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

[adrenachrome]

Those stats posted by Paulie suggest that the only reason we 'look' safe is because there are more poorer teams than us this year.
In 2 years we look like we have made no progress whatsoever.

Or maybe the league this season is far more competitive from top to bottom?

Certainly competitive below the megarich elite.  I can remember seasons when one or two teams were doomed from the start, for example Wolves, Derby and Bradford. That has not been the case recently. Cardiff, Swansea, Fulham and Palace looked pretty decent to me at VP and could play some decent stuff compared to the earlier examples.

What has happened is that the Championship has improved and better teams are coming up. Of course, the Oligarchists have massively reduced competition from outside their ranks at the top.

[andyh]

Those stats posted by Paulie suggest that the only reason we 'look' safe is because there are more poorer teams than us this year.
In 2 years we look like we have made no progress whatsoever.

Or maybe the league this season is far more competitive from top to bottom?

That maybe so, but we still haven't been able to improve though, at best, we appear to have stagnated.

[Ads]

£20 million is enough to buy two or three good quality midfielders.

If you cannot make a squad capable of passing and moving the ball in final third to effect, of picking up their markers and creating chances and goals out of the likes of;

Okore, Vlaar, Westwood, Delph, Benteke, Kozak and three players circa £7 million, then you cannot manage a club like Aston Villa.

[Irish villain]

I've read all the suggestions here and it's made me more convinced that we have to see it through with Lambert.  He needs this summer's transfer window and the next January window for me.  Lambert has turned a club heading for the trap door into a more secure, mid-table outfit.  It's progress in baby steps and, while it's frustrating beating the team top of the table one week and then losing to the team bottom of the table a couple of weeks later, it is a sign of where we are at the moment.  The squad is still relatively small and lacking in quality cover (and I'm sure Lambert knows this) but, like I say, a couple more transfer windows should sort this.  I'm keeping the faith on this one.

Each to their own but I take issue with you calling us a secure midtable outfit, we are nothing of the sort. We are in a relegation fight and I would be very surprised if we are safe with more than 2 games to go. I also see absolutely nothing in the way the club is run to suggest next season will be any different.

I agree we are far from a more secure mid-table outfit.

This time last year - P32 Pts 33 Pos 16th
Now P32 Pts 34 Pos 13th.

Currently two points between us and 17th.

Whilst I don't think we are going to get relegated this season, I don't really see much security in that. Or much progress.

It's only a matter of time isn't it? We have been playing with fire and our luck will run out eventually.

[KevinGage]

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.

Sorry, I meant to say doesn't tell the full story. 

We have stank the place out too often at home, and that -combined with not looking like a particularly better side than the one PL inherited in May 2012 is too much to overlook.

He has tried to play a better brand of football than McLeish, I'd agree with that.   He just hasn't been good enough to execute it.

[PaulWinch again]

I think one of the worst things now is that it is a real chore to watch Villa, which is very reminiscent of the Mcleish reign. Last season we at least attacked with vigour, this season we've largely been very dull and now even our defence is beginning to falter. There is no entertainment factor, and if you combine that with bad results you've got a recipe for disaster.

[mike]

Sorry Billy I admire your loyalty and respect your opinion but if Lambert gets two more transfer windows like the ones he had already there won't be many at the games.

The next transfer window is, for me, the big one for the Lambert era as I think this is the one where he can now start fine-tuning and aiming for the quality additions that should lift us back into top-half territory.

Billy, I sincerely hope you're not a motor mechanic. If I brought a car to you in the state Villa are in and you said 'well, that's been nicely looked after for the last couple of years, it just needs a fine tune now' I'd be sorely disappointed when the brakes failed on the motorway or the gearbox fell out.

[London Villan]

We have a worse squad than we did under McLeish and we are on course to end up with less points!

[rob_bridge]

Those stats posted by Paulie suggest that the only reason we 'look' safe is because there are more poorer teams than us this year.
In 2 years we look like we have made no progress whatsoever.

Last year there were 2 piss poor teams below us. QPR and Reading.

This year there are 2 - Fulham and Cardiff and possibly Sunderland. We may get lucky.

4 seasons and the only 'excitement' is a worrying look over our shoulders.

According to our CEO we are on the right path.

How many more unwanted records do we have to 'achieve' before he realises that You Can't Fool All of the People All of the Time.

[mattjpa]

I also dont see the vision of trimming the wages and getting it under control. Once we have gotton the bomb squad- Ireland, Hutton, Bent, Zogbia, Given off the wage bill (All of whom are talented, experienced footballers) what do we do then? Oh yes, we have to start going out and paying high wages for.....talented, experienced footballers. we will be no better off except lambert will have drained any type of residual value out of the ones we have and we will have to pay transfer fees for the new ones. I just dont get it. You cannot tell me that had we not had any of  the above (obvs zogbia is injured) in and around the team, filling in when required or playing cup games but keeping them in the shop window and at least giving them a chance to earn a move, that they would still be here. Redknapp, Pulis, Hughton etc are always on the look out for replacements on the cheap in January. We could certainly do with Bent and Hutton now. Lambert has essentially written off 15-16m worth of playing staff (most of whom we are still paying!)

[Monty]

To be honest, if the fans turn on Lambert in full I'm not sure how much difference that would make to Lerner. He might think 'but you lot were chanting for him at Norwich, I went and got him and now you want rid of him, so sod you,' or words to that effect. Which would obviously be a simplification of the situation by him, but it might just cross his mind.

[Billy Walker]

Sorry Billy I admire your loyalty and respect your opinion but if Lambert gets two more transfer windows like the ones he had already there won't be many at the games.

The next transfer window is, for me, the big one for the Lambert era as I think this is the one where he can now start fine-tuning and aiming for the quality additions that should lift us back into top-half territory.

Billy, I sincerely hope you're not a motor mechanic. If I brought a car to you in the state Villa are in and you said 'well, that's been nicely looked after for the last couple of years, it just needs a fine tune now' I'd be sorely disappointed when the brakes failed on the motorway or the gearbox fell out.

Here's the thing Mike, for me the car is still being tinkered with in the garage.  Lambert needs a bit more time before he hands over the keys to the customer and says, "There you go, all fixed."

[Monty]

Sorry Billy I admire your loyalty and respect your opinion but if Lambert gets two more transfer windows like the ones he had already there won't be many at the games.

The next transfer window is, for me, the big one for the Lambert era as I think this is the one where he can now start fine-tuning and aiming for the quality additions that should lift us back into top-half territory.

Billy, I sincerely hope you're not a motor mechanic. If I brought a car to you in the state Villa are in and you said 'well, that's been nicely looked after for the last couple of years, it just needs a fine tune now' I'd be sorely disappointed when the brakes failed on the motorway or the gearbox fell out.

Here's the thing Mike, for me the car is still being tinkered with in the garage.  Lambert needs a bit more time before he hands over the keys to the customer and says, "There you go, all fixed."

Yep, but we've been watching his work and seeing bits fall off and fires starting and hearing him going 'oops, well, we go again' for two years now, and perhaps it's time to call over that other mechanic working on the smaller car who seems to know what he's doing than stick with a known bungler?

[john e]

Bungler
 great word

[Chris Smith]

Unless we go down my hunch is he will get the summer but we will need to show a marked upturn otherwise that will be his last transfer window.