Football

Ru, Lambert eats humble pie and welcomes back the high wage earners who he's been trying to get out of the club for the last two seasons

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/20/aston-villa-paul-lambert-darren-bent-u-turn

is this a case of a manager seeing he was wrong, or being told a'la AVB we're paying for them so use 'em?

Already very depressed about next season. There's no quick sale in place, so looks as though we'll limp on through the summer with no strategy.

Albrighton going is bad. He's a good player and done pretty well for us.

Bent coming back - can't see that being more than a drain on cash. He only seems good for a couple of cameo appearances these days.

I've always thought Hutton was shit. Do not want to see him back at all.

Meanwhile, I can see our better players getting picked off. Almost glad Benteke is not going to the WC as it keeps him out of the limelight - he would have been great in that Belgium team. Vlaar and Delph - our two best players (with Guzan) last season - are into the final year of their contracts and with no sign of new ownership (and manager) there's no incentive for them to stay.

Impressed that Lambert is staying put for now though - would be even worse without a manager.

Dark times.