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

[Colhint]

I think the younger players are really nervous at home. Scared in fact. I think if we could beat Stoke and Fulham, and eliminate the possibility of relegation, I think they could really flourish and show what they are really capable of. And I think they would really begin to enjoy it

[robbo1874]

They should make the younger subs watch at the back of K6 instead of tucked away at the back of the dugout wrapped up in puffer jackets with those daft headphones on  Then they might get it...*

*joke

[Damo70]

Hopefully Saturdays win and the reasonably comfortable position the three points puts us in will settle the nerves.

[yaliekins]

I think the younger players are really nervous at home. Scared in fact. I think if we could beat Stoke and Fulham, and eliminate the possibility of relegation, I think they could really flourish and show what they are really capable of. And I think they would really begin to enjoy it

Without sounding like a misery guts (because I'm far from it this week!) - but will this not be the same scenario each year? We struggle to break down 'lesser' teams with 10 behind the ball because the team is too patient, causes frustration on the terraces, leads to dour performances like we've experienced September-March for the previous two seasons (at least). There are reasons to be cheerful, but I'm wary that it's another false dawn and we'll be sat here next Feb feeling as disenchanted as we did last month ...

[Concrete John]

Hopefully Saturdays win and the reasonably comfortable position the three points puts us in will settle the nerves.

The Sunderland performance last season came after a few decent results that eased us out of any real relegation trouble.  Lambert's job is to get that out of them when the pressure is still on.  I've never known a Villa side like this with such a fragility of confidence and feel the only solution is that older head and voice on the pitch.

[not3bad]

I think the younger players are really nervous at home. Scared in fact. I think if we could beat Stoke and Fulham, and eliminate the possibility of relegation, I think they could really flourish and show what they are really capable of. And I think they would really begin to enjoy it

Without sounding like a misery guts (because I'm far from it this week!) - but will this not be the same scenario each year? We struggle to break down 'lesser' teams with 10 behind the ball because the team is too patient, causes frustration on the terraces, leads to dour performances like we've experienced September-March for the previous two seasons (at least). There are reasons to be cheerful, but I'm wary that it's another false dawn and we'll be sat here next Feb feeling as disenchanted as we did last month ...

What we need for the times when there are 10 players behind the ball is more creativity.  Lambert is aware of this and will hopefully adress the issue over the Summer.

[Concrete John]

I think the younger players are really nervous at home. Scared in fact. I think if we could beat Stoke and Fulham, and eliminate the possibility of relegation, I think they could really flourish and show what they are really capable of. And I think they would really begin to enjoy it

Without sounding like a misery guts (because I'm far from it this week!) - but will this not be the same scenario each year? We struggle to break down 'lesser' teams with 10 behind the ball because the team is too patient, causes frustration on the terraces, leads to dour performances like we've experienced September-March for the previous two seasons (at least). There are reasons to be cheerful, but I'm wary that it's another false dawn and we'll be sat here next Feb feeling as disenchanted as we did last month ...

We haven't struggled this year to the same extent as we did last year.  Yes, there are still glaring faults to our game that need addressing, but we're going through a process of evolution rather than revolution, so it'll take time.

12/13 - relegation battle
13/14 - mid table stability
14/15 - Europa challenge
15/16 - world domination

Over to you, Paul!

[Colhint]

Hopefully Saturdays win and the reasonably comfortable position the three points puts us in will settle the nerves.

The Sunderland performance last season came after a few decent results that eased us out of any real relegation trouble.  Lambert's job is to get that out of them when the pressure is still on.  I've never known a Villa side like this with such a fragility of confidence and feel the only solution is that older head and voice on the pitch.

I think the younger players are really nervous at home. Scared in fact. I think if we could beat Stoke and Fulham, and eliminate the possibility of relegation, I think they could really flourish and show what they are really capable of. And I think they would really begin to enjoy it

Without sounding like a misery guts (because I'm far from it this week!) - but will this not be the same scenario each year? We struggle to break down 'lesser' teams with 10 behind the ball because the team is too patient, causes frustration on the terraces, leads to dour performances like we've experienced September-March for the previous two seasons (at least). There are reasons to be cheerful, but I'm wary that it's another false dawn and we'll be sat here next Feb feeling as disenchanted as we did last month ...

I know what you mean, and we still have to strengthen, but I think these youngsters haven't really had anything but pressure at home. They have only  really had the experience of a game where they must get something out of it. They have probably heard far more boo's than cheers. The other thing is they will be one year older  wiser and experience.

[yaliekins]

I agree that we probably will get better, but does it not just feel like deja vu? I'm just not getting too carried away with what happens with the rest of the season by thinking we'll be in a significantly better position next year. We'll see what PL can do this summer, he is in a position where adding 3 senior, quality, players could move us comfortably into the top half and then there'd be real reason for optimism. It's all if's and but's until then though.

[Concrete John]

The key word there is 'significantly'.  Are we better off than this time last year?  Undoubtedly.  Are we were we WANT to be?  No, not really.

I think all we can really expect, barring a massive influx of cash, is year on year improvement.  So we can count the points, wins/losses and for/against goals after 38 games and then ask for more in 14/15.  Whether that's significant enough or not is quite subjective.

[Dante Lavelli]

I agree that we probably will get better, but does it not just feel like deja vu? I'm just not getting too carried away with what happens with the rest of the season by thinking we'll be in a significantly better position next year.

I don't think it's a case of getting carried away and thinking any up turn in for for the remaining games is our actual quality for ever (and ever). 

However what it might do is give these young players a new experience and a memories they probably cannot recall whilst at Villa.  A few more wins like the Chelsea match and they might start to believe in themselves a bit more.  This does not mean we're chelsea-beating good every week but it might prevent the Palace type performances where no-one seems to what to stick their heads above the parapet.

Westwood is the obvious example of this as he has come from no-where and is suddenly playing in front of 35-40k each week, it's understandable that he will find it emotionally more draining than an experienced pro.  A commentator said during the Chelsea match that "Westwood is screaming at his centre-backs to push up"  Exactly what we want to see for a number of reasons because on other days he seems timid and reluctant to try and stamp his authority on matches.  When on form - he's a really classy player.

[sirlordbaltimore]

12/13 - relegation battle
13/14 - mid table stability
14/15 - Europa challenge
15/16 - world domination

surely the last two aims are based on not just getting in better players (which we MUST do in the summer) but also on having better tactics ?

are we really expecting Lambert to become a different manager next season ?

[supertom]

12/13 - relegation battle
13/14 - mid table stability
14/15 - Europa challenge
15/16 - world domination

surely the last two aims are based on not just getting in better players (which we MUST do in the summer) but also on having better tactics ?

are we really expecting Lambert to become a different manager next season ?

I think we've seen he's capable of getting us beating good sides, and also playing good football. He's got it wrong a hell of a lot of times for sure and some of his tactical decisions and substitutions in games have been bewildering. I think the key is for him to get it right more consistently. He can do it. We've seen him do it, we just need to see him make the right calls, put out the right team, more often.

What I will say for Lambert, is that he's identified the defence as our major weakness from last season and he's gone some way toward rectifiying that. Vlaar has proved more and more influential and when he's played we've always looked pretty solid. Likewise, when our offence clicks, we look a danger to anyone.

If he can get to a point where he gets it right more often than not, he'll work out well for us. I hope that happens next season. We've seen us play well in games, then he'll switch system in the next and we suddenly look negative and horrible. We've seen him fail to address problems within games, like Ben Arfa absolutely bludgeoning Luna at VP. He did nothing. But he's learning, and he's working on a tight budget. He's not coming in with free reign like MON, or coming into a good squad and able to spend big like Houllier, he's had to trim the fat more than any other manager in recent years and I would say at least it appears we're gradually on an upturn since the McLeish debacle.

[Dante Lavelli]

are we really expecting Lambert to become a different manager next season ?

Possibly harsh because more than anything else it's currently hard to identify a clear set of tactics that we're adhearing to.  Therefore it's impossible to know whether our failures are solely down to Lambert's tactic (i.e. the players do as they're told but the tactics are bobbins) or that the players lack the skill/confidence to carry out the instructions.

[Chris Smith]

Another point to take into account is we are at the stage of the season where for those teams below us in the table there is a need for wins, drawing with us doesn't really help them. So we might see a less negative approach and a bit more space for us to exploit.