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

[Simon Ward]

I think its good news.  Just me then

I'm with you MV. Managers must be given time!

[N'ZMAV]

He's a middle-of-the-road sort of manager, we're a middle-of-the-road sort of club, with middle-of-the-road ambitions.

A good fit?.....

[Ron Manager]

He's a middle-of-the-road sort of manager, we're a middle-of-the-road sort of club, with middle-of-the-road ambitions.

A good fit?.....

Unfortunately that is correct. Unless Randy sells up and then we may see a different picture.

[Malandro]

I've never played at any reasonable level or indeed managed a football team. But I think anyone could see that we would have benefited from a steady eddy central defender and a midfielder with composure this transfer window. (I honestly think a lumbering old defender like Shittu would have been better than Clark or Baker)

In a large proportion of games this year we don't even look like a championship team, we have been totally played off the pitch.

Baffles me that he would be offered a contract, but then again Randy seems to like making a point to the fans

[fbriai]

I think its good news.  Just me then

I'm with you MV. Managers must be given time!

Seconded.

[not3bad]

He's a middle-of-the-road sort of manager, we're a middle-of-the-road sort of club, with middle-of-the-road ambitions.

A good fit?.....

He will lead us to mid-table glory!

[Boz]

I'm sorry, it's proof that not only does Lerner not go to the matches, he doesn't watch them at all. Stability is nonsense if you don't have the right man for the job - stability, in fact, is just a synonym for loss of momentum.

Not even saying that he should be sacked, just that he's hardly done enough, in a pretty rocky, up-and-down year and a half, to warrant a mid-season extension of his contract.

He watches every game by video link evidently, so he's seeing as much as the armchair critics, and is presumably satisifed with how things are going even if many fans aren't.

Stability is important, but whether Lambert is the right manager remains to be seen. I certainly wouldn't be offering improved terms unless tied to improved performance.

Lambert is working under whatever terms the Owner has said he must, but I'd like to feel more confidence in what Lambert's vision is, albeit under any restraints.

Faulkner might say Lerner isn't actively seeking to sell Villa, but that isn't the same as saying he's no intention of selling, should the right offer come along.

[danlanza]

I'm sorry, it's proof that not only does Lerner not go to the matches, he doesn't watch them at all. Stability is nonsense if you don't have the right man for the job - stability, in fact, is just a synonym for loss of momentum.

Not even saying that he should be sacked, just that he's hardly done enough, in a pretty rocky, up-and-down year and a half, to warrant a mid-season extension of his contract.

He watches every game by video link evidently, so he's seeing as much as the armchair critics, and is presumably satisifed with how things are going even if many fans aren't.

Stability is important, but whether Lambert is the right manager remains to be seen. I certainly wouldn't be offering improved terms unless tied to improved performance.

Lambert is working under whatever terms the Owner has said he must, but I'd like to feel more confidence in what Lambert's vision is, albeit under any restraints.

Faulkner might say Lerner isn't actively seeking to sell Villa, but that isn't the same as saying he's no intention of selling, should the right offer come along.

Everything is for sale at the right price.

[Chris Smith]

As ever some of you are getting hot under the collar over very little, the article states "Tentative discussions were held with Paul Faulkner, the chief executive, in January and while Villa are relaxed about the situation it is understood that Lambert is prepared to sign a new contract in the next few months. "

So, more than likely will be sorted towards the end of the season, which seems sensible, to allow him to concentrate on what needs to be done in the summer.

[not3bad]

I'm sorry, it's proof that not only does Lerner not go to the matches, he doesn't watch them at all. Stability is nonsense if you don't have the right man for the job - stability, in fact, is just a synonym for loss of momentum.

Not even saying that he should be sacked, just that he's hardly done enough, in a pretty rocky, up-and-down year and a half, to warrant a mid-season extension of his contract.

He watches every game by video link evidently, so he's seeing as much as the armchair critics, and is presumably satisifed with how things are going even if many fans aren't.

Stability is important, but whether Lambert is the right manager remains to be seen. I certainly wouldn't be offering improved terms unless tied to improved performance.

Lambert is working under whatever terms the Owner has said he must, but I'd like to feel more confidence in what Lambert's vision is, albeit under any restraints.

Faulkner might say Lerner isn't actively seeking to sell Villa, but that isn't the same as saying he's no intention of selling, should the right offer come along.

Everything is for sale at the right price.

The new owners though, would have to buy off Lambert's contract if they wanted to bring their own people in, which will add to the overall cost of the buy out and be a bit of an off putter.  This is why this new contract seems to be a statement to me that Aston Villa are not for sale.

[Monty]

As ever some of you are getting hot under the collar over very little, the article states "Tentative discussions were held with Paul Faulkner, the chief executive, in January and while Villa are relaxed about the situation it is understood that Lambert is prepared to sign a new contract in the next few months. "

So, more than likely will be sorted towards the end of the season, which seems sensible, to allow him to concentrate on what needs to be done in the summer.

Boooo! Common sense! Boooo!*

*I should addend this post by pointing out that I was probably the hottest under the collar on this thread, so was probably the most in need of common sense.

[PaulWinch again]

If he can show that he realises that Aston Villa should be better than putting everyone behind the ball and desperately clinging on against teams, and that possession and entertainment are important then so be it. He also needs to have decent funds available and start buying some quality players.

[Nastylee]

I do think there's a massive over reaction by some. Ok, things aren't as good as they have been in the past but let's not pretend the last 30 years have been flooded with success. A few nearly jobs that came to nothing and then the inevitable slump, a new man, a rise that came to nothing, then the inevitable slump - do you see the cycle? It's been happening for years.

PL has us safe in midtable, yes some will say that the teams below are only 5 points away, etc but that's two wins to overtake us without reply and some of these teams have not managed much more all season.  I doubt we'll be truly in the relegation fight, we haven't yet and we're pretty much where everyone expected us to be and said we should be aiming. The only issue has been the style but let's not pretend an attractive team can be built in 18 months with £2m players. No one else has managed it so why do so many expect such an instant turnaround?

[pauliewalnuts]

If he's staying on a bit, let's hope we don't read stats like these (football365 this morning) much longer

* Only Palace have a lower pass completion rate and possession average than tenth-placed Villa.
* Villa scored with their only shot on target at Goodison Park on Saturday.
* Three outfield Villa players recorded a pass completion rate below 50% v Everton: Ciaran Clark (46%), Ryan Bertrand (45%) and Grant Holt (40%).

[Irish villain]

People have obviously forgotten what it can be like when the current Villa hierarchy go looking for a manager.

Better the devil you know. And, the acid test will be can they back him in the transfer market this summer.

Still no need to give him a new contract yet. Nobody will be after him. He will be looking over his shoulder all the time. Lambert needs to know his position is in jeopardy and throwing a new contract at him is extremely foolhardy. Just imagine that Culverhouse now as well. Laughing all the way to the bank.

It is odd timing, you are right on that. Are they trying to pre-empt fan reaction to any more dodgy results?

And Paul Winch is right, Lambert needs to develop and show he can learn and adapt. However, given the type of budgets he has worked under we have done well enough. He has rebuilt the squad on a shoestring. To be fair, this time last year I didn't think we had a hope of staying up. We looked like a poor Championship side and I think he did very well to keep us up.