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

[Steve67]

Lambert won't be sacked because Lerner will have to change his strategy and financially back a new Manager. Lambert has shown loyalty by accepting the job, regardless of the circumstances, hence Lerner's quote about showing absolute loyalty to Aston Villa. Just a theory and I hope I am very, very wrong.

[Toronto Villa]

Does anyone else find themselves dying for the time when we'll stop hearing the word "counter attacking" used about us all the fucking time?

I've developed quite an irrational hate of counter attack because of us and how much we try and play and how shit we are at it.

[pauliewalnuts]

Does anyone else find themselves dying for the time when we'll stop hearing the word "counter attacking" used about us all the fucking time?

I've developed quite an irrational hate of counter attack because of us and how much we try and play and how shit we are at it.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with counter attacking at all - look at what a great counter attacking side Man United were under Ferguson, there's nothing wrong with it.

Where it gets irksome is when it is the *only* thing people can say about you, which is how it is with us.

And we're not even that good at it anymore.

[pauliewalnuts]

Lambert won't be sacked because Lerner will have to change his strategy and financially back a new Manager. Lambert has shown loyalty by accepting the job, regardless of the circumstances, hence Lerner's quote about showing absolute loyalty to Aston Villa. Just a theory and I hope I am very, very wrong.

Having said that, when he made that quote, he was talking about both Witless Paul Number One (Lambert) and Witless Paul Number Two (Faulkner), and look what happened to him.

[mr underhill]

maybe he got confused and sacked the wrong one?

[kippaxvilla2]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2855317/Roy-Keane-quit-Aston-Villa-row-training-ground-senior-players.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Does anyone else find themselves dying for the time when we'll stop hearing the word "counter attacking" used about us all the fucking time?

YES!

And also when pundits mention the pace we have up front because they're too lazy to do any research on us. Very annoying.

[Toronto Villa]

Does anyone else find themselves dying for the time when we'll stop hearing the word "counter attacking" used about us all the fucking time?

I've developed quite an irrational hate of counter attack because of us and how much we try and play and how shit we are at it.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with counter attacking at all - look at what a great counter attacking side Man United were under Ferguson, there's nothing wrong with it.

Where it gets irksome is when it is the *only* thing people can say about you, which is how it is with us.

And we're not even that good at it anymore.

That's my point. All tactics can be entertaining if used properly. But that's all we do. It is all we are associated with and we are completely gash at it.

[richtheholtender]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2855317/Roy-Keane-quit-Aston-Villa-row-training-ground-senior-players.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

If true, this just confirms to me we are a spent force and serious changes are needed. The players just don't have the right attitude, and haven't for years.

[tomd2103]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2855317/Roy-Keane-quit-Aston-Villa-row-training-ground-senior-players.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

If true, this just confirms to me we are a spent force and serious changes are needed. The players just don't have the right attitude, and haven't for years.

After what happened with Culverhouse and Karsa, it also raises the question of whether Lambert is ever actually present at Bodymoor Heath? 

I've looked up an interview with Garry Thompson which was written two years ago:

Graham Taylor sorted us and this Villa lot need the same, says Thompson
By Garry Thompson
Published: 23:00, 25 April 2012 | Updated: 23:00, 25 April 2012

If I had looked at the trend before I joined, I would have seen the club was on a downward slide.
After Graham Turner signed me in 1986, I walked through the door at the Bodymoor Heath training ground and Gary Shaw said: ‘Gaz, you’re two years too late.’

I’d come from Sheffield Wednesday under Howard Wilkinson where it was regimented and I immediately thought Villa was too laid back. Too many players just doing enough.
 
The writing was on the wall in pre-season. Mark Chamberlain and Lee Chapman, pals of mine at Hillsborough, came down to watch one of our warm-up matches and said: ‘Is that how you are setting up? You’re going to struggle.’

And we paid the price. For that season we weren’t good enough. We were a bad group of professionals.  I include myself in that. I didn’t score enough goals. Standards had been allowed to slip.

Villa are going down the same road now. The standard of players and performance has dropped lower and lower and that’s exactly what happened in my day. You need to  change the mindset of the whole club.

After that season, the then chairman, Doug Ellis, called a meeting with the  first-team squad and walked into the canteen with a big smile on his face. He introduced Graham Taylor, who began his reign by slaughtering the entire playing staff.

He hadn’t got around to me and I sat smirking in the corner as I watched others writhe.
He looked over and said: ‘I can’t believe I thought about buying you. You don’t score enough goals and you’re always injured.’ That wiped the smile off my face.
   
The next day when I went in, I could see Taylor and his assistant Steve Harrison waiting outside the building for me. Just as I reached the door the manager said: ‘I bet you live in a nice house. I bet it’s a big detached house on a new estate. Well done.
But what do your neighbours think when they see you drive to work?’

I replied: ‘They think, “There’s Thommo, going training”.’ Taylor shot back: ‘No, they don’t. They think: “There’s that scruffy excuse of a footballer”. Go home and put your tracksuit on. Or trousers and a shirt. You are coming here to work.’

I replied: ‘This leather jacket costs more than the entire set of clothes you are standing up in.’
And Taylor replied: ‘That may be so, but if you turn up here in that jacket again, I’m fining you two weeks’ wages. It’s up to you.’ He went through that club like a whirlwind.
To be honest, it’s what Villa need now because if the worst happens they will have to deal with the expectation of being the club everyone wants to shoot down in the Championship — and I’m not sure they have the players who can cope with that.

The fans have been good. Very supportive. But even if we stay up, what happens if we lose the opening two matches next season?

Alex McLeish is never going to get them onside. I keep hearing Villa are going to stick with the plan. What plan? Tell us.
I think we’ll nick it. We’ll stay up. But it will be by default. There are serious issues that need to be resolved, otherwise this situation will deteriorate. And, believe me, you don’t want that to happen in the Championship.

Parts of it sound depressingly familiar don't they?

 

[ChicagoLion]

Oh for someone like Taylor right now.

[supertom]

Oh for someone like Taylor right now.

Absolutely.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Don't know if this has been covered but My mate said people were fighting over Lambert at Burnley

[mr underhill]

in what way? Fighting to land the first punch, or fighting amongst themselves in respect of their differing views?

[Clampy]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2855317/Roy-Keane-quit-Aston-Villa-row-training-ground-senior-players.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

If true, this just confirms to me we are a spent force and serious changes are needed. The players just don't have the right attitude, and haven't for years.

After what happened with Culverhouse and Karsa, it also raises the question of whether Lambert is ever actually present at Bodymoor Heath? 

I've looked up an interview with Garry Thompson which was written two years ago:

Graham Taylor sorted us and this Villa lot need the same, says Thompson
By Garry Thompson
Published: 23:00, 25 April 2012 | Updated: 23:00, 25 April 2012

If I had looked at the trend before I joined, I would have seen the club was on a downward slide.
After Graham Turner signed me in 1986, I walked through the door at the Bodymoor Heath training ground and Gary Shaw said: ‘Gaz, you’re two years too late.’

I’d come from Sheffield Wednesday under Howard Wilkinson where it was regimented and I immediately thought Villa was too laid back. Too many players just doing enough.
 
The writing was on the wall in pre-season. Mark Chamberlain and Lee Chapman, pals of mine at Hillsborough, came down to watch one of our warm-up matches and said: ‘Is that how you are setting up? You’re going to struggle.’

And we paid the price. For that season we weren’t good enough. We were a bad group of professionals.  I include myself in that. I didn’t score enough goals. Standards had been allowed to slip.

Villa are going down the same road now. The standard of players and performance has dropped lower and lower and that’s exactly what happened in my day. You need to  change the mindset of the whole club.

After that season, the then chairman, Doug Ellis, called a meeting with the  first-team squad and walked into the canteen with a big smile on his face. He introduced Graham Taylor, who began his reign by slaughtering the entire playing staff.

He hadn’t got around to me and I sat smirking in the corner as I watched others writhe.
He looked over and said: ‘I can’t believe I thought about buying you. You don’t score enough goals and you’re always injured.’ That wiped the smile off my face.
   
The next day when I went in, I could see Taylor and his assistant Steve Harrison waiting outside the building for me. Just as I reached the door the manager said: ‘I bet you live in a nice house. I bet it’s a big detached house on a new estate. Well done.
But what do your neighbours think when they see you drive to work?’

I replied: ‘They think, “There’s Thommo, going training”.’ Taylor shot back: ‘No, they don’t. They think: “There’s that scruffy excuse of a footballer”. Go home and put your tracksuit on. Or trousers and a shirt. You are coming here to work.’

I replied: ‘This leather jacket costs more than the entire set of clothes you are standing up in.’
And Taylor replied: ‘That may be so, but if you turn up here in that jacket again, I’m fining you two weeks’ wages. It’s up to you.’ He went through that club like a whirlwind.
To be honest, it’s what Villa need now because if the worst happens they will have to deal with the expectation of being the club everyone wants to shoot down in the Championship — and I’m not sure they have the players who can cope with that.

The fans have been good. Very supportive. But even if we stay up, what happens if we lose the opening two matches next season?

Alex McLeish is never going to get them onside. I keep hearing Villa are going to stick with the plan. What plan? Tell us.
I think we’ll nick it. We’ll stay up. But it will be by default. There are serious issues that need to be resolved, otherwise this situation will deteriorate. And, believe me, you don’t want that to happen in the Championship.

Parts of it sound depressingly familiar don't they?

 

I wonder if manager's would get away with laying down the law like that nowadays. It was different back then, they're all  multi millionaires now. I think Sir Graham said as much after he came back second time round.