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

[Rolta]

Controversial I know, but I'd still stick with Lambert. He really has done a bit of a miracle on the financial side of things, and I'm not sure many other managers could have done that and have had us doing much better. Until about 7 games ago we were on course to improve on last season. That's been without Benteke for a lot of the start of the season and without him for all/most of this awful run. Considering Okore, Kozak and Benteke are about the only people he has spent a decent amount of money buying, I don't think he could have planned for all three getting such serious injuries. I don't blame him :/ He's not pulled any miracles out of the hat this season though, and his signings last summer have pretty much all disappointed. I'm under the impression he would have spent more if he could though. The main thing for me is why does he keep picking Baker ahead of Clark?? I think Baker's been responsible for about half the goals we've conceeded recently.

I'm as bemused as anyone right now, but that's the way I see it.

Basically, we need significant investment. For me the buck stops with Lerner. I was all for getting the club run sustainably, but the buying young and cheap idea clearly hasn't worked, and the chairman has risked relegation far too recklessly. Keep the manager though and see what he can do when the owner's not being silly.

[mike]

Controversial I know, but I'd still stick with Lambert. He really has done a bit of a miracle on the financial side of things, and I'm not sure many other managers could have done that and have had us doing much better. Until about 7 games ago we were on course to improve on last season. That's been without Benteke for a lot of the start of the season and without him for all/most of this awful run. Considering Okore, Kozak and Benteke are about the only people he has spent a decent amount of money buying, I don't think he could have planned for all three getting such serious injuries. I don't blame him :/ He's not pulled any miracles out of the hat this season though, and his signings last summer have pretty much all disappointed. I'm under the impression he would have spent more if he could though. The main thing for me is why does he keep picking Baker ahead of Clark?? I think Baker's been responsible for about half the goals we've conceeded recently.

I'm as bemused as anyone right now, but that's the way I see it.

Basically, we need significant investment. For me the buck stops with Lerner. I was all for getting the club run sustainably, but the buying young and cheap idea clearly hasn't worked, and the chairman has risked relegation far too recklessly. Keep the manager though and see what he can do when the owner's not being silly.

Nice try, Clarkey.

[ChicagoLion]

Let's be honest it's pretty clear that short of punching Randy in the face, there is absolutely nothing that will result in Lambert being canned before the end of the season.

I think that's true, but thinking about it a bit more, it might be true with good reason.

What if he has negotiated a takeover deal and convinced our new foreign overlords that Lambert is an excellent manager?

On Saturday night, I was of the opinion that sacking Lambert there and then would probably improve things - his absence causing fewer problems than his presence - but having thought about it, I think the extra chaos of doing it now would outweigh the advantages, so I'd be inclined to leave him in place.

It is only three games, and although I am far from convinced we are safe, a point or three from Hull will do it, and, to be entirely honest, if we can't manage that against a team only marginally less shit than we are, then we deserve to get relegated.

Well there would not be chaos if the ultimate decision maker was around making sure that we had the nearest to the right person to be in charge for the Hull game. I think we all know that Lambert is not the that person.

[olaftab]

Controversial I know, but I'd still stick with Lambert. He really has done a bit of a miracle on the financial side of things, and I'm not sure many other managers could have done that and have had us doing much better. Until about 7 games ago we were on course to improve on last season.

Are you Gary Karsa trying to get your suspension lifted?

[JUAN PABLO]

Controversial I know, but I'd still stick with Lambert. He really has done a bit of a miracle on the financial side of things, and I'm not sure many other managers could have done that and have had us doing much better. Until about 7 games ago we were on course to improve on last season. That's been without Benteke for a lot of the start of the season and without him for all/most of this awful run. Considering Okore, Kozak and Benteke are about the only people he has spent a decent amount of money buying, I don't think he could have planned for all three getting such serious injuries. I don't blame him :/ He's not pulled any miracles out of the hat this season though, and his signings last summer have pretty much all disappointed. I'm under the impression he would have spent more if he could though. The main thing for me is why does he keep picking Baker ahead of Clark?? I think Baker's been responsible for about half the goals we've conceeded recently.

I'm as bemused as anyone right now, but that's the way I see it.

Basically, we need significant investment. For me the buck stops with Lerner. I was all for getting the club run sustainably, but the buying young and cheap idea clearly hasn't worked, and the chairman has risked relegation far too recklessly. Keep the manager though and see what he can do when the owner's not being silly.

Just make him his tea Monica 

[Rolta]

I speak sense

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

I speak sense

I see dead people.

[Louzie0]

Every March O'Neill's shortcomings made themselves painfully apparent, and his failure to acknowledge them fatally undermined all the good work that he did do.

What was even more annoying was that just before March 2010 he basically said "we'll do things differently this year", before doing exactly the same thing.

This has made me change my mind from, 'Only if we are relegated' on the last poll.
Lambert has done things a bit differently this year and it has been bloody awful.
Players who were ok to good at the end of last season are now completely lacking in technique and confidence,
Get him out now.

[Ian.]

I smoke sense

[mr underhill]

shagtastic  smashie I do to, amazin'  what these Villa-type people do to you mate.

[DB]

Difference between this and last season- last season we sh*t but finished looking good picking up points and thought it would be carried on into this season taking us fwd / upwards. It did not happen. We have looked ok in parts but the last section if this season (unlike last) we have got worse...much worse. We are going backwards.

[mr underhill]

t'nia taht thgir

[saunders_heroes]

Difference between this and last season- last season we sh*t but finished looking good picking up points and thought it would be carried on into this season taking us fwd / upwards. It did not happen. We have looked ok in parts but the last section if this season (unlike last) we have got worse...much worse. We are going backwards.

We've been gong backwards for 4 years. Last year's end of season flurry just papered over the cracks, and I'm surprised how many people fell for it.

[ROBBO]

Made me smile at the tele report that players will have to take a pay cut if we are relegated, someone answered that the good players would leave, my question would be to go where, Benteke apart i can't see any pemiership side would be interested in any other Villa player thats how bad we are.

[pauliewalnuts]

I don't think anyone fell for anything at the end of last season.

Things really did improve in that spell - performances and results - there is nothing wrong with acknowledging that. It doesn't mean you're an apologist or a fool.

One problem is that it wasn't sustained past the first two matches of this season. Another is that - and I've said this a few times as it really struck me - at times this season we have looked back over fondly on last year, when really we were just thinking about the decent run in and forgetting the months of guff that came before.

That's not to say the run in wasn't decent, though, it was. There no harm in acknowledging that, especially when you compare it with the mind boggling awfulness of the current run-in.