Critical Condition

Our team will run out at Goodison Park tomorrow to the strains of the Z Cars theme tune. When we run out at Villa Park eight days later, the theme to Casualty may be more appropriate. The patient is critical. Straight to re-suss.

Paul Lambert knew we were short.

Paul Faulkner knew we were short.

Randy Lerner knew we were short.

The transfer window has now closed and guess what? We're still short.

There was no need for panic, but there was definitely a need for action and quick action at that. Put simply, there is now not a snowball's chance in hell that Aston Villa can retain their Premier League status with the defensive staff at Lambert's disposal. Bringing in at least one, but more realistically two experienced Premier League defenders wasn't a “nice to have”. It was a necessity.

That's not to decry the two players that Lambert has brought in. Yacoubu Sylla could well develop into a great Premier League player but that's the key point really. Even if he's the best thing since croissants for breakfast in Ligue 2, he'll need to time to adapt to life in the Premier League and ideally, confident defensive and midfield players around him to help him adapt. We haven't got that time and we haven't got those players. So brittle is our back line at the moment that any mistakes Sylla makes – and with the best will in the world, he's bound to make some – will likely lead to goals against. Some of us will turn on him.

We do that.

Simon Dawkins does look to be an exciting flair player looking to get his career back on track. I've not got a problem with that but Lambert doesn't seem overly keen on playing with width and in any case, I think we already had plenty of flair of going forward. If Dawkins works out he gives another option but I think this is a “nice to have”. I've had a butchers at some of his goals on You Tube and I'm looking forward to seeing him in the claret and blue, but the Earthquakes were a confident high flying, table topping outfit. Poor Simon may find it difficult to display his undoubted talents in a side under the cosh.

There was duty in January for the custodians of Aston Villa Football Club to take appropriate action to safeguard our Premier League future. As for as I can see such action has not been taken.

And now, dear readers, a confession.

I really enjoyed the second half against Newcastle. Okay, the penalty should never have been given and we didn't actually score in open play, but seeing wave upon wave of Villa attacks towards a highly emotional and increasingly noisy Holte End is how I got hooked in the first place.

I'm sick of using the phrase “game of two halves” in these columns but it keeps happening. The reason it happened this time was Lambert's inexplicable first half team selection. In the first half it wasn't a back three supplemented by wing backs, it was a flat back five. Against Newcastle? A team that hadn't won away all season? REALLY?

Barry Bannan in an overrun midfield was particularly bad, but every player goes through a run of bad form and at least he didn't try to hide. Unfortunately, Barry was subjected to negative chanting from a section of our own support. I'd be lying if I said I didn't concur with the sentiment of some of the chanting but I completely fail to see how it could possibly have helped the situation. Somehow, we need to suppress our anger while the game is going on and offer encouragement rather than derision when the ball is in play. If ever there was a need to pull together it's now.

I was also dismayed to see that Darren Bent had been selected. I really like Darren Bent but we need to select our forward line on current form and I'd have picked either Gabby or more preferably Andi Weimann ahead of him. Darren Bent is great in a confident flowing team but a liability in a backs-to-the-wall one. The ball watchers amongst you will have missed this, but have a look next time and see how Andi harries and works defenders when he's off the ball, depleting their energy while Bent just stands there like he's waiting for a taxi.

The second half changes, removing Bent and the risible Joe Bennett were just what the Doctor ordered. Nathan Baker did as good as job any of other players we've tried at left back this season, while the introduction of Gabby's  pace and Weimann's tenacity gave Newcastle all sorts of problems at the back.

Better still though, we had loads of the ball. Had it not been for the two goals we'd conceded in the first half (and to be fair, one of them was a cracker), we'd have had a chance here.

Hang on though. This was Newcastle. A struggling side trying to bed in a load of new signings. A side that never wins away.

And they won.

Away.

Paul Lambert spoke of a standing ovation. We tend to stand up at the end Paul. It's because we're on our way home. I don't blame the players for this one (stop jumping up and down and shouting “but Bannan was shit”) I blame Lambert pure and simple. Not for the first time this season he got his tactics totally wrong and by the time he moved to rectify the situation, it was too late.

The frustrating thing is that I can still see what he's trying to do and when he gets our offensive play right, it's still a joy to watch.

The bottom line is that his defence just isn't good enough.

Not good enough for Aston Villa.

Not good enough for the Premier League.

Paul Lambert's double failure to fix it either on the training pitch or in the transfer market will no doubt be his B6 epitaph because frankly, this state of affairs shows that he's not good enough for Aston Villa either.

Please prove me wrong Mister Lambert.

For all our sakes.