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

[Dave]

The fact 73% on here say he shouldn't be sacked saddens me almost as much as today's result - what has happened to our great club

Presumably you also thought that he should be sacked after the last couple of games as well? It's just that you didn't seem to be quite so vocal about it if you were.

Anyone would think that you're changing you opinion after every single result.

What do you think then, apart from the opposite of people you think are a soft touch?

I think that the manager shouldn't be fired just because we had a shit result, any more than he should be given a new contract just because we had a great result.

God only knows what you're banging on about in the rest of your post.

[Irish villain]

We are a Jeckyll and Hyde side so it's not surprising that views change. After beating teams in the too four you kind of hope your team will kick on and you give them the benefit of the doubt.

When they don't, the disappointment is strong and the same old relegation concerns and query as to where the club is heading resurface. I don't think it's right to sneer at a fan for an opinion. He's not responsible for our malaise.

[adrenachrome]

In one sense, you are right.

This is an experiment which has not been attempted by any other established Premiership team, and has come about by what I have described elsewhere as the symbiosis of Lerner and  Lambert. Lerner, having given it a go with MoN, has now "bent the stick the other way" and is more concerned with "doing the right thing" and not "behaving like an oligarch". Lambert is convinced (so far he is right) that we can survive  in the Prem without shelling out big bucks on fees or wages.

It might work, but not many people are betting on it.

Not sure I follow that.

If by this experiment you mean mixing youth products and cheap players in an attempt to cut costs, then how is it something which has never been tried by any other premiership team?

That strikes me as something plenty of teams have tried.

I don't think so. Name another team that has:

1. Ostracised such a number of high-earning players simultaneously.
2. Bought such a large number of lower league payers and stuck them straight into the first team.
3. Stopped from buying any established quality premiership players whatsoever.
4. Bought portly players who are clearly past their best which was never very good in the first place on the grounds they were proper.

[PeterWithesShin]

We haven't done #4 either

[adrenachrome]

You are right PWS. He is not proper for the Prem.

[PeterWithesShin]

Unless I missed something we haven't bought him. Thankfully.

[joe_c]

The fact 73% on here say he shouldn't be sacked saddens me almost as much as today's result - what has happened to our great club

great club + sad face emoticon = zero gravitas

Maybe 73% would rather Lambert got it right thn got the sack?

The poll was reset following the Chelsea game, it was significantly less favourable towards him then and I'm sure would be so wre it to be reset now.

My take on his future if anyone cares is that at the season's end he should be offered a budget of no less than he started the current campaign with and asked to identify his targets. If they are of sufficient quality to improve the side he should receive the backing. If it's more of the same, he should be thanked for his services and replaced. By who, I don't know.

[adrenachrome]

Unless I missed something we haven't bought him. Thankfully.

Sorry,  PWS.  That salient fact eluded me.

[eastie]

The fact 73% on here say he shouldn't be sacked saddens me almost as much as today's result - what has happened to our great club

Presumably you also thought that he should be sacked after the last couple of games as well? It's just that you didn't seem to be quite so vocal about it if you were.

Anyone would think that you're changing you opinion after every single result.

What do you think then, apart from the opposite of people you think are a soft touch?

I think that the manager shouldn't be fired just because we had a shit result, any more than he should be given a new contract just because we had a great result.

God only knows what you're banging on about in the rest of your post.

He should be sacked on the basis of what he's done over two seasons .
Yes he should be given credit where due as after the Chelsea game but good performances have been too rare under him ,he has presided over the worst football I've ever seen from.a villa team,and there have been countless records broken.

[eastie]

The fact 73% on here say he shouldn't be sacked saddens me almost as much as today's result - what has happened to our great club

Presumably you also thought that he should be sacked after the last couple of games as well? It's just that you didn't seem to be quite so vocal about it if you were.

Anyone would think that you're changing you opinion after every single result.

What do you think then, apart from the opposite of people you think are a soft touch?

I think that the manager shouldn't be fired just because we had a shit result, any more than he should be given a new contract just because we had a great result.

God only knows what you're banging on about in the rest of your post.

Regarding what he's banging on about - he is spot on !

[Ad@m]

My take on his future if anyone cares is that at the season's end he should be offered a budget of no less than he started the current campaign with and asked to identify his targets. If they are of sufficient quality to improve the side he should receive the backing. If it's more of the same, he should be thanked for his services and replaced. By who, I don't know.

The trouble is Lerner's and Falkner's judgement, especially in footballing matters, is hardly well respected. Why would anyone trust them to assess whether Lambert's targets are good enough?

For me you either trust your manager or you don't. We all found it ridiculous when Herbert came back off holiday having signed Ginola behind Gregory's back. I'd rather chairman and chief execs dealt with the money side of things and left the footballing side of things to people they trust to know better.

[Mazrim]

I want a change because I don't think we've been consistently good enough, even with low expectations, over his tenure, that's all.

[Mister E]

Lambert is not going to get the bullet: I believe Lerner has decided that Lambert can bring us stability and I that Lambert has been operating to a very tight brief regarding wages and players-in.

My main concern is that Lambert does not appear to have the tactical and motivational nous to get the best out of his admittedly thin resources. Getting 'up' for games agains the top 6 or 7 teams is one thing: not being able to beat the defeatable teams is just poor.

I'm also concerned that he continues to have an us-and-them approach to his squad; not just with respect to the Bomb Squad but also to players like Lowton and Helenius.

[Stu]

He's still not sorted the defence either. We still need to sign both a left and right back and another centre half. I know we've done better defensively this season, but we're getting murdered down both flanks (before Bertrand arrived).

This is before we look at the midfield area, which really does need two major purchases. He's had plenty of time to sort it, however Lambert doesn't seem to be addressing the very obvious problems in the team.

[midnite]

Yesterday's result came from Bacuna being out muscled at right back and baker just not good enough for being a starting player in the premier league. If he had the confidence to actually take that ball with his weaker foot rather than just nudge it behind him then it wouldn't have lead to the third goal (I think it was). Crouch bullied Baker all game too.

The rest of the team after going 1-0 up just looked like they couldn't be bothered to play at all. It was a shambles of a performance.

Lambert should be sticking a rocket up their arses this morning. Maybe after beating Chelsea and going 1-0 up so early against stoke they got cocky. Even the kick off after the second goal was sloppy and lethargic. It was embarrassing.

For me, this summer is lamberts test. We now have a squad. I expect him this summer to spend the money not on a bunch of players but two maybe three who really turn this team into something. They need to be premiere league starting 11 quality not just more squad players.