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

[Toronto Villa]

No idea TV why he said it publicly,but i have no doubt you will know and tell me

Stop being so bloody sensitive. I didn't think it is hard to work out why a manager would back one of his young players, who having made a couple of errors might need a public boost to his confidence. Given that we aren't exactly flush with options to replace him, it makes sense to at least offer him some support. Baker was being lauded by some after his performance against Chelsea as was the entire team, and now we are on a poor run. It doesn't surprise me that the manager is trying to publicly motivate one or two of the players who might be suffering from a lack of belief. I'm not a fan of Baker. I think he is a very limited defender, but we still need him to perform as well as he can between now and the end of the season.

[Ian.]

Says it all for me about Lambert when he comes out with garbage like " Baker has been excellent" for us

I'd rather have a manager who looks after his players in public than someone like Rednapp who embarrasses the likes of Bent after his miss for Spurs.

[pooligan]

I was right was'nt I TV, ALWAYS have to have the last word don't you !

[Chris Smith]

Says it all for me about Lambert when he comes out with garbage like " Baker has been excellent" for us

You know, I don't mind that he said it so much, I suppose he has to say it or he ends up like Di Canio, having a go at his players in public and generally alienating himself from the dressing room. No, my problem is much more that he really appears to think it.

I think he believes it in a 'considering his limitations' sort of a way. With one of the major signings in each of the summer transfer windows being a centre back it suggests he knows we need better. 

I don't rate Baker at all but would always give him credit for his commitment and physical bravery.

[Toronto Villa]

I was right was'nt I TV, ALWAYS have to have the last word don't you !

No. Feel free to counter argue the point I just made. This is an internet discussion forum. Nobody is stopping you from disagreeing with me.

[Ads]

I actually thought he defended pretty well against Norwich and Chelsea, then fell apart against Stoke. That is what happens with 3rd/4th choice players.

[Toronto Villa]

I actually thought he defended pretty well against Norwich and Chelsea, then fell apart against Stoke. That is what happens with 3rd/4th choice players.

I said at the time vs Chelsea that when the opponent plays with 2 up front, Baker struggles. He struggles with movement and positioning. Against Chelsea they played one up front, and that one was Torres who barely registers as a top flight striker anymore. I find that when he is asked to man mark a more mobile forward he is pulled out of position which in turn pulls Vlaar out of position trying to cover for him.

[JUAN PABLO]

lets hope Norwich stay up next season . We need those six points

Fulham would be a shitter for us

[PaulWinch again]

I actually thought he defended pretty well against Norwich and Chelsea, then fell apart against Stoke. That is what happens with 3rd/4th choice players.

I said at the time vs Chelsea that when the opponent plays with 2 up front, Baker struggles. He struggles with movement and positioning. Against Chelsea they played one up front, and that one was Torres who barely registers as a top flight striker anymore. I find that when he is asked to man mark a more mobile forward he is pulled out of position which in turn pulls Vlaar out of position trying to cover for him.

Yep that's very true, which essentially means that if Baker has to deal with his own man he's not much use.

[paul_e]

A manager saying good things about his players in public is, as far as I'm concerned, just him doing his job.  Any manager in any club/company/etc should take public responsibility for the performance of his staff.  As the situation becomes more public that just becomes more necessary.

There's a whole load of things to pick on Lambert for, defending his players has no place being amongst them.

[brontebilly]

Says it all for me about Lambert when he comes out with garbage like " Baker has been excellent" for us

If he is talking him up as a potential sale in the summer then fair enough.

An inexperienced manager liking his centre halves big strong and fearless might have some use for him.

He is nowhere near good enough for us - the same applies to most of the players in the squad unfortunately.

[cheltenhamlion]

Some people are trying very hard to find a negative in everything. Patting a junior squad member on the head after a shit performance is really not something to get your knickers in a twist about.

[Toronto Villa]

Some people are trying very hard to find a negative in everything. Patting a junior squad member on the head after a shit performance is really not something to get your knickers in a twist about.

precisely

[richard moore]

Says it all for me about Lambert when he comes out with garbage like " Baker has been excellent" for us

Doesn't it just though I wouldn't have expected anything less

[Richard E]

A manager saying good things about his players in public is, as far as I'm concerned, just him doing his job.  Any manager in any club/company/etc should take public responsibility for the performance of his staff.  As the situation becomes more public that just becomes more necessary.

There's a whole load of things to pick on Lambert for, defending his players has no place being amongst them.

Spot on.