How would you feel....

[eastie]

I'd be very disappointed if we sacked the manager because we desperately need continuity and stability at Villa Park.  If, by season's end, we have finished comfortably mid-table I will view that as good progress and a base upon which to build again.     Having said that, I can't hide behind my disappointment in the past couple of performances - we have been wretched.  We're in poor form and need to lift ourselves out of it.

If we finish the season in the bottom 6 would you stick with him?

[ChicagoLion]

I'll except Okore from this, as I don't know yet. But have any of the players Lambert signed in the summer proved to be a significant improvement on what we had? I don't think so, and surely that's the point of signing players for the most part.

Agree
Bacuna better than Albrighton- No
Kozac better than Bent-No
Luna better than Bennett-No
Hilneus better than Delfonso No
and Tonev better than my Gran? er No

Usel

[PaulWinch again]

It's comments from Lambert like he's 'proud of how we kept going' that really worry me. It's almost like he has no clue about just how poor we are.

[London Villan]

I want him to manage.

That means organise, have a plan and a plan b when we go behind.

Realise that our set pieces are rubbish and need to change

I think he has wasted the money he has been given and isn't using the resources at his disposal... last year when the defence was being bullied and murdered week in and week out leaving two internationals on the bench and now the same  this season.

[eamonn]

Next 4 games are massive for us and him.

A) Stoke
H) Palace
H) Swansea
A) Sunderland

Play shit in most of them and/or fail to get results and it might be time for a rethink.

Agreed. After Christmas we will have played every team once and the "toughest start any club has ever had" thing can be put to bed. A half-season at the end of the month will give us some indication as to how safe we look. I do like Lambert and I admire the faith he has put in young players and ones from abroad that were under everyone's radar but there's only so many powder-puff displays you can take. Flattering to deceive, good at looking like you're working hard but little in the way of penetration.

I want him to spend money on proven players because I have a nagging doubt that Lerner is making more available - even in the wages department for this but it is Lambert's ethos that sees him happy at buying young players for peanuts and attempting to mould them. Who is the best player, experienced in one of Europe's top division that he's managed in his career? Is he comfortable managing players who have been successful elsewhere?

To be honest, of all the managerial mighthavebeens over the past few years, I look at Martinez's style of football, his shrewd signings (albeit largely on-loan) at Everton and how he comes across intelligently and decently as a pundit and I just wish we had got him, post-MON/Hou/McLeish (I know, he turned down an interview. I'm just saying I think he could do a better job than Lambert has at Villa).

[PeterWithesShin]

It's comments from Lambert like he's 'proud of how we kept going' that really worry me. It's almost like he has no clue about just how poor we are.

He may just be a manager that doesn't like to criticise his team in public. For all we know he tore them a new one in the dressing room, which is where it matters. I take most post match interviews with a pinch of salt regardless of who is making them as they will rarely say what they are really thinking, and let's be honest, if he was targeting players in interviews we'd probably be saying it was crap man management.

[PaulWinch again]

It's comments from Lambert like he's 'proud of how we kept going' that really worry me. It's almost like he has no clue about just how poor we are.

He may just be a manager that doesn't like to criticise his team in public. For all we know he tore them a new one in the dressing room, which is where it matters. I take most post match interviews with a pinch of salt regardless of who is making them as they will rarely say what they are really thinking, and let's be honest, if he was targeting players in interviews we'd probably be saying it was crap man management.

In isolation I'd agree with that, but the evidence of the performances suggest he's not doing anything of the sort or addressing anything.

[nigel]

I want him to stay, at the same time I won't be lighting a candle in his memory if he gets the bullet. I like a lot of what he is trying to do, but fuck me there are a number of issues he seems blind to sorting out.

Agree.
The defence seemed to have got it's self in order, but, recently, has returned to last seasons form. It shows how important Vlaar is.
For me, though, the midfield has been way to lightweight for way to long.

[PeterWithesShin]

I'll add that it is vital that we bolster the MF in January. Delph can't do it all on his own.

[PaulWinch again]

Essentially Lambert has to show that he has a clue what he's doing, because at the moment the evidence suggests he doesn't. We're playing dreadfully on a consistent basis and don't know how to create or change a game. Our only saving grace was improved defending, but that turns out to be just down to Vlaar being excellent so even that is gone now.

[Deano's Mullet]

If he went I wouldn't shed any tears but without spending a fortune I couldn't imagine his successor doing too much better.

[Walmley_Villa]

I want him to manage.

That means organise, have a plan and a plan b when we go behind.

Realise that our set pieces are rubbish and need to change

I think he has wasted the money he has been given and isn't using the resources at his disposal... last year when the defence was being bullied and murdered week in and week out leaving two internationals on the bench and now the same  this season.

Agreed

[dekko]

I'm still backing him, but only just.  Performances in the next 4 games are going to decide where I stand, but I'm really beginning to lose patience (and I am a very patient man).

[ez]

Sad it didn't work out but you can't ignore the form even in the games we won or drew.

[caster troy]

Last year we needed two new centre backs, a left back, a defensive midfielder, a creative midfielder. Unfortunately we still need them because team Lerner/Lambert brought in a load of bargain basement players in the summer who have not improved us at all.

It's either a) Lerner's fault for not allowing more spending or b) Lambert's fault for going with the 'young and hungry aka shit' transfer strategy despite more money being available or c) something in between.

Ultimately it's Lerner who needs to back the manager with more funds or we're just going to end up back at this point in another 12 months.