Confidence In The Manager

[mr woo]

Following on from the midweek game, there was a fair bit of talk about how the gap between Spurs and us has widened in the past few years.

I'm sure you all remember when we beat them 2-1 at their place when they were an absolute shambles and sitting at the bottom of the league after half a dozen-ish games.

So what changed their fortunes around?

Well as I remember it, they realised their error in appointing Ramos and gave the job to Redknapp, who, because there was no shortage of investment in the playing squad at that time, was able to instantly revitalize the side in the short term, make a couple  solid additions in subsequent transfer windows and reach the dizzy heights of the Champions League.

Transposing that situation to us leaves me with this thought. If a new manager walked into Villa Park tomorrow- I reckon they would struggle to make that same sort of impact, and that is because, in my opinion, we simply dont have enough premiership quality players in our squad as it stands today.

Who would you fault for that - Lambert or Lerner?

That's not to say I'm looking to lay blame or that I think sacking Lambert is the way forward, I'd love him to succeed, especially using the method he's chosen but let's not bury our heads in the sand here, there have been very few games where he hasn't left himself open to criticism of one kind or another, and when I say that I am including many of the times we've walked away with three points.

[john e]

I'm now going to endeavour to use the word 'project' as often as possible in loads of my posts

[Toronto Villa]

let's face it too, how jammy a club are you in Gareth Bale becoming the world's most expensive footballer? He went from being a laughing stock at left back to finding himself being linked with a move away to unknown places like the Sty, to discovering he is one of the best attacking midfield players on the planet. That doesn't happen to everyone. Fair dues all round but with some solid management they've built around him and continued in his absence with every penny they got for him. But it does help when an asset goes from being worth 5m to 85m.

[dekko]

let's face it too, how jammy a club are you in Gareth Bale becoming the world's most expensive footballer? He went from being a laughing stock at left back to finding himself being linked with a move away to unknown places like the Sty, to discovering he is one of the best attacking midfield players on the planet. That doesn't happen to everyone. Fair dues all round but with some solid management they've built around him and continued in his absence with every penny they got for him. But it does help when an asset goes from being worth 5m to 85m.

Worth mentioning also that his sale (plus a handful of others) got them so much money that they've brought in several genuinely world class players like Soldado, Paulinho, Lamela etc for big fees, and still made a net profit.

[Dante Lavelli]

I have few objections to what people write on here, even if I disagree with them and they disagree with me passionatley.

The use of 'project' related to a football team/squad however is one iof them.

I think I know where you're coming from but, I've got to be honest, a club like villa needs to be managed like a project.  Simply 'motivating the lads' will get us no where in the long term, we need a strategy to get us beyond where we are now.  Something other than throwing money at it.

[pauliewalnuts]

I have few objections to what people write on here, even if I disagree with them and they disagree with me passionatley.

The use of 'project' related to a football team/squad however is one iof them.

I think I know where you're coming from but, I've got to be honest, a club like villa needs to be managed like a project.  Simply 'motivating the lads' will get us no where in the long term, we need a strategy to get us beyond where we are now.  Something other than throwing money at it.

I entirely agree, well said.

Motivation and being "young and hungry" is all well and good, but alone, it isn't enough.

[tomd2103]

I have few objections to what people write on here, even if I disagree with them and they disagree with me passionatley.

The use of 'project' related to a football team/squad however is one iof them.

I think I know where you're coming from but, I've got to be honest, a club like villa needs to be managed like a project.  Simply 'motivating the lads' will get us no where in the long term, we need a strategy to get us beyond where we are now.  Something other than throwing money at it.

Agree somewhat with the above, but feel that sometimes long term plans need to be tempered with a more short term vision.  I think that the club will be in a stronger place in 2-3 years time when this group of players have gained the necessary experience, but I do believe that Lambert should have taken care of the here and now by adding some quality, experienced players over the past couple of seasons.  I suppose it could be argued that he did try to do that with the signings of Vlaar and KEA, but neither have really led by example so far.  I don't know if Lambert doesn't feel comfortable working with established players or if finances dictate signing those kind of players isn't possible, but I do think he has been playing a risky game so far.     

[villan from luton]

So who do you people suggest?

[Monty]

So who do you people suggest?

Either Pep Guardiola or Herbert Chapman.

[villan from luton]

Monbert, I can go with Chapman, but not that Guardiola, what does he know about our footy?

[Monty]

Monbert, I can go with Chapman, but not that Guardiola, what does he know about our footy?

I disagree, I think the Bundesliga has way more in common with the PL than the 1930s. Scoreboards, for one thing. Come on Randy, get them in for an interview!

[ChicagoLion]

I think the Jury is still out on the Manager, I am not convinced by many of the players he has bought in as either the right players or good enough.

I think that we have to wait and see if his scatter gun approach to signing players will play off or we end up with a squad like ARRY left behind at West Ham.

[Dave Clark Five]

We played a 3rd division team and yes as you are asking I did may be not on here. I repeat again I do not like the changes managers make for the cup games.

Don't worry about it. There is over three months until the next cup game.

[eastie]

He's the best we might hope to get, I'm still right behind him and think he'll avoid relegation.

Avoiding relegation shouldn't be the aim for a club like villa , we must be looking towards mid table at least.

[LeeB]

I think the Jury is still out on the Manager, I am not convinced by many of the players he has bought in as either the right players or good enough.

I think that we have to wait and see if his scatter gun approach to signing players will play off or we end up with a squad like ARRY left behind at West Ham.

Scatter gun? Harry Redknapp? Is there a bad crystal meth problem in Chigago.?