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

[Dave]

If we lose Benteke in the summer and can't replace him sufficiently, we'll have a long hard season.   

As he's had a fairly mediocre season, is it particularly likely that we'll lose him?

I can't imagine anybody offering us £30m at the moment and it hardly looks like we're desperate to sell him.

[supertom]

If we lose Benteke in the summer and can't replace him sufficiently, we'll have a long hard season.   

As he's had a fairly mediocre season, is it particularly likely that we'll lose him?

I can't imagine anybody offering us £30m at the moment and it hardly looks like we're desperate to sell him.

I hope not. I guess much depends on how he finishes this season and what he does in the world cup. I just hope if no one matches our valuation he doesn't throw his toys out the pram again. If a player really wants to go, most times the player gets his way.

[PeterWithesShin]

Ron Saunders couldn't get a team that was going to win the league 7 months later to beat Cambridge United. It happens, to the Villa quite a depressingly large number of times in my life. That's not me defending the Lambert or the performances, as they were shit, but we've been just as shit in cups under other managers as well. Other horror shows include: BFR Couldn't beat Grimsby over 2 legs. JG, Fulham at home when we had spent most of the season top and they were division 3. SGT1 Oldham. Doncaster under Mr Fickle where we were lucky to only lose 3-0 and so on.

[Damo70]

I think what gets to people about those cup defeats is it has happened in three out of four cup campaigns under PL. As for talk of getting Hutton, Given and Bent off the books this summer I am not confident. I think the best we can hope for is loans for Given and Bent where clubs pay a decent part of their wages. As for Hutton, I reckon the McGregor statue will be gone before him.

[Clampy]

Ron Saunders couldn't get a team that was going to win the league 7 months later to beat Cambridge United. It happens, to the Villa quite a depressingly large number of times in my life. That's not me defending the Lambert or the performances, as they were shit, but we've been just as shit in cups under other managers as well. Other horror shows include: BFR Couldn't beat Grimsby over 2 legs. JG, Fulham at home when we had spent most of the season top and they were division 3. SGT1 Oldham. Doncaster under Mr Fickle where we were lucky to only lose 3-0 and so on.

The Bradford exit was horrible though, mainly because of Lambert's tactics over two legs. He made such a pigs ear of it.

[supertom]

Ron Saunders couldn't get a team that was going to win the league 7 months later to beat Cambridge United. It happens, to the Villa quite a depressingly large number of times in my life. That's not me defending the Lambert or the performances, as they were shit, but we've been just as shit in cups under other managers as well. Other horror shows include: BFR Couldn't beat Grimsby over 2 legs. JG, Fulham at home when we had spent most of the season top and they were division 3. SGT1 Oldham. Doncaster under Mr Fickle where we were lucky to only lose 3-0 and so on.

The Bradford exit was horrible though, mainly because of Lambert's tactics over two legs. He made such a pigs ear of it.

A one off game is one thing, but to have 2 games in order to get it right over a League 2 outfit, was horrendous. It's got to go down as one of the worst results in our history.

[Dante Lavelli]

Ron Saunders couldn't get a team that was going to win the league 7 months later to beat Cambridge United. It happens, to the Villa quite a depressingly large number of times in my life. That's not me defending the Lambert or the performances, as they were shit, but we've been just as shit in cups under other managers as well. Other horror shows include: BFR Couldn't beat Grimsby over 2 legs. JG, Fulham at home when we had spent most of the season top and they were division 3. SGT1 Oldham. Doncaster under Mr Fickle where we were lucky to only lose 3-0 and so on.

The Bradford exit was horrible though, mainly because of Lambert's tactics over two legs. He made such a pigs ear of it.

He did indeed.  The players were bad but to think that throwing more and more strikers onto the pitch was his solution is a very worrying tactical plan.  However, I think it should be a rule that everytime the Bradford debacle is mentioned that the victory away at Man City is brought up too i.e. it's not ALL bad.

[Toronto Villa]

If we lose Benteke in the summer and can't replace him sufficiently, we'll have a long hard season.   

As he's had a fairly mediocre season, is it particularly likely that we'll lose him?

I can't imagine anybody offering us £30m at the moment and it hardly looks like we're desperate to sell him.

precisely. With a new 4 year deal in place we are back to the identical situation we were in last summer. We don't need to sell, and someone needs to offer something nuts to force our hand. There is no reason at all to believe that club, having held its ground last year will suddenly buckle to a lesser offer this time around. And especially given that Benteke is coming off a worse season than last, and that he and his agent both know not to play silly buggers with the club, because it won't work.

[PeterWithesShin]

Ron Saunders couldn't get a team that was going to win the league 7 months later to beat Cambridge United. It happens, to the Villa quite a depressingly large number of times in my life. That's not me defending the Lambert or the performances, as they were shit, but we've been just as shit in cups under other managers as well. Other horror shows include: BFR Couldn't beat Grimsby over 2 legs. JG, Fulham at home when we had spent most of the season top and they were division 3. SGT1 Oldham. Doncaster under Mr Fickle where we were lucky to only lose 3-0 and so on.

The Bradford exit was horrible though, mainly because of Lambert's tactics over two legs. He made such a pigs ear of it.

It was hideous, especially after they scored at VP. For me personally though, Doncaster is still the worst.

[Damo70]

I believe a journalist put a question to Lambert about Benteke a few days ago. Along the lines of if a bid of thirty million came in. Apparently Lambert muttered "And the rest!" If that is the price tag I reckon he will need a World Cup like Maradona in Mexico before anyone fancies bidding.

[Boz]

Inevitable relegation?

Obviously not but if you continue to flirt with relegation year on year you increase the likelihood of your luck running out one season. We've seen this evidenced by many erstwhile PL clubs over the past 20 years - a number if whom have never returned to the top flight.

We haven't flirted with relegation this year.

But possibly we about to, on current form.

I agree, we are starting to sail closer to the wind and our form isn't good enough to feel comfortable the teams below us can't drag us in.

[PeterWithesShin]

I believe a journalist put a question to Lambert about Benteke a few days ago. Along the lines of if a bid of thirty million came in. Apparently Lambert muttered "And the rest!" If that is the price tag I reckon he will need a World Cup like Maradona in Mexico before anyone fancies bidding.

On the radio before the game yesterday I heard him asked about it (not sure how long ago the interview was), and he basically said they had better have a massive wallet if they want him.

[john e]

I believe a journalist put a question to Lambert about Benteke a few days ago. Along the lines of if a bid of thirty million came in. Apparently Lambert muttered "And the rest!" If that is the price tag I reckon he will need a World Cup like Maradona in Mexico before anyone fancies bidding.

On the radio before the game yesterday I heard him asked about it (not sure how long ago the interview was), and he basically said they had better have a massive wallet if they want him.

Massive wallet, do you reckon he knows DW

[sirlordbaltimore]

That's not me defending the Lambert or the performances, as they were shit, but we've been just as shit in cups under other managers as well

It's FAR from just in the cups though isn't it.

[PeterWithesShin]

That's not me defending the Lambert or the performances, as they were shit, but we've been just as shit in cups under other managers as well

It's FAR from just in the cups though isn't it.

Cups was the point I was responding to though, so in that conversation it is just the cup performances and results that was being discussed.