MikeMcKenna

Fulham are also 6 points behind us with a far worse goal difference. They may have been good today but they've been very poor for most of the season and Jol's transfer policy is one of the reasons why they're in this mess. It's better to look at the bigger picture. You are deluded!

Bacuna yet again allowed the player in behind him that led to the penalty. As ever he was in no mans land. For the first goal he allowed Sidwell to outmuscle him. At what point does lambert recognise he is a shit defender and bring back Lowton? Rarely a week goes by without Bacuna making a mistake that leads to a goal! Lowton isn't a great defender but he is head and shoulders above Bacuna. Bacuna is a ****** midfielder!

Embarrassing! made to look like a championship side by a team that were heading for the championship. This has been coming as our away record flattered to deceive. Our midfield are absolutely shite. Bacuna is no right back.

I get that it's a lack of understanding. I've tried to help.I understand fine it's just a rubbish point. You're talking in general terms about the two different times which is pointless when we're specifically talking about Doug and Lerner and this club. No one would have to keep pointing it out to you if you didn't keep insisting Doug was somehow better than Lerner for the club. Debt free, usually finishing in the top 8, won a cup and played in Europe. That's the Ellis premiership years. We'd love to be that club now. You are taking this piss! I am no fan of Lerner but Ellis was a grade A arsehole! Slagging Lerner is fair enough but give over about Ellis - he singlehandedly **** up the club.

I was speaking to someone at AVFC today who is definitely ITK! Whilst chatting to this person about our mediocrity over the last 2/3 seasons they said and I quote verbatim: "Yes it's been very tough. Watch this space, there are going to be some very exciting things happening over the next 12-18 months" Obviously my ears pricked up and I asked what exactly would be happening but the person wouldn't be specific so I ask several questions: Is Randy selling up - not to my knowledge. Something to do with the ground - maybe. Another investor - maybe. A major sponsor - can't say. I pushed harder for answers but that's all I could get. Don't shoot the messenger or ask me who I spoke to - I hear things from time to time, but usually take little notice. However this time I am very confident there is something major afoot. I just don't know what.

This is absolutely correct. Villa donated a kit http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Crystal_Palace/Crystal_Palace.htm

It doesn't prove anything. You just made that assumption and you're going to sit on it. You've turned him into a cartoon character in your head. There's a million other ways to explain him shooting. Nerves, eagerness to please. And the fact he's scored screamers in the past. It was a bad decision—awful—but they happen. He's done some good things recently. Tbh in a funny way, if he came good (big if) i think i would probably resent the fact that he turned out good, so yes maybe i have turned him into a cartoon character in my head but its hard not too when his shots are so comical, me and my dad watch every week and play 'guess the minute of tonev's first woefull strike' I just think everyone is a bit poncey on here when it comes to players getting criticism that they deserve, and pull out the 'oh he's only a youngster, he's learning' card' - tonev is not a kid in football terms.. He's 22? "Me and my dad watch every week and play 'guess the minute of tonev's first woefull strike' " You and your Dad sound like a barrel of fun

I agree with much of what you say but I really don't understand when you say; "He seems to favour physical attributes, either in terms of size, strength, pace or work-rate over smaller, technical players " Personally I think the problem we have in midfield is a lack of the attributes you mention. KEA, Westwood & Delph are technically gifted but lack strength and size. As shown against Spurs our midfield invariably get out muscled. The presence of "Smaller technical players" in our midfield is IMHO THE problem.

You have told us who the trust are but not what it does or aims to do? I appreciate that you are all Villa fans/volunteers and i applaud the initiative. However if you want it to be anything other than another little elite you need to make your raison d'être and objectives known.

Not "obviously" at all . If anything the odds are against us ever challenging under this regime. Amazing how low expectations are now. When you say "we are bankrupt", firstly it is nothing to do with "we" and secondly RL is no longer part of the "we". His only interest now is finding a buyer.

Paul Before RL bought the club there were more than a few who were "nuts enough" However RL looked like the perfect owner, the fans loved the idea of him after all the years of Ellis treating us like shit. RL (or his advisors) did the research, made all the right noises and he was eulogised as the perfect owner by the fans and the media. He put his money where his mouth was but ultimately the gamble didn't pay off. Now he has bitten off more than can chew and clearly wants out. I quite admire him in some ways, think he was genuinely passionate about AVFC BUT when it was apparent that the master plan wasn't working I believe he lost interest and started to seek ways out.

Over the years, through business, I have met many super rich Americans. Those that started their own businesses and made them successful, always had incredible vision, were tenacious and worked their bollox off. Those that inherited their businesses or wealth invariably lacked focus, got bored easily, knew little about business and were basically spoilt brats. I think RL is probably a good bloke, but he doesn't have his Dad's nous, skills, tenacity or conviction.

Disagree, Vlaar went up the pitch and left a huge hole behind him yet again, which forced Clark and Baker to sort of rotate to cover for him and got caught. Watch it again later. Vlaar had to close down attack from our right, Clark was ball watching and left a huge space behind to let lukaku in, Baker should have been tighter but it was down to Clark

Mike, Den here. Be reasonable - how can any manager improve a team with 10m net? There is a genuine case for questioning the owner. Lambert has done what he can on a budget which was less than Palace, Southampton, Norwich, Cardiff...!!! Hi Den Don't see how I have said anything unreasonable. I am currently in Malaysia on business and watched the game here. Good 1st half but it was terrible to see VP empty yet again ten minutes before the end - the boos were quite subdued but only because high numbers had left The fans are getting pretty sick of it. PL took the job and I would guess he knew the available budget. Of course he should have had more to spend but he knew what the score was when he came in. However I simply said the tide is turning. I back him for now but the fans at large fans will not continue to back him if he doesn't start to win at home. I like the vast majority of fans have been incredibly supportive.

How much of it is form and how much is lack of quality? Personally I think our team with 3/4 exceptions are pretty cack!

The tide is turning against him.

First goal was down to Clark, clearly went to the ball - shite defender!

I thought both Westwood and KEA were very weak and outclassed today. Neither has any vision or presence and frankly they are not the players to take us forward in more ways than one. Very disappointing. IMHO Sylla should have started instead of KEA and unfortunately we have no options for an alternative to Westwood

I know he has to try and put a positive outlook on the game but does he think anyone who has just watched the match are going to believe him. I'm not long back from Villa Park and I'd say Lamberts assessment is a fair one. We were most definitely on top in the second half when Spurs scored. Pushing forward as we were there was always a chance Spurs could grab another and so it proved. The second goal pretty much knocked the stuffing out of us and the result was never in doubt after that. In all fairness I think we did OK today and Lambert got the best out of what he had at his disposal given the level of the opposition. Spurs have spent a fortune since Villas Boas arrived and he also inherited a good group of players and Lambert in comparison during the same time has spent very little and inherited a lot of over paid, over the hill tripe. Spurs are now sadly on a different level to us and that won't change unless Lambert gets significant sums both in terms of fees and wages. If he doesn't then we will continue to be what we will be this season - a mid table side who will do their best and be capable of the odd shock result. Mark I agree that Spurs are a much superior side and that whatever we did with our weak squad we were more likely to lose. However Lambert brought in two lightweight midfielders in KEA and Westwood who were exposed as being very weak on the ball compared to their Spurs counterparts - I wish he had started Sylla who is much stronger. The results show that the counter attacking tactics at home have failed pretty miserably but the lack of quality in our side probably means it is a forced necessity. It worked against Man City but as most agree we were lucky to get the win. As for PLs comments I think he saw a different game. We did have a very short spell in control but they basically outplayed us all over the park - as usual!

If you missed this you should really try and see it on catch up. Yes there were flaws but it was a very good drama series. The accents were undoubtedly different in the inner city back then. Even as late as the 50s and 60s many Brummies around small heath, Saltley & Aston were from Irish stock and this had an influence of the accents of many. Unfortunately as has been said they had to go to Liverpool for the street scenes but I can remember the area around the Garrison Tavern in the late 50s and 60s and even then it was very much the same with grubby back to back terrace houses leading straight on to the street (I lived in a similar one in Saltley with outside bogs shared with the neighbours!) where people lived cheek by jowl to the local brass foundry. Like much historical fiction there are major inaccuracies such as the fact the actual "Peaky Blinders" were in reality no longer around in 1919 but the Brummie gangs were truly very involved in providing protection (and the racketeering) at race meetings all over the country and were often at war with London "race" gangs. For pure entertainment value it was a great series and I look forward to series 2.

Quite amazing! Westwood form dips a bit and some are writing him off already!! "second season syndrome" what a load of bollox! I have no idea whether he will make it eventually but reckon he has done enough to deserve more respect than he is getting from some.

Obviously we can only surmise what RL's long term plans are but it is a fair assumption given our spending under PL, that he has decided we must trade within our means. I believe he wants out but what would he have to sell for to avoid any losses? With the extra SKY funding AVFC must now worth a lot, lot more than the £64 million he paid. If the club still owes him £100 million plus lots of interest, would any of the financially astute members like to hazard a guess as to what the club is now worth and what the club's value would need to be if RL wanted to sell and avoid losses? Would £200 million be about right? And are we worth that much?

Luna played with great awareness today and after Bacuna was my MOTM. Can only get better IMO

Just home and feeling great! Thought we would be hammered after the Spurs game, but SOMEHOW we pulled it off! When I saw our 5-3-2 formation, it brought back terrible memories of January but clearly Luna and Bacuna were much suited to the system than Lowton and Bennett and it worked. Was very impressed by both but three hours later still don't quite understand how we won! Just shows how spirit can occasionally win against the odds.

Perfectly put. I totally agree. It's not how we'd like it, ideally, but it is what it is. Unfortunately it's how we have to be too. The ambition has become to be stable again, before (maybe) having another go. The "stable" model isn't as exciting as the way other clubs go, or we went in the past, but it's a proven one, and doesn't mean there can be no footballing achievement. It's not a sugar rush type of running the club, more pasta and carbohydrates. It's healthier, less glamourous, but actually the sane way. Pete do you really believe that? I agree that he is trying to make the club financially viable, but I very much doubts that the plan is to have another go during his ownership. I believe that Lerner bit off more than he could chew when he overdosed on his first "sugar rush" and that he has no ambition for Aston Villa other than to sell it when the time & finances are right.