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

[Meanwood Villa]

He doesn't deserve to keep his job whichever way you look at it. We all wanted him to do well but let's face it, for the vast majority of his time in charge we have been really poor. 79 points in 2 seasons is an appalling return.

[caster troy]

If we're stupid enough to give Lambert another season we deserve everything we get, which will be 28k attendances, early cup exits and relegation.

[Tom_Mc9?]

I think you may be right - I think the writing is on the wall for him regarding his job. However, I think that there is a good manager in there - the time he had at Norwich and the glimpses we have seen during his time at Villa show this. Two things make me want to keep him on:
1/. I don't think that this mess is nearly all his fault.
2/. I think people can have times that they don't do as well as they are capable in their job. Football is an unforgiving job, but in cases like Moyes at Everton, it can improve.
I don't think that many agree with me, but just my two pennies.

[Gregorys Boy]

True about the manor of the defeats, the second half of the season has been as bad as it has been for awhile at Villa.

[hilts_coolerking]

Fair enough, but even if we do change the manager, is the investment going to change? Also, we'll still be stuck with the dross he's signed if a promising manager gets appointed.

This isn't me saying that we should stick with Lambert either - but where do we turn to from here? I'm pessimistic about a takeover, too.

If we do get taken over then we'll almost certainly be able to attract a better quality manager than we currently have.  If we don't get taken over then, in a way, it's even more vital for us to get a better quality manager.

[Stu]

Fair enough, but even if we do change the manager, is the investment going to change? Also, we'll still be stuck with the dross he's signed if a promising manager gets appointed.

This isn't me saying that we should stick with Lambert either - but where do we turn to from here? I'm pessimistic about a takeover, too.

If we do get taken over then we'll almost certainly be able to attract a better quality manager than we currently have.  If we don't get taken over then, in a way, it's even more vital for us to get a better quality manager.

Agree with your first point - despite my misgivings about everything (and I want to be proved wrong). Second point; I don't have the confidence that this board will appoint the correct man. And I wanted Lambert, so what do I know?

[Brian Taylor]

Brendan Rodgers singing 'You'll never walk alone' at start of their game today...where did we go wrong?

[Louzie0]

Brendan Rodgers singing 'You'll never walk alone' at start of their game today...where did we go wrong?

We could have been more clued into musical theatre.

'One, singular sensation...'

[peter w]

I really am torn. I'd like him to do well for the reasons mentioned already but our Cup exits have seen us humiliated and really we were 2nd best in 3 games against Bradford, Sheff U, and Millwall. On top of that some of the football has been dreadful. But, all in all we had improved on last season and despite the dreadful stuff we were occasionally capable of excellence. The fact that we are the only Premier League team to take points of all of the top 4 shows that we are a capable team. But the youth, lack of experience, and some players that just aren't good enough has seen that happen all to infrequently.

But what has happened since Chelsea has been completely baffling. Shipping 4 goals at home to Stoke 1 week after Chelsea was unbelievable. Since then we've shipped 4 at Man U, Man C, and at Swansea, whilst also losing to the then bottom team has been horrific to watch. Last season when we were in all manner of trouble Lambert was upbeat at every interview and was always saying that we'd be fine. I'm sure we were because he instilled confidence in the team, and eventually the supporters.

There was a different vibe then which obviously was as a result of us winning games, and important ones, as the season was ending. But this season I never got the impression that Lambert had the same belief as last season. He just looked extremely tired and beaten. Ever since the Chelsea game. Whatever has gone on behind the scenes seems to have been like a hand grenade being thrown into a small room and then for the door to be locked to ensure no escape.

It's been horrible to view because we're seeing the focal point of a club, the playing side, and whatever has gone on has affected them. So, I think the tipping point has been this terrible run. Had we beaten Fulham though, and finished of Cardiff away, we'd be sitting in 12th on 43 points. I don't think Lambert's head would be called for. Well at least not by the vast majority. Such are the small lines between 'success' and failure.

So, should he go? I change my mind every few minutes. But something has to change otherwise we'll be leaving the Premiership very soon and no one would miss us. For me Lambert is a small part of the bigger problem which is club policy and politics. That needs to be sorted for me first and foremost.

[Jarpie]

I really am torn. I'd like him to do well for the reasons mentioned already but our Cup exits have seen us humiliated and really we were 2nd best in 3 games against Bradford, Sheff U, and Millwall. On top of that some of the football has been dreadful. But, all in all we had improved on last season and despite the dreadful stuff we were occasionally capable of excellence. The fact that we are the only Premier League team to take points of all of the top 4 shows that we are a capable team. But the youth, lack of experience, and some players that just aren't good enough has seen that happen all to infrequently.

But what has happened since Chelsea has been completely baffling. Shipping 4 goals at home to Stoke 1 week after Chelsea was unbelievable. Since then we've shipped 4 at Man U, Man C, and at Swansea, whilst also losing to the then bottom team has been horrific to watch. Last season when we were in all manner of trouble Lambert was upbeat at every interview and was always saying that we'd be fine. I'm sure we were because he instilled confidence in the team, and eventually the supporters.

There was a different vibe then which obviously was as a result of us winning games, and important ones, as the season was ending. But this season I never got the impression that Lambert had the same belief as last season. He just looked extremely tired and beaten. Ever since the Chelsea game. Whatever has gone on behind the scenes seems to have been like a hand grenade being thrown into a small room and then for the door to be locked to ensure no escape.

It's been horrible to view because we're seeing the focal point of a club, the playing side, and whatever has gone on has affected them. So, I think the tipping point has been this terrible run. Had we beaten Fulham though, and finished of Cardiff away, we'd be sitting in 12th on 43 points. I don't think Lambert's head would be called for. Well at least not by the vast majority. Such are the small lines between 'success' and failure.

So, should he go? I change my mind every few minutes. But something has to change otherwise we'll be leaving the Premiership very soon and no one would miss us. For me Lambert is a small part of the bigger problem which is club policy and politics. That needs to be sorted for me first and foremost.

Something must have happened between Chelski and Stoke games, and ever since the players have looked disinterested and unmotivated par the Hull game in which they played best since Chelski. For me it at least partially looks like players have played so shit partly on purpose, and played properly against Hull so that we wouldn't get relegated.

IMO Lambert needs to go for several reasons, one of them is that he's IMO clearly lost the players.

[Louzie0]

I really am torn. I'd like him to do well for the reasons mentioned already.....

So, should he go? I change my mind every few minutes. But something has to change otherwise we'll be leaving the Premiership very soon and no one would miss us. For me Lambert is a small part of the bigger problem which is club policy and politics. That needs to be sorted for me first and foremost.

I agree with this post in entirety. UTV, Peter w.

[Mister E]

Brendan Rodgers singing 'You'll never walk alone' at start of their game today...where did we go wrong?

We could have been more clued into musical theatre.

'One, singular sensation...'

More like "Les Miserables"

[garyshawsknee]

Well said Peter. Can't disagree with any of what you wrote.

[Louzie0]

Brendan Rodgers singing 'You'll never walk alone' at start of their game today...where did we go wrong?

We could have been more clued into musical theatre.

'One, singular sensation...'

More like "Les Miserables"

'Do you hear the people sing?'

[Mister E]

Something must have happened between Chelski and Stoke games, and ever since the players have looked disinterested and unmotivated par the Hull game in which they played best since Chelski. For me it at least partially looks like players have played so shit partly on purpose, and played properly against Hull so that we wouldn't get relegated.

IMO Lambert needs to go for several reasons, one of them is that he's IMO clearly lost the players.

I don't think the players can simply turn it off and on at will.
I do agree that he appears to have lost the goodwill of the players and his inability to motivate them was no better demonstrated than today.

He's a dead man walking, I think, as far as Villa is concerned.