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

[saunders_heroes]

he signed some bloke called Benteke in his first window. Lowton was very good at times. He resigned Guzan

Benteke is a bloody good player but Lowton is as average as they come.

[Toronto Villa]

he signed some bloke called Benteke in his first window. Lowton was very good at times. He resigned Guzan

Benteke is a bloody good player but Lowton is as average as they come.

Lowton was at times excellent last season and scored one great goal and another, arguably one of the best goals ever scored for the club. Remember, this is a commentary on Lambert's first window so Lowton should overall be considered a success. That he has regressed since should not be a commentary on that window, as most would agree he looked a very good signing last season.

[ciggiesnbeer]

To top it all, he appears to have the personality of Father Stone.

Disagree with most of your post but this bit was well played. 

[LeeB]

To top it all, he appears to have the personality of Father Stone.

Disagree with most of your post but this bit was well played. 

"Are you in a relegation battle, Paul?"

"No, we're fine."

[Mister E]

I wanted Rodgers but was happy enough with Lambert, right up until his first transfer window. Some managers have a knack of finding a hidden gem here and there, but no one can find a whole team full. It reminded me of when I worked in Evesham, which was blessed with an abundance of pound shops. I marvelled at how much money I could save and went out every lunch time buying stuff and wondering why people paid over the odds. Well, the twisty wire for tying plants was fine, but pretty much everything else broke or didn't work. I hoped that I would be wrong but I just couldn't see that anyone could be such a brilliant visionary to build a team from nowt with lower league signings.

Sadly, he hasn't proved me wrong except that the bits I thought he might be good at like tactics (I remember there was a lot of discussion about how good he was at changing formations to suit the opposition etc) he isn't. To top it all, he appears to have the personality of Father Stone.

I don't think your analogy of the Evesham pound shops is appropriate or fair (although, to be honest,  I've never availed myself of the delights of Evesham's shopping emporia). Lambert's purchasing policy and record has been decent - at the time of most of the signings, many commentators were applauding his insight and eye for a good deal.


The problem has been one of tactics and coaching: the new players have, in the main, shown promise but have either been (i) overplayed or (ii) played out of position or (iii) not been given the coaching and feedback about how to correct faults and develop strengths. Or, a combination of all three.
For this, Lambert and his team should rightly be panned.

[Chico Hamilton III]

So is the consensus that Lambert is a good scout but a shit coach?

[Boz]

So is the consensus that Lambert is a good scout but a shit coach?

Just about sums it up 

[mr underhill]

even that is a bit generous. the list of genuinely talented players he's actually bought is pretty short.

[Concrete John]

even that is a bit generous. the list of genuinely talented players he's actually bought is pretty short.

I think it's hard to say on that either way as the team hasn't played well enough as a whole to allow them to shine.  I certainly think players like Westwood, Lowton and Bacuna have ability.

Where I think we've gotten it wrong is the attitude of the squad.  Young and hungry seems to be the mantra, but I'm not seeing any real hunger or desire from this set of players on the pitch.  It's almost as if they have fallen into a comfort zone of low expectations and long term progression, so that wheh they lose a game they expect it to be viewed as "Not to worry - it'll be OK next season."  To me that's a lack of real leadership on the pitch.  And possibly from the dugout.   

[supertom]

Did we not lose the scout from his first window? The man who was in part responsible for most of his better signings, and of course, Benteke. Even McLeish once tried to claim Benteke was on the radar before Lambert joined, unless I'm imagining that.
Can't remember the fellas name, but I'd certainly say that our second summer hasn't proved as fruitful so far. Obviously injuries mean it's been very hard to judge Kozak and more so Okore, but thus far, only Bacuna ranks as a success.

I'm not sure the current scouting set up is as good as it has previously been under Lambert, so his ability to make potentially good signings is possibly more questionable than previously.

[saunders_heroes]

he signed some bloke called Benteke in his first window. Lowton was very good at times. He resigned Guzan

Benteke is a bloody good player but Lowton is as average as they come.

Lowton was at times excellent last season and scored one great goal and another, arguably one of the best goals ever scored for the club. Remember, this is a commentary on Lambert's first window so Lowton should overall be considered a success. That he has regressed since should not be a commentary on that window, as most would agree he looked a very good signing last season.

I never rated him from day one. He's as average as they come. His appalling positional play cost us important goals last season and I've never thought he was good enough for Aston Villa despite him scoring a decent goal near the end of the season

[Toronto Villa]

Lowton's goal at Stoke was "decent"?

Ok...if you say so

[sirlordbaltimore]

Lowton was at times excellent last season and scored one great goal and another, arguably one of the best goals ever scored for the club. Remember, this is a commentary on Lambert's first window so Lowton should overall be considered a success. That he has regressed since should not be a commentary on that window, as most would agree he looked a very good signing last season.

Since when was a full backs success measured on him scoring a couple of great goals ?

I like Lowton, but i still doubt he's a defender. I think he'd be a better player further upfield. But the jury is very much still out on whether he's been a good signing for me

[Toronto Villa]

Lowton was at times excellent last season and scored one great goal and another, arguably one of the best goals ever scored for the club. Remember, this is a commentary on Lambert's first window so Lowton should overall be considered a success. That he has regressed since should not be a commentary on that window, as most would agree he looked a very good signing last season.

Since when was a full backs success measured on him scoring a couple of great goals ?

I like Lowton, but i still doubt he's a defender. I think he'd be a better player further upfield. But the jury is very much still out on whether he's been a good signing for me

I didn't say that he should be judged or measured purely on his goals. There was plenty of talk last season because of his overall form of a late push for the WC squad. Certainly his goals and some of his assists/crossing drew more attention than his defending, but he wasn't a complete liability at the back.

[rob_bridge]

Lowton was at times excellent last season and scored one great goal and another, arguably one of the best goals ever scored for the club. Remember, this is a commentary on Lambert's first window so Lowton should overall be considered a success. That he has regressed since should not be a commentary on that window, as most would agree he looked a very good signing last season.

Since when was a full backs success measured on him scoring a couple of great goals ?

I like Lowton, but i still doubt he's a defender. I think he'd be a better player further upfield. But the jury is very much still out on whether he's been a good signing for me

I didn't say that he should be judged or measured purely on his goals. There was plenty of talk last season because of his overall form of a late push for the WC squad. Certainly his goals and some of his assists/crossing drew more attention than his defending, but he wasn't a complete liability at the back.

Lowton was often played in MF for Sheff Utd.