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

[Jimbo]

I mentioned this else where but yesterday, as in all our more impressive results we worked our balls of to won the ball back. When we do that and refrain from lumping it long we look a much better side.

What he needs to do is get us doing that all the time rather than in matches we are extra pumped up for.

It makes such a huge difference to us as a team and isn't something that is going to cost us millions to fix

Agree with that. I'd like to see greater width too. It's no coincidence we scored following the inclusion of an in-form Albrighton.

[Chris Smith]

I mentioned this else where but yesterday, as in all our more impressive results we worked our balls of to won the ball back. When we do that and refrain from lumping it long we look a much better side.

What he needs to do is get us doing that all the time rather than in matches we are extra pumped up for.

It makes such a huge difference to us as a team and isn't something that is going to cost us millions to fix

Agree with that. I'd like to see greater width too. It's no coincidence we scored following the inclusion of an in-form Albrighton.

It seems harsh but I still think he's better coming off the bench, stretching tiring defenders. Having effective players to bring on is an important part of the game now so that shouldn't be seen as a criticism.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think the thing about having Albrighton, whether he starts or comes on as a sub is that he gives us an obvious way of changing the way we play.

I think he has done very well recently- he's playing like a player who needs to do something to get a new contract at his boyhood club

Good on him

[not3bad]

As games go on now I hear a buzz around me as people talk about when Albrighton will come on, who will go off for him etc. I like to see a sub who has that effect, and it certainly did the job yesterday.

[Toronto Villa]

His positive attitude is infectious. The other players love him.

[Archie]

I am over the moon and  (to quote Poet Wordsworth) in condition of blessed mood after the last two wins.
Shame the Benteke and Delph scored such beautiful goals, they'd both deserve to be considered the goal of the season.
After too many humiliations, abysmal defeats in the domestic cups, and dreadful tactics, this is the team that I expected to see when Paul Lambert was appointed.
Let's hope this in-form state of the team and the manager may continue!

[Dante Lavelli]

Anyone think that lambert seemed much much more buoyant and confident in the interviews after the match?

Showing it is probably a sign of a poor manager but offers hope that he can improve once we're more established. I suppose as a young manager he's entitled to have ups and downs just like young players.

[Billy Walker]

Anyone think that lambert seemed much much more buoyant and confident in the interviews after the match?

Showing it is probably a sign of a poor manager but offers hope that he can improve once we're more established. I suppose as a young manager he's entitled to have ups and downs just like young players.

Are you suggesting that because the manager seemed happy after yesterday's win it is a sign of him being poor at his job?  Please tell me I've read that wrong.

[Toronto Villa]

Anyone think that lambert seemed much much more buoyant and confident in the interviews after the match?

Showing it is probably a sign of a poor manager but offers hope that he can improve once we're more established. I suppose as a young manager he's entitled to have ups and downs just like young players.

Dante, I have to say with all due respect that is one of the bizarre things I've ever read on here. If anything Lambert has been really quite level headed whether we have won or lost this season, but you could excuse for having a little more spring in his step after yesterday. I have no idea how it reflects on managerial ability one way or another, but certainly I wouldn't have thought in any negative light.

[Dante Lavelli]

Apologies typing in a phone. What I was trying to say was that he appeared more chipper than in his usual interviews. Which is understandable.

The observation being that his mood/confidence has changed which suggests he's felt the pressure. A top manager would probably have a better poker face when under pressure and therefore keep the pressure off the players. Not necessarily a problem in interviews but it would be if it - confidence - affects him on the training ground.

On the flip side it suggests that he, as a young manager, could learn to smooth out the highs and lows, just like young players are given the same liberty.

[Villa in Denmark]

I think that's a bit harsh, about his interviews when we've been struggling.

One of the most consistent criticisms on here has been that if he believes half of what he says after poor performances, people would like some of what he's drinking / smoking or he's living on another planet.

Anyway as a wise man once said, one swallow does not a summer make, but it does make for a very pleasant evening.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I don't think a no vote needs to indicate all is well. It just represents an acknowledgement that we should maybe give this a little more time; that we can now see the shoots of the brighter future they've been banging on about.

Whichever way you look at it, we don't have any choice. Whether Lambert is like a stopped clock and gets it right once in a while or whether he actually knows what he's doing, I've no idea. Yesterday was once again confirmation that this squad aren't as bad as many have claimed and leaves me wondering what the hell Lambert's been trying to do all season. In all my Villa supporting years I can't remember a manager that failed to get the basics right against crap opposition yet seems to send out a team of gladiators against the best.

Strange times.

[Villa in Denmark]

A combination of motivation and still not knowing how to get anything out of games where we dominate possession.
As good as last night was, it was another performance / result with ~40 % possession. (I'm not complaining about last night by the way, you'd expect that sort of figure with our squad against theirs.)
It's when we've got to pose questions of an opposition that's set up as we like to, where we've got to try and move them about and break down Hansen's "2 banks of 4" where we look poor / don't know what we're doing.

Genuine question, at the risk of sounding like I'm obsessing about possession stats - have we won and turned in a good performance this year where we've truly dominated possession?

[walsall villain]

A combination of motivation and still not knowing how to get anything out of games where we dominate possession.
As good as last night was, it was another performance / result with ~40 % possession. (I'm not complaining about last night by the way, you'd expect that sort of figure with our squad against theirs.)
It's when we've got to pose questions of an opposition that's set up as we like to, where we've got to try and move them about and break down Hansen's "2 banks of 4" where we look poor / don't know what we're doing.

Genuine question, at the risk of sounding like I'm obsessing about possession stats - have we won and turned in a good performance this year where we've truly dominated possession?

Just checked using BBC match reports and no we haven't. Home win over Albion was nearest but shaded possession not dominated. Plenty of games when we had loads more shots but not possession too.

[Chris Smith]

I really do think far too much is made of possession stats, what you do with it is far more important. We've now won 3 of our last 4 home games and without looking it up I bet the one we had the highest possession figure was the one we lost.