PaulC

So if Kozak is injured or dropped and with Swansea playing a high pressing game then I think we'll not be looking to play much through midfield and looking to utilise the pace of Weimann and Agbonlahor to get in behind them.

Interesting. No kozak then? Gabby and weimman upfront? Yes they were two poor misses which shows a dramatic drop in confidence this season.

With all due respect that team looks shit Can you name a team that doesn't look poor on paper? Ok you can bring Bacuna in for Luna, Weimann or Tonev for Albrighton. Maybe give Gardner a go in midfield, but theres not much else we can do.

Personally don't believe that article has much credibility.

One of the great urban myths. "Ohhhh, boooring Christmas TV schedules, they always show The Great Escape, every year..." As a HUUUUGE fan of TGE, take it from me, they very rarely show it. Doesn't matter to me, I've got it on DVD , obviously, and I had it on VHS before that. But still. They always show escape to victory though don't they?

His confidence is very low. I think its best if he comes off the bench. He can make a bigger impact that way.

I'd go 3-4-3 which most people will hate but the last game we won we played 3 at the back. Guzan Herd Baker Clark Lowton Westwood Delph Luna Albrighton Kozak Gabby

There's plenty that would have taken us down last season. I'd rather us keep faith with Lambert than risk bringing in a new man that isn't going to be a name any of us would want.

I've always said he'd do alright when he sells but £250 million seems a lot when you think about how much he bought us for. But then didn't Carson Yeung have to pay £80 million for SHA five years ago!? We're five years down the line; we're a bigger club who's in the PL, and we've got multi million pound income streams including the huge TV deal. True. Hopefully if we're worth that then there's someone out there willing to pay it. IMO if he wants out he should be prepared to take a loss and not gamble our long term future so he ends up financially OK. To be honest if Randy wants to sell and we're relegated he'll be the one with most to lose, I can't see him being able to sell if we drop to the Championship. It would drop our value and we'd loose a load of sky money and they'd be no guarantee we would come straight back up. Guess he's hoping that he can get away with spending little and staying up.

And that's because we have an owner more than happy to survive on the cheap. No, we have an owner who is extraordinarily loyal to his managers. He proved that with MON, and he has been consistently loyal since. A little bit of ruthlessness would go a long way at the moment. I don't think he is loyal. If he sacks Lambert he has to invest time and effort in finding a replacement. and money and we won't get anyone as good as Lambert in my view. With the squad we have and the financial restrictions who is going to come to Villa.

It would be good to have him back sooner rather than later.

Lot of birthdays tomorrow

I thought he had us for a draw that game

Well its between Sobers, Richards and Lara and i think its a pretty close run thing. Too young to see Sobers live but saw Richards and Lara at edgbaston many times. Richards was so intimidating to bowl to and Lara was a true genius. Its a close thing between the three of them. I'd just put Sobers ahead of Richards on the strength of his batting test batting average. Richards didn't score too many double hundreds or big hundreds. He gave it away when he got to a 100. Only barely averaged 50 in test cricket so would probably put both Lara and Sobers ahead of him. Yes I agree. Kallis the best allrounder in the last 40 years. Trouble with Kallis he's not very eye catching like other greats. He's a great batsman in his own right but not looked upon favourable compared to Tendulkar and Lara

Yes and it doesn't help when your CF has a poor first touch as well. If Swansea press high up the pitch then Gabby and Andi might be useful if o someone can play a long ball.Gabby is pretty much useless when teams defend deep like against Palace.

With Westwood we lost the previous 3 games, so not much difference True but yesterday we were playing a rubbish team and we may have had a little more guile with him in it. To be honest Westwood though is average at best but neither Delph or KEA are very good at passing.

Well Westwood is certain to come back in! I cant see Luna starting after his performance yesterday.

Credit to England but the way warner batted set the tone. It was very haphazard.

Yep Kapil Dev and Botham were bowling allrounders. Sobers and Kallis batting allrounders. I wouldn't rate him as high as Sobers. Sobers was an amazing talent. Sobers averaged 57.78 with the bat at a time they played on uncovered wickets. He played a much more attacking entertaining style as well. Kallis is an accumalator of runs and not rated as good as Sachin or Lara whearas in many peoples eyes Sobers is the greatest windies batsman of all time. Probably the greatest left handed batsman ever. Probably 2nd only to Bradman as the greatest batsman of alltime Sobers bowled left arm seam and spin and his bowling record compares favourably to Kallis. Their stats are close but talent wise miles apart.

He's not great but he has better touch and passing range than anybody we have in our first team squad.

10% possession but we'll win 2-0. Lambert will be forced to pick Benteke even if he isn't fully fit. It no good us picking a team to try and outpass Swansea. We can expect similar tactics to the Southampton game.

Lowton wasn't the problem yesterday

Not sure what Lambert had against Bannan. We could have done with him in our side yesterday. Without Westwood we have no creativity. I know many love Delph on here but there is little or no end product there.

and he got rid of a creative player.

It was €4.4m according to hh, less than half the figure you've quoted Well he has always come up with the truth on other things so i believe him when he says he cost less than what was reported.