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

[MoetVillan]

I thought the subs were good to be fair, Bowery worked hard and did what he needed to.  Nzog pulled their defence around and created gaps, watch how painful they were at defending us with the extra movement on Nzog, if you need any proof, look at the veins on Hills neck for the last quarter as he berated his back line.  Bennett was the right choice as well earlier.  A mistake early on meant he was on a "loser" for most of the game, but an assist for our second, and much improved tracking from him was nice to see.  I was worried about Bannan, still dont rate him that highly, and he was culpable again for losing the ball in good positions, and he still floats in corners (=wasted), but a much improved performance by him.  Interested to see if he gets the nod next time, id go with Delph and stick with Sylla.

[PaulWinch again]

I actually think Bennett will be alright, yes he made a mistake but he came back really well. He does have some talent.

[eastie]

By James Nursey | 28/03/13 

Aston Villa's home win over QPR last time out was the first time in over two years the club had won successive Premier League games.

A victory on Sunday at Villa Park against Liverpool will make it three in a row which would be undeniable progress.

And of course it would be another significant step for Villa on the path to survival.

It would also complete a double for boss Lambert over opposite number Brendan Rodgers this season after Villa's fine 3-1 win at Anfield in December.

And Villa fans can rest assured the Scot will have his side fully fired up for Sunday's game.

For while Lambert has never admitted it publicly, I believe it does rankle how many plaudits Rodgers got last summer ahead of him.

The quotable, media-friendly Rodgers became something of a press darling last season after guiding promoted Swansea to 11th in the Premier League playing decent passing football.

But the column inches and favourable press for Rodgers were arguably out of proportion to his achievements as he inherited a decent side in July 2010 , the foundations of which had been carefully laid previously by Roberto Martinez from 2007-2009.

Lambert, in comparison, guided fellow promoted club Norwich to 12th in the top-flight, level on points with Swansea - and they did the double over them, playing some attractive stuff in the process.

But more importantly in my view, Lambert took over a complete shambles in League One in August 2009 and totally overhauled the Canaries with successive promotions.

No-one can convince me otherwise that Lambert's whole body of work at Norwich was not far more impressive than Rodgers' achievements in Wales.

Yet last summer Rodgers was hotly tipped for Tottenham and Liverpool before getting the Anfield gig.

And Lambert's name was barely mentioned for both jobs.

Lambert, from what I heard, supposedly felt he had just as good credentials as Rodgers for those positions and clearly would have been up for either job as he was desperate to quit Norwich.

In the end last summer, Lambert was delighted to take charge at Villa Park and genuinely appears to be enjoying his reign at the club despite the adversity of battling the drop.

I am not saying there is any personal animosity between Lambert or Rodgers - I am not aware of that.

But I do reckon achieving a double over Liverpool would be both sweet and vital for Lambert for several reasons.

Villa go into the game in decent form as recent improved displays have done much to convince fans that Lambert's side are making real progress.

I maintain the Scot is doing a decent job in very difficult circumstances as owner Randy Lerner continues to completely rebuild the first team squad on a new, cheaper, more self-sufficient, financial model.

Keeping in-form striker Christian Benteke will be central to those long-term plans and from what I gather, Lambert is privately hopeful.

The determining factor will actually not be how badly Villa or Lambert want him though.

But whether Benteke himself is happy to stay or whether he will kick up a fuss, hand in a transfer request and demand to go as he did at Genk last summer.

The signs are ominous as his rent-a-quote agent seems to be busy drumming up as much interest as possible!

And it is virtually impossible to keep stars if they really want to go as Villa found out with Stewart Downing in August 2011.

Publicly Lambert is very supportive of his players and is yet to criticise any of them in public - to the best of my knowledge.

But fans maybe interested to know that privately he does dish it out in expletive-strewn rants.

I gather young Joe Bennett, 22, copped it big-time at the interval against QPR following his slack pass for Rangers' opener.

Apparently Lambert really tore into the left-back and let him know he would not be playing for the first team again if he repeated the mistake!

It certainly worked the trick as both Villa and Bennett were remarkably improved in the second half and went on to win the game.

And Lambert will not be short of dressing room material this weekend ahead of his return clash with Rodgers' Liverpool side.

[fredm]

Hmmm there's another Scottish manager whose players can do no wrong when he is discussing them in public but is believed to use the "hair dryer" in private!

[eastie]

Having seen him lose it with the press once at Norwich I would not like to get on the wrong side of him- seems to have that ruthless streak which is a good thing in a manager - definately no soft touch.

[Ian.]

Thanks Eastie, I enjoyed reading that.

There is something about Lambert I really like and want him to succeed, and not only just because he is our manager. At times this season which has been up and down with a missive down in the middle I have felt he has lost the plot and the run out of ideas. But the way we have got it together after the run we have had deserves some credit. That run we had was so shocking it never looked likely we would get a result again. It's far from over but we do seem to have belief back.

[VillaAlways]

Remind me why we're sticking with this manager again Randy,Is it for his motivational skills ??

[Greg N'Ash]

STILL, we're messing up defensively. This is Lambert's biggest weakest this season - the inability to improve, drop or replace the culprits

[VillaAlways]

STILL, we're messing up defensively. This is Lambert's biggest weakest this season - the inability to improve, drop or replace the culprits

Drop them for who though? The defender we didn't buy in January

[Greg N'Ash]

STILL, we're messing up defensively. This is Lambert's biggest weakest this season - the inability to improve, drop or replace the culprits

Drop them for who though? The defender we didn't buy in January

yep. Been said so many times but it was a major cock-up.

[supertom]

It's past the point of no return this season. Sacking him would be foolish. There's little a new manager could really do in such short time. There's always that small chance of a new manager surge (which worries me with Sunderland), but there's no time to change anything really and the raw materials at this club are sorely lacking in defence and midfield.

For me, I just don't see things being any different next season if Lambert is still in charge and we've survived. If we just about stay up, I'd off him to be honest. I think he'd do okay with us in the Champ and we'd probably come back up, but I don't rate him as a top flight manager. There's not enough about him.

We're a premier league side. Bare minimum for this club should be mid-table. I don't think Lambert can achieve that. Certainly not on the budget he's working under.

Out- End of May.

[garyfouroaks]

It's past the point of no return this season.

Agreed, and he has the credentials to get us promoted if we do go down.

[VillaAlways]

Should have been sacked after Bradford but as you say too late now.

[olaftab]

Remind me why we're sticking with this manager again Randy,Is it for his motivational skills ??

He is the best manager for us at the moment. I will see where QPR with Mr Motivator and Reading and Sunderland will end up this season.

[Risso]

Should have been sacked ages ago.  He really is utterly hopeless, and not strengthening the defence in January should have been a sackable offence, on top of all the other shitness he's served up this season.