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

[robbo1874]

Eastie- I'll only enjoy the ashes after they're retained... Twice this year. Whole new level of stress!!

[eastie]

Eastie- I'll only enjoy the ashes after they're retained... Twice this year. Whole new level of stress!!

Come on robbo- you surely should know how bad the Aussies are this year - lambs to the slaughter!

[robbo1874]

Never ever write them off mate. Wigan could probably field a side of 11 Aussie cricketers and they'd stay up somehow.

[Steve R]

There was a post earlier about how we should never be in this position again. We will of course. The question is whether we will be back to having 12/15 years before it happens or stay with 4 or 5.

We haven't solved anything yet, we've made a much better than expected start to re-building. We have a very capable first 11, but it doesn't go much further than that. The subs bench still looks pallid to say the least, let alone the other 5 or 6 needed to make up a rounded squad.

A quick look at the squad list shows 16 players give or take who have no real future at the club, plus Stan Petrov. We're going to need a transfer window just like the last one, we're not yet in the position of topping up the squad with proven experience.

[SamTheMouse]

I'm relieved that we are finally on the brink of safety, not just for the obvious reasons, but also because it means we get to keep Lambert and see how the project develops. I will admit to thinking it might have been time for him to get the push when the January window passed and we'd failed to bring in any experienced cover, but I'd have been gutted, even so. Like everyone else, I'm desperate to see him do well, because we all know exactly what he's trying to do - and if he can pull it off, the sky's the limit.

[eastie]

I'm relieved that we are finally on the brink of safety, not just for the obvious reasons, but also because it means we get to keep Lambert and see how the project develops. I will admit to thinking it might have been time for him to get the push when the January window passed and we'd failed to bring in any experienced cover, but I'd have been gutted, even so. Like everyone else, I'm desperate to see him do well, because we all know exactly what he's trying to do - and if he can pull it off, the sky's the limit.

Not sure the sky's the limit- i think a lot will depend on randy and whether he will be prepared to rebuff large bids for our star players - if so then it could be a very interesting ride.

[mal]

I want Lambert to be as longlived as possible. The last time we had a manager who got past 4 years was the great Ron Saunders and he only did 8. And left at the apogee...

[MoetVillan]

Just dont sign him on an eight year contract.  That has not worked out well in the North East.  Although you probably couldnt get farther apart from I-Love-Myself-Pardew to Lambert

[Mark H]

Easiest question I have answered in a long tme

[curiousorange]

Our new article below talks about the possibility of Lambert building a legacy at Villa. It piggy-backed onto the Ferguson retirement thing (hey, got to get the readers!) but I think the argument holds: for the first time in a while, we have a man at the helm with a plan and not just someone earning a wage.

"Lambert's biggest success was bringing a new footballing philosophy to a moribund club...last season, every pundit begged for us to be relegated. This time, most of them are keeping fingers crossed we stay up."

Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/09-05-2013/lambert-following-fergie-philosophy/829775#comment#ixzz2Sml2gJbT

[Damo70]

I was wondering why one person wanted him out when we seem to be heading in the right direction. Also, who he would like instead?

[ozzjim]

There was a post earlier about how we should never be in this position again. We will of course. The question is whether we will be back to having 12/15 years before it happens or stay with 4 or 5.

We haven't solved anything yet, we've made a much better than expected start to re-building. We have a very capable first 11, but it doesn't go much further than that. The subs bench still looks pallid to say the least, let alone the other 5 or 6 needed to make up a rounded squad.

A quick look at the squad list shows 16 players give or take who have no real future at the club, plus Stan Petrov. We're going to need a transfer window just like the last one, we're not yet in the position of topping up the squad with proven experience.

This is a really good point Steve, we are still way off having a squad you look at and think if x is out y can just slot in and we won't be buggered.

16 players seems high though? I can think of probably 8 or 9 who we need to replace. The good thing is that we might get a little bit of money in, and save a massive amount on wages this summer, allowing Lambert maybe to go for a couple in the Benteke price range, together with another 4-5 in the Lowton/ Westwood mould. He has a history of freshening his squad significantly every summer I think, so fully expect 5-6 players at least this summer with a similar number going out the door. I hope we can use the loan system too with our fringe, but not to be written off players!

[Concrete John]

There was a post earlier about how we should never be in this position again. We will of course. The question is whether we will be back to having 12/15 years before it happens or stay with 4 or 5.

We haven't solved anything yet, we've made a much better than expected start to re-building. We have a very capable first 11, but it doesn't go much further than that. The subs bench still looks pallid to say the least, let alone the other 5 or 6 needed to make up a rounded squad.

A quick look at the squad list shows 16 players give or take who have no real future at the club, plus Stan Petrov. We're going to need a transfer window just like the last one, we're not yet in the position of topping up the squad with proven experience.

This is a really good point Steve, we are still way off having a squad you look at and think if x is out y can just slot in and we won't be buggered.

16 players seems high though? I can think of probably 8 or 9 who we need to replace. The good thing is that we might get a little bit of money in, and save a massive amount on wages this summer, allowing Lambert maybe to go for a couple in the Benteke price range, together with another 4-5 in the Lowton/ Westwood mould. He has a history of freshening his squad significantly every summer I think, so fully expect 5-6 players at least this summer with a similar number going out the door. I hope we can use the loan system too with our fringe, but not to be written off players!

Well, there's some obvious ones like Dunne and then some that will split opinion a bit, like KEA or Bannan.  Then there's others like Lichaj who might be worth keeping as squad filler.

As I've said before, the more use we can get out of what we have the less players we need in the summer, which means our funds can be concentrated on some real quality.  If persevering with the likes of Holman means we get 3 £10m players as opposed to 10 £3m players, then we should.

[Dave]

Is the current 96.6% 'in', the biggest margin of favour so far?

[Steve R]

...
16 players seems high though? I can think of probably 8 or 9 who we need to replace. The good thing is that we might get a little bit of money in, and save a massive amount on wages this summer, allowing Lambert maybe to go for a couple in the Benteke price range, together with another 4-5 in the Lowton/ Westwood mould. He has a history of freshening his squad significantly every summer I think, so fully expect 5-6 players at least this summer with a similar number going out the door. I hope we can use the loan system too with our fringe, but not to be written off players!

The 16 I had were Given, Marshall*, Hutton, Lichaj*, Dunne*, Stevens
Bannan, Ireland, Nzogbia, Dawkins*, Albrighton, Holman, Makoun, Herd
Bent, Delfouneso

Not just players that need to depart this summer, but also those who have no long term future at the club and can reasonably be expected to go over the next two years. I dare say not all will be replaced, but it still struck me as a large number and a lot of recruitment.