Paul Lambert on Randy Lerner .

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I never remember any manager saying such nice things about Doug. They would have probably been sacked for taking the piss.

[Chris Smith]

I think you have to take the team as a whole, not break it down it its component parts. A more solid defence allows the midfield to play with more freedom, a confident forward line gives them options when on the ball etc.

At the moment we are muddling through, unable to have any consistency of selection. Until we do any criticism, or praise, is pointless in my view. It's like calling you a scruff when all your decent clothes are in the wash; if when they are all dried and ironed you still look like a tramp then it will be valid, but until then we have to reserve judgement.

[Ads]

Muddled is a good word. Everything about us at the moment seems to be fogged.

There isn't one specific problem that has caused the dip in form and it all seems a little chaotic.

[Clampy]

I think you have to take the team as a whole, not break it down it its component parts. A more solid defence allows the midfield to play with more freedom, a confident forward line gives them options when on the ball etc.

You could also argue that a better midfield that keeps the ball and closes down would put less pressure on an already dodgy defence.

As Chris points out, the injuries have hindered us and this weekend another player will be serving a suspension for the third match running. That said, it dose'nt excuse some of his strange team selections and subs.

[eastie]

The injuries haven't helped our cause thats for sure , but they have highlighted the fact that most of our so called squad players are not really good enough at this moment in time .

Nobody has come in and grasped the nettle .

[Mister E]

Muddled is a good word. Everything about us at the moment seems to be fogged.

There isn't one specific problem that has caused the dip in form and it all seems a little chaotic.

Well, the loss of Okore and Vlaar is one specific problem.
The fact that Lambert has been playing Bacuna at FB rather than in MF alongside Westie and Delph is a specific. The way he sees Herd as an auxiliary CB rather than as a holding MF is specific.

But I do understand the point you're making - it is muddled; made worse by the absence of some experienced players in key positions.

[yaliekins]

Well, the loss of Okore and Vlaar is one specific problem.The fact that Lambert has been playing Bacuna at FB rather than in MF alongside Westie and Delph is a specific. The way he sees Herd as an auxiliary CB rather than as a holding MF is specific.

But I do understand the point you're making - it is muddled; made worse by the absence of some experienced players in key positions.
[/quote]

Fair point on Vlaar, he's a big miss.  But Okore? People are talking as if he's the missing link when we don't know if he's any good yet! He looks like he could be a quality centre half but we've hardly seen him play so I don't really subscribe to this view that everything will be fine when he's back. I just question why we've gone into the season with one experienced defender, as soon as he goes down you're going to struggle.

Don't mean to single out your quote Mr E, it's just that I've seen a lot of this on H&V and Twitter ...

[yaliekins]

and that's what I get for trying to quote, I'm such a noob 

[Matt Collins]

Okore may not be the new McGrath but he'd be a better bet than baker or herd I'm pretty confident about that

[Toronto Villa]

Okore may not be the new McGrath but he'd be a better bet than baker or herd I'm pretty confident about that

I also think he'd have been a nuisance in the opposition area too. Having to play Baker week in week out is a disaster waiting to happen.

[eastie]

Okore may not be the new McGrath but he'd be a better bet than baker or herd I'm pretty confident about that

I'm not  greedy , I will settle for him being the new Laursen or mellberg.

[Steve67]

Lambert "Randy is great, please don't sack me, I need more time".

[ez]

I think you have to take the team as a whole, not break it down it its component parts. A more solid defence allows the midfield to play with more freedom, a confident forward line gives them options when on the ball etc.

You could also argue that a better midfield that keeps the ball and closes down would put less pressure on an already dodgy defence.

As Chris points out, the injuries have hindered us and this weekend another player will be serving a suspension for the third match running. That said, it dose'nt excuse some of his strange team selections and subs.

One thing Lambert could improve straight away is the discipline.

[supertom]

I think you have to take the team as a whole, not break it down it its component parts. A more solid defence allows the midfield to play with more freedom, a confident forward line gives them options when on the ball etc.

You could also argue that a better midfield that keeps the ball and closes down would put less pressure on an already dodgy defence.

As Chris points out, the injuries have hindered us and this weekend another player will be serving a suspension for the third match running. That said, it dose'nt excuse some of his strange team selections and subs.

One thing Lambert could improve straight away is the discipline.

Definitely. We're the dirtiest bunch of bastards in the league. We can't afford to keep losing players to suspension, particularly some of our few good players.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

One thing Lambert could improve straight away is the discipline.

In other words, don't play Herd and Baker