, Albrighton and possibly Gabby. I might have missed one or two others, but the point is that I don’t really feel I’ve seen much in the rest of the squad that can take us to a higher level.
I might be a bit unfair in saying that, as I’ve just excluded many of our “up and coming” youngsters.
But I have the attitude that I want players that can achieve immediately, not sometime in the future.
We’ve tried the young and hungry approach and it simply hasn’t worked. And anyway, I’m totally fed up with the “jam tomorrow” attitude.
While we supposedly have a very good academy when it comes to players going on to play for other clubs, albeit at a lower level, we’ve never really produced any top notch players have we? You can cite the odd example, like Cahill, but the likes of him are few and far between.
No, the academy is unfortunately not the answer if we’re to actually achieve anything substantial, anytime soon.
Which leads us to expectations and mine are not really very high.
I want us to be challenging for a top 6 place and I don’t believe that’s unreasonable in the slightest. While the top 4 would be nice, I think that’s probably unrealistic, I’m afraid.
We can but hope, I guess.
I couldn’t end without saying something about the CEO.
Paul Faulkner also has to go too. While he might be good from a financial perspective, it’s apparent that he isn’t the footballing man that we need to run the football side of things.
So should we get a director of football to replace him?
I’m not sure, but we definitely need someone who knows about the game amongst the new hierarchy.
So, pretty much a clearout is on the cards then, in my opinion.
Which could lead to some very interesting times.
Here’s hoping that whatever happens, we can move forward with some signs of ambition and renewed belief for next season.
UP THE VILLA!
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Much earlier in this string was an idea we should give the youngsters and fringe players a go now we are safe. OK against Spurs, but we owe it to our standing as one of the most sporting teams in England, to field the best available side against Citeh and go for it. And keep going for it like Palace!
Hopefully Lerner will sell up and Lambert will be replaced, a 3-1 win at home isn’t enough by any stretch, neither have what it takes to take us forward.
Agree with OLL, everyone is writing us off. Let’s set the shackles free and put the willies up city. Derail their title bid and make the last day more exciting for the neutrals. It may just put a glimmer of shine on a thoroughly shit season. Don’t get me wrong I’m not fussed who wins the title, just fed up with the portrayal of villa being toothless and west ham being the trickier game.
Who knows, I personally don’t care either way. I’ll support whatever clowns are in next season.
Whatever happens, happens – VTID.
no match previews 🙁 big game tomorrow, we can actually be party poopers ~ seems like this topics dead until lerners announcement but 2b fair i just read all, for once was a real debate with good points
16~1 villa to beat man city that is massive, everybody thinks city will win this pool fans city fans but this adds more pressure, if we could only park a bus like chelsea lmao still 16~1 in a two horse race i might have a sniff at that
i really think we will get at least a point tomor. aguero is out as well, they will be very nervy and would be happy with a point. im going for 2.2
its 8~1 the draw, 25~1 2 all draw we could make a killing on this oohah
Math it’s that time of the season results go against the grain,clearly the pressures on city no aguero you never know mate lets hope so.
Sox it’s NATH.
4 or 5 nil City Im afraid, no chance of getting anything IMO.
No chance if we lose it will be 2.1 2.0 we won’t get hammered.
I really hope that Villa de-rail the City title push. Fed up of being written off, most pundits believing West Ham will be the trickier game. There’s been no mention of our record against the top 4. Yes we are awful, but we can turn it on occasionally, let’s hope there’s one more sting in the tail.
Seems they find Carroll a much bigger danger man than Bowery.
West ham will park the bus and do them at a set piece
Yeah I just can’t see that either. City have the ability to unlock any bus, and usually do. They’ll beat both of us.
On paper of course they should. But there are so many twists this season. I certainly wouldn’t put my mortgage on it that’s for sure. For some reason I think city are 1/16 for some bookies to win league.
Mixed feeling for me want us to win but hate the thought of pool lifting title. if we beat them it will be a formality for them on Sunday
Come on Villa, knock them off their perch!
Some of the refereeing decisions that have gone Citeh’s way at home this season have been an outrage, if we get a similar show then the 4 or 5 nil is all too likely. But if we get a straight ref and play with no fear, score first or equalize, I could see City blowing it, but they won’t blow it from 3-0. Even Bowery played well on Saturday so anything could happen but I think 8/1 against the draw is fair.
Bowery’s starting. Hopefully as a bloody striker, next to Weimann. They look like a good duo when playing together. Hope Grealish gets a chance somewhere in there. But City’s only lost once to us in our last 12 games, beating us the other 11 (I believe is the stat I read), we’ve played the most long balls per game than any other EPL team and City’s lost 3 times at home in 3 seasons. Even with a fair ref, they’re too good and will beat us.
Are sure about stats. We beat them 4.2 at home, 1.0 at home bents debut and this season. Plus once at their ground in cup. Really can’t see is losing tomorrow Andrew will prob be a 2.2 draw. No aguero and Bowery has surprise element
Not sure about stats, just what I read.
I can see us losing, Bowery hasn’t scored since signing for us. City’s midfield/defense are far better than Hull’s and unless Weimann is again on his game, we’re not getting a goal. They don’t need Aguero to beat us. While Dzeko’s arguably the most wasteful striker in the EPL for sitters, other than Benteke, he’ll have a load of chances.
Yep, stat was a bit off.
We’ve won 2, drew 1, lost 7 in the last 10 league games.
Might’ve been at the Etihad. As they’ve won 12 of the last 14 against us in the league.
Fair enough Andrew. I remember in the 80s we were guaranteed a win at Maine rd how times have changed
Hmmm not sure Andrew everyone expected us to lose at home to them and we won. Admittedly we were lucky but even so. We are better away and their defence gives you a chance
I’m surprised they do so well with Demichelis in the defence. Surely we can trouble them at the back with our pace. Even Kompany is suspect at the moment. Keep them quiet in the first 20/30 mins then exploit the space behind as the game gets stretched.
My point exactly. I still can’t see them winning league as I think they will lose either to us or west ham. Demichellus is super slow we need to get AlBrighton on a one in one with him
You do realize despite these claims of Demichellis being slow, they still rarely lose with him in the team, right? Neither us or West Ham are anything special despite this and they’ll easily score a couple against both teams.
True but they make mistakes so it gives us a chance. Like they did at vp. Also city get very complacent when they are ahead like they did at vp. Look at Everton game cruising at 3.1 then hanging in for dear life. Yes the likelihood us they will win but won’t be walkover we all think
Ps Sunderland where a whisker away from beating them 2 weeks ago and Wigan beat them.
We 1. have to get the ball and 2. get past their midfield before we even get to Demichellis.
Lol true but this was exactly the same at vp. It suits our game to concede possession and hit them on counter. They don’t have the best defence and they have a mistake in them. Woukdnt surprise me if we banged a couple in
Probably will, but they have no trouble scoring 4-5-6-7 at home, they’ve done it on a fair few occasions this season. Even Cardiff got 2 pass them only to concede 4.
True but no aguero that makes a huge difference. Not convinced torre and silva ate that fit either
Demichellis has been surprisingly good for the last monthish, after they went out of the CL. Kinda scary but he’s learning what he lacks and how to play a different way, much like Mertesacker learned.
True but he is slow and has a mistake in him so has kompany. Both can be easily rattled. Carroll will have a hey day against them on sunday
If they get the ball. If West Ham get 3-4 shots, I’ll be surprised.
It’s set pieces with west ham carrol will cause them problems from corners etc. Also Sam will park the bus and he did it well v chelsea fir a 0.0. I think they will win one if the 2 games and draw one. Can’t see them winning both
They’ll win both with ease.
It would be nice to do one over the financial elite,personally I’d like to see the so called bin dippers win the prem as I have a certain distaste for the mancs. UTV
I hate Liverpool imagine the media wank fest over Gerrard winning the league it would be unbearable. I still got a horrid feeling they will win it. Newcastle at home is a walkover so may pull bk gd
Agree about Bowery, start him at least he has the surprise element also get Grealish on and surprise them and the world watching how good he is. The lad is class and would have no fear getting the ball and running with it.
If we suffer two drubbings i think it will seal Lamberts fate if it hasn’t already.
Therefore i think he will try not to lose not to win.
So same team as Saturday with Bowery in for sicknote
Agree we will park the bus. Can’t see us getting hammered tonight esp without aguero. If we lose it will be a 2.0 or 2.1
…is it down to the lake, I fear…