True but they have some players with massive potential. I would happily take Vlaar, Ciaran Clark, Weimann, Bannan and, without a shadow of a doubt Benteke. I think they'll be mid-table with or without transfers. Mind you, Lambert spent something like 20m, so they can't be that badly off and Lerner might be a little poorer, but once they get a few more names off their balance sheet like Bent I think you'll find they have a bit of cash.
As Graham Norton puts it, "we scored nil point"... Good night for us Canaries. GD could be a factor come end of season, and that's -3 more for Villa Hopefully Tottenham will beat Wigan & Sunderland continue their Di Canio inspired run and beat Villa
I think Villa play good football and even if they go down if they keep hold of the majority of that squad, and that is a big if, then they would be good enough to come straight back up. Let's face it, anyone going down is going to have £23M before you sell a season ticket. That could be enough for a club like Villa. If Wigan go then I see a mass exodus even with £23M.
I don't know about Villa holding on to everyone, the players have to want to stay their for a start. Benteke won't, neither will Vlaar or I suspect Weimann. Their wage bill is already 87.5% of turnover according to the guardian link posted around here, and parachute payments won't entirely cover their deficit. It wouldn't surprise me if many players don't have relegation clauses either, especially the pre-Lambert signings. As for a Wigan mass-exodus, I actually think the opposite! Few teams play the way they do, and there's only a few of those players I'd want in our squad. No team looking to come up plays football like them either, so promoted teams won't necessarily want them.
Precisely for the reason you state, I think that is why there would be an exodus at Wigan. That type of squad will not get them out of the Championship. I fear they would be up against it. They would have to revert to the type of players that got us out. Two big strtikers playing off early balls for starters. Villa know, just like us, that the new parachute payments give you one season at least to offer good wages in the hope of persuading what are particularly young players to buy into the dream of going straight back up. Of course, that would depend on the owners decision to retain Lambert's services. Funnily enough, I am currently watching a re-run of Villa winning the 82 European Cup. Lots of goal mouth action as players try and get the ball forward at every opportunity. No playing for penalties.
I can see what you mean about Wigan, but I don't know if they could maybe "do a Swansea". Wigan's unique playing style is what they're entirely geared towards, and maybe by being that something different in the championship, they might get out of it. A tall order though for them, especially when they're more reliant on Prem football than most due to poor attendances that would only get smaller. As for Villa, it depends whether the players see Blackburn or Newcastle as the likely scenario I guess. Lambert I can't really see going unless another job opened up, and as yet I can't see one. Give me five minutes and that'll probably change though.
I thought the same originally about Wigan but looked at the Championship and realised there are now 1 teams that have played in the Prem in the last 20 years. And three more joining them. I do think it is going to be harder each year to get out of that division. You are right about Swansea's style helping them but they had a patience that I don't think Wigan have and that is why they are so vulnerable. We have a little less patience but a good shape and discipline so that would stand us in good stead if we were to go down. I think Lambert would easily find a job. It's a merry go round out there and he would probably fall on his feet OK. As far as I'm concerned, he would always be welcome back here, although it invariably doesn't work out for either. He left us for, at the time, good career sense. I don't hold that against him.
Have to agree with your statement re Lambert - I dread to think where we might be now had he not been our manager for those 3 years. He was definitely the right man at the right time and though we conceded lots of goals, we scored even more, which made our games very exciting for the most part. True, he didn't have to leave in the manner in which he left (soon after 'jumping down Stuart Jarrold's throat' at the Drury testimonial), but that was last year and we all need to move on. Personally, I think Wigan will be the 3rd team to be relegated. Anyone fancy trying to sign Kone if they do go down????
Heres one from left field, how abut Le fondre from Reading? Scored 12 goals in a poor Reading side and I was surprised Adkins didn't put him on at our place.
Kone, Maloney, mcarthur or Gomez please, anyone of them. maloney in particular is very skillful and le fondre, not sure why Atkins has dropped him
If we go for Kone, can we make it a condition that he gets rid of that awful hair? Either natural colour or shaven head!
Didn't see this Redruth, I don't have anything against Lambert or Villa to be honest I just want them to get battered and have as little confidence as possible in the remaining 4 fixtures as I do not want us to go down, that's all. I will always appreciate what Lambert did for us and be forever grateful.
By the way that should be 14 ex Prem teams in the Championship. On another matter regarding that figure. How long before the call for Prem2 so that the teams that have fallen from grace can soften that blow and increase their chances of return.
Aren't there 18? 24 less Brighton, Posh, Huddersfield, Millwall, Cardiff & Bristol city. i'm probably wrong. have you done 20 - 6 = 14. ipswich have been there the longest.
We should go after Maloney big time! I work with a Celtic supporter who rues the day they ever let him go!
Can't say there are many players who play in the premiership who we could afford. Kone I'd probably say maybe worth it,wouldn't touch LeFondre with a barge pole. I'd also go for Weimann should they go down. Other than that I'd probably stick with looking abroad.
I think you are right. I wasn't sure about one or two and thought they may have been old 1st Division but they were probably Prem. That is even more of a reason for it to be brought up again. Especially as EPPP means clubs with the clout can pinch lower clubs youth players for a pittance instead of paying a large sum when they "graduate".
