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

[brontebilly]

But he hasn't slashed the wage bill. It's still huge and if he goes the bomb squad are still there to be defused for some other poor sod.

He has helped reduce it considerably. The most revealing accounts will be next years filing, not this.

Didn't Paul Faulkner confirm that the wage bill had dropped to target level at a meeting with some of the supporters?

I believe he did. And just looking things logically, we're down to the last of the burdensome contracts of the MON/Houllier/McLeish era. I hope that by the end of this summer, Bent, Given, Hutton at the very least will be gone.

Those three will only go in the summer if we pay off their contracts and let them go on frees. Crystallising that loss on our balance sheet will probably cost us 5m or so I imagine for those three.

[Stu]

I never understood why he didn't play the senior players. When the club are relentlessly telling us of the need to make the most out of every pound spent, why on earth were we paying experienced players massive wages to do fuck all? I'm starting to believe that the board are full of bullshit.

[brontebilly]

I never understood why he didn't play the senior players. When the club are relentlessly telling us of the need to make the most out of every pound spent, why on earth were we paying experienced players massive wages to do fuck all? I'm starting to believe that the board are full of bullshit.

to be fair Guzan replaced Given, Benteke replaced Bent and Lowton replaced Hutton. Lambert was proven right definitely on the first two anyway.

Bent and Given started Lambert's reign in the side but played their way out of it. The Bent/Benteke partnership wasnt working and for all we know Bent was acting up behind the scenes. Bent hasnt exactly proved Lambert wrong at Fulham. Bringing on the likes of Bowery instead of Bent, Steer on the bench instead of Given or Lichaj instead of Hutton was maybe taking the piss out of it a bit. Given in particular and maybe even Hutton seem to have done well on their loan spells in the Championship but Bent looks finished as a player. We cant force clubs to buy these three of us.

Lambert got nothing really out of Ireland or Nzogbia although both were given plenty of chances. Ireland seems to be doing a decent job for Stoke now but wouldnt blame Lambert much for that one. Dunne was injured for his season under Lambert and no-one was ever going to pay money for those two parasites Warnock and Makoun.

Lambert is an awful manager but certainly wasnt his fault re some of the players he was landed with who were on big contracts.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Put me in the "I dont know" camp. Honestly I am confused. The results have been terrible but punctuated with some fantastic signings and some smart tactics then terrible tactics, but...the results have been terrible.

Dont know. Can a grown up make the call for me?

Fantastic signings?

For me Benteke, Vlaar, Bacuna and (slightly less so) Westwood have all been very good. I also believe that Okore will be very good.

That is without considering how much we paid for them, when you add that in they bump up to fantastic in my mind.

I put Kozak, KEA and Lowton in the "I think they are solid and can be very good on their day" bucket.

That aint a bad return rate for a manager imho.
 

[silhillvilla]

Hopefully the likes of Westwood , Weimann and Lowton have got 2nd season syndrome out the way and can really kick on now.
I thought Westwood showed great composure and technique to slide his goal in yesterday.

[rob_bridge]

I never understood why he didn't play the senior players. When the club are relentlessly telling us of the need to make the most out of every pound spent, why on earth were we paying experienced players massive wages to do fuck all? I'm starting to believe that the board are full of bullshit.

Most lof the senior players had opportunities. Benteke was better than Bent and Bad better than Shay. Hutton clearly upset someone(s) early doors and the less said about the lazy Cretin Ireland the better. Stan retired and Gabby played lots.

[not3bad]

Lambert got nothing really out of Ireland or Nzogbia although both were given plenty of chances.

Nzogbia scored a couple of very important goals in the run in last season.

[saunders_heroes]

Put me in the "I dont know" camp. Honestly I am confused. The results have been terrible but punctuated with some fantastic signings and some smart tactics then terrible tactics, but...the results have been terrible.

Dont know. Can a grown up make the call for me?

Fantastic signings?

For me Benteke, Vlaar, Bacuna and (slightly less so) Westwood have all been very good. I also believe that Okore will be very good.

That is without considering how much we paid for them, when you add that in they bump up to fantastic in my mind.

I put Kozak, KEA and Lowton in the "I think they are solid and can be very good on their day" bucket.

That aint a bad return rate for a manager imho.
 

I'd say Benteke was a bloody good signing. The rest have ranged from average down to absolutely dreadful.

[PaulWinch again]

Vlaar has been a good signing I'd say.

[SoccerHQ]

Yeah but Collins played for a team that finished 6th (let's ignore the season we finished 16th with him as a regular) so is a demi god while Vlaar is total rubbish.

[pauliewalnuts]

I don't think I've seen anyone call Vlaar total rubbish.

[Legion]

Yeah but Collins played for a team that finished 6th (let's ignore the season we finished 16th with him as a regular) so is a demi god while Vlaar is total rubbish.

Vlaar? Total rubbish?

[Matt Collins]

I'd say that in terms of value for pounds spent lambert is way ahead of MON, Houllier and Mcleish

Benteke one of the best value signings anywhere in Europe in the last couple of years

Guzan vlaar Westwood and lowton last season were very good for the prices paid. I fancy ok ore will be a bargain

Some bad buys too but the main problem is that we've bought a whole new squad on the cheap and our youngsters aren't as good as we'd hoped

[Toronto Villa]

I don't think I've seen anyone call Vlaar total rubbish.

I think a few people came close to calling him that in his first season which was completely unjustified.

[saunders_heroes]

I don't think I've seen anyone call Vlaar total rubbish.

I think a few people came close to calling him that in his first season which was completely unjustified.

I thought he was hopeless last season. Improved a bit this season though. Still nothing to get excited about.