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

[Clampy]

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 think overall he's been ok. Yeah he's had a few very dodgy games but who hasn't this season? Maybe's he's not the answer long term but I don't think he's been as bad as some people on here are making out.

[dekko]

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 think overall he's been ok. Yeah he's had a few very dodgy games but who hasn't this season? Maybe's he's not the answer long term but I don't think he's been as bad as some people on here are making out.

In a world where a fit Vlaar and Okore were our first choice CBs, with Clark as a backup, I'd have no problem with Baker there as 4th choice.  He isn't great, but how many clubs outside the top 4 have a good 4th choice CB anyway?

I also think that while Clark is the better player, he might be a little too similar to Vlaar for them to make a good partnership, so I can see the logic in  Baker-Vlaar as a pairing.  One is the blood and thunder getting stuck in type of centre half and the other is more of a sweeper and a ball-player.  Maybe.

[tomd2103]

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.

To a point.  However when he comes out and says something like that, it just fuels the opinion that his judgement is questionable. 

[PaulWinch again]

Defending it fine, but it wasn't defending it was outright praise.

[rob_bridge]

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 think overall he's been ok. Yeah he's had a few very dodgy games but who hasn't this season? Maybe's he's not the answer long term but I don't think he's been as bad as some people on here are making out.

In a world where a fit Vlaar and Okore were our first choice CBs, with Clark as a backup, I'd have no problem with Baker there as 4th choice.  He isn't great, but how many clubs outside the top 4 have a good 4th choice CB anyway?

I also think that while Clark is the better player, he might be a little too similar to Vlaar for them to make a good partnership, so I can see the logic in  Baker-Vlaar as a pairing.  One is the blood and thunder getting stuck in type of centre half and the other is more of a sweeper and a ball-player.  Maybe.

I don't see either Clark or Baker to be Premiership standard. We need one experienced back up and another purchase whilst Okore recovers.

[aj2k77]

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 think overall he's been ok. Yeah he's had a few very dodgy games but who hasn't this season? Maybe's he's not the answer long term but I don't think he's been as bad as some people on here are making out.

In a world where a fit Vlaar and Okore were our first choice CBs, with Clark as a backup, I'd have no problem with Baker there as 4th choice.  He isn't great, but how many clubs outside the top 4 have a good 4th choice CB anyway?

I also think that while Clark is the better player, he might be a little too similar to Vlaar for them to make a good partnership, so I can see the logic in  Baker-Vlaar as a pairing.  One is the blood and thunder getting stuck in type of centre half and the other is more of a sweeper and a ball-player.  Maybe.

I don't see either Clark or Baker to be Premiership standard. We need one experienced back up and another purchase whilst Okore recovers.

Clark could be a borderline 4th choice centre back, as for Baker, he has a clanger in him waiting to happen most games and with the ball at his feet is one of the worst centre backs ive seen for us by far. He will never play for another Premiership club again in my opinion.

[not3bad]

Defending it fine, but it wasn't defending it was outright praise.

Picking nits now. If you're defending someone you're going to emphasise their strengths, which in Baker's case are his courage and tenacity - therefore to it can also be taken as praise. Did Lambert complement Baker's concentration and passing?

[not3bad]

Matt Kendrick does not think Lambert deserves a new contract:

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mat-kendrick-paul-lambert-doesnt-6947215?

[Richard E]

Matt Kendrick does not think Lambert deserves a new contract:

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mat-kendrick-paul-lambert-doesnt-6947215?

Doubt he would be saying that if there was not a line of thinking within the club which agreed with him...

[Concrete John]

While I may not want him sacked, I see no sense in giving him a new contract when there's still so many question marks over his time with us.  I don't think anyone would be giving him a ringing endorsement.

My gut feeling is that he'll go to Celtic in the summer.   

[saunders_heroes]

My gut feeling is that he'll go to Celtic in the summer.   

Fingers crossed!

[Concrete John]

My gut feeling is that he'll go to Celtic in the summer.   

Fingers crossed!

If it hapens, it happens.  I wouldn't be crying into my beer nor starting a street party in celebration.  Guess that's what you get from a firm fence sitter like me.

My greater focus would be on who we get next.  I heard someone on here suggest a Laudrup/Laursen double act.  That'd do me.

[Monty]

I don't want Laudrup. Another lazy manager who doesn't do enough work during the week and who has the ideas but actually can't be bothered implementing them. People think this has just become the thing to say since he left Swansea, but going back people have been on at him for years about this.

[dekko]

I don't want Laudrup. Another lazy manager who doesn't do enough work during the week and who has the ideas but actually can't be bothered implementing them. People think this has just become the thing to say since he left Swansea, but going back people have been on at him for years about this.

He'd be yet another short term manager as well, he tends to do well in his first season at a club before everything goes to shit in the second.

I wouldn't be too upset if Lambert left in the summer, but as has been said before, I wouldn't trust the board to make a good choice for a replacement, and even if they did, I can't see many good managers wanting to work under the budget constraints.

[Concrete John]

He'd be yet another short term manager as well,

In modern football, unless you're winning things they're all short term managers these days.  We were 6th and challenging for 4th under MON, yet after his third season there were people wanting him gone.

IF Lambert leaves, whoever we get will either need to be the reincarnation of Shankly or he'll be lucky to last 3 years.