Shambles and a disgrace

Villa doesn't need a clear out. It's has clear-cut needs which have to be addressed. We're actually playing better football under Garde, but we're short of quality where it matters and that is costing us hugely.

The defence is a shambles, which at first sight is strange because that's where our experienced players are playing. You have to look at the players. One factor sticks out. We've had 3 draws in the last 6 matches, not what we needed but considering the opposition were not a disgrace. One loss to Arsenal was not unexpected. Richards didn't play in those four matches. In the final two matches against Norwich and Sunderland, which we had to win, and where Richards played, we conceded 5 goals. Conclusion: Richards is a disaster in our defence. Basically, he hasn't the mindset of a central defender. Stick him at RB or drop him. There are other defensive problems to solve, like LB, but that would be a good start.

The attack is another other main problem. At the moment we're relying in the midfielders to score. Gestede at his best worries defenders, but not enough and he's not fast enough, sharp enough, or aware enough to do what we need. We need a striker who can score goals. Ayew when playing is a threat but he's not that out and out striker.

The midfield is lacking a defensive enforcer, somebody who can break up the opposition movements so that the defence aren't continually exposed. Sanchez against the better opposition can't do it.

If I was Garde I'd re-organise the defence, give Bennett a try at LB because I don't think Cissokho is good enough, buy a defensive midfielder and a striker, minimum. That would go a fair way towards a decent side. If possible find another LB. There may be other possibilities, like goalkeeper and another central defender, but those are the critical ones. If Richards won't play RB then sell him and use the money to buy somebody who will.

Thing is, would anyone other than League 1 and below take any of the Villa players?

They are all carp. I wonder what Lescott thinks about his £2m move from the Pride of the Midlands.

There's never a good time to go down but christ with the money you'd lose out on from the TV money next season and beyond it's THE worst possible time to go.

It's deffo make or break for Lerner this month, if he spends and keeps you up it will be worth it in the long run but if he fails to spend and goes down, the valuation goes down too - it's a hell of a gamble and decision to make

Depends on whether we can come straight back up. If we can then yes we will have lost one dollop of money, but only one.

comment by L4 4EL Bluenose (U5487)
posted 13 hours, 27 minutes ago
There's never a good time to go down but christ with the money you'd lose out on from the TV money next season and beyond it's THE worst possible time to go.

It's deffo make or break for Lerner this month, if he spends and keeps you up it will be worth it in the long run but if he fails to spend and goes down, the valuation goes down too - it's a hell of a gamble and decision to make
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What if he spends loads of money in Jan and Villa still go down?

Who would be a chairman of a football club?

I think most of the signings will be loans or with release clauses

Going down!

The key to Albion's bouncebackability was always keeping a squad of good players who were too good for the Championship and who were able to keep their heads, plus decent and battle-hardened managers behind them - Gary Megson, Tony Mowbray and Roberto di Matteo.
I agree with the poster above who said whoever was responsible for last summer's recruitment at Villa needs firing. Albion had exactly the same scenario in the summer of 2014 under then DofF Terry Burton. He was effing useless and I wanted him out almost literally on day two of his tenure because I just couldn't see what added value he brought to the club. The player recruitment he oversaw, plus being instrumental in the appointment of head coach Alan Irvine, was an unmitigated disaster.

No wum intended.
Presupposing you get relegated [for which, if I was in your position, I would still hold a glimmer of hope of staying up] will this mean that Lerner will stay as owner?
Under the current legislation you will get parachute payments for four years [not sure how this is split only that the new system, if relegated 2016/17 would be three years payments at 55, 45 & 20% of the revenue gathered by the PL clubs].
In order to recoup his money, will he run the club into the ground or will he expect a new buyer to fund the money up front before he sells?
Whilst you lot want closure on the upcoming season and its outcome, you presumably want shut of Randy at the same time but that would be increasingly unlikely.
What happens now?

You're right about the three years (except if a newly promoted club is relegated that year then they only get two years) and the percentages. But it's not yet known what these are percentages of. The figure of £70m has been guessed at for the total payments, ie roughly £32m + £26m + £12m.

Think Lerner will sell as soon as he can; that hasn't changed. But the asking price almost certainly will.

We're supposed to be getting a new chairman. Where is he?