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

[paulcomben]

@MatKendrick: Paul Lambert (Villa):  70 Premier League games, 75 points; Chris Hughton (Norwich): 71 Premier League games, 76 points.

[themossman]

Hell, Lambert might even make it easy for us and walk in the summer. Can't be much fun watching his side get booed off just about every fortnight. I'm sure he's pig sick of it too.

When was the last time a manager actually resigned? No one does the decent thing anymore, they stick around for the sack and a nice fat payout.

No manager in their right mind would resign. It's not their fault football economics is so arse about face.

[robbyfvillain]

Hell, Lambert might even make it easy for us and walk in the summer. Can't be much fun watching his side get booed off just about every fortnight. I'm sure he's pig sick of it too.

When was the last time a manager actually resigned? No one does the decent thing anymore, they stick around for the sack and a nice fat payout.

Actually Lambert has resigned from both Wycombe and Norwich in the past although I would agree the circumstances are entirely different.

[Monty]

@MatKendrick: Paul Lambert (Villa):  70 Premier League games, 75 points; Chris Hughton (Norwich): 71 Premier League games, 76 points.

And it's fair to say that we have somewhat higher expectations than Norwich. No disrespect of course to Norwich, but I thought the whole point of PL coming to here from there was that he could do better with us than them.

[Billy Walker]

There is a danger that blind panic could set in (outside of our recent defensive performances, where it seems to have become the norm again).

It just sends out all the wrong signals at the worst possible time.

Plus it's unlikely we'd get a top class coach or manager in April. It would invariably be a caretaker, and it would be too big a stress for someone with little/ no management experience before.

It would also look odd to the outside world if we ditch the manager when we sit (somehow) in 13th. We know that doesn't tell the story.

Hell, Lambert might even make it easy for us and walk in the summer. Can't be much fun watching his side get booed off just about every fortnight. I'm sure he's pig sick of it too.

Kevin why doesn't where we sit now (13th) tell the story - are we the exception to the rule?  The clubs below us (and some above us) will have similar tales to tell of up and down performances, losing at home to teams they should be beating, winning games away against the odds etc.  It's the nature of the league this year.  I'd imagine fans of other clubs are probably scratching their heads and thinking the same thing about their own teams.

[Des Little]

@MatKendrick: Paul Lambert (Villa):  70 Premier League games, 75 points; Chris Hughton (Norwich): 71 Premier League games, 76 points.

With a fair percentage of Lambert's points coming against Hughton ironically.

[Eurochamps82]

If I did my job as badly as this muppet,  I'd have been sacked a long time ago. 

[john2710]

Lambert must have known the restrictions that he would work under, Lerner might say that Lambert has done everything he required of him. I don't believe for a minute that Lambert came here to be mediocre or struggle against relegation every year. Did he underestimate the job? He must see what we see, surely?

I understand the need for cutbacks but there comes a point where these are counter productive. Lerner, as a businessman, must also know that. The whole club reeks of decline & without real investment we all know where it's going.

Our policy of buying cheap players from lower leagues or abroad was always going to be hit & miss, that should come as no surprise to anyone. Buying quality has no guarantees either.

Our much hyped academy has produced a string of, at best, average premier league players. I'd swap all of them for 1 top quality player.

Assuming we stay up, we've reached a crossroad where we either continue with the cuts and decline or we invest in the quality the team needs. Will Lerner stick with Lambert when season ticket sales plummet? Will Lambert stick around if Lerner doesn't back him? If we do invest does Lerner trust Lambert? Who on earth would come to Villa to work under the restrictions that currently exist?

Football fans are generally born optimists who will cling to anything positive, for the last 4 years we've had nothing but a few performances here or there. This decline didn't start with Lambert. It started when Lerner tightened the purse & it won't end until that is reversed, irrespective of who the manager is.

Personally, as illogical as it sounds, I think Lambert deserves some backing from Lerner.

[saunders_heroes]

Lambert must have known the restrictions that he would work under, Lerner might say that Lambert has done everything he required of him. I don't believe for a minute that Lambert came here to be mediocre or struggle against relegation every year. Did he underestimate the job? He must see what we see, surely?

I understand the need for cutbacks but there comes a point where these are counter productive. Lerner, as a businessman, must also know that. The whole club reeks of decline & without real investment we all know where it's going.

Our policy of buying cheap players from lower leagues or abroad was always going to be hit & miss, that should come as no surprise to anyone. Buying quality has no guarantees either.

Our much hyped academy has produced a string of, at best, average premier league players. I'd swap all of them for 1 top quality player.

Assuming we stay up, we've reached a crossroad where we either continue with the cuts and decline or we invest in the quality the team needs. Will Lerner stick with Lambert when season ticket sales plummet? Will Lambert stick around if Lerner doesn't back him? If we do invest does Lerner trust Lambert? Who on earth would come to Villa to work under the restrictions that currently exist?

Football fans are generally born optimists who will cling to anything positive, for the last 4 years we've had nothing but a few performances here or there. This decline didn't start with Lambert. It started when Lerner tightened the purse & it won't end until that is reversed, irrespective of who the manager is.

Personally, as illogical as it sounds, I think Lambert deserves some backing from Lerner.

That's the best post I've read on here in ages. Not sure I agree with the very last line though. He deserves the sack for what he's put us through.

[tomd2103]

Norwich appoint their under 18 manager? No experience of managing in the premier at all?  It's either inspired or complete and utter panic.

I reckon Malky Mckay will be there within the week.  Neil Lennon also sounded interested on MOTD2. 

[Matt C]

If Lennon goes to Norwich I wonder who might be in the reckoning for the Celtic job

[PeterWithesShin]

If Lennon goes to Norwich I wonder who might be in the reckoning for the Celtic job

Di Canio.

[pbavfckuwait]

Another problem we have with the current situation, is that in today's football, where very average players are on very good money and certain ones are happy to sit back and not do a lot to earn it, the Manager needs to be a very effective Man Manager (Rodgers, Martinez), he can not afford to be stubborn and alienate players, as we have seen the season is a very long one, especially if your a Villa fan and you never ever know when you need them players. Plus if you are going shopping in Aldi, you need someone who can get that extra out of what like it or not are not going to be players of the highest quality, I just don't think Lambert or any of his back room team seem to have that charisma or management style.
We need someone who can make a silks purse out of a pig's ear and we need it quickly.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Palace away next.
Selhurst Park, venue of both Ron Atkinson and Brian Littles' last game in charge.

[Des Little]

If Lennon goes to Norwich I wonder who might be in the reckoning for the Celtic job

You thinking what I'm thinking? Lambert with any luck