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

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We need 6 or seven players of Premiership quality, just to stand still next season (providing the unthinkable doesn't happen)

Assuming Lambert is manager next season, then I agree with you. By standing still, I assume you mean hanging around just above the relegation zone.

What we need before we sign any new players is a manager that can get the best out of his squad. Giving more money to Lambert isn't going to change much, that much is clear. I think we and hopefully the board have to face the fact that despite his strengths, Lambert's biggest weakness is the most important aspect of his job - the football.

Right now I'd take a new manager for a couple of seasons just to get us on the right track. More than money, it's direction we need and have done for a long time. We either bring in a new man that understands the game or continue pissing our transfer budget in the wind. Lerner should surely realise he's been getting nothing back on his investment other than amazing loyalty from the Villa Park faithful.

[ozzjim]

The statement from Faulkner is a vote of confidence in disguise. He is a dead man walking.

[Walmley_Villa]

It was said previously by PF that transfer fees were not an issue it was wages. Well there is an obvious flaw in this being that you wouldn't expect to get a decent player by paying his club £20m and expecting him to accept £25k a week?

I think the current bunch have taken Dougenomics to another level. Ultimately who signed off the contracts for Hutton, Bent, Given etc??? Where did they think the income to cover the contracts would come from?

Twatter rumours suggesting that Lerner has broke a number of promises to Lambert over backing and especially this Summer coming, hence why he has seemingly given up.

Jokers - the lot of them.

[Clampy]

Twatter rumours suggesting that Lerner has broke a number of promises to Lambert over backing and especially this Summer coming, hence why he has seemingly given up.

I wouldn't put too much trust in twitter rumours. However, it wouldn't surprise me if any potential deals have been put on hold until the end of the season.

[supertom]

In hindsight now certainly a case that using the acadamy with quality players was a better option that the cheap imports he has tried.

I just can't fathom why this was never the case in the first place. The whole idea Randy gave out in the last 2-3 years was to build a young and hungry squad. Gone would be the days of all our signings being experience, high wage earners, and we'd scout more effectively, and use our academy.
Thus far under Lambert, the academy part hasn't particularly rung true.

If you look at McLeish for example. I think had he stayed the second year he'd have made 2-3 signings, probably experienced. He'd have then dipped into our academy as and when needed. Herd was a key player for him. Carruthers got his debut but hasn't had a sniff under Lambert. Of course McLeish probably would have taken us down, however, if we're gonna bring through 20 year old players at this club, I'd rather see the ones we're raising ourselves. The ones we know. We know how they've been raised, we know their strengths and weaknesses down to a tee. We don't necessarily have to worry that they'll be like Tonev and can't speak English, or like Helenius, who just can't seem to settle. On the most part they'll be local lads, fired up, many Villa fans who'll love nothing more than to run out for the first team.
They'll have spent 4-5 years at the club. They'll get the club and they'll know what it's about.

If we're playing the "are they good enough?" gamble then I'd rather take the chance with Robinson, Johnson, Carruthers, Grealish etc, than Tonev, Sylla etc.

I know a lot is said about Baker. As a fourth choice he's good enough. Obviously for want of options/injuries, he's playing virtually every week. It's better to have a Baker than to go and spend a million to buy a League 1-2 CB, or a cheap foreign lad who may never settle. When Baker and Clark get to the age where we can't offer them games every week but they need it, we move them on and we let the next gen step up, such as Donacien.

At this level, a load of punts like the ones we're making, on young players from abroad and lower leagues, is only necessary if you don't have a decent academy. We do, so it's unnecessary and soon adds up.

[Richard E]

The statement from Faulkner is a vote of confidence in disguise. He is a dead man walking.

I agree. Why on earth otherwise would it be the CEO rather than just a "Lambert rallies the troops" puff piece?

[ozzjim]

The statement from Faulkner is a vote of confidence in disguise. He is a dead man walking.

I agree. Why on earth otherwise would it be the CEO rather than just a "Lambert rallies the troops" puff piece?

It is a strange move if not a get safe and he is gone kind of thing.

[Lee]

We need 6 or seven players of Premiership quality, just to stand still next season (providing the unthinkable doesn't happen)

Assuming Lambert is manager next season, then I agree with you. By standing still, I assume you mean hanging around just above the relegation zone.

Yep.

[Walmley_Villa]

Would Gabby's recent lack of performance highlight that he isn't playing for the staff?


Edited by Ozzjim

[tomd2103]

In hindsight now certainly a case that using the acadamy with quality players was a better option that the cheap imports he has tried.

I just can't fathom why this was never the case in the first place. The whole idea Randy gave out in the last 2-3 years was to build a young and hungry squad. Gone would be the days of all our signings being experience, high wage earners, and we'd scout more effectively, and use our academy.
Thus far under Lambert, the academy part hasn't particularly rung true.

If you look at McLeish for example. I think had he stayed the second year he'd have made 2-3 signings, probably experienced. He'd have then dipped into our academy as and when needed. Herd was a key player for him. Carruthers got his debut but hasn't had a sniff under Lambert. Of course McLeish probably would have taken us down, however, if we're gonna bring through 20 year old players at this club, I'd rather see the ones we're raising ourselves. The ones we know. We know how they've been raised, we know their strengths and weaknesses down to a tee. We don't necessarily have to worry that they'll be like Tonev and can't speak English, or like Helenius, who just can't seem to settle. On the most part they'll be local lads, fired up, many Villa fans who'll love nothing more than to run out for the first team.
They'll have spent 4-5 years at the club. They'll get the club and they'll know what it's about.

If we're playing the "are they good enough?" gamble then I'd rather take the chance with Robinson, Johnson, Carruthers, Grealish etc, than Tonev, Sylla etc.

I know a lot is said about Baker. As a fourth choice he's good enough. Obviously for want of options/injuries, he's playing virtually every week. It's better to have a Baker than to go and spend a million to buy a League 1-2 CB, or a cheap foreign lad who may never settle. When Baker and Clark get to the age where we can't offer them games every week but they need it, we move them on and we let the next gen step up, such as Donacien.

At this level, a load of punts like the ones we're making, on young players from abroad and lower leagues, is only necessary if you don't have a decent academy. We do, so it's unnecessary and soon adds up.

The first point in bold - it's certainly what Southampton seem to be doing.

The second point in bold - Baker's been given a chance, but in my opinion hasn't really worked out.  I would be in favour of selling him for whatever we can get and giving the next academy product in line his chance (which in this case would be Donacien). 

[Holte L2]

The statement from Faulkner is a vote of confidence in disguise. He is a dead man walking.

Yep. I think so too.  It's very much like the "TSM 4 games statement"

[Concrete John]

Income hasn't dramatically increased, though - look at the recently released set of figures. The television money goes up next year, but I suspect that'll be seen as a way to reduce losses rather than to improve the squad.

Wages are the biggest issue, I know it is subjective to a degree, but I really don't see how anyone can doubt this - they've talked about almost nothing else for two years now. So has the manager, they've made no attempt to hide this. The signings he has made all reflect this.

The fact Hutton is shit doesn't really come in to it - the bomb squadded players are also the top earners. The ones the club is desperate to get rid of. That's no coincidence.

I'm happy to wait and see what happens in the summer, but I think anyone expecting a dramatic reversal of policy is going to be disappointed.

Where that argument falls down is the fact Gabby is still playing regularly, the rises we gave to Benteke and others last summer, the way he tried to get Ireland and N'Zogbia involved last season and the fact that, wages aside, the players in the bomb squad are pretty much agreed to be ones we want shot of for footballing reasons anyway.

It won't be a dramatic refersal, but I do think we'll pay more than we are now if and when it makes sense.   

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

The statement from Faulkner is a vote of confidence in disguise. He is a dead man walking.

I agree. Why on earth otherwise would it be the CEO rather than just a "Lambert rallies the troops" puff piece?

It is a strange move if not a get safe and he is gone kind of thing.

Try as I might to read between the lines on these sort of statements, I can't get the inference that they are getting ready to sack Lambert.

Call me naiive, but I used to have a bloke behind me in the Trinity who, when times got tough, would always say, 'get behind the team'. To me, this proclamation by the CEO sounds no different to that. I fail to think what official statements would please people at times.

[Richard E]

The statement from Faulkner is a vote of confidence in disguise. He is a dead man walking.

I agree. Why on earth otherwise would it be the CEO rather than just a "Lambert rallies the troops" puff piece?

It is a strange move if not a get safe and he is gone kind of thing.

Try as I might to read between the lines on these sort of statements, I can't get the inference that they are getting ready to sack Lambert.

Call me naiive, but I used to have a bloke behind me in the Trinity who, when times got tough, would always say, 'get behind the team'. To me, this proclamation by the CEO sounds no different to that. I fail to think what official statements would please people at times.

I take your point but the CEO doesn't usually come out telling us to get behind the team, it would usually be an interview with the Manager or a player about how we're all going to redouble our efforts etc, etc. I agree with the poster above that this looks like the statement that came out after TSM's Bolton debacle. 

[Concrete John]

I can't see us spending much in the summer. They were probably hoping to sell Benteke for £25m.

Maybe we'll spend £10m, and it'll be more of the same next season.

I can't see any reason why summer 2014 will see half the spending of the last two summers before it?

Did we spend £20m last summer?

From the top of my head:-
Kozak - £7m
Okore - £4m
Bacuna - £2.5m
Tonev - £2.75m
Luna - £1m
Helenius - £1m
Steer -

That's roughly £20m.  May have got some of the prices wrong and missed a signing somewhere, but we're certainly talking in the region of a £20m outlay.