Lambert OUT

[KevinGage]

If we had a fully fit Vlaar and Benteke in the starting XI and were still turning in such turd-like performances, he'd have to walk the plank.

Yes, it's inescapable that he signed Vlaar-  dodgy injury record included.  So having the bloke out for an extended period of time is never a shock. But we are a completely different side with those two.   A new manager with all the upheaval that would bring should be a last resort -when we're convinced beyond doubt that the current bloke can't deliver.  I'm not at that point, but fuck me, there's a limit to how much shit we can all put up with.

If we limp through to the end of the season and there is no significant improvement (but we stay up) there would still be a strong argument to get rid. Two years and four widows enough time to show that at least the foundations are right.  As far as making a change is concerned, it's far better to do it then too, and give a new manager a full pre season.

Should PL his cards between then and now, we really need to explore the possibility of a Sporting/Technical Director coming in (and not someone like Graham Taylor, much as I like the bloke).  The circus that runs the club have proved time and again they know next to nothing about the nitty gritty of matters on the pitch.  Giving an O'Neill, Houllier, McLeish or even Lambert Total Power and then waiving them goodbye after 4 years, 18 months or even 12 months is not a prudent course of action (particularly with a board so obsessed by finances and cuts).  Time for more joined up thinking.

[Monty]

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.

Actually, there's very little Scots generally find more insulting from the English than jibes at the way they talk.

[littlevillain]

Hilarious, who gives a toss about whether he mumbles or not. He's failing as the boss not because he has a strong glaswegian accent but because he's tactically inept and his players in general are not good enough at this level . 
Allroightt loikke aahh kid.

[Jon Crofts]

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.

Post of the fucking century.

[Villa in Denmark]

I can't help agreeing with Paulie, I don't want him sacked, but you couldn't say that less deserving cases have received P45s in the last 12 months.
The list in the negatives column is far too long, especially after only 18 months.

Record Defeat.
0-15 over Xmas last year.
LC Semi Final.
The lack of goals and wins at home over 1½ seasons now.
The one dimensional football (almost none dimensional of late)
We look like the definition of a one man team.
Too many players have not recaptured anything like last seasons performance levels

Against that the positives are
Found and signed Benteke.
Got Benteke to sign new contract.
Okore and Vlaar look OK defensive signings.
Coaxing a very green team through last season.
The performances at the back end of last season.
Survived another season of swinging wage cuts / player culls.

That's 7- 6 against him, and if you used some form of weighting system to take account of importance to us as a club it might tip in his favour as the most important point is the last one. Which is probably why the impression of no further forwards, if anything still going backwards is probably not far off the mark

I do think too many people under estimate how big the job here is, and come in thinking they've got a Fulham / Baggies type job on their hands, before finding out they're either in over their heads or it's going to be much harder work than they thought.

The only managers in recent times who have head competitive resources and actually understood the job and had the personality/strength of character to cope have been BFR, Brian Little, and MON, with varying degrees of success.  I know Gregory had the resources too, but ultimately was in way over his head so because of that defaults on understanding the job.

This isn't a job for the likes of Lambert (at the moment) he's far too green, it's simply too big a hop from Norwich to us (especially with only two years under his bet in the top 2 flights when appointed) as the expectation level (despite recent downgradings) is just vastly different to most jobs in this league.  The team has looked devoid of confidence and composure all season, and that must surely come from PL himself. 

Even some of our better performances at the start of the season weren't totally convincing.  The confidence has evaporated over the last  couple of months, and has got worse since Benteke got injured the first time.  It's almost like Dumbo and his magic feather.  Unfortunately it doesn't look like Lambert can play the Timothy role, instead as club we're looking more and more like a startled rabbit caught in the headlights.  You know what's coming but can't muster enough self will to do anything about it.

[Jimbo]

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.

Actually, there's very little Scots generally find more insulting from the English than jibes at the way they talk.

Like I say, 'Mr Mumbles' might cause a bit of a brouhaha at a tea party in Edinburgh, but it's not going to mortally offend a Glaswegian docker.

[Monty]

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.

Actually, there's very little Scots generally find more insulting from the English than jibes at the way they talk.

Like I say, 'Mr Mumbles' might cause a bit of a brouhaha at a tea party in Edinburgh, but it's not going to mortally offend a Glaswegian docker.

Try it then.

[Jimbo]

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.

Actually, there's very little Scots generally find more insulting from the English than jibes at the way they talk.

Like I say, 'Mr Mumbles' might cause a bit of a brouhaha at a tea party in Edinburgh, but it's not going to mortally offend a Glaswegian docker.

Try it then.

Don't be absurd. The idea of me catching a train to Glasgow, swaggering into some back street dive bar, picking out the roughest cut-throat lunatic in there and calling him Mr Mumbles has got me choking on my After Eights with laughter.

[Monty]

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.

Actually, there's very little Scots generally find more insulting from the English than jibes at the way they talk.

Like I say, 'Mr Mumbles' might cause a bit of a brouhaha at a tea party in Edinburgh, but it's not going to mortally offend a Glaswegian docker.

Try it then.

Don't be absurd. The idea of me catching a train to Glasgow, swaggering into some back street dive bar, picking out the roughest cut-throat lunatic in there and calling him Mr Mumbles has got me choking on my After Eights with laughter.

After Eights would be a good defence. You could throw them, like ninja stars.

[caster troy]

Who cares how he speaks? The Southampton manager can't even speak English and they play football we can only dream of at the moment.

[Jimbo]

Who cares how he speaks? The Southampton manager can't even speak English and they play football we can only dream of at the moment.

He's got an interpreter.

[Monty]

Who cares how he speaks? The Southampton manager can't even speak English and they play football we can only dream of at the moment.

Quite. Although I hear he speaks enough English to get through training, he just doesn't want to expose himself to the media.

[Drummond]

Having a go at Lambert on the basis of his accent and enunciation is childish, unintelligent and frankly just lazy.

If you actually could be bothered to listen, you'd be able to understand him.

He had a successful playing career and before joining us a good managerial one too.

The fact that he is the sixth longest serving manager in the division is largely as a result of other clubs and fans not giving a manager time. It's no surprise that Ferguson and Wenger had success and the likes of Liverpool who previously had a great record went off the boil somewhat.

What position do those calling for his head actually expect us to be in?

[taylorsworkrate]

I think you can legitimately make a case that we've only played well in 2 of the 17 league games this season. (Arsenal and Chelsea)

The Man City and Southampton wins were lucky in the extreme for me.

I am firmly in the Lambert OUT camp, but the problem is whoever comes in has to take charge of a squad so utterly abysmal it's frightening.

It's almost as if Lambert has spent the last two years scouting players to sign by searching for random player on football manager. He got lucky with Benteke (last season) and it looked as if Vlaar was turning into a decent player, but the others by and large have been dross.

Unless a new guy is backed with significant funds there wouldn't be that massive of an improvement (there may be a slight one, whether enough to stave off what feels increasingly inevitable this season or next is another question).

[Mister E]

What position do those calling for his head actually expect us to be in?

Probably not playing the sort of spineless shit that the team currently plays. Showing some spirt. Playing with Balls. Cherishing the ball and valuing possession.

So, not 6 points off the bottom.