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

[LeeB]

That's the spirit.

[MoetVillan]

heh heh.  As opposed to the previous two seasons, or even the last two seasons under MON.  Home matches even then were not what we would call exciting.....

[Jockey Randall]

I'm undecided as I don't quite know what to make of Lambert, sometimes he gets us to play very well against good teams like against Chavski and Liverpool, but sometimes we play just utterly dreadfully under him, like against Everton and West Ham.

He is young manager who's still learning so it might be a good idea to stick with him if he can learn from the mistakes.

Why do you presume it's so easy to play against teams who sit back? We're built for the counter attack – hence our good record against the better teams – and we will be until we get some creative players. Those players cost a lot of money, and Lambert has been tasked with refreshing the entire squad, so it was always going to take time. To me, I don't see it so much as he's making mistakes, at least not to an unreasonable degree because nobody can get everything right 100% of the time, but I think managing a football club is a great deal more complicated than most fans give credit for.

I don't think we were even dreadful against West Ham – we let them score two ludicrous goals from individual mistakes, and at the Everton game we were set up defensively and lost to a world class free kick. I get frustrated because when I hear these kinds of views it seems to me people are saying, 'Look we won, why can't we win all the time?' as if it is that simple. Other teams change their game plans, have their own star players, all of which has a say in the results.

Spot on.

[Rolta]

He's still got to go for me. It'd take a miraculous swing in form and results to get me back on his side. And I can only hope that happens, but i've no reason to suspect it will.

A couple of nice/welcome victories wont banish the memories of the utter tripe i've had to put up with for the last two seasons under his leadership.

So the manager has come in, spent barely any money, improved us from an awful position in the post MON, Houllier, McCleish era, solved the club's financial problems, had consistent improvement in his two seasons, basically worked a miracle, and you think he should be sacked!

It's never going to happen. Anyone with a bit of perspective can see Lambert is doing well under very difficult circumstances.

I'm not saying we're the finished article, but come on! Wake up!

Ridiculous levels of revisionism going on here. Brilliant victory against Chelsea? Tick. Brilliant victory against Narwich? Nearly a big tick. Other huge ticks for Arsenal away, Bin-dippers away, and the other Manc side at home, but that aside, there has been a lot of spectacular dross punctuated with ho-hum. I can't warm to Lambert, but agree that he should have one more window to bring a better balance and quality to the squad, should we survive this season. Which we will.

You do talk like you expect to be in the top 4. Hoping for better in the long run is fine, but the current reality is that we've had a bad few years and we're slowly and steadily coming out of it. The reality is we are a mid-table team, and mid-table teams don't win every single game in spectacular fashion. If we did then I'd say we were Barcelona-esque, which is a bit unrealistic.

Lambert will get more than one window. It's a joke that people can be this negative about someone who has sorted out so many problems in the club. You don't know what you've got.

[Clampy]

Ridiculous levels of revisionism going on here. Brilliant victory against Chelsea? Tick. Brilliant victory against Narwich? Nearly a big tick. Other huge ticks for Arsenal away, Bin-dippers away, and the other Manc side at home, but that aside, there has been a lot of spectacular dross punctuated with ho-hum. I can't warm to Lambert, but agree that he should have one more window to bring a better balance and quality to the squad, should we survive this season. Which we will.

Mr Underhill does have a point though. A few weeks ago there were spoof videos of Lambert and people saying he isn't good enough so you could argue there has been a bit of back peddling since the Norwich game.

[LeeB]

He's still got to go for me. It'd take a miraculous swing in form and results to get me back on his side. And I can only hope that happens, but i've no reason to suspect it will.

A couple of nice/welcome victories wont banish the memories of the utter tripe i've had to put up with for the last two seasons under his leadership.

So, less than 48 hrs after we beat the team that looked title favourites and were unbeaten in 14 league games, with a performance that all round was our best for years, with consecutive home wins for the first time this decade, and the team sitting comfortably in mid-table, you've "no reason to suspect" things will improve?

I prescribe Prozak.

[eastie]

Ridiculous levels of revisionism going on here. Brilliant victory against Chelsea? Tick. Brilliant victory against Narwich? Nearly a big tick. Other huge ticks for Arsenal away, Bin-dippers away, and the other Manc side at home, but that aside, there has been a lot of spectacular dross punctuated with ho-hum. I can't warm to Lambert, but agree that he should have one more window to bring a better balance and quality to the squad, should we survive this season. Which we will.

Mr Underhill does have a point though. A few weeks ago there were spoof videos of Lambert and people saying he isn't good enough so you could argue there has been a bit of back peddling since the Norwich game.

Obviously the improvement and results in the last 2 games will lift spirits and confidence - I'm not totally convinced lambert is the right man but if he finishes the season well and we finish top 12 then I think he will probably get a new contract.

I find it hard to see how we can be so inconsistent and look so lethargic is some games and then look great in others - often from half to half - we all want a successful team and if lambert can deliver results like the last 2 games he will soon turn around the doubters - I will be delighted to be proved wrong by him.

[Jockey Randall]

We're also the sort of counter attacking team that when a game doesn't go our way, can look like a league 2 side. Yet when it pays off against the better sides who come at us we can look like a top half team.

[Legion]

He's still got to go for me. It'd take a miraculous swing in form and results to get me back on his side. And I can only hope that happens, but i've no reason to suspect it will.

A couple of nice/welcome victories wont banish the memories of the utter tripe i've had to put up with for the last two seasons under his leadership.

So, less than 48 hrs after we beat the team that looked title favourites and were unbeaten in 14 league games, with a performance that all round was our best for years, with consecutive home wins for the first time this decade, and the team sitting comfortably in mid-table, you've "no reason to suspect" things will improve?

I prescribe Prozak.

Isn't he injured?

[LeeB]

He's still got to go for me. It'd take a miraculous swing in form and results to get me back on his side. And I can only hope that happens, but i've no reason to suspect it will.

A couple of nice/welcome victories wont banish the memories of the utter tripe i've had to put up with for the last two seasons under his leadership.

So, less than 48 hrs after we beat the team that looked title favourites and were unbeaten in 14 league games, with a performance that all round was our best for years, with consecutive home wins for the first time this decade, and the team sitting comfortably in mid-table, you've "no reason to suspect" things will improve?

I prescribe Prozak.

Isn't he injured?

And no doubt too expensive.

[Billy Walker]

Ridiculous levels of revisionism going on here. Brilliant victory against Chelsea? Tick. Brilliant victory against Narwich? Nearly a big tick. Other huge ticks for Arsenal away, Bin-dippers away, and the other Manc side at home, but that aside, there has been a lot of spectacular dross punctuated with ho-hum. I can't warm to Lambert, but agree that he should have one more window to bring a better balance and quality to the squad, should we survive this season. Which we will.

Mr Underhill does have a point though. A few weeks ago there were spoof videos of Lambert and people saying he isn't good enough so you could argue there has been a bit of back peddling since the Norwich game.

Obviously the improvement and results in the last 2 games will lift spirits and confidence - I'm not totally convinced lambert is the right man but if he finishes the season well and we finish top 12 then I think he will probably get a new contract.

I find it hard to see how we can be so inconsistent and look so lethargic is some games and then look great in others - often from half to half - we all want a successful team and if lambert can deliver results like the last 2 games he will soon turn around the doubters - I will be delighted to be proved wrong by him.

Eastie, when you have team whose core is as inexperienced and young as ours this will happen.  I'm sure this will fix itself in time (with the help of further quality additions to the squad).

[LeeS]

Anyone remember that season under Gregory where we won something like 8 of our last 10 games? I can feel a finish like that coming up.

Nurse!

[Dave Clark Five]

A lot of revisionism from our home crowd as well. Very quiet for most of the season but on top form on Saturday. Who can blame them?  We go to be entertained and we were. Nice to see that little mob in the Witton End winding the Chelsea up. The style of football will win over the fans. Very rare we go down when we have such a buoyant crowd. Villa Park is capable of making a right racket. It just needs getting in the mood.

[eastie]

A lot of revisionism from our home crowd as well. Very quiet for most of the season but on top form on Saturday. Who can blame them?  We go to be entertained and we were. Nice to see that little mob in the Witton End winding the Chelsea up. The style of football will win over the fans. Very rare we go down when we have such a buoyant crowd. Villa Park is capable of making a right racket. It just needs getting in the mood.

Well said sir.

[LeeB]

A lot of revisionism from our home crowd as well. Very quiet for most of the season but on top form on Saturday. Who can blame them?  We go to be entertained and we were. Nice to see that little mob in the Witton End winding the Chelsea up. The style of football will win over the fans. Very rare we go down when we have such a buoyant crowd. Villa Park is capable of making a right racket. It just needs getting in the mood.

It's gets in the mood when we press the opposition. That's all it takes.