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

[rob_bridge]

updated at 30 games

u


So we have 3 games in hand on last season. 

[olaftab]

Excellent use of data and graphical representation. Now can you prepare a Paynter chart using our data with the 3 relegated teams last season and this season's 3 most likely teams Fulham, Cardiff and Sunderland?

[ciggiesnbeer]

updated at 30 games

u


So we have 3 games in hand on last season.

Yup. If we lose our next 3 games we will then be on equal points with ourselves last season.

We will have to lose our next 5 games to be doing worse versus last season.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Excellent use of data and graphical representation. Now can you prepare a Paynter chart using our data with the 3 relegated teams last season and this season's 3 most likely teams Fulham, Cardiff and Sunderland?

That would be nice actually. If I get time next weekend I will give it a shot. I do this by hand so its a bit of a pain. If I knew of a place with the data I could just cut & paste it would be easier.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Over the course of this season, I think I've actually changed my mind on what the issue is. Towards the beginning, I was firmly in the "mostly the players fault" camp, and I think that's to a great degree the case with yesterday, but my faith in the manager has taken a nose dive this season. We've spent way too much of the season so far cluelessly lumping the ball at Benteke, and it is still our default fall back when things aren't going the way we want them to.

As you know, that's been my line of thought throughout the season. There's nothing I've seen that describes Lambert better than "tactically inept" and there was me 18 months ago thinking Lambert was the "thinking man's MON". Truth be told from what we've seen to date, he's just a MON clone.

When I read comments about him having more money to spend in the summer and he just needs a left back and a Nş10 etc, I do wonder what gives the poster the confidence to believe Lambert has a clue what to do with them should he buy them. You mention Benteke, now I know we only paid 7m for him but forgetting last summer's 30m valuation, even now he's worth at least 20m. If we had bought a 20m striker and then spent most games just hoofing it up to him, do you think there'd be a few more questions asked?

[Monty]

Rudy & Paulie, one thing I've noticed is that, in recent years, a manager may take time to get the best results out of his team, but the evidence of his ideas is almost instantaneously available. Look at Sunderland - still right down in the shite, but you could see Poyet was a modern manager from the first minute of his first game (as opposed to the 1930s regime of Di Canio). Similarly, it took Liverpool a while to adjust to life under Rodgers, but what's paying off now is what we could all see taking shape 18 months ago, or how Moyes has taken league title winners to a position below the club he joined them from, whose tactically attuned manager is now having the time of his life.

Lambert certainly had an effect on us immediately ("we're Aston Villa, we're passing the ball"), but that effect has been shown to be limited. He wants us to play the right way, but doesn't really know how to get us to. Too much of our play seems reliant on the personal improvisation of the players - when a player gets the ball in an attacking position, he doesn't see many runs ahead of him but he does see some confused faces poking out of claret-and-blue shirts in the vicinity - and when that goes wrong, nothing can go right (if you rely on it). Luck plays far too great a role in our style of play - during his tenure, Lambert has not installed a 'compelling' style of play, and the odd result, sadly, can't change that.

[mr underhill]

so nearly two years and £40m down the line what's the argument for keeping him?

[ciggiesnbeer]

Nearly two years, looking like the second season in a row we will end up higher in the table.

What's the argument for sacking him?

[martin o`who??]

I hate to sit on the fence, but i really dont know anymore, he hasnt been given a huge amount of money when other clubs have been spending it like the Russians are at Calais, and yet our League position has improved year on year since he has been at VP, everyone knows, including Lambert, that our home form is abysmal but still, we keep inching away from trouble, i think we`ll only get a true idea when he is given some serious money to spend, and that aint happening any time soon.

[eastie]

Nearly two years, looking like the second season in a row we will end up higher in the table.

What's the argument for sacking him?

The most insipid home performances ,a horrific home record results wise .
Humiliated regularly by lower league sides in cups.
The dreadful style of football.
Lack of a plan B.
The prospect of more of the same.

[Dante Lavelli]

I hate to sit on the fence, but i really dont know anymore, he hasnt been given a huge amount of money when other clubs have been spending it like the Russians are at Calais, and yet our League position has improved year on year since he has been at VP, everyone knows, including Lambert, that our home form is abysmal but still, we keep inching away from trouble, i think we`ll only get a true idea when he is given some serious money to spend, and that aint happening any time soon.

I think sitting on the fence, whilst doesn't make for great debate, is a sensible position.  I find the ability of people to jump from sack him, keep him, sack him hard to follow because if you were the hypothetical chairman you can only sack a manager once.  So once you've pulled the trigger you can't change your mind if a Chelsea type result comes along.

[Clampy]

I hate to sit on the fence, but i really dont know anymore, he hasnt been given a huge amount of money when other clubs have been spending it like the Russians are at Calais, and yet our League position has improved year on year since he has been at VP, everyone knows, including Lambert, that our home form is abysmal but still, we keep inching away from trouble, i think we`ll only get a true idea when he is given some serious money to spend, and that aint happening any time soon.

I think sitting on the fence, whilst doesn't make for great debate, is a sensible position.  I find the ability of people to jump from sack him, keep him, sack him hard to follow because if you were the hypothetical chairman you can only sack a manager once.  So once you've pulled the trigger you can't change your mind if a Chelsea type result comes along.

This. Couldn't agree more.

[saunders_heroes]

Nearly two years, looking like the second season in a row we will end up higher in the table.

What's the argument for sacking him?

18 home defeats in less than 2 seasons?

[eastie]

I hate to sit on the fence, but i really dont know anymore, he hasnt been given a huge amount of money when other clubs have been spending it like the Russians are at Calais, and yet our League position has improved year on year since he has been at VP, everyone knows, including Lambert, that our home form is abysmal but still, we keep inching away from trouble, i think we`ll only get a true idea when he is given some serious money to spend, and that aint happening any time soon.

I think sitting on the fence, whilst doesn't make for great debate, is a sensible position.  I find the ability of people to jump from sack him, keep him, sack him hard to follow because if you were the hypothetical chairman you can only sack a manager once.  So once you've pulled the trigger you can't change your mind if a Chelsea type result comes along.

Or once you've pulled the trigger you may hope the replacement delivers Chelsea like results on a much more often basis?

[Clampy]

I hate to sit on the fence, but i really dont know anymore, he hasnt been given a huge amount of money when other clubs have been spending it like the Russians are at Calais, and yet our League position has improved year on year since he has been at VP, everyone knows, including Lambert, that our home form is abysmal but still, we keep inching away from trouble, i think we`ll only get a true idea when he is given some serious money to spend, and that aint happening any time soon.

I think sitting on the fence, whilst doesn't make for great debate, is a sensible position.  I find the ability of people to jump from sack him, keep him, sack him hard to follow because if you were the hypothetical chairman you can only sack a manager once.  So once you've pulled the trigger you can't change your mind if a Chelsea type result comes along.

Or once you've pulled the trigger you may hope the replacement delivers Chelsea like results on a much more often basis?

I assume Dante means pulling the trigger as in once you've stated that you want him out, you have to stick to it, not changing one's mind after a couple of good results then back again after a defeat. I'm sure he'll correct me if i'm wrong though.