The Paul Lambert thread - poll reset after our capitulation to Hull

[Dante Lavelli]

He is trying to get the full backs to provide the width and keep a compact midfield to help stop the counter. He needs the full backs to get forward more, get in earlier and better crosses, something Cissokho has not been good at and actually Clark looked better at vs Swansea. Of those midfielders he needs one that attacks the box and can sit just behind Benteke. The tactics are correct, we just better players suited to this system to execute it.

I think you make a good point and one me and friends have touched on.
He bought in players to play a particular way but has now decided to 'play' a different way so now doesn't have the players to do it.
Which all goes back to the fact the bloke is a chancer and has no fucking idea whatsoever.

I've said this somewhere else, but I do not think he brought in players which suited a long ball, counter attacking game.  Westwood being the prime example.  He signed mostly footballers but then demanded they play physical, bish-bosh-bash football.  I think most of the players we have are better suited to a pass and move and possession based game rather than the lottery of Charles Hughes football.

Out of interest which players did you/mates have in mind which he signed which suit the old style? 

[Gareth]

Will he continue with 3 centre backs or will we go to a flat back four today?  Perhaps they should stream his game of Football Manager for the PC on AVTV then we would all see the decision making process in operation.

All flippancy aside, it'll be interesting to see what he decides because the extra centre half makes us more defensively secure but Cissokho is no wing back so there is so little attacking threat out wide...our best left wing backs are Bennett or Luna (if only his epiphany happened before he sent them away).  Wing backs should not need to focus 100% on defending which plays to both of their strengths.  Also in order to go to a flat back four he has to drop one of Vlaar, Okore or Clark, unless he chooses to play Clark at left back.

At least with Gabby banned we get 90 minutes without the charade of playing Gabby the 'striker' anywhere but up with Benteke, when either he or Weimman try to play behind Benteke you wonder if there was ever a player with less technical ability in that role.  For me Gabby would make a cracking 20 minute sub, as a starter he hasn't cut it often enough for the last 3 or 4 years - 6 good games a season is poor payback.

'If' we get the 3 home wins this week Lambert will have repurchased the goodwill to allow him to see it through the season, he'd have to be backed to grind 14 more points out & maybe a cup run.   If he doesn't I just see these discussions going round in circles....

[Dave]

We could have a "Januzaj" on loan doing similar for us/Man U.

If we wanted him to be the same as Januzaj, sitting on our bench getting a few minutes at the end of every other match is the best way to go about it.

I cannot tell if you're being flippant... What I meant was we get Januzaj on loan - currently not playing - so our team improves and in the meantime we send grelish off on loan so he can play every week.  Both players would get better and make their clubs stronger.  Also, you never know Januzaj may develop an affinity for the club whilst he is here too so we're in pole position to sign him when Man U decide to get rid.

Sorry - I thought you mean that we should be treating Grealish like ManYoo are treating Januzaj in the hope of turning him into our version of him.

[silhillvilla]

Lambert needs to stop them annoying about at the back with the ball and get them up the park , creating chances, swinging crosses in , having wait for it- shots at goal ! We may start scoring more then !
This latest brainwave of guzan pass to FB - CB - FB - CB - FB and then hoof is a red herring .

[Lastfootstamper]

Lambert needs to stop them annoying about at the back with the ball and get them up the park , creating chances, swinging crosses in , having wait for it- shots at goal ! We may start scoring more then !
This latest brainwave of guzan pass to FB - CB - FB - CB - FB and then hoof is a red herring .

Auto correct?

[silhillvilla]

Lambert needs to stop them annoying about at the back with the ball and get them up the park , creating chances, swinging crosses in , having wait for it- shots at goal ! We may start scoring more then !
This latest brainwave of guzan pass to FB - CB - FB - CB - FB and then hoof is a red herring .

Auto correct?

Yep. Should read, fannying .

[Lastfootstamper]

Although, its choice of an alternate was quite apt!

[silhillvilla]

Although, its choice of an alternate was quite apt!

True 

[aj2k77]

"It's not for the lack of trying. We play football the right way and I cannot ask for any more, other than the score.

"We look comfortable, our movement is good and I was pleased with all of that.

"We have changed a lot over the last three weeks or so and the players have grasped it really well.

"They are enjoying having a lot of the ball rather than chasing it. It's a new way and hopefully the fans are enjoying it too.

"We will keep going with it as it's a way of playing I like to see them play and the more they do it the better they will get.

"I think we have found a way that really suits us."

What ever happened to decent reporters? Someone should seriously ask him if we play football the right way now in his words then what was the thinking behind the style of play previous? Why if we enjoy having the ball rather than chase it were we set up to chase it previous? Why has it taken nearly 3 years to find a way that suits us, called playing football? Who came up with the idea of us playing football, with predominantly a team full of smaller players who decided long ball was a good idea?

Lots of questions about this so called manager need asking and all he talks about is new plans and excuses after old plans and excuses have been thrown by the wayside.

[Dante Lavelli]

They're all valid questions and ones I would like to see answered (although I'm not holding my breath).

The only plausible answer I can think of was that he did not feel the squad was of the required quality and/or experience previously.  After all I'm sure I read recently that he thinks the current squad is the best in his time here.  I'm not entirely convinced by this excuse  but there might be some truth in it. 

[LeeB]

Anyone with a memory better than a goldfish will remember we were doing the keeper rolling the ball out stuff at the Hawthorns last year.

In no time at all, we were 2 down and looking likely to concede more. That's why it ended up abandoned, we hadn't got the players.

It's no coincedence that now Okore is back, so is a some possession. We all tend to think of Benteke getting injured as the reason last season was scuppered, but I think Okore's injury set us back further, as we were forced to rely on players the manager didn't really trust, and I think he was setting us up to protect these players.

[aj2k77]

I'd say you were being very generous to the manager to suggest we've played long ball, non possession football for 18 months because Okore was injured.

[achilles]

Anyone with a memory better than a goldfish will remember we were doing the keeper rolling the ball out stuff at the Hawthorns last year.

In no time at all, we were 2 down and looking likely to concede more. That's why it ended up abandoned, we hadn't got the players.

It's no coincedence that now Okore is back, so is a some possession. We all tend to think of Benteke getting injured as the reason last season was scuppered, but I think Okore's injury set us back further, as we were forced to rely on players the manager didn't really trust, and I think he was setting us up to protect these players.

Is this the same player that Lambert refused to play until he was forced to play him as Villa had run out of fit centre-halves?

[LeeB]

Yes, the one and same.

[john e]

Ha ha, yes, forgot about that