Villa 1 – 2 Chelsea: Lambert so nearly got it right today.

I’ve often espoused the theory that Gabby should be dropped and Benteke pulled off, to be replaced by Gabby if things aren’t working, so we can use Gabby’s pace against a tiring defence.
Lambert tried it today, but got it totally the wrong way round, in dropping Benteke.
There’s been some debate about Benteke lately and it’s been about if he’s been getting adequate service as opposed to if he’s trying.
Either way, he’s been ineffective of late, so I can see where Lambert was coming from.

Staying with the substitutions, I also think we were too reliant on play down the right hand side, with very little going on down the left.
Lambert again made the right call, in bringing Sinclair on, to offer us something different. The fact that it didn’t work is a shame, but when I’ve slated Lambert plenty, I think it’s only fair to say when I think he called it correctly.
The Cole sub, for Weimann, made sense too.

Would it be correct to say we played a 4-5-1?
I certainly thought that was the formation we played mostly in the game, but I suppose you could call it a 4-3-3 , especially early on.

Whatever, I thought the first half was pretty poor.
We were being dominated by a Chelsea side that, let us not forget, are probably going to win the league.
Nothing unusual there and it was the same old story, where while we got some crosses in, they were mostly poor and the closest we came was an off-target header from Weimman.

Chelsea’s goal on 7 minutes was a poor one from our point of view.
We didn’t pick up Willian at all and Hutton failed to track Hazard’s run.
Fair play though, it was a well made and executed goal. Hence we went in one down at half time.
I don’t know, but I got the feeling Chelsea could easily have stepped up a gear.

Then I don’t know what was said at half time, but Villa came out a different side.
We looked confident from the off and created more chances in the first three or four minutes than we had in the whole first half.
The pressure paid off and after super work from Gil (who moved the ball so fast between his two feet that I’m still not sure what happened), Oscar was made to look a total mug and the ball was put in the box for Okore to head in.
Hoo bloody ray. We got the goal we’ve been waiting so long for.

And then, for a while, I thought we looked the better side, where we were creating and getting decent balls in the box.

It wasn’t to last though and I thought Chelsea stepped it up. No surprise again and it demonstrates the gulf in class, as they had the likes of Remy and Cuadrado to bring on.
At the same time, Lambert subbed Gabby and brought Benteke on.
And sod’s law, the balls going into the box ceased.

Their second goal came courtesy of some poor defending again, which I won’t go into, as I thought Clark especially and Okore weren’t terrible today.

And then after around eighty minutes, the game petered out, simple as.

A few points;
I thought Delph and Cleverley were shocking in the first half, but looked much better in the second.
I’m not sure what caused the difference?

Gil looks the real business. He’s the bloke who can get you off your seat, who we’ve been craving for, isn’t he?
That said, I believe he was at fault for their second, but I’m not going to hold that against him. He isn’t a defender.

It’s great that we scored, but it wasn’t a striker who ended our shocking run of no goals.

Still, losing 1-2 to Chelsea is by no means a disgrace and we shouldn’t be too downhearted.
Many expected a battering today, but the fact is it didn’t happen.
While I expected a loss and it’s always disappointing to lose at home, at least we didn’t look the total shambles we did last week.

Hull up next and I’m hoping the lads will have come out of today’s game at least encouraged.

177 Comments

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  1. Adam
    Adam February 8, 2015 at 8:32 am . Reply

    Delph. Westwood, Sanchez, Cleverly are all deep lying players they dont get forward enough, and when they rarely do they panic and turn to pass back, we should only play two – for me Sanchez and Delph. One deep and the other 15 yards from Benteke at all times. For me also we need more flair and that player is Grealish. Yes he has a lot to learn but he has raw ability and likes to run with the ball and get to the byline. Very much like Gil who has been a breath of fresh air to be honest. Grealish should be starting every single game and we should go out to WIN every game, i dont mean playing the high line like at Arsenal but play the players that can turn defence in to Attack very quickly. We will at least go down fighting then!

    1. steve
      steve February 8, 2015 at 8:38 am . Reply

      Lambert is too defensive for that and bad at it. Even though you are right. He just will not pick grealish over anybody he has signed.

      1. Adam
        Adam February 8, 2015 at 10:03 am . Reply

        That’s the problem our defence is much improved than previous years and Sanchez is a quality def mid who actually likes to defend. So really there isn’t as much a need to be so defensive. Now lets revert to his first season tactics where we scored a fair few goals but conceded loads more and with our defence now I’m sure we would pick up plenty of points and entertain the fans too.

  2. DSVilla
    DSVilla February 8, 2015 at 8:41 am . Reply

    I’m glad we didn’t get stuffed. Nice not to be an embarrassment for a week! I’m also glad Benteke was dropped, as it shows that Lambert may be prepared to try something different. The approach is too cautious though. The midfield doesn’t get forward as it is composed of players who don’t make those runs. The best teams often score their goals by flooding the box, so the odds on them creating chances are much improved.

    Villa are set out to contain the opposition. That tactic is the same whether we are playing Leicester or Chelsea. Hull are a very poor team who got lucky yesterday. We will sit back and let them come at us, instead of going at them. They are there to be beaten, but unfortunately so are we.

    I think we will lose and that will set the tone for the rest of the season.

    On the upside, my predictions are usually wrong so maybe I’ve just done us a big favour!!

  3. Hitchens 60
    Hitchens 60 February 8, 2015 at 9:35 am . Reply

    Sometimes you just have to try and look at the positives otherwise so good on Helenius. I’m surprised there hasn’t be more on here about how we might build around Gil who is a real player who uses both feet, moves the ball quickly which is what we are lacking. Also surprised that Sinclair is being criticised quite so quickly – give the lad a chance he’s hardly played any football for the last two years.

    On Delph; didn’t he play a more attacking mid role with Leeds. I seem to remember one of his strengths was the number of goals he scored from mid field; Lambert again?

    Finally, Jose’s comments are interesting. Are they a veiled criticism of Lambert?

  4. Jay Dee
    Jay Dee February 8, 2015 at 11:57 am . Reply

    As much as Lambert has failings Lambert doesn’t kick the ball.

  5. nath
    nath February 8, 2015 at 12:17 pm . Reply

    reading some of these comments, its a shame none of us passed our badges lmao basically before the game yesterday. villa had been thumped 5 nil and players quitting during the second half. so chelsea arrive and with the firepower they have, its understandable, how the team didn’t pour forwards in numbers. but as some think happy clappers lmao must be another lambert sheep slate. villa made a contest of it, they scored. chelsea were always in control, but they have in all but a few this season. top team

    i think yesterday was, go out there and regain some self belief. couldn’t lose again by a cricket score and then expect to be full of belief against hull TIGERS. so we at least achieved this, iam sure both hull and villa, will see this game as a must win and both are poor team on poor run. its a game we can win. that’s why some could forgive another lose to a team full of top quality players on top form,

    guzan

    hutton vlaar okore sissohko

    westwood

    cole delph

    wiemann gil

    benteke

    1. BWS
      BWS February 8, 2015 at 1:21 pm . Reply

      Bill Shankly
      ” I didn’t think it was necessary to take an FA coaching course. I didn’t think it was going to make me any better. If I take a course am I going to be a better man six days later because I’ve got a piece of paper? That’s nonsense. Chamberlain came back from Germany with a piece of paper.. . the worst fucking piece of paper we’ve ever had!! ”

      Nath we may not be Shankly’s but playing, watching, eating and shiting football for 40 years and you have some sorta clue how the game should be played.

      1. nath
        nath February 9, 2015 at 8:44 am . Reply

        my points were over committing men, against class of chelsea would have ended badly for all concerned, at least for the claret and blue

        1. BWS
          BWS February 9, 2015 at 3:13 pm . Reply

          Yea you’re right about over committing but the thing that gets me is how slow we break when we have teams stretched (and it’s not like we lack pace).
          We break far too slow and let teams get 11 behind the ball making it extremely difficult to break them down, well that unless you have some very technically gifted players to retain possession, make the run and find the pass but Barcelona we aint.
          Another thing that always stands out with our play – when the ball breaks on the edge of oppositions box or the ball is cleared, we never seem to have a player coming in late on the lose ball, our lot are admiring from afar somewhere on the halfway line.

          1. nath
            nath February 9, 2015 at 5:11 pm . Reply

            teams like bayern Munich and barcelona work so hard out of possession, their aim is to regain possession deep into the opposition half, or quickly, starve the opposition of easy balls they wear um down. i watched spuds do a number on arsenal, they pressed um high, stopped arsenal from playing their triangles patterns they like to. villa tried to do something similar against gunners, but they broke on us, because we don’t press as a team.

            i agree with what you said, we are in possession far to slow moving the ball around, in lamberts new tactic of passing the ball, we are ignoring our main strength over the last 5 years, breaking with pace. its a case of mixing up play and against chelsea they did this better.

            anyways games against hull and other poor teams like us will determine our fate

        2. BWS
          BWS February 9, 2015 at 6:32 pm . Reply

          Bayern are the best I’ve seen at retaining possession in the oppositions last third, the way they probe and probe teams till they find an opening. The skill level is incredible and a joy to watch.

          1. nath
            nath February 9, 2015 at 6:44 pm . Reply

            i think lambert needs to return back to germany, cos he hasn’t perfected the way pep guardiola executes his tactics. also changing mid season was a big mistake

  6. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson February 8, 2015 at 12:23 pm . Reply

    Burnley winning .

    1. nath
      nath February 8, 2015 at 12:34 pm . Reply

      2, nil

  7. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson February 8, 2015 at 12:37 pm . Reply

    Burnley 2- 0 Westbrom this is going against us, still Lambert said we have the players to stop up, he should know shouldn’t he. ⌚ ?

  8. pat57
    pat57 February 8, 2015 at 12:56 pm . Reply

    So as it stands Villa fourth from bottom and two points ahead of Hull.

    A win for Hull on Tuesday and we’re in the bottom three on goal difference. All those goals we’ve let in could be the nails in our coffin.

  9. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson February 8, 2015 at 1:03 pm . Reply

    Yes thats right, we are in the shite, Westbrom just pulled one back 2-1 HT , Pat 57 I hope they know on Tuesday they must win, .

  10. pat57
    pat57 February 8, 2015 at 1:22 pm . Reply

    Just hoping that the fans with the arrows are there so they know which goal they’re supposed to be scoring in!

  11. jvillan
    jvillan February 8, 2015 at 1:22 pm . Reply

    nath

    chelsea don t post big scores under mourino they play a controlled game get a goal ahead let other side chase then hit on break
    sure yesterday we improved from arsenal game would nt be hard
    team with cleverly gabby wiemen out wide you are playing with 8 players as for cole he was done 5 years ago
    also agree with you play wiemen up top along side benteke
    team for hull
    guzan
    hutton
    sissko
    clark captain
    okore
    sanchez
    delph
    gil
    benteke
    wiemen alongside benteke
    sinclair
    subs
    vlar lowton
    westwood bacuna
    grealish gabby no one left

  12. Andrew
    Andrew February 8, 2015 at 1:25 pm . Reply

    Bacuna over Sinclair who’s been poor in both games he’s come on. I’d take Westwood over Delph but then that’s just me. I’d agree with that team otherwise.

  13. nath
    nath February 8, 2015 at 2:06 pm . Reply

    swansea 0 chelsea 5

    chelsea would have murdered villa, had they started to chase the game, granted your not gonna get back into the game if you don’t commit men forward. but i think when you lose 5,0 the game previous, chelsea game was damage limitations exercise.

    just watched burnley and baggies seen alot of QPR, villa are a bad team granted, but these rivals for the trap door are really poor also. if we go down then we will deserve it and maybe long run we will come back stronger with a new owner and manager

    1. Andrew
      Andrew February 8, 2015 at 2:39 pm . Reply

      Agreed. Burnley look decent going forward, especially through Boyd but the amount of goals they concede SO EASILY is criminal. West Bromich lack a goal scorer needed. Berahino looks decent but he’s not going to save them. They were fortunate Burnley are awful at the back and the ref didn’t give the penalty on McAuley’s hand ball. QPR, Hull. Under a better manager we’d be well safe by now. Plus there’s still Sunderland in the race to go down as well.

      1. nath
        nath February 8, 2015 at 2:55 pm . Reply

        i have a sneaky feeling that sunderland will be safe and leicester the latter struggle for goals but i think both these two will not be in trouble

        1. Andrew
          Andrew February 8, 2015 at 3:05 pm . Reply

          Leicester are definitely in trouble.

          Sunderland are iffy. They’re only 2 points ahead of us. Could easily be dragged back down as they’re not getting the points either. Mainly depends if they get wins against QPR and West Bromich in their next 2 games, both winnable for them. Then again they don’t really have too many hard games left. United, West Ham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton away. About it that they can’t get points off.

          1. nath
            nath February 8, 2015 at 3:11 pm . Reply

            i haven’t looked at the permutations whos playing who scenarios, but i thought we and hull and QPR would go down a few weeks ago. i would still think thats a nice treble. i watched burnley today and baggies i just think both of these are really poor. villa are lacking confidence massively, if they recapture just a bit of self belief. so they could look at themselves in the mirror, they will or should survive.

          2. Andrew
            Andrew February 8, 2015 at 3:54 pm . Reply

            Leicester, Burnley and QPR are still my choices to go down. Leicester aren’t good enough, Burnley can’t defend/keep a lead and QPR are just bad, Redknapp really screwed them up. The next 7 games for us are all winnable under good management and confidence. Hull away, Leicester home, Stoke home, Newcastle away, West Bromich home, Sunderland away, Swansea home. We need huge points from those games because then we get into United away, Spurs away, QPR home (winnable), City away, Everton home, West Ham home, Southampton away and Burnley home (winnable). Our next 7 games and the two games against QPR and Burnley are going to be huge. We have to break away before we get to the United game or we could be in absolute trouble.

          3. Andrew
            Andrew February 8, 2015 at 3:56 pm . Reply

            Leicester being an FA Cup game but one that is winnable and could give Villa far more confidence.

          4. nath
            nath February 8, 2015 at 4:03 pm . Reply

            confidence is our problem and the fa cup could be the saving grace, as you pointed out. also yesterday’s game should ,help the new aimgo gil ~ players feed off each other and gil is a box of tricks and hes full of confident

          5. Andrew
            Andrew February 8, 2015 at 6:45 pm . Reply

            Leicester just got a chance. Nigel Pearson just got sacked. He’s an awful manager, what he thinks sitting in the stands and having his assistants relay the messages. Doesn’t work.

  14. jvillan
    jvillan February 8, 2015 at 2:12 pm . Reply

    nath
    we go down we keep sinking under this crowd shite look where wigan fulham are they where fighting relegation for last few years

    1. nath
      nath February 8, 2015 at 2:18 pm . Reply

      you are confusing me with somebody that cares, i am happy either way i may be able to support the club more by watching games at bolton and wigan maybe preston.

      1. nath
        nath February 8, 2015 at 2:24 pm . Reply

        teams like fulham were big clubs and good youths were runner up 2014 to chelsea will return when they get their house in order, teams like wigan are small may never get back. if villa go down, they will return if not immediately, they will eventually. because of the set up the fans. cream always rises to the top. we have some leaches that need to be rid off thats all

        1. Andrew
          Andrew February 8, 2015 at 2:42 pm . Reply

          Very true, we’re not Wigan or Fulham. Nor are we in the financial crapper that Leeds and Portsmouth were in. It’s far more comparable to Newcastle currently that we’re still a big club in a horrible situation with an awful manager.

          1. Bum Bum
            Bum Bum February 8, 2015 at 6:06 pm . Reply

            …re: Newcastle…awful owner too…
            Lambert is one lucky fucker! Hull threw away three points yesterday and Burnley did the same today. Otherwise we’d be bottom three. Tuesday is gonna be a big day!!!!

          2. Andrew
            Andrew February 8, 2015 at 6:25 pm . Reply

            There is that, but I’d much rather Lerner than Mike Ashley.

  15. GarethVilla
    GarethVilla February 8, 2015 at 6:46 pm . Reply

    Leicester have sacked Nigel Pearson according to the famous “Sky Sources”.
    Surely thats a false narrative?

    1. nath
      nath February 8, 2015 at 6:53 pm . Reply

      did you see him grab a palace player, after a accidentally they collided on the touchline maybe that’s the reason if he has been sacked

      1. GarethVilla
        GarethVilla February 8, 2015 at 7:08 pm . Reply

        Either that or the fact they are bottom of the league.
        It was only a few weeks ago that they beat Villa easily.

        1. nath
          nath February 8, 2015 at 7:36 pm . Reply

          sacking managers doesn’t always guarantee success, i know the position but their performances are of a team much higher, they fail to convert chances but they can create loads each game and they are always competitive

          i just heard big sam calling man utd resorted to long ball football, to grab their equalizer thats priceless jab lol

          1. GarethVilla
            GarethVilla February 8, 2015 at 7:48 pm . Reply

            We could strap 2 pieces of meat (Agbonlahor and Weimann) to Lambert and feed him to the sharks and he’d still survive and come out saying “I thought the sharks were excellent”.

          2. nath
            nath February 8, 2015 at 7:54 pm . Reply

            lambert’s been at fault for stuff along football decisions, but protecting the players in interviews is normal. very rarely your gonna get a manager being honest to press. so holding this against him is slightly harsh. he doesn’t believe the trash he speaks to the media, but its protecting his players, shielding them from the flak they deserve on occasions

          3. OriginalLondonLion
            OriginalLondonLion February 8, 2015 at 8:03 pm . Reply

            We seem to have lost something since the Roman area. At the end of the performance the manager should have to look up to the Director’s box [ Ok waste of time at VP but you know what I mean – at a normal FC] Meanwhile the crowd give him the thumbs up or thumbs down, the chairman looks around to gauge the popular view. Thumbs down – he turns down his own and the manager is fed to the Lions.

            Every time I open this site there is the statue of old McGregor thrusting forward a piece of paper – it’s Lambert’s P45! I wish.

            I can see the last game of the season being the claret and blue curtain call – loser for the drop.

          4. nath
            nath February 8, 2015 at 8:14 pm . Reply

            lmao your words painted a beautiful picture, gladiator lambert standing alone with his team refusing to stand up and say IAM paul lambert no iam paul lambert I guess we should feed the whole team to the lions also

            if it does go the the wire against burnley villa ought to win easy

    2. GarethVilla
      GarethVilla February 8, 2015 at 9:43 pm . Reply

      Pearson has NOT been sacked now.
      Good old Sky Sources.

      1. nath
        nath February 8, 2015 at 9:59 pm . Reply

        something is going on, lineker has been commenting on this, be interested to know what been going on they say no smoke without fire,

        also miss langfordsvilla he always offers decent opinions, the site lacks alittle without his point of views, not afraid to stray away from the flock and speak up, i like that. big shoes to fill hitchens but iam sure you’ll do fine 🙂

      2. Bum Bum
        Bum Bum February 8, 2015 at 10:03 pm . Reply

        Lol!!!! Good old Sky. Bunch of idiots!!!

  16. Hitchens 60
    Hitchens 60 February 8, 2015 at 9:25 pm . Reply

    I’ve had enough of negativity – bo****ks to it I’m going to positive to the end of the season. Someone needs to take up the Langford Villa mantle. Villa to beat Hull. We will not be relegated the Villa is ours so up yours Lerner! 🙂 -:) LOL VTID

    1. GarethVilla
      GarethVilla February 8, 2015 at 10:02 pm . Reply

      And just when you were starting to talk some sense Hitchens!!

      1. Hitchens 60
        Hitchens 60 February 9, 2015 at 8:15 am . Reply

        That’s the problem with old farts after a few glasses of vino – they spout rubbish 🙂

        1. Bill Pearson
          Bill Pearson February 9, 2015 at 8:46 am . Reply

          ERM I’m not an old fart Hitchen 60 I’m in my second childhood, Confucius he say, he that been on the planet longer holds good wisdom. Off to dig my allotment now.

          1. Hitchens 60
            Hitchens 60 February 9, 2015 at 2:16 pm . Reply

            Never suggested you were – talking about myself Bill! Just back from digging mine; nice and relaxing 🙂

          2. Bill Pearson
            Bill Pearson February 9, 2015 at 4:10 pm . Reply

            I know that Hitchen 60 , I had to smile when you said it, I always like a joke. It was a reminder when someone did say it to me and meaning it in my work place, the young punk, and as for Langford another old fart wish he would pop up, think he’s settled in Germany ,

          3. Hitchens 60
            Hitchens 60 February 9, 2015 at 8:00 pm . Reply

            Agree Bill; Langford was one of the reasons I chose this blog

          4. BWS
            BWS February 9, 2015 at 8:38 pm . Reply

            Hitchy with Valentines just round the corner this is just for you and Langford…

            Oooooh, short and sweet
            No sense in draggin’ on past our needs
            Let’s don’t keep it hangin’ on
            If the fire’s out
            We should both be gone
            (Some people are made for each other)
            (Some people can love one another for life)
            (How ’bout us)

    2. Jay Dee
      Jay Dee February 8, 2015 at 10:04 pm . Reply

      Same as me Bruv it’s going to be nail biting squeaky bum time but as much as we moan & groan call for Lambert & Lerners head are we going to let the boys down they need us.I hate what Lerner has turned this club into a low budget football club scraping for survival each year instead of carrying on with our top 8 & upwards rightfull position.Do we want to stay in the premier league and be the whipping boys or do we drop,take a chance & rebuild.I wouldn’t mind rebuilding & watching us be rid of this relegation nightmare each year.So I don’t really mind if we go down it might just sting Lerners pocket a little bit and wind the yank up.So if we stay or go I don’t mind anymore because I will always support the Villa whatever division we are in.Villa Till I Die.

  17. GarethVilla
    GarethVilla February 9, 2015 at 3:12 pm . Reply

    Quote of the day –
    “I only ever try to pick a team to win”.
    2 wins in 20 suggests you aren’t very good at it Paul.

  18. Guest
    Guest February 9, 2015 at 3:19 pm . Reply

    Getting really bored with people saying they ‘wouldn’t mind relegation’, in what world do you ever think this is going to be good for the club?

    This whole ‘chance to rebuild’ nonsense is the talk of fools, for so many reasons that i can’t be bothered to outline, because if you can’t think of them yourself then you are clearly a little dim.

    As for Lambert, well, he has truly shown what a rubbish manager he actually is, if you look at our team on paper, we are not as bad as our league position, or unwanted records show us to be, it simply points to Lambert not being able, even after all this time, to pick or even understand what his best eleven or best formation is, that is truly shocking.

    I’d bet any money Pardew or Allardyce would have us in a much better position than where we are now, both Palace and West Ham have far weaker sides than we do, the only difference being they are better managers who know how to get the best out of poorer players, Lambert is blessed with a decent team, in spite of what half of you on here may think, and we actually have the best side we’ve had since Houllier.

    Lambert has continually played a formation that leaves us open to concede goals yet toothless in attack, i thought we’d seen the last of players being played out of position when O’Neil left yet Lambert seems to have picked up where he left off.

    Weimann and Gabby are not wingers, and by playing them there it just means we have no quality balls into the box, which starves Benteke of service, we may as well be playing with 9 men.

    Now Benteke’s goals have dried up, largely due to the team Lambert puts out, and has now found himself out of the team, i actually feel sorry for Benteke to be honest.

    Don’t get me started on Cleverly.

    We are a joke of a club at the moment, simply because the manager is purely awful and as others have said, will not change his tactics when they clearly haven’t worked all season.

    1. BWS
      BWS February 9, 2015 at 3:43 pm . Reply

      Guest I think people are just trying to soften the blow should it become a reality and that it’d be some sort of justice on Randy for him keeping the club in a state of suspended animation for the past four years and gambling with the clubs Premier League status and boring us to tears as a consequence.
      On the bright side – 3 o’clock kick offs plus we wouldn’t be last on the football league show! (only joking)

      1. Guest
        Guest February 9, 2015 at 4:15 pm . Reply

        Every cloud 😉

    2. Bill Pearson
      Bill Pearson February 9, 2015 at 4:20 pm . Reply

      Guest like you I cringe at people saying that as well , your right saying managers we should have had would have put us in a better position, Lambert does not know any thing about tactical movement on football, he’s been pissing in the wind for 4 years, as BWS saying we are fed up with Lambert and his excuses people are looking for some things to happen like scoring a goal.

      1. Guest
        Guest February 9, 2015 at 6:11 pm . Reply

        Drives me mental Bill, i know they’d like to believe they’d be fine with it but if we are all honest with ourselves, none of us want to be relegated.

    3. Sammy Morgans Jockstrap
      Sammy Morgans Jockstrap February 9, 2015 at 5:06 pm . Reply

      Guest, I agree with your comments about Lambert. He has played the same formation for 3 seasons now, even though everyone else in the world can see that it isn’t working. The sad thing is that if he played the right players from our current squad, in their best positions, the formation he uses actually could be much more productive (not the best formation for the EPL though if you want to be top half and challenging for cups).

      Sorry but he is just a bad coach, a really bad coach, and he is out of his depth. I have a UEFA B coaching license and I can’t fathom out what he is doing most of the time. The worry is that he will stumble onto the right formation due to injury/suspension, and keep us up by the skin of our teeth again. Then he can go again next season… UTV

  19. Andrew
    Andrew February 9, 2015 at 4:59 pm . Reply

    Lambert whining that Mourinho’s putting pressure on him by claiming we have a good squad, which we do. Makes me like Mourinho even more he is putting said pressure on Lambert. Doesn’t matter if he means we have one of the best squads in the league, but we have a far better squad than what we’ve produced under the most clueless manager around.

    1. nath
      nath February 9, 2015 at 5:33 pm . Reply

      iam sure our players are coveted by all the top teams. hence why we give so many away FREE. you can see the queue lining up for charles insomnia, darren 10 belly bent. i will say we should be doing better than we have, but our squad is piss poor. i exempt the new guy gil , orkore and sanchez all three could be top signings and could do better leaving for greener grass

      1. Andrew
        Andrew February 9, 2015 at 5:43 pm . Reply

        Erm, our squad is FAR from piss poor. In fact our squad has only gotten better each transfer window as we’ve lost no one of importance, and yet we keep getting worse.

        1. Guest
          Guest February 9, 2015 at 5:45 pm . Reply

          Well said Andrew.

        2. OohAhPaulMcGrath
          OohAhPaulMcGrath February 9, 2015 at 10:02 pm . Reply

          Name me one player that could get into a midtable team like West Ham on a regular basis. We have no quslity

          1. nath
            nath February 9, 2015 at 10:16 pm . Reply

            exactly oohahah you tell um

          2. Andrew
            Andrew February 10, 2015 at 12:42 am . Reply

            Alright, lets compare what their best starting 11 to my current opinion on our best starting 11.

            Adrian > Guzan
            Cresswell = Cissokho
            Reid = Vlaar
            Tomkins < Clark
            Jenkinson Westwood
            Kouyaté > Sanchez
            Downing = Gil (Downing has been incredible this season so far)
            Amalfitano > Bacuna
            Valencia > Benteke
            Sakho > Weimann

            They definitely have the depth with the likes of Carroll, Noble, Nolan, compared to Cleverley, Gabby, Delph and N’Zogbia. Of course Bacuna’s not a starter so put Delph in over him and Amalfitano is still better. So you’re right, we don’t have as good a team as West Ham, but we’re not far off nor terrible like you claim.

          3. Andrew
            Andrew February 10, 2015 at 12:43 am . Reply

            Jenkinson Westwood
            *

          4. Andrew
            Andrew February 10, 2015 at 12:44 am . Reply

            Wow
            Song is supposed to be > Westwood

            And then Jenkinson is < Hutton

      2. Guest
        Guest February 9, 2015 at 5:44 pm . Reply

        And yet we have a better starting eleven than some of the teams above us, our squad isn’t that piss poor, the manager doesn’t know how to utilise it properly.

        On their day, Gil, Sanchez, Okore, Baker, Sissoko, Delph, Westwood, Benteke, Weimann, Hutton, Vlaar, Kozak are all good players, their confidence is shot and the tactics deployed by Lambert do not play to their strengths, but they are all good premier league players.

        1. nath
          nath February 9, 2015 at 5:48 pm . Reply

          also the players listed above eight of twelve where brought in by lambert.

          1. Guest
            Guest February 9, 2015 at 5:49 pm . Reply

            Whats your point?

            I said we have decent players but they are suffering from bad tactics …..

            Can you read properly or are you being thick on purpose?

          2. Andrew
            Andrew February 9, 2015 at 6:03 pm . Reply

            Not everyone believes the players Lambert bought were poor. In fact I’m of the minority who think over half are more than good enough for Villa. However Lambert has no idea how to use any of them.

          3. nath
            nath February 9, 2015 at 6:04 pm . Reply

            so basically you don’t blame lerner for our plight, if i could be arsed to look back in posts, i won’t find you or andrew bitching about lerner not spending improving our weak squad or would i

          4. Andrew
            Andrew February 9, 2015 at 6:09 pm . Reply

            Nope, unless you find another Andrew, as I’ve been on here for 6 years using the exact same e-mail address that’s never changed and same avatar. I’ve seen one or two using the name but only for a couple posts, they’re usually changing their names.

            I’ve not once insulted Lerner for how much or little he’s spent.

          5. Guest
            Guest February 9, 2015 at 6:10 pm . Reply

            You are either a total wind up merchant or incredibly thick, judging your previous posts, i’m going for the latter.

            Both Lerner and Lambert are to blame for where we are now, i blame them both, is that clear enough for you or shall i spell it out in 38pt comic sans for you?

          6. nath
            nath February 9, 2015 at 6:23 pm . Reply

            i think lerners done a great job, all his appointments were decent, lamberts really working out just fine. our squads really impressing me, loads of goals, loads of entertainment, iam so glad you two agree

          7. Andrew
            Andrew February 9, 2015 at 6:28 pm . Reply

            I think he’s a bit of both, Guest. That last response clearly shows daftness but definitely has some wind-up in there.

    2. nath
      nath February 9, 2015 at 5:45 pm . Reply

      you realize andrew by saying our squads decent you contradicting yourself. because rewind a few weeks, you was bitching about lerner being a tight ass, when by your own admission lerners assembled a good squad.

      which version are we to believe

      1. Guest
        Guest February 9, 2015 at 5:46 pm . Reply

        I think you should read that comment back and realise it makes no sense whatsoever.

        1. nath
          nath February 9, 2015 at 5:54 pm . Reply

          either our squads good or piss poor

          if the squads good then why would 99% bitch about lerner, seems like hes assembled a decent squad. its lambert the problem ~ this is wot contradicting to which version we are this week

          1. Andrew
            Andrew February 9, 2015 at 6:02 pm . Reply

            It would be contradicting if that was true. But you’re 100% wrong about my stance on Lerner.

          2. Guest
            Guest February 9, 2015 at 6:02 pm . Reply

            Again, that makes no sense.

            Our squad is decent, it could be far better if we were to spend more money, of course it could, that goes without saying, but nevertheless, it’s still decent, the problem is Lambert doesn’t know how to manage them properly.

            Lerner chooses the manager.

      2. Andrew
        Andrew February 9, 2015 at 6:01 pm . Reply

        I’ve actually never once bitched about Lerner being a tight ass on here. But that’s nice.

        1. Guest
          Guest February 9, 2015 at 6:04 pm . Reply

          Lerner has been a ‘tight ass’.

          So even if you had done, you’d have been right.

          1. Andrew
            Andrew February 9, 2015 at 6:07 pm . Reply

            Arguable. Lambert’s still spent a good chunk of money. But of course if I was him, I’d be doing the same thing, I mean how many players does Lambert need to buy before being happy? He like O’Neill wants to buy, buy, buy and that’s it. While I’m absolutely baffled by Lerner’s stance on Lambert, he didn’t technically sack O’Neill but agreed to his resignation, and I think he’d very much do the same with Lambert if he ever had any idea he’s garbage.

          2. Guest
            Guest February 9, 2015 at 6:19 pm . Reply

            But thats what happens when you are given peanuts to build a squad with, you have to take a punt on cheaper players and most of them do not cut the mustard.

          3. Andrew
            Andrew February 9, 2015 at 6:34 pm . Reply

            So he sends them on loan and just buys more? As soon as one showed a bad game they were dropped and weren’t seen again, loaned out and likely to either be loaned out again or sold. Or they weren’t even given a chance. Then he completely reverts back to only experience and that doesn’t work for us. Clearly hasn’t anyways. It’s why Gil looks so good is because he’s young, energetic and has creativity, he’s gotten rid of a lot of those that he’s brought in or were brought through the academy that should’ve been given a chance. Big manager’s at big clubs can use their experienced players only because they’re that good and the manager’s are technically sound. That’s why the likes of Benitez and Mourinho don’t use youth and are usually only at the biggest clubs. We’re currently not at that where we can rely on the experience but need that energy to do so. The likes of Luna, Sylla, Gardner, Grealish, Lowton, Helenius and so on have that. Which is why the first season was so fun to watch and showed promise. Now we’re boring, and showing no promise, despite not really being much different in terms of points.

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