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

[Dave]

Of those available who would take it yes he would be my top choice - there are better managers of course but I don't think they would be interested in the job - I would hope that randy already has thought about who he should be looking for in the event of lamberts departure but as past experience shows  he seems to often  takes weeks to appoint someone.

Last time we lost a few games in a row you were sure that Bielsa was the most sensible option.

What's he done wrong and what's Koeman done right since?

[richard moore]

See that 2010/11 column in Mark M's post. And there are still posters who will argue we were not in a relegation scrap that year. Four in a row people. That trap door has been waiting for us and we have been inching closer and closer under the clowns who have failed to take decisive action to save us.

Just like Bolton and Boro who fell ever closer until...

We actually deserve to go, both for the standard of football we play and the way in which we fritter away such potential. At least some of the other smaller clubs give it a right go and attempt to play decent football

[andyh]

Lambert is mediocre. Some of the players are mediocre. The club owner is apathetic.

The club itself is magnificent. The away support is magnificent.

Some time, in the future, this club wlll rise again like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes.

I hope I'm still here to see it.

Ron, I would add that the home support has been magnificent as well.
Considering what we have had to put up with for the last 4 seasons, to gt over 30K every game is remarkable.

Jon Crofts.....superb post.     

[rob_bridge]

See that 2010/11 column in Mark M's post. And there are still posters who will argue we were not in a relegation scrap that year. Four in a row people. That trap door has been waiting for us and we have been inching closer and closer under the clowns who have failed to take decisive action to save us.

We were in a relegation scrap for 36 games which was nearly the whole season. I thought it totally unacceptable for a team which finished 6th 3 years on the trot. And it was.

However we hot even worse in 2011-12 and haven't got better since.

[eastie]

Of those available who would take it yes he would be my top choice - there are better managers of course but I don't think they would be interested in the job - I would hope that randy already has thought about who he should be looking for in the event of lamberts departure but as past experience shows  he seems to often  takes weeks to appoint someone.

Last time we lost a few games in a row you were sure that Bielsa was the most sensible option.

What's he done wrong and what's Koeman done right since?

I don't think Bielsa would take the job in the current state of affairs - either would be a vast improvement on lambert.

[Legion]

Kudos to Jon there. Excellent summation.

[Meanwood Villa]

Just posted this in the transition thread, but thought it was worth posting it here as well...

To compare against the same point last season:

                          2012/13          2013/14
Played                     27                   27
Won                         5                     7
Drawn                      9                     7
Lost                         13                   13
For                           26                 20
Away                       52                   39
Pts                           24                  28

You've used Norwich's for and against there. We've scored 27 and conceded 37

[Phil from the upper holte]

Lambert is mediocre. Some of the players are mediocre. The club owner is apathetic.

The club itself is magnificent. The away support is magnificent.

Some time, in the future, this club wlll rise again like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes.

I hope I'm still here to see it.

Ron, I would add that the home support has been magnificent as well.
Considering what we have had to put up with for the last 4 seasons, to gt over 30K every game is remarkable.

Jon Crofts.....superb post.     

Agree with Ron & Andy,

[mattjpa]

Great post Jon as others have said. But the year upon year of struggle has worn me down now and apathy has truly set in. after Villa losing I used to get in a bad mood for a while because I cared. Now I just get pissed off with myself for thinking it was going to be any different (can you believe I even had a tenner on us winning yesterday!). Like they say; Its the hope that kills you.
Well, I think im past hope now...Every time Lambert is on the edge, he lucks a win out of somewhere to extend his doomed tenure and grant himself a bit of breathing space. The worst thing is that within a few of weeks we will have reverted to type, lost a couple, drawn a couple and managed the odd win via long ball, crap football against the run of play (ie City, Southampton).
This was the season we were supposed to make progress and we have gone backwards in every sense of the word (please dont quote some marginal facts showing nominal progress over last year) I didnt expect miracles this year but I did expect us to be in with Southampton and Newcastle -looking up rather than down the whole time.

Heres the thing; At this moment in time if you offered me an exciting season in the championship playing exciting football against teams on a more even keel with where we are at the moment, youngsters being blooded in the first team and being given sustained runs in the side, winning a good proportion of home games and challenging for honours over another season of this fucking crap, getting our arses handed to us by West Ham and Fulham week in week out and playing god awful football in the hope of hanging on for a point id probably take it -We will not get to where we hoped we would get with this lot in charge.

[MarkM]

Just posted this in the transition thread, but thought it was worth posting it here as well...

To compare against the same point last season:

                          2012/13          2013/14
Played                     27                   27
Won                         5                     7
Drawn                      9                     7
Lost                         13                   13
For                           26                 20
Away                       52                   39
Pts                           24                  28

You've used Norwich's for and against there. We've scored 27 and conceded 37

Good spot, I have corrected my post

[eastie]

No need to worry then -

@MatKendrick: No panic: Paul Lambert feels as relaxed about Villa's Premier League position as he did a few months ago #avfc http://t.co/aCOxEyYtvm?

[caster troy]

I count 20 goals from open play this season in 27 games which includes three long range strikes and Luna's breakaway goal at Arsenal when they had no defenders. A few others were clear defensive howlers in my opinion (Stoke away, Weimann's first v WBA at home, Weimann v Man City).

Also I think it's only 8 goals from open play all season at Villa Park. Unreal.

[Irish villain]

I count 20 goals from open play this season in 27 games which includes three long range strikes and Luna's breakaway goal at Arsenal when they had no defenders. A few others were clear defensive howlers in my opinion (Stoke away, Weimann's first v WBA at home, Weimann v Man City).

Also I think it's only 8 goals from open play all season at Villa Park. Unreal.

You forgot Cattermole's assist for Gabby at Sunderland.

[Jon Crofts]

No need to worry then -

@MatKendrick: No panic: Paul Lambert feels as relaxed about Villa's Premier League position as he did a few months ago #avfc http://t.co/aCOxEyYtvm?

He's delusional, the man needs help.

[Richard E]

If that sort of complacency is communicating itself to the team then that is a worry.