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

[rob_bridge]

Many seem to have forgotten Kozak. I think he will strengthen the side just as much as Benteke. I think our recent run of form without either of our preferred strikers is fantastic! If we continue to defend like we have been but add these two back into the squad, we'll be all right this year.

I am a fan of The Big K. A very good bench option / competition for Benteke as well.

[Toronto Villa]

He deserves to stay if he earns that right. It will take a very solid season and sustained level of improvement to warrant that. We have taken some early positive steps, but there is an awful long way to go.

[sirlordbaltimore]

He deserves to stay if he earns that right. It will take a very solid season and sustained level of improvement to warrant that. We have taken some early positive steps, but there is an awful long way to go.

This.

[robbo1874]

We've a run of games through October and November which will be a really good gauge of where we're at. Once we get this tough next four out the way, we're playing games that largely we should be expecting to take points in, and in particular, some sides we should be looking to dominate at home. Generally these games we've not done nearly well enough in under Lambert, so I think the run of games against the sort of bottom 12 sides (with Spurs to play within that too) we'll have should be an indication of how much things have (or haven't) improved.
Looking at our fixtures I think we've a good chance of getting a massive way toward guaranteed safety before the year is out. Get to 25-30 points by the beginning of next year, and we're in fantastic shape. Given our start, and the impending return of Mr Benteke, that's not out of the realms of possibility.

didn't see the Newcastle game, but we dominated hull and have 4 pts from 2 games at home. Very positive.

[eamonn]

He deserves to stay if he earns that right. It will take a very solid season and sustained level of improvement to warrant that. We have taken some early positive steps, but there is an awful long way to go.

Ah, he'll win you round, being the glass three-quarters full guy that y'are 

[Monty]

At this rate, he deserves to be given a chance if/when the new owners come in. However, a good manager at one level isn't necessarily a good manager at another, and I think the club should be careful, if it gets another shot at the top, not to waste it like last time out of cuddly loyalty.

[Ger Regan]

That's a very fair point. He Who Shall Not Be Named was probably perfect for us when he originally joined, but hit a glass ceiling when we were really looking to progress.

[Toronto Villa]

He deserves to stay if he earns that right. It will take a very solid season and sustained level of improvement to warrant that. We have taken some early positive steps, but there is an awful long way to go.

Ah, he'll win you round, being the glass three-quarters full guy that y'are 

Oh I'm willing to give him a chance, just like everyone else on here to varying degrees. I thought he was gone for sure after last year, but as a result of the circumstances surrounding the club he's still here. So credit to him for being professional and emerging from that with renewed energy and making some very astute moves to improve the club quite considerably. He could have just taken the money, but he hasn't and has looked at this as a new opportunity to make something of his career. Even if he gets fired his attitude will hold him in good stead for future jobs. So now he's here I hope he is as successful as I hoped he would be when he first arrived.

[LeeB]

I thought he was absolutely the right fit for us and still do but I thought he was a dead man walking at the end of last season.

So, he gets even more credit for me in how he's handled the task in front of him.

I like him, I think he's honest and he has balls, and I think he's tactically better than he's given credit for, something we'll hopefully see more of as we now seem to have some capable players.

He seems to genuinely give a shit as well, which is a rare and valued thing these days.

[john e]

I reckon a new deal was probably thrashed out in principle in that underground car park at the New York resteraunt

[Toronto Villa]

I thought he was absolutely the right fit for us and still do but I thought he was a dead man walking at the end of last season.

So, he gets even more credit for me in how he's handled the task in front of him.

I like him, I think he's honest and he has balls, and I think he's tactically better than he's given credit for, something we'll hopefully see more of as we now seem to have some capable players.

He seems to genuinely give a shit as well, which is a rare and valued thing these days.

Having more experienced players has certainly helped. There is definitely a side to the story that hasn't been told yet regarding the youth movement and exactly who's idea that was. Personally I think he toed the party line, never threw his bosses under the bus and has take the great majority of the criticism for how it all panned out. He just seems so much more comfortable with having a greater percentage of mature players to work with, and the fact the likes of Hutton, Bent, Given have come back in the manner they have suggests they also knew what was going on and Lambert's role in all that went on. Not in the least saying the slate is clean because he did make mistakes and the alarming collapse of last season has to lie at his door, but he wasn't dealt the best hand to help fix it.

I completely agree with your last sentence. I think he realises what he has, what a great club he is at, and how privileged and proud he is to be at Aston Villa. I think he gets it and wants to be a huge success and get us back to proper position within the game.

[Brend'Watkins]

I reckon a new deal was probably thrashed out in principle in that underground car park at the New York resteraunt

Oh no doubt. They would have almost certainly twigged the hoax phone call and retreated to the bunker post haste.

[Tony Erdington]

That's a very fair point. He Who Shall Not Be Named was probably perfect for us when he originally joined, but hit a glass ceiling when we were really looking to progress.

I didnt know He who shell not be named like wearing stiletoes and tights (explain: i thought the glass ceiling implied a "woman" had gone as high managerially as she could, yawn)

[Concrete John]

There is definitely a side to the story that hasn't been told yet regarding the youth movement and exactly who's idea that was.

This is my feelings on it also.  He had a remit to build around youth with a manageable wage bill, which he did.  I'd argue we were going in the right direction until the Chelsea game last season, after which we fell apart.  But now the club's up for sale, I think his job description has changed to simply 'keep us up', giving him a freer hand.  So this is possibly more like HIS side now, still with that youth element, but also astute signings like Senderos and getting the best out of Hutton.

He did make mistakes over the last two years, but also got some things right.  I think we have a good manager on our hands.

[Dante Lavelli]

It's easy to say the yoof project did not work, but in many ways we're seeing some benefits now as the younger players are now in their third season and consequently more street wise.  To a greater/lesser extent the young players which have benefited include the likes of Westwood/Baker/Clark/Benteke/Weimann/Guzan, basically a good chunk of the squad.  Furthermore the lower wages they're on will hopefully allow us to sign more players in the future rather than being handstrung by the wages that established players demand.