Lambert in or out? Poll reset with majority 'in', 7th May

[supertom]

Lambert could bemoan lack of money. The simple fact is though, the major problem for us this season has been how poorly organised and managed we've been on the pitch. Quality of players is one thing but at the very least, if they're well drilled and look like they've got a gameplan, then we could accept being in this position more so, and probably put the blame more on Randy's shoulders.

We do actually have some talented players. The problem is, Lambert doesn't really know how to gel them, doesn't have a system he's comfortable with, and what money he has had to spend he hasn't spent entirely wisely. If I had the funds from Vlaar, KEA, Bennett and Bowery combined, I'd buy 2 decent players in place, with some experience in this league.

Benteke was a masterstroke granted. But for everything he does right, he does 4 things wrong. Same goes for on the pitch. Be it tactics, organisation, subs.

I did really want Lambert. Most did. We didn't particularly expect tactical brilliance. We expected some inconsistency, but we also expected a lot of 4-3 scorelines, and us winning a lot more.
This squad should be attaining mid-table.

The club made a mistake in letting both Cueller and Collins go without adequate replacement. Vlaar was one, but hadn't kicked a ball in this league. Dunne's fitness has always been in doubt for the last year. Grant Collins was horrific last year, and Cueller isn't brilliant, but Collins has been okay at West Ham again. Cueller's been a bit tosh, but he always did ok for us.
It's been too much too soon for Clark and Baker. It's debatable if they're good enough anyhow. Vlaars fitness record too was very risky. He's pretty average in any case. I don't see how we couldn't have found better, or as good, with more reliable fitness, in the Championship, or even scandanavian leagues if we wanted a cheaper option.

[PaulWinch again]

Cuellar would have been useful this year, because for all his failings he puts his body on the line. We lack that at the back.

[supertom]

Cuellar would have been useful this year, because for all his failings he puts his body on the line. We lack that at the back.

Yeah I'd go along with that. He actually reads the game fairly well and covers his fullbacks well too (on his day any how).

Clark's like a ghost at the back sometimes. It's very frustrating.

[Clampy]

I think Baker's good enough, i like him a lot. I'm not overkeen on Clark as a centre half though. Either way it's too soon for either of them to be involved in a relegation tussle and that's the main problem.

[Chris Smith]

Cuellar would have been useful this year, because for all his failings he puts his body on the line. We lack that at the back.

He's been iffy whenever I've seen him for Sunderland, the only thing he'd have provided is another body. It's organisation we've lacked at the back, my gut feeling is had Clark and Vlaar been able to play together more regularly things would have been better.

[Holte L2]

Cuellar would have been useful this year, because for all his failings he puts his body on the line. We lack that at the back.
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Cuellar would have been useful this year, because for all his failings he puts his body on the line. We lack that at the back.

Yeah I'd go along with that. He actually reads the game fairly well and covers his fullbacks well too (on his day any how).

Clark's like a ghost at the back sometimes. It's very frustrating.

Cuellar was incapable of marking his man, holding a back-line and his distribution was terrible.  I'd have much rather us have kept Collins with Vlaar. Collins man-marking was poor,but he made up for that in his recovery work.  I suspect he was another high earner the board wanted removing.

Cuellar's communication with the fans on social networks went a long way in his popularit levels.  He's shown his level at Sunderland now.

I really wanted OGS for the x-factor.  And I do believe this squad should be pushing for mid-table.  For me, Lamberts final straw should have been the Bradford semi.  I can't see a way back for him.

[PaulWinch again]

He might have shown his level at Sunderland, but that's still above where we are. In any case I'd certainly take Cuellar over the noone we signed in January. I'm not saying he's the best defender in the world, but it wouldn't take much to improve our awful defence.

[Greg N'Ash]

Lambert could bemoan lack of money. The simple fact is though, the major problem for us this season has been how poorly organised and managed we've been on the pitch. Quality of players is one thing but at the very least, if they're well drilled and look like they've got a gameplan, then we could accept being in this position more so, and probably put the blame more on Randy's shoulders.

We do actually have some talented players. The problem is, Lambert doesn't really know how to gel them, doesn't have a system he's comfortable with, and what money he has had to spend he hasn't spent entirely wisely. If I had the funds from Vlaar, KEA, Bennett and Bowery combined, I'd buy 2 decent players in place, with some experience in this league.

Benteke was a masterstroke granted. But for everything he does right, he does 4 things wrong. Same goes for on the pitch. Be it tactics, organisation, subs.

Yep. Thats the thing for me. We KNOW we have a poor squad thats not really fit for purpose and a lot of sub-standard or young players but even squads with those sort of limitations can organise themselves to the extent where while they may lose more than they win, they shouldn't be getting mauled every week or letting in goals in the last minute. He hasn't helped himself with the chelsea game. A sensible manager would have shut-up shop at half-time once it went pear-shaped and protected the player's confidence but he just carried on - if anything he went less defensive with his subs like a footballing version of the Black Knight who doesn't know when he's had his legs chopped off - a lot of what happened the whole of January was a direct result of that fuckwittery.


If he keeps us up, then i'd probably be inclined to give him the chance to sort it out, but otherwise i think its goodbye.

[Ron Manager]

Cuellar would have been useful this year, because for all his failings he puts his body on the line. We lack that at the back.

Ditto for Collins.Two years ago against Man City at VP he blocked everything more or less by himself.

[stubbsyandy]

I think we should remember how both carlos and collins were playing last season and the sort of negative comments that were made about them on here.
At the end of the day they aren't here, so lets just get behind a bunchnof lads who are generally giving all they have.

[PaulWinch again]

I think we should remember how both carlos and collins were playing last season and the sort of negative comments that were made about them on here.
At the end of the day they aren't here, so lets just get behind a bunchnof lads who are generally giving all they have.

I don't think many are not getting behind them. The argument is we'd be better off with Cuellar and Collins which is an indictment of the quality of our defence at the moment.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I think we should remember how both carlos and collins were playing last season and the sort of negative comments that were made about them on here.
At the end of the day they aren't here, so lets just get behind a bunchnof lads who are generally giving all they have.

I don't think many are not getting behind them. The argument is we'd be better off with Cuellar and Collins which is an indictment of the quality of our defence at the moment.

Paul is correct.

Although neither are any great shakes, I could guarantee that with a Collins, Cuellar centre half pairing, we wouldn't be stuck in the bottom 3.

[stubbsyandy]

I agree that hey are better but they aren't here so lets concentrate on the ones we have

UTV

[KevinGage]

Lambert could bemoan lack of money. The simple fact is though, the major problem for us this season has been how poorly organised and managed we've been on the pitch. Quality of players is one thing but at the very least, if they're well drilled and look like they've got a gameplan, then we could accept being in this position more so, and probably put the blame more on Randy's shoulders.

Bingo.

Even if he'd been given zilch to spend last summer, with the squad he inherited bottom three and losing to a Fourth Division side over two games would have been unacceptable.

He's failed to get the best out of the players already in the squad and the players he's signed himself.

[brian green]

Precisely Kevin.   As eastie put it last week, we have had defensive problems all season and they remain unnaddressed.   Everton tore us to pieces in the first half of the first game of the season.  We are no closer in March to correcting those failings.   Somebody has to carry the can for that.

I am the world's most badly coordinated and clumsy man but the Army drilled into me how to shoulder arms, slope arms, quick march, left wheel, right wheel, right dress, change step and it was all done by doing it over and over again until we all got it right.   Once our defensive coaches saw that first headless chicken defence against Everton they should have drilled the players mercilessly until they each knew what they had to do and when to do it.