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

[dicedlam]

The jury is still way, way out there for me on Lambert. Four games in is no barometer to judge the merits of awarding him a new contract.

Happy with the start, but too many previous feck ups to have full confidence in him going forward.

[themossman]

I'm just glad we have a sense of stability again. Really not a fan of the keep lambert on his toes till Christmas school of thought. That's a sure fire way to end up with a manager who doesn't know his own mind and with no authority over the players.

[Toronto Villa]

Maybe the storm clouds really are clearing and Randy is rewarding his loyalty through all of the BS over the past two years. I can't imagine anyone would have signed up for the intense cost cutting that went on so you have to think Lambert isn't signing up for more of the same. The optimist in me is looking at this, along with the arrival of an established executive with the hope that this signals the end of a really volatile period in our recent history and we can return to being a competitive PL football club looking to more than just exist.

[silhillvilla]

A sure sign Randy has taken the club off the market. Heads down let's kick on.

[damon loves JT]

We're basically two single forty year-olds settling for something, because the alternative is even less palatable.

Ha ha, that's about right.

On the bright side, TBAR will be in meltdown.

Oh God, I'd forgotten about those drama queens.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Further proof Lerner hasn't got a clue how to run a football club. Giving Lambert a 4 year contract after 5 games is madness, especially considering one of those games was a defeat at home to a League One side.

[PeterWithe]

Blimey..

I wonder what he'd have needed to do to get the sack, unveiled by the Daily Mail as Jack the Ripper?

[steamer]

Last year I vacillated between sack him or keep him.
I made my mind up, sack him.
Now, again I am undecided, strategy in team selection and transfers has changed. A couple of old hands in the team, couple of youngsters stepping up and Kean coming in, maybe it can get better as first games show.
I am not fooled by a "Spring start" but it is certainly better in many areas than last year.
Agree with other poster, new owners (dream ?) fire him, bring in new guy. Unless we are going to throw Utd/Chelsea/city type money at it perhaps we should give, Mumbles a chance.
I reserve the right to completely change my mind at the end of October

[Marlon's Hairy Wood]

Blimey..

I wonder what he'd have needed to do to get the sack, unveiled by the Daily Mail as Jack the Ripper?

Not managing to keep us in the league would have probably done it

[mike]

Fuck me.

[PeterWithe]

Fuck me.

Indeed, there is little more to be said.

[KevinGage]

Four years, eh? 

If we remain unbeaten in October, lets extend it to a ten year contract. 

As per the Hutton deal, this seems excessive.  Lets hope there are a number of breaks in the contract that ensure we won't take too much of a hit if we need to part ways anytime between now and the end of the deal.

[peter w]

Only reason I mentioned what the fans think is because you raised the PR perspective (Dave). I genuinely don't think they're even remotely bothered about the opinions of the fans.

My argument is that a new four year deal as a reward for achievement when that achievement consists of two abysmal seasons followed by four decent league games and a humiliating cup exit strikes me as a bit over the top, to say the least.

I don't want the bloke to be sacked, what's the point, we've got low expectations and low investment which is always going to be a problem, but at the same time, to read people going on about how we're doing brilliantly given the few games we've played so far is pretty amusing.

Like i said, four league games and a cup game, that's all we've played. It'd be equally stupid to sack him on the basis of four games, too, FWIW.

If Lerner had replaced him at the end of the season we would have been in the position of looking for an owner, a new manager, a new CEO and some new players. That would have been too deep a hole to be digging ourselves especially in a World Cup year when there's even less time to get replacements. plus what message other than total shambles is that giving out?

As it is I think Lerner realises that he asked Lambert to do his job with one arm tied behind his back financially and actually backs him.

I'm not sure when he decided to offer Lambert a contract. maybe it was during the summer but maybe Lambert wanted to wait. As it is this is a good time to announce it. better than in the summer, and better than in 4 games time where the feel good factor may have totally  disappeared.

[OCD]

We seem to be taking the Everton/Moyes approach of sustained development with presumed incremental progress. It might not be the exciting solution that some wish for but it sure beats the strategy of our competitors for the mid-table positions where they wander aimlessly between managerial appointments. Take Albion as an example. Their only benchmark for success seems to be finishing above us and routinely appoint unproven managers. You can bet Irvine will be gone before Christmas.

[loughborough villain]

When Lambert was appointed I said to my mate who I travel with that if we was still here in three years we would be in a better place than when he joined us. I am not sure that he deserves a new four year deal but can only assume that in giving him this deal the club is sending out a really positive message that there is a plan in place to move forwards.

Personally I think this is possibly essential when asking players to commit to long term contracts so in reality it gives a lot more credibility in any contract negotiations with players like Delph, Vlaar and Grealish. I would also reckon that a club in the top half is far more attractive as a purchase so it probably works both ways.

In summary it is a surprising scenario at this stage of the season but in all honesty possibly a better one than having just sacked him because we had lost our first five matches so thumbs up from me!!