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

[Smirker]

I actually felt sorry for Lambert seeing his post match interview. He looked fucking gutted, I really want it to work for him but it isn't.

[Bully2345]

I still refuse to join the Lambert out brigade because I don't think it's entirely his fault. Even Mr Lerner has acknowledged that. We are indeed being prepared for sale and the spinning coin of a gamble is about to land.

I wish this was a game of Football Chairman that I could just press a button a few times and I'd know our fate

[Smirker]

Does anyone really think if he'd had more money to spend and acquire players on higher wages we'd be much better off?

[PeterWithesShin]

Yes. Based purely on Okore, Benteke, Kozak and Vlaar being, I think, his 4 most expensive players. We'd still be hoofing it mind as I believe the coaching has been our biggest failing.

[bertlambshank]

I still refuse to join the Lambert out brigade because I don't think it's entirely his fault. Even Mr Lerner has acknowledged that. We are indeed being prepared for sale and the spinning coin of a gamble is about to land.

I wish this was a game of Football Chairman that I could just press a button a few times and I'd know our fate

Lerner's whole time in charge has been a shit or bust gamble,that's all we need another gamble.

[Stu]

I'll believe all of the takeover stuff when and if it happens.

Everyone has already said everything. A total clear out from top to bottom is needed, but I don't think it's going to happen.

[KevinGage]

Without a shadow of a doubt the club has become an embarrassment. Never in all my years have we been a perennial relegation outfit, but we certainly are now.
This is all down to Lerner and his disgraceful lack of interest. I've said it many times now, if this was Ellis he'd be hung drawn and quartered by now. In fact it would have happened at least 2 years ago. These days we've just become apathetic and just sit there and accept every bit of shit thrown at us.

But what about the garden?
A few hardy perennials and PL could make a difference.

All well and good. 

But if your gardener is (a) sunbathing on the job

or

(b)stumbling about with his lad in his hand, mumbling something about going again.

You'd chase him out of your cabbage patch with a rusty fork. And no jury in the land would convict. 

[ROBBO]

I look at all the players that he put in the bomb squad and think they must have been an improvement of whats there at the moment.

[mike]

Yes. Based purely on Okore, Benteke, Kozak and Vlaar being, I think, his 4 most expensive players. We'd still be hoofing it mind as I believe the coaching has been our biggest failing.

Benteke, agreed. Okore, too little time to be sure what his real capabilities are, Kozak, ditto might be ok but too early to have him as the next Benteke. Vlaar, worth what we paid for him, which is the bare minimum I'd expect from a signing.

But broadly, I kind of agree, except that leaves the argument of why not buy a couple more at that standard rather than the utter dross he's wasted money on.

[LeeB]

As a fan of Lambert's approach to his time under Lerner it is sad that he has not really been able to spend more on players. Yes, there have been £7m signings but they would have been on low(ish) wages so not really a sign of splashing money around. Lerner gave him a challenge and one that up until Stoke all would have said that we have been largely poor but ended up in mid-table where we thought we would have been this season.

But the last 6 games have been unbelievable. Totally out of our depth and 5 losses and one draw, shipping 4 3 times, losing to teams around us, suspending backroom staff, talk of dressing room strife, Lerner's strange announcement about no announcement until the summer, Given being promoted to a kind of assistant after being dumped, Lerner praising Lambert, etc etc it's all imploded. No-one seems to know what to do or how to get us out of the situation.

Lambert won't be sacked that much is pretty certain. At least not until we know about any possible ownership change. Nor would I particularly want it now. Given and Cowans? I can't seeing the players rrsonding any more to them and in this time of bizarre goings on and major upheaval, the last thing we need now is to have the players more unsettled and more confused about off the field activities.

I'd leave things as they are. But, come the summer, I'm more concerned about who is owning the club because even if Lambert were to be sacked I wouldn't expect Lerner to put us in any better shape with his and Faulkner's recruitment decisions. Ever since he came here its is one bad financial decision after another and one-by-one his board appointees have gone. He's left with a CEO that is thankful to be appointed above his ability suggests he deserves and no other noticeable board members who have said anything or shown their faces, never mind whether they have got anything to say or not.

I don't trust Lerner to get the next major decision right and despite what I think are his genuine best intentions. He has to go. The Lambert decision will look after itself thereafter. One way or another.

Spot on Pete.

[VinnieChase84]

If takeover rumors are true, then this is what's happening
1) Lambert knows he's out of a job. What's his motivation to want us to stay up?
2) the players will know he's off too and therefore why would they listen to him!?
The impression I get from them all is that they don't give two shits. 1+2 would explain.
Even more reason for this useless mumbler to be removed from his post right now. Put someone in for last 3 games to firmly give the players a kick up the ass that is now needed more than ever

[Clampy]

If takeover rumors are true, then this is what's happening
1) Lambert knows he's out of a job. What's his motivation to want us to stay up?

I don't think he'd want relegation on his C.V to be honest, no manager would.

[Walmley_Villa]

He's 'built' this squad, picks the team and dictates the tactics + motivates them before kick-off and at half-time. He employed the chuckle brothers to help him.

He is as responsible for this shambles as the jokers who employed him.

[silhillvilla]

Things seem to have got a lot worse since they stalled on his new contract?

[olaftab]

I have accepted that he is just not good enough and my apologies to those of you who have been saying this for a long time and I argued  against that.