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

[phantom limb]

Stating the obvious, but I think we need to spend a few quid on three or four quality players (especially in midfield) and build a proper squad, as I don't think we've had a proper squad for years now. It always seems to be kids on the bench, players who clearly don't give a shit or players who just aren't good enough to change a game. There's even been times where we don't have a defender on the bench, so if someone gets injured (Baker and/or Vlaar usually) we're stuffed.

If Lambert does buy well during the summer and we still struggle then I guess it is all his fault and he'd have to go. He inherited a massively underperforming squad of very highly paid players, but now he's offloaded almost all of them. I feel his purchases have generally been more hits than misses so he deserves another transfer window at least. I also have no idea who the board would replace him with if he did get sacked, and whoever it is would probably want a load of money to build their own squad and thus a potential cycle of struggle begins again.

[MarkM]

The real question regarding PL is this, have we moved on during his time in charge as a team and as a club?

If you look back over the last 12 months we should be able to see a trend one way or the other.

On the face of it and looking at the league table it would seem that we have improved, this time last year we were in the bottom 3 and we are now currently 12 so that is an inprovement, however if you were to put our current points and GD into last seasons table we would be 14th with only 4 points seperating us from the bottom 3.

The stats also show an improvement but it is only marginal:

[To the end of March]

                  P     W    D    L      F     A      GD    Pts
2012/13:   31    7     9   15   32   58    -26     30
2013/14:   31    9     7   15   34   46    -12     34

So we have won 2 more games, drawn 2 less and lost the same as this time last season, our goal difference has improved but we have not had a repeat of the Chelsea result without which it would make the GD allot closer

So in essence in twelve months PL has turned two draws into wins, now I know that this does not tell a complete story but it is indicative of the trend in performance under PL and the current strategy from the board.

So is this progress? and is it progress enough?

[passitsideways]

It hardly represents substantial progress, obviously, but I think the people who are fine with holding onto him (including myself) expect the real progress to be made next season, and that these first two seasons were more about stabilising things rather than taking massive steps forward immediately.

[pauliewalnuts]

It hardly represents substantial progress, obviously, but I think the people who are fine with holding onto him (including myself) expect the real progress to be made next season, and that these first two seasons were more about stabilising things rather than taking massive steps forward immediately.

That's an understandable way of looking at it, but I'd question what the stabilisation is about - are we any more stable than this time last year? The squad looks as flaky as it was back then, we still can't defend with any consistency, and league position isn't considerably better.

I wouldn't mind so much about the above if we could see something on the pitch which suggests our playing style is really starting to evolve, only it doesn't seem to be. In fact, it seems to be getting worse.

[pauliewalnuts]

I presume the pre match huddle is something the players feel the need to do, lots of teams do it. Can't really see the harm in it myself.

I think that's where we could do with NRC back.

One of the finest huddle organisers in the game today. Captain fantastic, huddle expert and a marvellous pointer of fingers.

[JUAN PABLO]

The real question regarding PL is this, have we moved on during his time in charge as a team and as a club?

If you look back over the last 12 months we should be able to see a trend one way or the other.

On the face of it and looking at the league table it would seem that we have improved, this time last year we were in the bottom 3 and we are now currently 12 so that is an inprovement, however if you were to put our current points and GD into last seasons table we would be 14th with only 4 points seperating us from the bottom 3.

The stats also show an improvement but it is only marginal:

[To the end of March]

                  P     W    D    L      F     A      GD    Pts
2012/13:   31    7     9   15   32   58    -26     30
2013/14:   31    9     7   15   34   46    -12     34

So we have won 2 more games, drawn 2 less and lost the same as this time last season, our goal difference has improved but we have not had a repeat of the Chelsea result without which it would make the GD allot closer

So in essence in twelve months PL has turned two draws into wins, now I know that this does not tell a complete story but it is indicative of the trend in performance under PL and the current strategy from the board.

So is this progress? and is it progress enough?

the bottom teams are probably worse than last season thou . I dont know that but I think we are lucky because there is so much shit in this league .  Its a slight improvement but still very disappointing to be honest  and I cant see it getting much better next season

[ozzjim]

I presume the pre match huddle is something the players feel the need to do, lots of teams do it. Can't really see the harm in it myself.

Not so good with passing to a team mate or spotting bike racks.

I think that's where we could do with NRC back.

One of the finest huddle organisers in the game today. Captain fantastic, huddle expert and a marvellous pointer of fingers.

[MarkM]

I presume the pre match huddle is something the players feel the need to do, lots of teams do it. Can't really see the harm in it myself.

Not so good with passing to a team mate or spotting bike racks.

I think that's where we could do with NRC back.

One of the finest huddle organisers in the game today. Captain fantastic, huddle expert and a marvellous pointer of fingers.

I always wonder what they are saying to each other:

"Right... you two try and score, we will try to defend, and as for the rest of you just try not to f@ck up!"

[pauliewalnuts]

I always wonder what they are saying to each other:

"Right... you two try and score, we will try to defend, and as for the rest of you just try not to f@ck up!"

I reckon they just say how much they love each other, then the captain will recite one of those bullshit sportsman motivation things you sometimes see them tweeting.

Either that or it is some sort of communal brain purge manoeuvre - they link arms and lean forward, as they do, all the things they've been told during the week exit their minds via the nostrils, leaving them totally void of instruction by the time the huddle ends.

[Chico Hamilton III]

I always wonder what they are saying to each other:

"Right... you two try and score, we will try to defend, and as for the rest of you just try not to f@ck up!"

I reckon they just say how much they love each other, then the captain will recite one of those bullshit sportsman motivation things you sometimes see them tweeting.

Either that or it is some sort of communal brain purge manoeuvre - they link arms and lean forward, as they do, all the things they've been told during the week exit their minds via the nostrils, leaving them totally void of instruction by the time the huddle ends.

When the Aussie cricket team do their pre-match huddle, doesn't one of them have to tell a joke to the others?

[passitsideways]

It hardly represents substantial progress, obviously, but I think the people who are fine with holding onto him (including myself) expect the real progress to be made next season, and that these first two seasons were more about stabilising things rather than taking massive steps forward immediately.

That's an understandable way of looking at it, but I'd question what the stabilisation is about - are we any more stable than this time last year? The squad looks as flaky as it was back then, we still can't defend with any consistency, and league position isn't considerably better.

I wouldn't mind so much about the above if we could see something on the pitch which suggests our playing style is really starting to evolve, only it doesn't seem to be. In fact, it seems to be getting worse.

Well, I'm assuming that we will end up the season somewhat far away enough from the relegation spots. I know, it's a terrible thing to assume such things since that's just tempting fate, but I don't care. If that's the case, I do see that as stability, even though it has taken some absolutely terrible performances to get there. I also would count the allegedly successful wage bill cutting as representing greater stability, though some people are sceptical about that.

I understand what you're getting at when you suggest that things aren't really all that stable, but I'm just measuring it against the state of affairs after TSM - I know that's an incredibly low standard to overcome, but think of the clubs who did go down that season - that's how you botch things up even worse. At least we've positioned ourselves to hopefully take a proper step forward this summer - if things stay this way through next season, then yes, I think it wouldn't be too bad to quietly scour the market for a replacement.

As for playing style, well, they need to stop fucking around and earn their safety, so they can start looking fo

[supertom]

The comparison stat I'm most interested in will be after the final whistle of the season has blown. I don't expect much, if any, improvement on 41 points. That the goal difference will be marginally less shit won't matter to me, because lets face it, Xmas last year really accounted for a huge part of that damage.

Our improved defence hasn't helped us avoid getting tonked 4-1, 2 games running.

[bridgwater villa]

Ha

I think I've read every post on this thread and I'm now convinvinced that it was concieved by Samuel Beckett when he was visiting his nan in Rowley Regis.

Five or six key voices repeat themselves endlessly into a void. All others look on in boredom, terror, fear, confusion. The void becomes smaller as each phrase takes on mass. A Higgs boson of tactical naivety.

"I can't go on. I'll go on."

Smethwick Galton Bridge seems like a dream to me now, Nan.

"Give him till Christmas."

[Toronto Villa]

I presume the pre match huddle is something the players feel the need to do, lots of teams do it. Can't really see the harm in it myself.

I think that's where we could do with NRC back.

One of the finest huddle organisers in the game today. Captain fantastic, huddle expert and a marvellous pointer of fingers.

The greatest arm waving in a circular motion while screaming "come on" with an anguished look on his face our generation has ever seen.

I always imagined the other players thinking "you need to shut the fuck up because you're the one who just gave the ball away...AGAIN!"

[Toronto Villa]

Lambert can start by losing that fucking huddle before the game.
It's small time and the manager should have the last word.

I flipping hate it also.

Would you notice the huddle if we were winning more games? Because when we are not it's just another nonsensical stick to beat the manager/team with to filed along with "the manager isn't conherent during press conferences"