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

[Concrete John]

I can forgive those who wanted him out during those dark days of Chelsea and Bradford.  We were very poor then.  However, I suppose it's a reminder that it's only really fair to judge after 38 games.  Compare us to Wolves, who pulled the trigger and still went down - I think McCarthy would have kept them up!  Similarly, Reading and QPR changed manager and it had no effect.   

Patience is the key for this season and the overall project we've embarked on under Lambert.

[Nev]

I was all for him getting the boot at the time of the Bradford first leg, but did temper my frustration over time. I appreciate what he is trying to achieve, I just think that he could have made it slightly easier by being somewhat more cautious at times, without straying into TSM territory.

I think has has learned that himself. After what happened at Stamford Bridge, faced with the same situation at Old Trafford, his half time replacement helped avoid a battering that could've seen us collapse in terms of morale.

Overall, we weren't that bad in January as we are not that good now, it is a work in progress but within that, the manager must ensure that our presence within the division is not put at risk. For me the manager has sailed rather too close to the wind this time around, I hope and expect that it won't happen next season.

[Brend'Watkins]

It's taken him till January to get something close to a settled side.  I suppose when you have that many new young recruits it will take them time to gel and as a result we've had to endure a lot of pain up to that time to get to where we are now.  If we had 'clicked' a month earlier than we did we'd have another trophy in the cabinet now.  I'm sure of it.

[manic-road]

I was all for him getting the boot at the time of the Bradford first leg, but did temper my frustration over time. I appreciate what he is trying to achieve, I just think that he could have made it slightly easier by being somewhat more cautious at times, without straying into TSM territory.

I think has has learned that himself. After what happened at Stamford Bridge, faced with the same situation at Old Trafford, his half time replacement helped avoid a battering that could've seen us collapse in terms of morale.

Overall, we weren't that bad in January as we are not that good now, it is a work in progress but within that, the manager must ensure that our presence within the division is not put at risk. For me the manager has sailed rather too close to the wind this time around, I hope and expect that it won't happen next season.

How did he stray into TSM territory? I can't recall Villa under PL this season playing for a draw from the first minute of a game.

[Nev]

I was all for him getting the boot at the time of the Bradford first leg, but did temper my frustration over time. I appreciate what he is trying to achieve, I just think that he could have made it slightly easier by being somewhat more cautious at times, without straying into TSM territory.

I think has has learned that himself. After what happened at Stamford Bridge, faced with the same situation at Old Trafford, his half time replacement helped avoid a battering that could've seen us collapse in terms of morale.

Overall, we weren't that bad in January as we are not that good now, it is a work in progress but within that, the manager must ensure that our presence within the division is not put at risk. For me the manager has sailed rather too close to the wind this time around, I hope and expect that it won't happen next season.

How did he stray into TSM territory? I can't recall Villa under PL this season playing for a draw from the first minute of a game.

I didn't say that.

[PaulWinch again]

If you consider how much we have to positive about, we're in a great position now. Yes this year has been tough, but all of the players now have this experience under their belts and I fully believe we'll survive in the league now. There's real potential for growth with us and I think the only way is up with Lambert in charge.

[pauliewalnuts]

I like Lambert a lot, and I rate him even higher after this season, but there's no doubt he's had us sailing very, very close to the wind.

The project re younger players is admirable, but the risk was that, in getting relegated, we'd lose our better players and end up not so much back at square one, but considerably further back than that.

I am really unsure what to think about the January window. We signed nobody in the positions we really needed them, and we appear to have got away with it. Maybe that's because there wasn't money there, or because Lambert preferred to stay as we were and have more to spend in the summer, I don't know, but it really struck me as an absolutely crazy risk to take.

This summer is really important. What we can't do is exclusively throw more of the same younger players into the mix. I still firmly believe we need more experience in the side - how much have we missed Stan in this sense?

I do think, though, that Lambert will be imagining he can shift Given, Ireland, Bent, and Dunne from the wage bill and make no discernible difference to the strength of the squad, given how little they contribute.

We need to progress next season. I am not expecting top six finishes, and won't judge him entirely on where we finish in the league, but we can't have another season like this - the pain of this year has got to prove to be worth something, ultimately.

[Concrete John]

This summer is really important. What we can't do is exclusively throw more of the same younger players into the mix. I still firmly believe we need more experience in the side - how much have we missed Stan in this sense?

Fully agree.

The right mix of experience to go with what we already have is the difference between mid table and a Euro push, IMO.

[eastie]

This summer is really important. What we can't do is exclusively throw more of the same younger players into the mix. I still firmly believe we need more experience in the side - how much have we missed Stan in this sense?

Fully agree.

The right mix of experience to go with what we already have is the difference between mid table and a Euro push, IMO.

Totally agree .

[claretandbeer]

I wouldn't mind some more young players as long as they can improve the first X1. In the main,the youngsters have done fine,Benteke ,Weimann,Lowton ,Westwood ,Delph and the relatively inexperienced Guzan. As mentioned in other posts the expensive experienced players have contributed very little,for one reason or another.
Plus ,these youngsters have now played in some high pressure games.

[robbo1874]

The main reason I've consistently backed him is I saw early on he was trying to do all the right things but things weren't really working out for him. I was in a similar position with my job where I'd taken on a role that was demanding and probably a little over my ability at the time management-wise, but I knew if I kept on with it and I had the support of my managers I knew things would come good and they did. And they have for him too.

It's not nice slaving your guts out and trying to do the right thing with all the doubters bringing you down and when you know you can pull it off but you know you need some support from your staff and your bosses. My job's as far removed from football as most others, but the situation of scrapping to survive and retain support from your guys, the managers and your clients is similar in some respects.

I even had a fair bit of sympathy for Mcleish in a way as he was in a similar position - I backed him til right near the end as he seemed like he was trying and cared, but he just wasn't right for villa. I still respect him as he always conducted himself with dignity and had respect for the club and the supporters on the whole. Couldn't give a toss where he came from. the main difference was he just wanted to survive, whereas lambert looks like he has a plan and wants to be successful.

[Toronto Villa]

However we got here, one thing I know is that I cannot wait for the summer to arrive, for the changes and improvements to occur, and for the next season to start. I haven't been this excited about a Villa side's potential in a long time. If we can keep a hold of all of the key components of this current side, and add intelligently then we will be so much further ahead. The experiences of this season, I believe are not lost on the manager or the board. That we did fly close to the sun, and that once the wasted wages are removed from the club, the future is truly positive.

We've all doubted Lambert to some degree this season. But we have a manager, a squad and importantly a club that we can all really rally behind again. Haven't said or thought that in a while.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Is Lerner still a penny pinching, clueless, stay-away chairman or is he ok now?

I think he got lucky when a manager who he couldn't afford to sack managed to pull one out of the hat. More by luck than Lerner's design?

[eastie]

However we got here, one thing I know is that I cannot wait for the summer to arrive, for the changes and improvements to occur, and for the next season to start. I haven't been this excited about a Villa side's potential in a long time. If we can keep a hold of all of the key components of this current side, and add intelligently then we will be so much further ahead. The experiences of this season, I believe are not lost on the manager or the board. That we did fly close to the sun, and that once the wasted wages are removed from the club, the future is truly positive.

We've all doubted Lambert to some degree this season. But we have a manager, a squad and importantly a club that we can all really rally behind again. Haven't said or thought that in a while.

Crikey tv- relax and enjoy the ashes 1st mate , next season can wait till August - we need a break !

[robbo1874]

Who knows mate. He keeps his cards close to his chest, he's made some poor decisions, but he's never been a knee-jerk chairman and seemingly has stumped up the cash for signings when required.

I'd like him to be more visible and accessible, but rather him than a whelan or an Ashley or the qpr lot or many other premier league chairman really