MarkDrapernumber8 has submitted the following;
I’m a lost Villan tonight..completely lost!!
After the shellshock of yet another cup exit to yet another lower league opponent, this one is even more painful than the last as there was no luck or fluke about it (was there against Bradford? I don’t care to remember) I’m asking myself what the hell is going on at the Villa?! Sheff Utd (from the sounds of it) thoroughly deserved their win so good luck to them and well done.
I went to the pub and had a couple (three) and got thinking, surely there still has to be some kind of plan for AVFC from Lambert (and Lerner and Faulkner if you like) but primarily Lambert. Do we really have a manager in charge – who’s job is seemingly completely intact, free from danger and unthreatened regardless of what happens – completely lost of ideas and direction? This can’t be the case, surely not.
Going back to Wednesday when we beat Sunderland. We do have a way of pulling out the results when we have to, those ‘6 pointers’. The run-in last season was similar. So it suggests Lambert does have the ‘magic’ to motivate the lads for the big games. Also in the same game, we played some lovely football, just like Lambert had us playing last season (when I was a fan of his). Nice one touch stuff in around the park. One move in particular ending in proof that Albrighton can’t finish at all, but what a great move it was, must have been around 10-15 passes before the wasted opportunity. Again this suggests that Lambert can still get us playing that type of footy. On a side note, I don’t think I’d be so annoyed with our results this season if the football was good; I’m that type of fan, like most of us I guess. Football is a strange one, if we had played brilliant football all season and been in exactly this position as we are tonight maybe (I think probably) the view on Lambert would be a whole lot different. What do you think? The fickle football fan eh….
Anyway, the plan. Lambert recently changed his stance somewhat and said we need ‘experience’. I’m not a manager and I knew this when we lost 1st game to West Ham last season and especially after our 3-0 spanking at home by Everton (all this exluding the fantastic Steven Ireland of course, what a guy). I don’t think I want a manager in charge who is either so stubborn or stupid or both that he only decides to go forward with what all of us have been saying for a long time now, 1 year down the road. It might be too late for us this season. On the flip side however, it does show that he recognizes that weakness (finally) and is looking to bolster the ranks with ‘men’ if you will to help see us through. On the whole though it’s not good enough, we’re in the Premier League and problems like these should be identified earlier and solved sooner. Lambert’s had 2 and half seasons experience in the premier league, to learn about which qualities and what type of players are needed to survive and, better, finish healthily and do well. I’ve been watching the Premier League properly for over ten years, some of us on here longer, so I consider myself to have a good idea of the qualities and types of players needed also. Listen to the fans Lambert, we’ve been in the premier league for years and know and have seen good teams, good Villa teams as well. Your team just isn’t cutting it.
Going forward, I think if we can address the experience matter this window, we’ll do okay. To be honest I don’t really see relegation as very likely. Sunderland were abysmal in all areas of their game and unless OGS really is the next SAF, Cardiff and Fulham/West Ham will probably go down before us. Probably Norwich as well. Hoolahan (I think that’s how you spell it) would be good imo, he is a playmaker and he is affordable but more importantly he is experienced and can probably lead better than….who leads again for us?
This Defour guy I really don’t know enough about but from what I’m hearing anyone of that ilk Is welcomed.
My personal suggestions are Heitinga from Everton to partner Vlaar, that could be something special in the making imo. Also Heitinga can play DM as well and is comfortable there. Also I bought him everytime I started a new master league on pro evo 4 so I have a soft spot for him. I would say Lescott but wages will probably be an issue. I think another pop at Barry on a permanent wouldn’t hurt. I would love to see Barry back personally, wages should be an exception with Barry, no animosity on my part and I’d happily drive him from Merseyside to VP. Other than that I’m a bit stuck, January inflation rates and all and your looking at high fees. As an outsider I really liked the look of Jedinek when we played Palace, looks solid and boring, exactly the type of personality which makes a world class DM (not manager though). Also Ince, Ince would be great.
As for shopping abroad I’m no expert but I’d really like to see us approach Real Madrid and have a go at bringing Zidane out of retirement and making him player/manager/director of football.
VTID