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

[sirlordbaltimore]

Yes I seriously beleve that.

Then I admire your optimism.

[Ads]

Yes I seriously beleve that.

Then I admire your optimism.

Why not if there is room within the budget and the wages match the contribution?

[Toronto Villa]

I really don't understand the notion that we will never again pay good PL wages. It makes no sense. What I'll guarantee is that we will be far more careful in who we award those wages too, but I can absolutely see the right player, be it a current player who deserves or a proven talent coming in getting paid appropriately.

[Concrete John]

I really don't understand the notion that we will never again pay good PL wages. It makes no sense. What I'll guarantee is that we will be far more careful in who we award those wages too, but I can absolutely see the right player, be it a current player who deserves or a proven talent coming in getting paid appropriately.

This is the crux of it.  We'll keep it within an acceptable ratio to turnover and the best way to do that is to avoid as much wasteage as possible, which is achieved by reserving the bigger contracts for the right players. 

No more reserve right backs on £40k a week!

[eastie]

If it's the right player and a key player then I would hope we would pay the required wage - in the past we were paying crazy money to too many players who were never in the team -

[supertom]

I'm all for stability but there's just no need to offer Lambert a new contract. Is he seriously, ever going to be that important to us, or sought after that in 18 months time we'll be desperately hoping to extend his current deal before he buggers off to Real Madrid or something?
No.
I'm quite happy for him to remain for the time being and give him the benefit of the summer window to improve our on field performances, but as for rewarding mediocrity? No.
He's fucking lucky to still be in the job given some of the football he's delivered and some of the defeats we've suffered under him, including our worst run since football began, and being knocked out by 3 lower league sides in cups, including a League 2 side.

No way should he be getting a new contract. It's ridiculous. And what's it going to be, a simple extension? Probably not. He'll likely get a payrise too.

I don't like where Randy is taking this club. We're okay this season, but the longer we toil at the wrong end, and the more scrimping we do, the bigger the threat of relegation is. What happens without Benteke next season? I dread to think.

[Chris Smith]

I think a point we are missing is that players will want to know if they sign the manager isn't going to bugger off in 6 months and they'll be left in limbo if the new bloke doesn't fancy them. It's about showing commitment to a plan from top to bottom.

[Toronto Villa]

I think a point we are missing is that players will want to know if they sign the manager isn't going to bugger off in 6 months and they'll be left in limbo if the new bloke doesn't fancy them. It's about showing commitment to a plan from top to bottom.

That's a solid point Chris. Take Fabian Delph. He's improved enormously under Lambert. A large part of his decision to stay at a very important stage of his career will be the manager. In his short time at Villa he's seen 5 managers which is crazy. Going into these contract discussions he might want assurances that there will be some stability at the club before he commits himself to the next 3 or 4 years. You're right that a new manager might not see things the same way, however good a certain player is. For proof head over to Chelsea and see the box of unsold Juan Mata kits now headed to Africa.

[Mister E]

I'm all for stability but there's just no need to offer Lambert a new contract. Is he seriously, ever going to be that important to us, or sought after that in 18 months time we'll be desperately hoping to extend his current deal before he buggers off to Real Madrid or something?
No.
I'm quite happy for him to remain for the time being and give him the benefit of the summer window to improve our on field performances, but as for rewarding mediocrity? No.
He's fucking lucky to still be in the job given some of the football he's delivered and some of the defeats we've suffered under him, including our worst run since football began, and being knocked out by 3 lower league sides in cups, including a League 2 side.

No way should he be getting a new contract. It's ridiculous. And what's it going to be, a simple extension? Probably not. He'll likely get a payrise too.

I don't like where Randy is taking this club. We're okay this season, but the longer we toil at the wrong end, and the more scrimping we do, the bigger the threat of relegation is. What happens without Benteke next season? I dread to think.

It's not ridiculous.
I presume he's done what he's been asked to do: keep us in the Premiership, get shot of the expensive dead wood and nurture a younger squad with more sell-on potential.

For me, the far more interesting question is: what is his brief over the next 2-3 years?

[Toronto Villa]

My guess is he will also want assurances from the club that we will not just tread water for the next 2-3 years. He'll advocate that he's kept his end of the deal. The fact that he talks openly about the great relationship he enjoys with the chairman and CEO suggests to me they are already on the same page regarding the present and future.

[Mister E]

My guess is he will also want assurances from the club that we will not just tread water for the next 2-3 years. He'll advocate that he's kept his end of the deal. The fact that he talks openly about the great relationship he enjoys with the chairman and CEO suggests to me they are already on the same page regarding the present and future.

Correct.
I agree with those who say that he has served up some pretty dire stuff, but the club are clearly taking a long-term view on the future and I suspect they're prepared to take the flak from fans for the poor recent fare in pursuit of a more stable long-term position.
Had the attendances plummetted, maybe Lambert would not be getting a new contract; but they haven't.

[ciggiesnbeer]

What happens without Benteke next season? I dread to think.

Why would we want to sell Benteke? He is coming back into form. He is happy, we are happy.

[caster troy]

My guess is he will also want assurances from the club that we will not just tread water for the next 2-3 years. He'll advocate that he's kept his end of the deal. The fact that he talks openly about the great relationship he enjoys with the chairman and CEO suggests to me they are already on the same page regarding the present and future.

Correct.
I agree with those who say that he has served up some pretty dire stuff, but the club are clearly taking a long-term view on the future and I suspect they're prepared to take the flak from fans for the poor recent fare in pursuit of a more stable long-term position.
Had the attendances plummetted, maybe Lambert would not be getting a new contract; but they haven't.

...... yet. A lot of people thought we'd kick on this season after a reasonable end to last season but we haven't. The performances at Villa Park have been abysmal for the most part. I'd be worried about season ticket sales if I were Randy.

[Ad@m]

My guess is he will also want assurances from the club that we will not just tread water for the next 2-3 years. He'll advocate that he's kept his end of the deal. The fact that he talks openly about the great relationship he enjoys with the chairman and CEO suggests to me they are already on the same page regarding the present and future.

Correct.
I agree with those who say that he has served up some pretty dire stuff, but the club are clearly taking a long-term view on the future and I suspect they're prepared to take the flak from fans for the poor recent fare in pursuit of a more stable long-term position.
Had the attendances plummetted, maybe Lambert would not be getting a new contract; but they haven't.

...... yet. A lot of people thought we'd kick on this season after a reasonable end to last season but we haven't. The performances at Villa Park have been abysmal for the most part. I'd be worried about season ticket sales if I were Randy.

I wouldn't.  Match day attendances are holding up - our last 4 home games have been bang on the average for the season so far.

[Legion]

Now I've been sacked I might reconsider getting a season ticket and just use something like viagogo to buy for individual games on an ad-hoc basis.