Aston Villa Season 2012/13

[westozfalcon]

The Villains will go into the 2012/13 under the guidance of yet another new manager.

Scot Paul Lambert succeeds sacked fellow countryman Alex McLeish after the latter nearly performed the 'double' in taking both Birmingham teams to relegation in successive seasons.

Lambert's impressive tenure at Norwich City obviously impressed Villa chairman Randy Lerner who has reportedly promised the new gaffer a £20m transfer kitty, plus whatever he can raise in player sales, to bolster the squad.

I think Lambert's first priority will be a strike partner for Darren Bent. Reports suggest that he has his sights set on Grant Holt, his frontman at Norwich, who is looking for a new club.

Aussie Brett Holman joins on a Free from AZ Alkmaar and I believe he'll be a great asset in the midfield.

[Bully]

you will struggle again this season.

mid to low table finish IMO

[westozfalcon]

I hate to make a knee jerk reaction after just one game but the loss to West Ham was cause for concern. It wasn't so much the defeat itself that bothered me because the Hammers are a genuinely better side than us at this point in time. It was our lack of creativity and scoring threat. A 3-2 loss would've left me feeling a lot better.

We need to buy a good midfielder or striker by the end of August or big trouble awaits.

[westozfalcon]

If we lose at home to Wigan this weekend Paul Lambert must be sacked.

Lambert has been spruiking his faith in youth and rebuilding but that is next to useless if you get relegated. I seriously believe that if we go down we will never return to the top flight. It's that serious. The football landscape has changed remarkably in recent years and clubs like Villa can no longer rely on history and tradition and take Premier League status for granted.

Supporters (me included) got a bit excited when we beat Liverpool at Anfield but the reality is the better side lost. It was an illusion.

The amazing thing is that in appointing our last two managers, the club has had to pay compensation to the clubs they poached them from. It's bad enough that they signed crap managers but to have to pay through the nose ads insult to (self inflicted) injury. We sacked one manager and signed another of the same ilk. It beggars belief!

Also, if we get through to the League Cup final ahead of Bradford it will be a terrible shame for the Bantams. There's no way we could beat either Swansea or Chelsea so why be a waste of space at Wembley on the 24th February. I'd rather see Bradford savour a moment of history.

[Jase]

Also, if we get through to the League Cup final ahead of Bradford it will be a terrible shame for the Bantams. There's no way we could beat either Swansea or Chelsea so why be a waste of space at Wembley on the 24th February. I'd rather see Bradford savour a moment of history.

Me too...

;-)

Sent from my XT925 using Tapatalk 2

[Bully]

villa long gone sorry, will go close to joining their neighbours in the championship

[Jim05]

Time for Lambert to go.
Smashed 3-0 by Wigan at home, have been outscored 15-0 in last 3 games.
Now in the drop zone and have the worst GD by a mile.
Cant afford to drop points to other lowly sides, Soton, Reading and Wigan are improving as the season goes on and even QPR are looking better.
Look certainties to be playing in the Championship next season

[Bully]

mate is happy as he is a wigan fan

[westozfalcon]

A big make-or-break month in store for AVFC.

I was on holiday in England last month and went to our game at Villa Park against Queens Park Rangers. The lads willed themselves to win against largely more skillful opposition. It was one of the happiest days of my life.
More of that will and determination is needed in the last 6 games if we are to avoid relegation.

It's my firm belief that if we can win the fight and preserve our Premier League status, exciting and successful times are ahead. If we go down we may never return to the top flight.

[westozfalcon]

Pheew that was close

We looked mediocre for most of the season but showed great spirit in the last 3 months to scrape to survival.

In a few of those recent games we were the poorer side but managed to find a way to win. Good sides can do that when the chips are down.

Paul Lambert sailed close to the wind by putting faith in youth with average credentials but he deserves credit for signing Christian Benteke. Without the big Belgian's 19-goal contribution we'd have been relegated for sure.

Our defence is very poor - currently 21 consecutive games without a clean sheet - and that has to be addressed for next season. That's not keeper Brad Guzan's fault either. He pulled off some awesome saves at times and deservedly held the no 1 spot over Shay Given.

Lambert must realize that he dodged a bullet this year. An injection of quality, experienced players is needed to ensure they remain in the top flight.

[johntheclaret]

I think Lambert will do Ok for your mob.
It's nice to see a club hold its nerve and not sack the manager when the chips are down and I think they might now reap the rewards next year.

Villa played some nice football. It was all down to confidence. A young team and you could see their heads drop when a goal went against them. Survival and their last few games would have given their confidence a real boost.

Like you said wcf a bit of experience at centre back and they'll be ok next season