Lambert OUT

[N'Zimidy]

Now, I know we're all entitled to our views and all that, and I'm certainly not a mod laying down the law because obviously there should be no such law, but why do some have to be so personally insulting to the bloke? N'Zimidy, why do you call him 'Mr. Mumbles' when he grew up in rougher part of the world than you could believe where they spoke a certain way, which is why he talks like he does? You can criticise him all you like and everything is fair game, but such personal vitriol is, to my mind, hateful, mean-spirited and totally the opposite of what I believe our club stands for. It's only football and he's doing his best, for God's sake, and even if that best isn't good enough that's no reason to hate on him so much. It was out of order for McLeish and it's out of order now.

Me calling him Mr Mumbles is not anything to do with his upbringing, accent or a nasty dig on his person. But every time he comes in after a pathetic performance and mumbles to the interviewer something about "all credit to the lads, they never stopped going" or "we go again" it get right on my tits. There's no passion, no anger, not even bitter acknowledgement that we just got shafted by a much weaker team. It's communication skills like this that make me think he's the reason why were such a soft touch at home. He can talk loud and clearly whenever we win or get a good result but when we lose home games on the bounce he puts on this dejected "feel sorry for me and the team" voice and it pisses me off. He should be leading the dressing room by explicitly telling the interviewer performances like the one today are not good enough - rather than heaping praises on them under his breath.

With all due respect, what you're recommending is what Paolo di Canio did, whereas what Lambert is doing is what Mourinho did at Chelsea, so perhaps what he's saying in interviews isn't the worst part of his performance in the job.

Di Canio is on the other extreme end of the spectrum though. He would single out one player and call him useless. What we need (after our fourth back to back defeat no less) is a good old Fergie styled rant about how the entire team performance wasn't good enough and how the squad needs to step it up, followed by dropping the useless players to the bench, even if it is for youngsters. I see Lambert as protecting the players far too much. More often than not the same team will play week in week out without changes. They need a bloody good kick up their arse if we're going to turn it around and get anything from the Swansea game and I don't think holding them by the hand again will fix it.

[Jimbo]

I don't think anyone from Birmingham is going to take the piss out of anyone's accent or way of speaking. The fact is communicaction is crucial to Lambert's job, and he's sometimes unintelligible. That's no judgment on his background or upbringing, he just fails to get his message across clearly and in a way that inspires. Quite how some of the overseas players understand him, I've no idea. Although it appears one word that frequently gets through rhymes with 'blunt'.

Well that last one is to do with growing up in Scotland, that word's like breathing in round 'ere. However, I take issue with what you say on a couple of points: firstly, everyone makes fun of the way everyone talks from anywhere else; secondly, Lambert speaks English, and I'm sure his English underlings understand him, and also our best spells are almost always after half-time when he's had a few minutes with them, indicating a certain amount of managerial motivation. There are plenty of other things wrong with the way he's doing his job - this personal jibing is cheap and distracting from the more serious issues.

If everyone makes fun of everybody else's way of speaking, as you claim, then it's entirely expected and we're all quits. And if Lambert's half time team talks are so effective, why doesn't he have a word before a ball is kicked? You're right though, Lambert's diction isn't the main problem, but he's no Winston Churchill either.

[Monty]

I don't think anyone from Birmingham is going to take the piss out of anyone's accent or way of speaking. The fact is communicaction is crucial to Lambert's job, and he's sometimes unintelligible. That's no judgment on his background or upbringing, he just fails to get his message across clearly and in a way that inspires. Quite how some of the overseas players understand him, I've no idea. Although it appears one word that frequently gets through rhymes with 'blunt'.

Well that last one is to do with growing up in Scotland, that word's like breathing in round 'ere. However, I take issue with what you say on a couple of points: firstly, everyone makes fun of the way everyone talks from anywhere else; secondly, Lambert speaks English, and I'm sure his English underlings understand him, and also our best spells are almost always after half-time when he's had a few minutes with them, indicating a certain amount of managerial motivation. There are plenty of other things wrong with the way he's doing his job - this personal jibing is cheap and distracting from the more serious issues.

If everyone makes fun of everybody else's way of speaking, as you claim, then it's entirely expected and we're all quits. And if Lambert's half time team talks are so effective, why doesn't he have a word before a ball is kicked? You're right though, Lambert's diction isn't the main problem, but he's no Wnston Churchill either.

Do you deny it's cheap? 'Mr Mumbles' is not a considered remark, nor is it relevant to whether or not he praises or criticises the players to the bloody media.

Also, we often start games pretty well and then fade (United and Fulham both went like that). It's not that he doesn't speak to them well enough - he doesn't train them well enough.

[N'Zimidy]

You can be pretty certain that the media lambert and the one behind closed doors are pretty different.  It'd be harsh to judge him for not wanting to publicly flog the players when they're young and probably have brittle confidence.

He keeps protecting them and they'll have brittle confidence for years to come. Lord only knows what their reaction will be if Swansea get an early goal on Saturday and the boos start ringing around Villa Park. He's been too pally pally with the players since he's been here. It's time to get tough and start demanding performances from them.

[PeterWithesShin]

I guarantee that how nice Lambert is in front of the cameras about the team he is totally different in the dressing room.

[Dave Clark Five]

As Paulie says, I was a fan of Lambert and i'm trying to think of a case for him but it's tough.

 
I still believe though that our biggest issue is with the overall direction and ownership of the Club. We will end up getting relegated eventually, we can all see that and it's been going on for 3 or 4 years now.  Our number is bound to come up sooner or later.

So the best and only defence I can give of Lambert tonight is unless Lerner decides to end the austerity it's almost academic whether Lambert stays or goes.  Lambert is a symptom, Lerner is the cause.

I totally agree but there isn't much we can do about it unfortunately.

[London Villan]

I guarantee that how nice Lambert is in front of the cameras about the team he is totally different in the dressing room.

Judging by the players' reactions to his pre-match and half time team talks I'm not  so sure...

[N'Zimidy]

I guarantee that how nice Lambert is in front of the cameras about the team he is totally different in the dressing room.

Well if he's getting nasty with the players in the dressing room and we're still a wet touch then surely the larger and more worrying concern is that he can't motivate his players?

[olaftab]

Can we stop arguing on Lambert's mumbles as a Scottish trait or in particular anything to with him being from Glasgow. I have relations, friends and colleagues from Glasgow. They speak clearly , coherently and intelligibly. This is about one man and difficulty we have with deciphering his spoken word.

[PeterWithesShin]

Unless he's dramatically changed in a fairly short time he is will be very different to what we see. I saw it once is all I'll say. Obv I wasn't in the dressing room but you knew. And so did everyone else.

Whether it works on this set of players is a different matter.

[Monty]

Can we stop arguing on Lambert's mumbles as a Scottish trait or in particular anything to with him being from Glasgow. I have relations, friends and colleagues from Glasgow. They speak clearly , coherently and intelligibly. This is about one man and difficulty we have with deciphering his spoken word.

And I know lots of people from Glasgow and the rest of Scotland who grew up in very straitened circs and speak accordingly. It happens to some and doesn't to others. I think it's unfair and phenomenally irrelevant.

[PeterWithesShin]

Is Lambert any worse than Dalglish when it comes to accent? I spent a lot of time in Glasgow in the past and you go to some areas and the majority speak like that. Other areas and the accent is a lot less pronounced.

[Jimbo]

I don't think anyone from Birmingham is going to take the piss out of anyone's accent or way of speaking. The fact is communicaction is crucial to Lambert's job, and he's sometimes unintelligible. That's no judgment on his background or upbringing, he just fails to get his message across clearly and in a way that inspires. Quite how some of the overseas players understand him, I've no idea. Although it appears one word that frequently gets through rhymes with 'blunt'.

Well that last one is to do with growing up in Scotland, that word's like breathing in round 'ere. However, I take issue with what you say on a couple of points: firstly, everyone makes fun of the way everyone talks from anywhere else; secondly, Lambert speaks English, and I'm sure his English underlings understand him, and also our best spells are almost always after half-time when he's had a few minutes with them, indicating a certain amount of managerial motivation. There are plenty of other things wrong with the way he's doing his job - this personal jibing is cheap and distracting from the more serious issues.

If everyone makes fun of everybody else's way of speaking, as you claim, then it's entirely expected and we're all quits. And if Lambert's half time team talks are so effective, why doesn't he have a word before a ball is kicked? You're right though, Lambert's diction isn't the main problem, but he's no Wnston Churchill either.

Do you deny it's cheap? 'Mr Mumbles' is not a considered remark, nor is it relevant to whether or not he praises or criticises the players to the bloody media.

Also, we often start games pretty well and then fade (United and Fulham both went like that). It's not that he doesn't speak to them well enough - he doesn't train them well enough.

I can think of plenty of worse insults than 'Mr Mumbles' to be fair. Say that to a Glaswegian and he'll laugh you back down south with a round of fucks and bastards for good measure. People are frustrated, they are going to pick up on his most obvious faults. They see a team with little or no idea what to do, making the most basic of errors. Perhaps they might think that whatever Lambert is telling them to do isn't getting through. But I agree, there are more pressing issues with his management, and the club as a whole, at the moment.

[Dante Lavelli]

So the best and only defence I can give of Lambert tonight is unless Lerner decides to end the austerity it's almost academic whether Lambert stays or goes.  Lambert is a symptom, Lerner is the cause. Same for GH, TSM and now PL.

I'd agree with that and add that Lambert has achieved it at the lowest cost wage-wise (which was the thing that was destroying us) so he deserves credit for that.  The style and lack of entertainment this season is inexcusable however as it is either a McLeish-esque tactical choice or shows a lack of coaching ability.

[Tony Erdington]

Don't you think its about the football and the fact hes accent is a bit different to what some believe to be the queens English, is bolox.

I was chuffed when he came but, randys quote of "proud history, Bright future" seems to be getting more distant.

Would regain my faith getting in, Hoddle, if not as a manager as a player.