Groningen v aston villa

Paul Lambert is focused on the fitness of his players ahead of the new Barclays Premier League season rather than match results after watching his team go down 4-1 at FC Groningen.

Charles N'Zogbia's wonderful second half free-kick was merely a consolation as goals from Tjaronn Chery [2], Jarchinio Antonia and Dino Islamovic won it for the hosts.

Lambert insists he's not overly concerned about the loss - because he's got his eyes firmly fixed on Saturday August 16 when the team's Barclays Premier League season begins for real at Stoke City.

He said: "The result wasn't the most important thing. It's about getting fitness levels.

"The result is irrelevant. We are still some weeks away from our first game. These matches don't matter results-wise. I have said that from the beginning.

"The fitness levels are the most important thing.

"I have been involved where we have won every single pre-season game and before you know it, you lose your first game. I never read too much into pre-season games.

"Groningen are a few weeks ahead of us. They are a good side. They are in the Europa League.

"We're not too far away. We're not a million miles away from where we want to be. The Stoke game is where you have to hit your maximum. We will be ready for the Stoke game."

Lambert also revealed that Joe Bennett and Matt Lowton played for the U21s at Swindon because he wanted them to get more game-time under their belts.

"Groningen are a few weeks ahead of us. They are a good side. They are in the Europa League.

Yes lambert, and we are Aston Villa and not Cowdenbeath - we should be a good side too!
Already can see him preparing his aftermatch quotes for the hull game

"Hull are a good side. They are in the Europa League."

Eastie wrote:"Groningen are a few weeks ahead of us. They are a good side. They are in the Europa League.

Yes lambert, and we are Aston Villa and not Cowdenbeath - we should be a good side too!
Already can see him preparing his aftermatch quotes for the hull game

"Hull are a good side. They are in the Europa League."

This defeatist, small-club mentality that permeates every fabric of Aston Villa is what really gets me. No wonder we do so fucking badly when everyone at the club thinks it's the level we should be operating at. Nobody's had any proper ambition for years! You can't run a big club the same way you would run AFC Telford for example (no disrespect).

Basically gives the players the excuse not to give a fook about winning any further pre-season games and I thought Keane was coming here to instil a winning mentality.

Lambert says the result isn't important. Are results ever important to him?

Great chat yesterday from the fans whicjph hopefully will be sang loud on Tuesday

" we are even worse than last year, we are even worse than last year"

"In and out. Get the job done. Thank you very much."

No wonder we're doing so badly if Lambert's basing the tactics on his sex life.

Elagabalus wrote:"In and out. Get the job done. Thank you very much."

No wonder we're doing so badly if Lambert's basing the tactics on his sex life.

Agreed - he needs to shake it all about   

Eastie wrote:

Elagabalus wrote:"In and out. Get the job done. Thank you very much."

No wonder we're doing so badly if Lambert's basing the tactics on his sex life.

Agreed - he needs to shake it all about   

Like most Villa fans "we go again" are the words his missus dreads.

I wonder if he used to bring Jordan Bowery in to finish the job there, too?

Trotters wrote:I wonder if he used to bring Jordan Bowery in to finish the job there, too?  

Let's hope not as last time I saw him he put it in the wrong one.

 

From the hardcore who were at Euroborg home of FC Groniningen aka Alcatraz we want to thank Thr Groningen officials for the delightful welcome and entrance to their stadium.full body searches entering through locked gates down steps to enter a concrete tunnel under the canal which runs alongside the stadium surrounds then to climb approx 6 flights of concrete steps to enter the compound.it was like being at the blues brothers gig at the country club.big plastic panels topped out with mesh netting.Then to have to endure some of the worst football I have seen Villa produce was the capping.One guy I was talking to tried to leave just after half time and was refused permission to leave and when we were allowed to leave at the final whistle we had to queue in the concrete hellhole to be filtered out to be questioned by the police before we were let out as to our destination on leaving the ground.I know we were probably paying the price for Aberdeen shenannigans a couple of weeks earlier but OTT or what.having said that the fans we met before and after the game were great to be topped off with a great night in square with a few beverages.

Did you ask for your money back? 

Morpheus wrote:Did you ask for your money back? 

at 7 quid was probably about right...lol