stoke city 2-1 aston villa all goals and… by RapidGoals
I didn’t get to see today’s game, as I had to work, so I’ve been nosing around the various Villa blogs (including this one of course), to try and get a feel of what the fans thought.
It doesn’t make for very pleasant reading, with what seems like a large majority calling for Lerner, Lambert, the background staff and even the tea lady to be sacked.
Ok, I’m joking about the tea lady, but you get the point, I’m sure.
Which is something I find quite strange, as I’ve made the point before, but I just don’t get the same impression when I’m actually watching a game in the Holte end.
The hardcore are still very strongly supportive.
So what’s going on?
It seems there’s a very strong groundswell of blog readers, who have come to the conclusion over various lengths of time that Lambert just isn’t up to the job.
The reasons are varied, but range from poor tactics, poor substitutions, poor signings and recently, suggestions of poor motivation and man-management with high profile players.
Steven Ireland’s transformation as soon as he left springs to mind, here.
While there may well be mitigating circumstances, I tend to think that when a manager is accused of being poor in all areas, there may just be something in the accusations.
But that’s just my opinion.
So, it appears the fans on the terraces are reasonably happy.
Well, probably not happy, but still willing to give Lambert a chance. Which is fair enough.
But how long will it be before things change?
Will the fans on the terraces accept defeat against Palace? Against Swansea?
Both of these are at home, remember.
Here’s the next few fixtures in the next month;
Premier League
Aston Villa V Crystal Palace
Thu 26 Dec 15:00
Premier League
Aston Villa V Swansea
Sat 28 Dec 15:00
January 2014
Premier League
Sunderland V Aston Villa
Wed 1 Jan 15:00
FA Cup – Third Round
Aston Villa V Sheff Utd
Sat 4 Jan 15:00
Premier League
Aston Villa V Arsenal
Mon 13 Jan 20:00
Premier League
Liverpool V Aston Villa
Sat 18 Jan 17:30
How many points from that lot?
I genuinely couldn’t venture the slightest guess, as we’re capable of losing to anyone, but the optimist in me sees at least 6 out of 15.
Would that be enough to keep the stalwarts off Lambert’s back?
I’m personally not convinced it would.
Of course we could go on a run and rack up a few points, but does anyone really think that’s likely, given the performances of late, coupled with the notion that Lambert’s luck may have run out?
Our best bets for points come in the first three games and only the most optimistic would bet on us getting a result against Arsenal or Pool.
So for argument’s sake, what happens if we only gain a point or two in those first three games?
While most of us already believe we’ll spend next to nothing in the window, what would Lerner do after a poor run?
Help the manager out with some decent money, albeit probably for loan signings?
Or pull the plug entirely?
It could get interesting.
I saw a statistic today, that I can’t confirm, but it said under Lambert, we’ve won 15 games in 55.
Is that really good enough?
long story short, this article is getting a bit long.
I agree that we are playing rubbish right now. Its not pretty and the results aren’t good either. It would be one thing to jam a few results out while playing badly but against Stoke the last day we were toothless absolutely toothless.
I think i differ from most here in thinking that a change of manager will not make things any different. we might have the new manager impetus or we might not. we might even have the same old problems arise after the honeymoon period wears of.
irelevant to me. If we want to aim for top 6 with a new manager – we need 500m over 2/3 seasons. and still no gauarantee.
Considering thats the least likely option then lets get on with it. This isn’t Lamberts default style of football its not how we played last year or even at the start of this one.
So lets just get behind the team and try and push on.
“So lets just get behind the team and try and push on”
We’ve all been doing that for 18 months now and we are going backwards.
Lambert s brought in lame ducks and shipped out or ostracised any experience, quality or any player paid over two bob and it’s simply not working and the stats back that up (least goals at home in all 4 divisions, most long balls, least possession etc. etc.)
New manager and £550m gives no guarantees agreed but the way we are going only one thing is, we will go down!
Ask any Coventry, Birmingham or Wolves fan, if you keep flirting with relegation season upon season you eventually get dragged down.
So Benteke to Atletico for 25m is what’s going around. Would anyone take that? I’d be happy to see him leave the EPL when we do sell him, and Atletico are a fantastic club to watch play, but is 25m really the asking price or is it a bit cheaper because of the team he’s leaving too, compared to say… Spurs?
I’d definitely take that, if we were going to do what Atletico are doing in trying to replace a top striker with another one (if the story’s even true).
Trouble is, we’d probably get £25 mill, Randy would pocket £10 mill and Lambert would buy another load of absolute shit, or sorry, “up and coming” players.
I just don’t trust Lambert to buy any quality whatsoever, at least not with our truly pathetic wage structure.
Wouldn’t trust Lambert buying players on 50-60k+ either, which is somewhat why I’m glad Lerner doesn’t, but then it does show a large distrust in his manager too. Giving him 15m to replace a striker is more than enough though. I do think Lerner would give all the money to Lambert, as Villa have spent a lot under Lambert still, as it’ll mean Lerner doesn’t have to put up more than 25m and we can easily get a replacement, plus a couple more players.
Ireland is a total waste of an undoubted talent. He will have a couple of good games at Stoke same as he did for us. For all Lambert’s faults getting shot of Ireland isn’t one.
I know we all want lots of spending but let’s not forget bent, Ireland, fonz, given, are still very much villa owned and we still pay their wages probably at least 70% of it then we still have Hutton. So until they are officially off the wage bill I don’t think we will see bigger players on bigger wages. So realistically we can write off January spending. Also can’t stand Ireland he is a waste of space and Stoke will realise that once he signs for them at the end of the season.