Well, after all my bluster about how much I’d missed football in general while I was on holiday and how much I was looking forward to the Liverpool game….. I fell asleep and the missus couldn’t wake me up, meaning I didn’t get to see it!
I’d basically been awake for over 24 hours and just needed to sleep, but I haven’t been so annoyed with myself for years.
Hence I can’t comment about any aspect of the game, as I haven’t even seen the goal, let alone any highlights.
It was a brilliant result regardless of how we played though and I actually got a prediction correct for once, when I said I thought we’d nick it.
From what I’ve read, it seems we played really well for the first 20 minutes or so and then sat back.
I expect if I’d actually seen the game I’d have been complaining about that, as it bores me to tears.
But at the end of the day the result is all that matters I suppose and that’s why I’m asking the headline question.
While I’ve often questioned Paul Lambert’s tactics and methods, the undeniable fact is that we’ve got 10 points out of 12, which has us sitting nicely in second position.
Who’d have thought it?
I certainly didn’t, for a start and I doubt many of us did either; at least not seriously. But isn’t it a great feeling for a change?
Of course things can change really quickly in football and we have some very tricky games coming up, but if we can keep this run going, so we’ll be easing any pressure we’ll have on us, which might in turn lead to us playing better football overall.
We can but hope, but whatever, we’re a quarter of the way to surviving this season after only four games which leaves me somewhat speechless.
Couple this with the fact that we’ve only conceded one goal in those four games and things are suddenly looking very rosy indeed.
Senderos, a signing I severely criticized when he arrived has seemed solid and all of a sudden we don’t look likely to leak lots of goals. I mean who’d have thought that Nathan Baker would have come out with a man of the match display?
Fair play to him by the way, after I and many others have given him plenty of stick.
Regardless of what I think of Lambert and even his appointment of Roy Keane you can’t deny the results up to now, which makes me wonder if we have actually got it right. Let’s hope so eh?
On another bright note, I’ve just read that we approached Ajax last season about Daley Blind.
He wouldn’t have come cheaply, would he?
Things really are looking up at the moment.
Glad that Hutton’s been turned around: apart from the [non-issue] of having been brought to VP by McTwat, the player has been 100% professional – at no point in the last 2 seasons did I see even a hint of him slagging-off the club, and he’s shown that he can put in as good a shift as anyone who’s played in his position over the last half-dozen years.
I’m not really bothered now by ‘who’ kept getting things so wrong at VP – although as you say, the evidence points firmly in one direction…
Of more interest is that ‘someone’ or ‘something’ has opened Lerner’s eyes to the need to invest in the playing side again – or watch the club sink into the lower leagues. Whether he ends up keeping Villa, or does find another buyer, at least there are signs that Lerner realises that no club can simply stand still in this division.
Who knows, but if the results don’t suddenly turn against us in the next couple of weeks perhaps it’ll provide some incentive for further investment.
Ardent – you beat me to it. Fully agree
Ardent, the “who” was always important to me, because I had my suspicions that all 3 at the top were in agreement, which can spell disaster for us fans.
I’m happy to be on my way to changing my mind on that one and, keeping the positive theme going, am extremely happy to be thinking the one who was going against the “football” way of thinking might actually be gone.
Lerner and fatty apparently fell out over differing ways of thinking.
I’m now tending to think it was fatty who actually held us back, (where I thought it was Lerner just being tight, with fatty just backing him and Lambert being the lapdog).
If that proves to be correct and we see any required investment being fulfilled in the winter window, I’ll be happy to say I was wrong.
In other words, I suspect the “something” might just be the fact that Lerner isn’t listening to a muppet now and is doing what he really wants.
That could be really great news for us.
Still thinking “it’s early days, don’t get carried away, it could still go tits up quickly” though.
But when you get Man U friends asking you “what the fuck’s gone on down the Villa?”, it just makes me smile.
And we haven’t had much opportunity for that lately have we?
I’m milking it for everything it’s worth.
But no gloating is allowed. Yet.
Perhaps this Fox guy is having a positive influence on Lerner
agree oohah, just don’t think Fox will take any shit….Faulkner was just here for the sausage rolls.
Many of us have said over the years that Lerner is/was pretty naive about running a club: just look at the out-of-control overspending in the first three years with MON; then the ridiculous situation of apparently taking advice from Old Red Nose and appointing McTwat; the last two/three years of effectively ‘no spending’…
Maybe he’s just realised that he was listening to the wrong people for the last eight years; maybe it really is the case that Fox actually has a ‘football brain’ and knows what his proper role in a club should be.
Whatever’s changed, I just hope it lasts for a good while!
Arsenal ready for the taking.Losing to Dortmund & will be tired ready to bend over for the big Claret n Blue chopper to do em up the ares&all pardon the pun Up Tha Villa they don’t like it up em….
Hope so though they will never play that bad v us they were awful
Could have been that Dortmund played well though? Not sure what style they play because I only get to see premier league games in the US.
Double bonus.
The shit lost 2-0 at home to Wednesday 🙂
If Benteke was fit i would really fancy us to win this weekend! He would terrorise them! As it is, i still think we have a good shot, although a 0-0 wouldnt surprise me! I hope Grealish gets a bit of a run out though, at least we know Arsenal wont just resort to chopping him down.
I don’t think Faulkner is to blame for the lack of spending. Lerner holds the purse strings, “loves” the club, and makes any decision he wants. The rumour was that Faulkner wanted Lerner to spend more and that’s why he was pushed.
Lambert was appointed on the “reduce wage bill” policy, and was happy to try the young/hungry route.
The only reason Bent/CNZ/Hutton/Given are back is that no club would pay any kind of decent sum for them. The penny has dropped and Lerner has said use them since we are paying their wages.
Clearly we are stronger defensively, and that is much of what was needed. I think it’s way too early to credit Fox with anything, though hopefully he will prove a good appointment. I think he will help develop revenue streams and will have no real input into transfers in terms of choices of players or budget level (though clearly involved in discussions it will still be up to Lerner), just on negotiations of fees and wages.
As for Lerner splashing the cash, don’t bank on it. If we are top half at the end of December I think we might see one or two decent acquisitions, but nothing spectacular.
Not complaining, just think we need a bit of a reality check here.
http://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/aston-villa/forget-falcao-aston-villa-made-the-best-signing-of-the-summer
I have consistently supported the appointment of Roy Keane as PL’s number 2 so was interested to see this article. It’s a good read.
It is a cogent argument, though whether Senderos was inspired to kick Balottelli by Roy Keane I have my doubts. Villa – judged by fouls conceded were the dirtiest team in the Prem last season. So far we have been giving away less fouls – yet we are nastier? Perhaps we have learnt gamesmanship – how to cheat without being caught.
As for Lerner. You do not need to know much about running a football club to be a good owner. You need to recognise your own limitations and hire good people to guide you. Ronnie Reagan did exactly that as President of the US. Keane and especially Fox come into the category of great people to have in their roles.
I can see Gabby running Arsenal ragged! He always has a good game against them 2-0 to the Villa – 2nd in the table, we shall not be moved! Imagine if we do win on sat. maybe draw against City and Chelsea, Everton are beatable. Then we get Tekkers back and Kozac, things would be looking sweet!
You’ll wake up soon -:)
Adam… LOL..!
I see OGS had been sacked or left Cardiff. Queue Ian !! Lol
I don’t want to! the dream is much better than reality!
🙂
Let’s not get carried away lads remember Hull a couple of seasons back?
What they have got right is the back 4 and as every manager worth his salt knows that’s were you build from and let’s not forget who it was that had Hutton wallowing in the reserve’s for two seasons.
Ok we’re ridding high so enjoy the moment but I think we’re kidding ourselves if we think its going to last for 38 games.
Lambert has extended his contract with Villa
What a joke 4 decent results and he’s the messiah Ffs. Def means that Lerner is not selling so stick with him now.
Thats disgusting.
Based on what? 4 games.
What a joke.
Thats me finished with this club.
Lamberk you’re the berk here and frankly if that’s your view then goodbye and good riddance. You may not agree with what PL has tried to do and, no argument, the football has been dire at times BUT he has kept us in the EPL and delivered on the financial aspects demanded by RL. I reckon he’s earned the extended contract and,as long as we can keep Roy Keane as his No 2 I reckon we have a very good managerial team. I suppose you were gagging for Solskjaer or perhaps even old saggy chops himself lol!!
So a manager does well v shite opposition for 4 games (except pool) and now the lamberk apologists are out in full force. Anyone who thinks that scoring 3 goals in 4 is entertaining is deluded. The football at home is still dire anti football. The only thing we’ve improved is the defence but that does not deserve a contract extension.
OohAh just because I have a different view it doesn’t make me a Lambert apologist which is, quite frankly, insulting and unacceptable as it suggests my view, as opposed to yours, is without any intellectual consideration. Disagree by all means but do not insult me with your inane comments.
I didn’t realise lamberk apologist was an offensive derogatory term. All it means is you will stick up for him whatever if he loses the next four games you will still say he’s good and we are one point better of than last year etc.
If you read my comments you will see that my view is based on a number of factors, football and business imperative over the period of him being manager and not on the last four games. I am highly unlikely to radically change my view over the next four games so how does that make me a mindless (by implication) Lamberk apologist.
Isn’t it ironic he gets an extension the same day OGS gets shafted. Agree I’m appalled 2 seasons of utter dross and because he’s dine well for four games he gets an extension. And it’s a double whammy Lerner will certainly be here the next 3-4 years at least. At best we will never be more than a mid table team occasionally getting into top 10
Bye then Lamberk – Cheerio
I am glad to see Lambert has been given a new contract. It sends out a positive statement in terms of stability.
Hopefully the team of four – Lerner, Fox, Lambert and Keane now have the experience and skill to move us on a few levels. I hope the attendance at Villa Park will pick up.
The icing on the cake would be Delph, Vlaar and Grealish all signing new contracts in the next few weeks. This would give us the base to build upon over the next coue of transfer windows. Perhaps we will only need a couple of players each window and can spend larger sums on them.
UTV
Sid, I’m convinced best two bits of business this summer Roy Keane and Tom Fox. Already since Fox came in we are sorting out the nitty gritty bits that are important in any successful business. Expect new contracts for Grealish, Delph and Vlaar pretty soon without the hysterics that was Fatty’s trade mark 🙂
Disagree it means another 4 years of watching anti football at vp. Despite the good start we’ve only scored 3 goals ffs.
Villa were getting it right. They just totally screwed it up though. Lambert hasn’t earned a new contract yet, 4 games yes, we’ve done well in, but that’s just over 10% of the season. Long way to go to prove he’s actually turned a new leaf. It does mean continued awful football, even worse than the garbage fans wanted O’Neill out for.
The question has been asked before, so who should we appoint and don’t come up with a list of managers that wouldn’t take the job if you paid them in gold bars. Some people on here need to get a dose of reality.
I’ve come up with multiple lists in the past of manager’s that would come. None of them were your Pep’s, Mourinho’s… I’ve answered that question many of time.
Also I never said get rid of him, however he has yet to be worthy of given such a long term contract based on everything we’ve seen from him.
Andrew, I respect your view but disagree with your reasoning. PL has not been given an extension based on four games but because he has delivered on the Chairman’s / Board’s strategy over the last two years despite all the odds. For that reason the Board trust him to deliver in the next three years.
Yes, and I’ve said it many times, the football has been dire and it has been terrible being a Villa fan… but football is big business (whether you like it or not is immaterial) and if you deliver as a senior manager you are retained. Ask Arsenal fans how they see Wenger and then ask the Arsenal Board the same question.
I’ve run a number of businesses from small to very large and if you deliver you keep your job……….
H60 – completely agree.
If that’s the case why wasn’t lambert offered deal last season. The reason is fans would have gone ballistic and even more would not have renewed STs. So they wait and hope he has a good spell then they announce it as fans in a more positive mood. A good time to bury bad news
Andrew what H60 is trying to say is –
whilst I respect your opinion I’ll covertly throw in I used be the head of a big corporation (yea sure you did, more likely the bacon counter at Tesco) so my view is MUCH MUCH more important than yours.
BWS – that’s not the point I was trying to make but relating delivery of an agreed strategy to my own experiences in business. As it happens I wasn’t always successful.
And it wasn’t the bacon counter ……guess again! 🙂
You must have owned a bank then if you can justify rewarding failure
And I thought it was just big banks that rewarded failure!!
Define failure
Failure in this case equals giving us the most unwanted records and humiliations in the clubs history! Lamberk should walk end of. Appalling decision
Seems to me that Billy Walkers Sperm has a bit of an inferiority complex…
Hi Langfor you sad sack mother fucker.
How about OGS
Are you for serious?
Failure – A cessation of proper functioning or performance.
If we are going to split hairs over the definition of words then by the above you’d have judge PL a failure taking the last 3 seasons into account.
Agree BWS the man is a clown and let’s face it it’s not like clubs would be queuing up for him if he went so why do we need to tie him down he’s going nowhere. Lerner is clueless
Really?
No Rilley!!
Roy keane would take it, Martinez would of if we approached it better, moyes would. Look at saints under koeman sell virtually all their players and still good. There are better manager out there that we could get trust me.
Agree Andrew
Let’s not forget how we struggled at home to Newcastle ffs
Just been told by my sources that we were on the brink of going out of business thats why Lerner tightened the purse strings. I will post more details as I get them
I assume you mean administration which would have meant a 10 point penalty and certain relegation. If that is the case then Fatty has a lot to answer for as a CEO he takes prime responsibility for the financial status of the company. It also reinforces the job PL has done in difficult circumstances. Interested to hear more if ‘ your sources’ are accurate and reliable.
MacLeish did exactly the same job as lambert I don’t remember you ever singing his praises
OGS ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Cause he’s a curved lots as a manager ain’t he? You need to move on oohah and accept Lambert isn’t going anywhere. The sooner you realise this the better your health will be.
I wasn’t on the blog then so you’d have to be psychic to know what I was thinking! As it happens I was disappointed by his appointment but was prepared to give him a go but the overwhelming anti McLeish feeling meant his position was untenable. Many Villa fans actively wanted PL as manager and I guess opinion is pretty evenly divided at this point.
Curved? Meant achieved. 🙂
On a brighter note I see that Ron Vlaar has publicly said that he is happy to stay at Villa. Let’s see new contracts for Grealish, Delph and Vlaar in the next few weeks.
A massive importance for a football club is stability, and as much as I don’t care too much for Lambert, his contract extension brings stability…. I think his hands were tied with money and the bomb squad and the vast improvement shown since fatty Faulkners departure are proof it was his advice to Lerner that was strangling the club…..Looking from the outside in and asking any neutral, they all seem to think Lambert has done a good job…. He just needs some PR advice to improve his interview skills and likeability factor !!
I agree Saddened but there are many on here who don’t and consider those who show any support for what PL has done as being senseless.
What has he done then. The guy has given us the most unwanted records in our whole history how is that worthy of a contract ffs
So you keep a crap manager on a long term contract for the sake of stability?
May aswell have kept McLeish.
Spot on mcleish is no worse than lamberk that’s for sure.
I disagree, he is young, inexperienced and is learning, as I said before I am not a fan, but I think it is good for the club to tie him down, to stabilise the club and players, imagine being in the academy, with a 1st team manager out of contract and a club up for sale…. Bye bye Mr Grealish…. And hey if he relegates us at the end of the season he can still be sacked.
Its not about the last 4 games, its about him keeping us up with championship players, hence – playing championship football, with an unhappy owner and a clueless CEO.…. The bloke has balls and is sticking with us. You can say if he had any integrity he would have walked, but you could also say his integrity has kept him here, to do a job which has been asked of him. Come on fella’s Tom Fox is talking about vision and the future, lets forget Mcleish and all the crap in the past few seasons and move on.
I have a few mates who work for a rather large London club and were really pi55ed off when we managed to secure the services of Tom Fox, therefore In Mr Fox I trust. !!!
Havnt we heard this vision bollox before. Next they will be telling us they have a 5 year plan ffs.
http://7500toholte.sbnation.com/2014/9/17/6342105/paul-lambert-handed-four-year-contract-extension
Found this a good read, echo’s my exact thoughts on Lambert’s contract extension.
Good read, I personally think it is a massive step in the right direction to have a CEO that is going to improve the club, rather than our previous one who seemed to cloud the owners judgement.
Excellent article which demonstrates considered thought. OohAh won’t like it then 🙂
Who knows, Fox in his few weeks as ceo seems to know what he’s doing, unlike Faulkner in his few years.. maybe we could have some funds available, and while retaining our key players we could add to that with 1 or 2 quality additions for proper money.
Thing is with oohah and a few others is they fail to see the bigger picture. Oohah still believes for whatever reason because we won the european cup over 30 years ago and won the F.A cup in the 50s we have a divine right to still be at the top of the ladder. Unfortunately as most know it doesn’t work that way, shame oohah cant accept that.
Agree to a point it’s a generation think I suppose. My generation were spoilt but the club should and could of created a dynasty after the early 80s success but Ellis didn’t want to know as he was jealous of our most successful period in the years he wasn’t there. We are the second city team and if we can get 60k plus in the old 3rd we can do it in the prem ffs.
If Villa had managed to replace Ron Saunders or, later, Tony Barton with someone like Brian Clough, by now we’d probably be the biggest club in the PL…
Like you, I reckon that the 74~82 period was probably the best we’ve ever had in our lifetimes.
But that WAS more than 30 years ago!
Time to move on.
I can’t move I’m stuck in the past. Would love those days again
Let’s wait & see how this season pans out.We needed a manager who would come in long term & build something.Lambert & Keane seem to have formed a partnership that seems to be working so let’s give it a chance.As for Lamberts new deal good luck to him hope it goes well for him.We have a manager who is prepared to take the flack,try hard & actually stick around.All teams have ups & downs we have been down long enough now & I beleive we are on the up with Lerner about to give it another go.Heres the thing you can live a life moaning or live a life & live it.Lamberts living his dream at a big club & openly says so.Im enjoying a good start to the season & I believe we can actually take Arsenal…..UTV
Not another wait and see merchant, let’s give him time yawn yawn. Been saying that for 2 years JD