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

[john e]

well his daughter has just asked everyone to stop following her on twatter or whatever so looks like he's past tense

Probably because of the dogs abuse she's getting
She's a teenager for crying out loud

[old man villa fan]

it wouldn't matter how much money you handed Lambert; he can't manage, he can't coach and he can't motivate. Oh, and he doesn't do tactics either.

So why did we appoint him and why did so many think he was a good appointment at the time.

Because he had had one decent season in the Premier League and was content to work within strict financial constraints.  And because he followed TSM.

So the majority of Villa fans went on this when thinking he would be a good appointment.  Brilliant.  Who next?

[bertlambshank]

it wouldn't matter how much money you handed Lambert; he can't manage, he can't coach and he can't motivate. Oh, and he doesn't do tactics either.

That's just silly. The reason he got the job in the first place is that he had been able to do just that in his previous jobs. We would also be bottom of the table not 15th.

Managers are judged by results and they haven't been good enough so can have little complaint if he is dismissed. However, there are extenuating circumstances (cost cutting, injuries, issues with coaches) that if Lerner stays might be viewed as enough earn him a reprieve.

The issues with the coaches is enough to get him the sack.

[Beijing Villan]

If it is his last game, his squad would be the first in a long time that you could sell tomorrow for a considerable profit, so yes, thank you for reducing the wage bill considerably, thank you for leaving us with a forward worth 25 million, a keeper worth 10 that had been grossly over looked, a decent international centre half signed for peanuts that you could sell, despite our troubles for double the cost, and a splattering of players with potential between. Your biggest issue was needing 5 older heads to mix in and integrate and a better tactical outlook, but thanks for the good games, the bad were shocking and good luck in the future.

Lambert gets Villa, and genuinely cares for the club. I hope he is really successful in the future.

Agree with most of this.

I'm probably one of the minority that hopes Lambert is here next season. I think that he has had horrible luck (Benteke, Kozak, Okore and N'Zog injured for long periods), has had to work under very difficult circumstances (getting rid of overpaid dross from MON era) and has suffered from a lack of form from key players (Benteke, Gabby and Weimann).

He certainly has made some mistakes (handling of bomb squad) but I would say that when we were good we were good and accept that when we were bad we were horrid. My vote would be to back him properly, whenever he has spent big money he has bought well. He may have had to make a lot of punts on cheapo players but some of those have come off.

I'm sick of the merry go round of managers. This one is a long way from perfect but we have to give someone three seasons in charge. Changing manager every season or so cannot be a way to build long term success. Maybe I'm setting the bar low, but he has scraped through the last two seasons with minimal cash to spend, I would give him one more season.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I like the bloke just fine and would not cry if he were here next season.

But he has had two seasons. Football has got worse not better and he has had a transfer budget. The way he talks you would think he has had to rely on free's or something. 20 million a season is not nothing.

Tactically he has over time gone from dominating possession (his first game) to surrendering midfield every game.

Sorry I just to do not want to watch that, regardless of results, which have been gash.

[Matt Collins]

I've still seen more from a lambert villa side than I ever saw under Mcleish. But you can't really argue with two seasons' worth of results, mostly shit ones. And we're definitely a worse side than we were this time last season. We've played shot football pretty much all season and our defence has turned to shit again

He's a human being who must have been incredibly stressed at points over the last two years. I don't share others' vitriol towards him. But it's hard to see how he could turn it around from here

I genuinely wouldn't be surprised to see him go on and do well somewhere else though

[Gregorys Boy]

If it is his last game, his squad would be the first in a long time that you could sell tomorrow for a considerable profit, so yes, thank you for reducing the wage bill considerably, thank you for leaving us with a forward worth 25 million, a keeper worth 10 that had been grossly over looked, a decent international centre half signed for peanuts that you could sell, despite our troubles for double the cost, and a splattering of players with potential between. Your biggest issue was needing 5 older heads to mix in and integrate and a better tactical outlook, but thanks for the good games, the bad were shocking and good luck in the future.

Lambert gets Villa, and genuinely cares for the club. I hope he is really successful in the future.

Agree with most of this.

I'm probably one of the minority that hopes Lambert is here next season. I think that he has had horrible luck (Benteke, Kozak, Okore and N'Zog injured for long periods), has had to work under very difficult circumstances (getting rid of overpaid dross from MON era) and has suffered from a lack of form from key players (Benteke, Gabby and Weimann).

He certainly has made some mistakes (handling of bomb squad) but I would say that when we were good we were good and accept that when we were bad we were horrid. My vote would be to back him properly, whenever he has spent big money he has bought well. He may have had to make a lot of punts on cheapo players but some of those have come off.

I'm sick of the merry go round of managers. This one is a long way from perfect but we have to give someone three seasons in charge. Changing manager every season or so cannot be a way to build long term success. Maybe I'm setting the bar low, but he has scraped through the last two seasons with minimal cash to spend, I would give him one more season.

I agree with a lot of that.  Maybe one mistake he made was adding too many players who didn't have English Football experience.  Some looked good, and others not so much, but it can take time for players like that to settle, so there is a chance than some of those could make a bigger impact second season around. The one thing we need more than most is more experience.

I would give him another half a season, and if we are still struggling then make a change.

[pooligan]

Give him another half a season ? God just how bad does he have to be for you to want him gone?

[Gregorys Boy]

Give him another half a season ? God just how bad does he have to be for you to want him gone?

Because as has been said there is something to be said for stability.  Now part of that is me holding on to the hope than Lambert can still do a good job.  Also, if you think about it unless we get a top manager or sign three or four top class players we are unlikely to have fantastic first half of next season anyway.  If we are poor during that first half and make a change at christmas that manager would still have enough of the season to have an impact.  I have my doubts over if Lambert is up for the job, but am willing to give him a bit longer to prove me wrong.

[bertlambshank]

Give him another half a season ? God just how bad does he have to be for you to want him gone?

Because as has been said there is something to be said for stability.  Now part of that is me holding on to the hope than Lambert can still do a good job.  Also, if you think about it unless we get a top manager or sign three or four top class players we are unlikely to have fantastic first half of next season anyway.  If we are poor during that first half and make a change at christmas that manager would still have enough of the season to have an impact.  I have my doubts over if Lambert is up for the job, but am willing to give him a bit longer to prove me wrong.

What a waste of a season that would be.

[SamTheMouse]

I like the guy and there's no doubt he was dealt a particularly shitty hand by a combination of fate and Lerner's financial restrictions, but if I'm honest, I'm not at all confident he'd produce the goods if he was given a much more substantial budget. There are serious question marks over his tactical prowess and ability to stamp his authority on the team (and on his backroom staff, for that matter). I think a fresh start for everyone would be best.

[Chris Smith]

Give him another half a season ? God just how bad does he have to be for you to want him gone?

Because as has been said there is something to be said for stability.  Now part of that is me holding on to the hope than Lambert can still do a good job.  Also, if you think about it unless we get a top manager or sign three or four top class players we are unlikely to have fantastic first half of next season anyway.  If we are poor during that first half and make a change at christmas that manager would still have enough of the season to have an impact.  I have my doubts over if Lambert is up for the job, but am willing to give him a bit longer to prove me wrong.

What a waste of a season that would be.

I can see why people are calling for a clear out but, given that regularly changing the manager has seen us spend most of the last 4 seasons with the threat of relegation hanging over, us there is something to be said for a different approach and trying to see what a bit of continuity coupled with the right backing can give.

[tomd2103]

Give him another half a season ? God just how bad does he have to be for you to want him gone?

Because as has been said there is something to be said for stability.  Now part of that is me holding on to the hope than Lambert can still do a good job.  Also, if you think about it unless we get a top manager or sign three or four top class players we are unlikely to have fantastic first half of next season anyway.  If we are poor during that first half and make a change at christmas that manager would still have enough of the season to have an impact.  I have my doubts over if Lambert is up for the job, but am willing to give him a bit longer to prove me wrong.

Sorry, but I just can't agree with that.  The results in the league and cups have been bad enough, but the fact that the Culverhouse and Karsa issue went on so long is inexcusable. 

[Gregorys Boy]

Give him another half a season ? God just how bad does he have to be for you to want him gone?

Because as has been said there is something to be said for stability.  Now part of that is me holding on to the hope than Lambert can still do a good job.  Also, if you think about it unless we get a top manager or sign three or four top class players we are unlikely to have fantastic first half of next season anyway.  If we are poor during that first half and make a change at christmas that manager would still have enough of the season to have an impact.  I have my doubts over if Lambert is up for the job, but am willing to give him a bit longer to prove me wrong.

What a waste of a season that would be.

It may well be.  I just think there are certain things which point to Lambert being a bit unlucky such as injuries to key players, and that there have been a lot of changes to the squad with players who are either inexperience or players which don't have experience in this country.  But the likes of Bacuna and Kozak have shown promise.  If we make a few good signings, and keep Bentake fit then we could still have a good season next time.

[Louzie0]

I want to give Paul Lambert another chance as well.
The only trouble is, he really needs the chance to sign key experienced players and not be cut off at the knees when offering wages so that they can come to the club and make the difference over a season.

If he has the same constraints as were in place before, especially this January, then he is on a loser and so is anybody else in his position.

I am going totally on there being no new owner, partner or influx of millions from any other kind of deal, apart from Randy who must see that his manager needs some support and cold hard cash for the club to survive.

Untold new millions from a new owner to spend would be great. However, realistic financial backing for PL would be great, as well, since he hasn't had it.

Agree with everybody else that for Randy to persist with the manager and hobble him with the cost cutting for a third season will send our club and his investment down. Probably on a journey to the Conference.  It would probably finish PL off as well, which wouldn't be fair. He has done his best.