Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Mike Field 
Date:Saturday January 12 2013
Time: 7:55PM
UK time is: 10:31:55
Vital Login
Social Login
Choose your club
Other Sites
Network Navigation
Vital Partners
'If It's Football, It's Vital'
The Referee Will Be Embarrassed
Paul Lambert has talked about his immense frustration at today's result, following a much improved performance and a hugely dodgy decision from Mark Halsey again.
I know fans always look for decisions when it comes to a refereeing performance, an excuse, feeling cheated, wronged, but they do appear to be awfully noticeable at points when it comes to Mr Halsey, and Paul Lambert pulled no punches as he spoke to the Official Site following the game today.
'I have seen it loads of times and had a chat with Mark after the game. He was adamant he was 100% right and he's guessed. It's never a penalty that, never. Mark has got it wrong, he'll be embarrassed by it, totally embarrassed. He's telling me he's 100% right, it's nowhere near it. You have to get those right, there's no point guessing or surmising that something happened, you have to get it right. That's where the let down is. For Mark to say he's got it right, I am pretty sure he'll be embarrassed by it.'
However, despite that Lambert admits we created enough chances during the game to have taken the victory comfortably, but again we lacked that killer touch and it's cost us.
'Listen I can't fault them for that second half, they were relentless. We had loads of chances. There's a way to get beat and I couldn't fault them for the way they went about it in that second half. The crowd are right behind it. We couldn't do anymore than stick it in. You keep going, there's a long way to go, there will be loads of twists and turns in this whole thing.'
I'm not going to comment too much on the game as I didn't see it today, so I do reserve the right to disagree with what I'm about to put once I have seen whether the performance matched our stat domination.
All I can guess from the stats and listening to what people have said since the game is, at least the performance was somewhat there today and if we perform like we did in the second half more often - and Lambert does what is required this window so performances like today end with the maximum haul - we might/should have enough about us to stay up...just.
But if we keep performing for only 45 minutes, it's going to be nowhere near enough, because we afford anymore games when we finish this strongly, but still get nothing from it.
Questions have to be asked about why we have been so unbalanced in terms of experience, and Lambert needs to learn from his own errors. The youth direction is the way to go, but not when it means basically the whole team is inexperienced. You still need a core of experienced and motivated players amongst them to help them grow, to provide them with direction on the pitch and we have lacked that all too often.
That has to be sorted this month.
Southampton forum Thread.
Vital Villa on:
Vital Villa on:
Join Vital Villa
It's easy to REGISTER, simply click the link and enjoy getting involved!
Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for the British GP
Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!
Your Comments
Benteke has missed two first-touch empty netters. It is hard to hit from volley but at least one had to be converted.
Majkee
I haven't even read the article yet but as a reply to headline: The villa fans will be embarrassed, yet again.
Avfc94 we do
The ref had a guess today and got it wrong and it did cost us. It cost us a point and no more. Lambert has been guessing all season and cost us in plenty of games. His arrogance and belief in his scattergun lower league squad building approach is there for all to see, and his refusal to admit he has got it wrong will get us relegated. That is a lot more shameful than one penalty decision. Surely the idea is to bring in players who are better than what you have already? He persists with players who aren't good enough, never will be (Bannan - the 'saviour' he brought on at half time) and tactics that don't work just because they worked elsewhere. That borders on being lazy. We have been promised after every embarrassing performance that 'We'll go again and meet things head on' and they do. They go out making the same mistakes and keep getting beat. ADAPT FOR F***S SAKE! He talks about having a great relationship with Lerner and being in constant contact about the team. He might like to try being big enough to admit he got it wrong in August, and plead for the help to get it right in the last 18 days of January. He needs to spell out the seriousness of the situation because the silence and inactivity from above is deafening. Make no mistake a lot of looking inward, pride swallowing and reinforcements are needed ASAP!!!
heavy d
Injuries are not the reason either. We weren't impressive when we did have a full compliment of fit players. Let's remember this was Southampton. I like them as a club but they were promoted last year and missing more key players than we were. They we desperately short at the back but all they had to day was hold firm - something we have failed to do all season. 2 relegation rivals have now come to Villa Park and taken maximum points. Meanwhile QPR have beaten Chelsea and drawn with Spurs. Why? Because the managers of these teams aren't on a 'my way or the highway' ego trip and keep persisting with an approach that plainly ISN'T working!!!!
heavy d
I said to myself during the game if Lambert blames the ref for this tripe it will make my blood boil, guess what... It's boiling!! I agree the ref got it wrong, I also agree he had a terrible game BUT do not blame the ref for the way we played (yet again) we were once more absolutely poor and no body besides Lambert, his staff and his players can take blame for such utter crap. Mike we created more in the second half and should have scored but at the end of the day we were still extremely poor and Southampton more than deserved to win. I'm watching Swansea lately and thinking.... how the **** have they got such a good football team so quickly?? Then I heard their owner talking on the radio and everything fell into place. I have NEVER heard Randy's voice ever.
AdzVilla11
AdzVilla, totally agree with you about Lambert blaming the ref. Not a good sign. As the Saints gaffer said afterwards those decisions tend to even themselves out over a season. Lambert blaming the ref is the sign of a bloke under immense pressure. Also agree with you about Swansea...they seem to have come out of nowhere and have survived losing Rodgers and that playmaker who went to L'pool. Laudrup and Michu would be welcome at VP as far as this fan is concerned. Would they come? Don't be silly. Swansea, Saints, The Baggies, Everton, norwich and others are all leaving Villa behind on and off the pitch. Think Villa were the only club in the bottom six who didn't pick up points today. It's not inconcievable that the club could finish bottom at the end of the season.
VillaWillRiseAgain
The penalty is a convenient excuse. Unless we do something drastic in this window we are dead.
Bikini Inspector
As for RL how can a couple of clowns like Al Fayed or Ashley do a better job. Maybe because -- unlike -- RL they are self-made men who take an interest in whatever it is they invest in. Only the mad Russian at Chelsea has done more damage to an EPL club.
VillaWillRiseAgain
And that second half was only a bit crap as oppose to complete *****. Lambert has lost the plot like mcleish. These chaps cant handle the claret and blue hot seat.
Bikini Inspector
ok the ref got a decision wrong. but we should be able to put at least 2 past a terrible team like southampton so the decision wouldnt of mattered. we are the worst team in the prem. by a mile.... and it hurts to admit but its truth
colavfc
Always tried to stay positive and optomistic but watching the game today against fellow strugglers, it dawned on me that we would be fortunate to finish in the play offs with the side we had out today..if we dont get an established central defender and likewise in central midfield in the next couple of weeks, I think barring a miracle we are down..cant remember ever having this strong a feeling of resignation, just cant see where the next win is coming from..trying hard to keep the faith...
Lionheart2010
As I've said before PL said in a statement that he "knew the business he wanted to do in the transfer window" and yet we lose what should be a cast iron 3 points because he obviously doesn't know! Albion next week and there isn't a cat in hells chance that we'll turn them over like Reading did as we AREN'T as good as Reading!!!! that is of course unless he brings in 3 players AND plays them in that match
griffgriff
After 50 years supporting this club, I'm feelinglet down. AdzVilla has hit the nail on the head, the problem is RL and his p(m)uppet PF. The problem started after the takeover when Steve Stride left the club and we lost football expeirence. The issues now are not just down to PL. Swansea is a very well managed club where the owner is fuly involved and has a plan. We have a plan and a middle man employed to deliver it. PF is not a Deadly and cannot have the power or position of an owner. He is a yes man who seemingly has little football knowledge and little business experience. He lacks authority. The upper management structure and leadership is wrong. Other clubs with foreign owners have a strong CEO. We don't, RL has employed and then removed people who seem to have been stronger. Tattooing a club badge on your ankle does not make you a leader and the right man to run this club.
Gordonsleftboot
Is everyone ignoring the fact that we made MORE than enough chances today to win this game comfortably? If it were not for some extremely poor finishing we would have walked it, first half was not brilliant, never a penalty, I believe in calling a spade a spade and the ref was *****e throughout, he was very one sided in his decisions, second half plenty of hoof to Benteke : ( not a fan of long ball, but the fact remains, poor finishing cost us this match, not Lerner, not Lambert, the players and their lack of finish cost us this match.
Steff_the_Villan
Well said VillaWillRiseAgain and Gordon, agree 100%. Steff, I hear what you are saying but sorry I don't agree mate. I'm not happy to see Villa play like that regardless of 'if' we should have scored or not. We didn't score and lost again at home to a fellow relegation battler, after already losing to Bradford and Wigan at home before that. It's much more than just finishing.
AdzVilla11
Steff is right, we have had enough chances to win the match easily.
Majkee
Do you think we played well though Majkee?
AdzVilla11
......And if Liverpool had scored all the times they hit the woodwork last year they would have finished 2nd or 3rd. Were they good enough to finish in that position? NO! Are we really trying to blame bad luck? We were attacked time and time again today because we had no shape. That isn't luck that is poor preparation, discipline and play. Southampton - a struggling side like us - had the lions share of the possession away from home and also hit the post. When you start blaming the ref in post match interviews it shows desparation. What will he do next time, stand outside Villa Park, shaking his fist and shouting at a cloud?
heavy d
Mike, surely it was clear at the beginning of Jan that this was going to be a crucial game. We needed experience and strength in defense and MF for the So'ton game, Even with the weak team we have, we should have won this in the 2nd half. We cannot afford to let fellow strugglers leave VP with 3 points. There is already a gap developing between the dammed and the saved. Action is needed this week. Our situation is desperate.
Forest Hill Villan
we just never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever look dangerous in front of goal! i never feel like we're about to score
avfcwills10
i am fully aware of how poor we have been this season, every fan in the country knows it and thinks we are the worst team in the prem right now and its difficult to argue against it and i am not trying to gloss over how bad we are but look at todays game in isolation and we have been cheated. plain and simple. people will say these things even out over the season. ok, brilliant, so which game do we get to cheat 3 points from someone? i am sick and tired of what football has become, its the only sport that allows cheating to go unpunished and maybe its the alcohol talking but i am finding less and less beauty in the so called beautiful game, in fact i would describe it as the ugly, obscene, filthy game and im not sure how much longer i can be bothered to actually give a *****
jcvilla
no paul i think you should be embarrassed.
macca1087
New to this and first time poster so please excuse me!! Villain since 78.
Devastated today about the loss but tbh not unexpected. 40%+ expected a loss in the poll. I agree with most of the opinions but fundamentally I believe our frustrations stem from lack of communication from AV leadership. None of us are privy to the detailed financials of RL but recent actions would suggest things are not as good as they originally were. I believe statement of intentions from AV leadership is long overdue and whilst the reality of it is probably not what we want to hear at least we will know where we stand. Assumption will drive us to sanatoriums ....... Therefore, clear communication of expectations is what I believe we all need. UTV
AVFanbutnotdeluded
Seems like the penny is finally dropping with a few more now. Lerner has finally got us down on our knees.........
Pride of Lions
AVFanbutnotdeluded, great first post mate, think you are spot on there. I don't understand why they can't just communicate?? Half way through the transfer window and no fan has a clue what is going on.
AdzVilla11
Embarrassed Mr Lambert well i'm embarrassed to be a Villa fan right now, and embarrassed at the players we have to call our first team, i'm ebarrassed we have a chairman that has proved he is clueless and has managed to downgrade this great club to below the likesof the Baggies Wigan absolutely unreal, so yea i agree EMBARRESSED is the right word oh and sad!
CLIVETHEVILLAN
I don't think the ref (or indeed referees in general) should be embarrassed, you saw that incident in 'real speed' and it was a pen. You see it on the replays and no, it wasn't. They need help OR the FA / PL need to do video juries and ban them for a month every time guilty, they'd soon stop. Not the refs fault that, it is diving players that should be blamed.
The Fear
Championship wages,Championship manager,Championship players. The American asset stripper and his ginger gonk have nearly got to their promised land of the championship. The club have become a laughing stock where loyal fans have been taken in by the bull****** the club spin. I fully expect the club to be be relegated and sold.
tarzansbrother
totally agree Fear, the FA hand out bans to players for off the ball incidents when the ref has missed it so why not do it for diving?. you could argue that a player cheating to win a game is a more serious offence than giving someone a thick lip behind the referees back.
jcvilla
I watched it online in real speed and it didnt seem like a penalty - it seemed like he had stumbled. Only on the replay did it become obvious that Stevens in fact had pulled back and the Saint had done an Ashley. Where was the yellow card, or red even ?? The MIB are paid good salaries - not to mention the "extras" - to get this kind of thing right, esp when there is no contact. But given the butterfly-flaps-its-wings theory, I am not sure the result would have been different because they would have played differently second half.
malacaxeta
i think the first thing needed is for the players to be introduced to each other, when they're on the pitch they play like a bunch of strangers! never able to string more than 2 0r 3 passes together before losing posession! whenever we concede a corner i get the feeling it will be followed by yet another goal (just look at bradford) get the feeling lerner will be well out of pocket next season!
walsallvillan
Irrespective of the penalty we didn't score, we look weak we are being bullied all over the pitch. The transfer window is open and we are making no movements, it's the poorest villa team I can remember and i fear the worst but so hope I'm wrong.
claretandbluearmy
Well said claretandbluearmy! The pen is irrelevant. We didn't have any bad decisions go against us when we shipped 8 against Chelsea, 4 against Spurs, 3 against Wigan (that one hurt me the most) and 3 against Bradford. The simple fact is no matter who is manager we have the worse squad in the league by a mile. How much did Randy sell his NFL team for??
AdzVilla11
He sold the Browns for $1billion (£670million) and wont let us have £10million to try and stave off relegation. What a short-sighted moron. He won't let us have anything as there wont be enough money in his Scrooge McDuck money bin for him to be able to enjoy his morning swim. Pleading poverty when you have completed a deal like that shows what he thinks of us. He treats us as a club and as fans with such disdain it is almost (I do say ALMOST) getting to the point that I hope the worst happens as it will hit the absent Yank in the pocket. I hope all his investments go to pot and he is in the poor house and that is the only language this prat understands. One thing is for sure, Villa have the capacity to come back and there will always be people looking to buy football clubs (Could someone send a video of the '82 final to the Qatari Royal Family with a begging letter?), but as Randolph inherited all of his wealth from his Daddy I doubt he would have the capacity to recover and gain wealth through his own efforts. You treat us like crap so I hope Karma visits you soon!!!
heavy d
You know what, Paul? I'm ****ing embarrassed! You have frozen out the senior players at the club, including an England international who scores goals for fun! You have put inexperienced players from lower leagues who are just not good enough into the firing line, and you have relied on Benteke and Weimann far too much to get the goals we need to survive. Then, this from the Express... Question to Lambert: do you still think you will be safe?
“Yes.” Because?
“I just do. I said that from day one. I just do. If you look at the middle of that table, there is not much in it.”
Rawlie
I really hope he has a plan, but judging on the first half of the season, that seems rather unlikely. You can blame Lerner to an extent, but Lambert was given 20 million at the start of the season and he spunked it all on untested, untried players, who have simply been found out. We need a way out, a plan of escape, a way forward... and we need it last week! Is Lambert the man to do this? Sadly, I just don't think he is anymore.
Rawlie
heavy d, this line hit the nail on the head for me "Pleading poverty when you have completed a deal like that shows what he thinks of us." Couldn't agree more mate, 1 billion. We need 15-20mil. Rawlie, I'm sick of hearing that line about the middle of the table too!! I know how the table looks and it hurts!! I'm still with Lambert but the players have to arrive and they have to be good.
AdzVilla11
Rawlie understand your frustration with PL but hes towing the club line from above. He could not really say when I arrived we had lost several players and I was told I had 20 mill to replace 60 mills worth of talent on half the wages could he ? Truth be told we could not sell the crap that he was left with . Dunne cant believe those who are calling for him to be brought back own goals and the turning circle of a chieftan tank. Hutton,Warnock,Ireland,Nzobia all bad let downs Bannan ,Delph,Albrighton, KEA,Bennet,Stevens simply not good enough for the prem. and yet despite this Istill feel we could get out of trouble with a couple of decent midfielders on loan but time is running out we need them NOW! As for embarressed yeh you could say that I am even starting to get sympathy from Baggies fans.
Merlin128777
Have Your Say
Log in...
with your social network OR with your Vital account
Recent Articles
Aston Villa Season 2013/14 Fixtures. OUCH Start! (Wednesday June 19 2013)
Seville Confirm Luna Interest (Tuesday June 18 2013)
Bacuna Speaks Roncrete & Improvements (Tuesday June 18 2013)
The AVFC Summer Transfer Action So Far (Tuesday June 18 2013)
Giant Striker Joins Villa! (Tuesday June 18 2013)
Vital Villa Interviews 2013 - Villa67 (Tuesday June 18 2013)
Vital Villa Interviews 2013 - Connerz1874 (Tuesday June 18 2013)
Pre Season Ticket Latest (Monday June 17 2013)
Matty's Mr Consistency (Monday June 17 2013)
Vital Villa Interviews 2013 - Draig Cymraeg (Monday June 17 2013)
Archived Articles
Vital Members League (view all)
| 1. | The Fear | 399 |
| 2. | Pride of Lions | 388 |
| 3. | ClivetheVillan | 322 |
| 4. | BodyButter | 197 |
| 5. | DeanoVilla | 195 |
| 6. | CDX_EIRE | 168 |
| 7. | mike_field | 167 |
| 8. | Green Tea | 160 |
| 9. | Trekker | 151 |
| 10. | HeathfieldRoad1874 | 149 |
League Results (view all)
| Latest Results | ||||
| Wigan | 2 | - | 2 | Aston Villa |
| Aston Villa | 1 | - | 2 | Chelsea |
| Norwich | 1 | - | 2 | Aston Villa |
| Aston Villa | 6 | - | 1 | Sunderland |
| Man Utd | 3 | - | 0 | Aston Villa |
| Aston Villa | 1 | - | 1 | Fulham |
League Table (view table)
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 12. Fulham | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | -10 | 43 |
| 13. Stoke | 38 | 9 | 15 | 14 | -11 | 42 |
| 14. Southampton | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | -11 | 41 |
| 15. Aston Villa | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | -22 | 41 |
| 16. Newcastle | 38 | 11 | 8 | 19 | -23 | 41 |
| 17. Sunderland | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | -13 | 39 |
| 18. Wigan | 38 | 9 | 9 | 20 | -26 | 36 |
Breaking League News
| Chelsea`s 2013 / 2014 Fixtures Are?
» Chelsea : 19/06/2013 10:18:00
|
| The Rumour Mill #1
» Arsenal : 19/06/2013 10:14:00
|
| Royals linked with Slovenian striker
» Reading : 19/06/2013 10:00:00
|
| Hughes faces difficult start to Stoke reign
» Stoke : 19/06/2013 09:47:00
|
| Llambias Quits
» Newcastle : 19/06/2013 09:44:00
|
| Liverpool: Reds Welcome Stoke On Opening Day
» Liverpool : 19/06/2013 09:20:00
|
| Opening Game: Swansea City vs Manchester United
» Swansea : 19/06/2013 09:14:00
|
Current Site Poll (view all polls)
|
|
1 © - All content copyright Vital Network Ltd, not to be reproduced without explicit permission Copyright Issues
Cookie Policy
At Vital Football, we along with most other modern websites use small files called 'cookies' to create the most secure, effective and functional website possible for our users. Without these files our business model, based on advertising, breaks down and we would be unable to continue to provide the services that you are here to utilise. By continuing to use this website after seeing this message, you consent to our use of cookies on this device unless you have disabled them. For full details please read our Cookie Policy which can be found here. However, if you would like to disable cookies on this device, please view our Cookie Policy which contains an opt-out tool for disabling advertising cookies. Please also visit our information pages on 'How to manage cookies' if you would also like to block all other types of cookies. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies.