Only a few short weeks ago, Aston Villa were riding on the crest of a wave. They had beaten Norwich at home in a dominant performance and appeared to have put their home hoodoo to bed, with a win against Jose Mourinho's Chelsea. The latter, a win which had enhanced their already impressive record against the top teams in the Premier League.
As you look back though, things have gone a little pear-shaped. Four straight defeats, against teams they should be looking to beat, if they expect to break into the top half of the league. The very least a club like Villa should be looking to achieve. It's isn't even the defeats themselves, it is the manner of these defeats which has made the, so far, supportive fans of the club, stand up and make their voices heard. For weeks, if not months, there have been dissenting voices on social media but until more recently there had also been a large segment of supporters for the under-fire manager.
Saturday's defeat to Crystal Palace appears to have been the last straw for many fans with the final whistle at Selhurst Park being greeted by booing and chants of 'We want Lambert Out', as well as, 'You don't know what you're doing'. This, and the reaction of the fans on social media, had prompted calls for a statement from the hierarchy at Villa Park. Today the calls were answered with a statement from Paul Faulkner appearing on the official website. Many people have pointed out the similarity between this statement and a statement made shortly before the end of the season Alex McLeish was relieved of his duties. It is hard to argue to the difference. 2014 Statement.
This has sparked widespread criticism of Paul Faulkner and the club. Do they deserve it? The upper echelons of the Villa Park leadership have a lot to answer for, but for this alone there should be no issue. Regardless of what people want to happen to Paul Lambert, the board of Aston Villa Football Club and their owner, major dissent amongst the fans will not help matters. The club will know their supporters are angry and frustrated about the state of their beloved Villa. They must know it will not be allowed to continue. The fans have been taken for fools before and have demonstrated the strength of fan power. Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, questions will need to be answered, changes will be in order and, most likely, heads will need to roll. The fans have to support their club in one of their most trying times. If they want Randy Lerner to leave the club, the chances of a new owner will be greatly improved if the club remains in the top flight. Dropping down a division would be catastrophic. Whilst it is possible to create scenarios where time out of the top tier could be beneficial, these are hypothetical. For any club to progress and improve the Premier League offers the best hope, potential owners know this, as do players and coaches.
As painful as it is, the fans need to show their full support for the club. Show their love for all things Aston Villa for 450 more minutes of football or at least until survival is ensured (if it is ensured). A time will come for them to make their voices heard, that time is not now. Those players, however useless, heartless and pathetic they are, are the only ones who can save the club now.
As soon as everything is decided in this Premier League season, it is only fair that Randy Lerner, Paul Faulkner and Paul Lambert are held to account for the state of a once proud English superpower. A summer of upheaval is required with many questions needing to be answered, otherwise, this may only be the start of the problems for the pride of Birmingham.
As you look back though, things have gone a little pear-shaped. Four straight defeats, against teams they should be looking to beat, if they expect to break into the top half of the league. The very least a club like Villa should be looking to achieve. It's isn't even the defeats themselves, it is the manner of these defeats which has made the, so far, supportive fans of the club, stand up and make their voices heard. For weeks, if not months, there have been dissenting voices on social media but until more recently there had also been a large segment of supporters for the under-fire manager.
Saturday's defeat to Crystal Palace appears to have been the last straw for many fans with the final whistle at Selhurst Park being greeted by booing and chants of 'We want Lambert Out', as well as, 'You don't know what you're doing'. This, and the reaction of the fans on social media, had prompted calls for a statement from the hierarchy at Villa Park. Today the calls were answered with a statement from Paul Faulkner appearing on the official website. Many people have pointed out the similarity between this statement and a statement made shortly before the end of the season Alex McLeish was relieved of his duties. It is hard to argue to the difference. 2014 Statement.
This has sparked widespread criticism of Paul Faulkner and the club. Do they deserve it? The upper echelons of the Villa Park leadership have a lot to answer for, but for this alone there should be no issue. Regardless of what people want to happen to Paul Lambert, the board of Aston Villa Football Club and their owner, major dissent amongst the fans will not help matters. The club will know their supporters are angry and frustrated about the state of their beloved Villa. They must know it will not be allowed to continue. The fans have been taken for fools before and have demonstrated the strength of fan power. Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, questions will need to be answered, changes will be in order and, most likely, heads will need to roll. The fans have to support their club in one of their most trying times. If they want Randy Lerner to leave the club, the chances of a new owner will be greatly improved if the club remains in the top flight. Dropping down a division would be catastrophic. Whilst it is possible to create scenarios where time out of the top tier could be beneficial, these are hypothetical. For any club to progress and improve the Premier League offers the best hope, potential owners know this, as do players and coaches.
As painful as it is, the fans need to show their full support for the club. Show their love for all things Aston Villa for 450 more minutes of football or at least until survival is ensured (if it is ensured). A time will come for them to make their voices heard, that time is not now. Those players, however useless, heartless and pathetic they are, are the only ones who can save the club now.
As soon as everything is decided in this Premier League season, it is only fair that Randy Lerner, Paul Faulkner and Paul Lambert are held to account for the state of a once proud English superpower. A summer of upheaval is required with many questions needing to be answered, otherwise, this may only be the start of the problems for the pride of Birmingham.
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