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

[regular_john]

For all his faults and mistakes, bizarre tactical choices and strange substitutions, I think Lambert is a damn good manager and deserves to continue his project over the next few seasons.

In one season he has...

- Almost completely cleared out the remaining dead wood from the last few years
- Put together a young, talented, hard working side, who will only grow and improve together over time
- Signed the best striker we've had in 15 years
- (Re) signed the best keeper we've had in 15 years
- Lowered the average age and wage of the squad, whilst increasing the value and quality of it
- Sent out a clear message that AVFC is the place to be for young, talented players looking to prove themselves
- Got us playing the best football we've played since the days of BFR
- Achieved all of the above while spending a relative pittance

Finally, the future is bright.

[Jarpie]

For all his faults and mistakes, bizarre tactical choices and strange substitutions, I think Lambert is a damn good manager and deserves to continue his project over the next few seasons.

In one season he has...

- Almost completely cleared out the remaining dead wood from the last few years
- Put together a young, talented, hard working side, who will only grow and improve together over time
- Signed the best striker we've had in 15 years
- (Re) signed the best keeper we've had in 15 years
- Lowered the average age and wage of the squad, whilst increasing the value and quality of it
- Sent out a clear message that AVFC is the place to be for young, talented players looking to prove themselves
- Got us playing the best football we've played since the days of BFR
- Achieved all of the above while spending a relative pittance

Finally, the future is bright.

Part of the (more and less) bizarre tactical choices were probably due him trying to find the correct formation and tactics for the players and he got it right in late january/february, took longer than I expected though.

[Steve67]

I am more than happy with what I've seen since Christmas with Lambert.   With a couple of older heads in the side, particularly at centre back and I think we'll be ok for next season.  Our form in 2013 has been pretty good, generally.  I hope Randy gives him the tools to carry on with what Lambert is trying to build.

[LeeS]

Our form over the last 10 games equates to 1.6 points per game. Over a full season that would have us on 60 points and 7th place.

If we beat Wigan we would have a 10 game points average of 1.9. Admittedly that is a bit arbitrary and selective and only includes wins over bottom teams, but 1.9 points per game is top 4 form.

Whatever happened at half time against Newcastle, Lambert has found the magic formula.

[Toronto Villa]

Lambert was my choice after TSM went and to be honest the only time i had doubts about whether he could hack it here was after the absolute pigs ear he made of the Bradford games.

I like the direction he's taken with the type of player he's brought in, even if not all of them have come off yet and hopefully he'll unearth a few more gems. I still think tactically he's a bit naive at times and there'll be games when we'll wonder what the fuck he's playing at, but overall i'm optimistic for next season.

the one thinjg about many of the defeats we've had this season and especially those games versus Bradford, is that if we played them again with the side/formation/confidence we have no, we'd give them a right royal battering. Bradford was bizarre, not just for the manner of the defeats but because everything just seemed so random and confused. He was still figuring so much out and when you throw in a spoonful of desperation it got worse. The good thing is our curve is firmly trending upwards and unlike under TSM we can all see that the sky is clearing. This time last year the mere prospect of the board giving TSM another year scared the shit out of all of us. Thank goodness they dropped the axe quickly and ended up with a manager that will in time prove a superb appointment.

[ozzjim]

For all his faults and mistakes, bizarre tactical choices and strange substitutions, I think Lambert is a damn good manager and deserves to continue his project over the next few seasons.

In one season he has...

- Almost completely cleared out the remaining dead wood from the last few years
- Put together a young, talented, hard working side, who will only grow and improve together over time
- Signed the best striker we've had in 15 years
- (Re) signed the best keeper we've had in 15 years
- Lowered the average age and wage of the squad, whilst increasing the value and quality of it
- Sent out a clear message that AVFC is the place to be for young, talented players looking to prove themselves
- Got us playing the best football we've played since the days of BFR
- Achieved all of the above while spending a relative pittance

Finally, the future is bright.

Part of the (more and less) bizarre tactical choices were probably due him trying to find the correct formation and tactics for the players and he got it right in late january/february, took longer than I expected though.

I think we only had about 2 midfielders fit for the 2nd leg against Bradford too, and had to play Ireland through sheer desperation. Not having Westwood in those 2 games was a right bugger.

[PeterWithesShin]

Aye the midfield wasn't as strong as we'd like, Ireland, Zog, Bannan and Delph started. Holmann and Carruthers on the bench. We should still have won though.

[Ger Regan]

Have any of the 5 actually explained their reasoning for wanting him gone?

[regular_john]

For all his faults and mistakes, bizarre tactical choices and strange substitutions, I think Lambert is a damn good manager and deserves to continue his project over the next few seasons.

In one season he has...

- Almost completely cleared out the remaining dead wood from the last few years
- Put together a young, talented, hard working side, who will only grow and improve together over time
- Signed the best striker we've had in 15 years
- (Re) signed the best keeper we've had in 15 years
- Lowered the average age and wage of the squad, whilst increasing the value and quality of it
- Sent out a clear message that AVFC is the place to be for young, talented players looking to prove themselves
- Got us playing the best football we've played since the days of BFR
- Achieved all of the above while spending a relative pittance

Finally, the future is bright.

Part of the (more and less) bizarre tactical choices were probably due him trying to find the correct formation and tactics for the players and he got it right in late january/february, took longer than I expected though.

I think we only had about 2 midfielders fit for the 2nd leg against Bradford too, and had to play Ireland through sheer desperation. Not having Westwood in those 2 games was a right bugger.

I thought at the time, and stand by it, that the biggest mistake was playing Given over Guzan. We knew that Bradford would try and hit us on set pieces, and it was a mistake to play a keeper who stays glued to his line and doesn't come to claim crosses. If we'd have played Guzan I think we would have won, and probably gone on to win the final as we've done quite well against Swansea this season.

[Lee]

I have to say that after the Bradford debacle, I was one that would not have shed a tear if he had gone, even if a good proportion of the issues that surrounded the situation around Xmas, were because of issues from higher up the chain.

As the manager that I wanted in the Summer, he has won me back over. There is still a lot of work to be done for us to progress, but at this moment in time, Mr Lambert I feel is the man for the job without doubt.

If we finish above Tesco's and beat them home and away, I will also have his babies.

[not3bad]

Post mortem wise, his biggest mistake this season were seriously over-estimating the quality of the senior players who to a man were worse than useless - well anyone on here could have told him that last summer.

To which senior players do you refer?  Given was dropped early season, Dunne never kicked a ball, N'Zogbia has played a limited role (and sometimes a useful one).

Stephen Ireland, yes, Lambert might have been a bit slow there.

Would you include Darren Bent among that list of 'useless' senior players that 'anyone' could have told Lambert about?

[Rigadon]

Deserves another crack at it.  We've played some brilliant attacking football since the Newcastle game and he's proved he can spot a player in the transfer market. 

That said, please, a proven centre half older than 20 please! 

[john e]

I have to say that after the Bradford debacle, I was one that would not have shed a tear if he had gone, even if a good proportion of the issues that surrounded the situation around Xmas, were because of issues from higher up the chain.

As the manager that I wanted in the Summer, he has won me back over. There is still a lot of work to be done for us to progress, but at this moment in time, Mr Lambert I feel is the man for the job without doubt.

If we finish above Tesco's and beat them home and away, I will also have his babies.

I reckon Lerner might of considered pulling the trigger especially after Millwall, and the transfer window
obviously he held his nerve, but I think it might have been touch and go for a bit

[not3bad]

Have any of the 5 actually explained their reasoning for wanting him gone?

And what about the 10 that want to "shake him all about"?

[eamonn]

Best football since BFR? It's been great at times and I actually find this counter-attacking style more exciting than O'Neill's. But a bit premature to disregard a lot of the decent periods of football we've played over the past 20 years.

Gregory's first 12 games trumps the last 3 months as does two seasons of Little when we came 5th and 4th. The second half of O'Dreary's first season was pretty good too. Probably more spells that I've forgotten.