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

[PaulWinch again]

I'm sorry, but it is absolutely staggering that he's still in the job. It's not like we play great football and get bad results, or play bad football and get great results. We play terrible football and get terrible results. That isn't a recent thing either it has been the case for  nearly all of Lambert's reign. The attendance last night showed that it is really starting to hurt the club. Lerner must act enough is enough.

[Dave]

I'd have Cole and Sanchez sitting deep.  With Cleverley and possibly at the top of the midfield. 

Surely it's got to be an improvement.

I sort of understand what you are saying, but I think that playing Joe Cole as a defensive midfielder is possibly the only thing that he could have done worse than bringing on Bent to relieve the pressure on the defence.

[OzVilla]

Cole might at least have kept the ball though, given us some composure and provided a shield for the defensive unit.

We totally gave up possession late on and were just hanging on. Grealish or Cole would have been preferable to Bent in that situation.

Can't really see what the thinking was at all bringing on Darren Bent.

[aj2k77]

I would have brought Grealish on. Our only home win this season saw Grealish come on and his runs and the subsequent fouls completely broke the game up and wasted time. We haven't bothered trying it again from winning positions and have thrown 2 games away in the last 15 minutes.

[Drummond]

My poor wife endured that with me last night. She's a Sheffield United fan.

Her words, 'you're shit, it's just like watching the Blades, awful'.

I couldn't disagree.

[Holte L2]

Cole might at least have kept the ball though, given us some composure and provided a shield for the defensive unit.

We totally gave up possession late on and were just hanging on. Grealish or Cole would have been preferable to Bent in that situation.

Can't really see what the thinking was at all bringing on Darren Bent.

That's why I'd have played him.  We treat a football as if it's a bomb waiting to explode.

We're desperate for someone to put their foot on it, pick out an easy pass and shore it down.

Cole with his experience, along side Sanchez could be capable of that.

I'd be tempted to stat with a narrow four against Burnley of

        Cole  Sanchez
             
 Cleverley        Richardson

If it doesn't work then so be it.  But we're crying out for leadership and composure in midfield.

[Holte L2]

I would have brought Grealish on. Our only home win this season saw Grealish come on and his runs and the subsequent fouls completely broke the game up and wasted time. We haven't bothered trying it again from winning positions and have thrown 2 games away in the last 15 minutes.

He also played Leyton Orient where he didn't do much, and against Arsenal where he looked out of his depth.  He looked lively when he came on at Stoke mind.

Personally, I don't think he's ready to be thrown in yet. Hope I'm wrong though.

[aj2k77]

Against Arsenal he came on with us 3-0 down and completely out of the game. I'd be looking for him to help protect a late lead, not inspire a comeback against one of the best midfields in the country and a Champions League team.

[rob_bridge]

Lambert 4-1 for next to be sacked. Joint with Appy Arry.

[Holte L2]

Against Arsenal he came on with us 3-0 down and completely out of the game. I'd be looking for him to help protect a late lead, not inspire a comeback against one of the best midfields in the country and a Champions League team.

Yep good point.  He did the same at Stoke too. 

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Few thoughts on Lambert:

There was a moment last night when we tried to play out from the back. As soon as the ball went out of play, Lambert got up and instructed Okore to go long. Depressing tactics even when Benteke is up there, the fact that Agbonlahor was the target makes it worse.

He blamed injuries after the game. I knew he would.

As mentioned, Sanchez for Bent was ridiculous. Possibly the worst substitution I can remember a Villa manager making.

[Ads]

I can't think of the worse sub ever made, but I can think of NRC going off for Pires as being a pretty poor one. To lose at the Shrine. For shame.

[aj2k77]

The entire midfield off, anyone who's ever scored a goal on combination against Bradford was his defining moment for substitutions for me. Will never be beaten.

[Toronto Villa]

Joe Cole is the answer if the plan is to get a bit slower than we already are in midfield.

[Boz]

Football management is a results driven job. It beggars belief Villa have the worst manager in the Premier League and he has a new 4 year contract when at best it should have been a one year rolling with a bonus as and when results deserve it. On current form and all the worst Villa records Lambert has set, he must owe the club around £2m at least.

If Lerner can't see the writing on the wall after last night's 25,000 crowd, he will be lucky to find anyone willing to buy the club except at a rock bottom price. After my first visit to B6 just after the war, it's a sad to now see the club sinking each year to lower and lower depths for the lack of energetic management off and on the pitch.