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

[pauliewalnuts]

Last night wasn't lucky.

Palace put us under constant pressure, had more energy than we did and passed the ball around with more conviction, but they have nothing, absolutely nothing, up front to exploit it.

I wasn't exactly relaxed watching them pile that much pressure on, but then again, it's not as if we were making last ditch interventions to keep them out. Zaha was fucking terrible, too, which helped.

We had one or two chances and took one of them. Nothing lucky about that, either/

Where luck does come into it is that we were playing a side with so little up front. .

Three points in this case is the most important thing, but it would have been nice to have shown some signs that we were improving on the major failings we have, but we didn't.

Weimann and Gabby spent most of the game cut off from the rest of the team, we ceded possession with infuriating ease and retreated into our shell and defended (although quite well as it turned out). We took the three points, but if we carry on giving the ball away so cheaply and dropping further and further back as we did last night, and as we have done most of this season, then we are not going to have many matches where we come away with the three points
 
Just like the Liverpool win wasn't lucky, this one wasn't either, but I haven't seen anything to suggest the aftermath of this win is going to be hugely different to that after the Anfield win.

[Clampy]

Old oscott coaches did not make a detour as far as I know. We drew at in form burnley didn't we.

As far as you know? You were on the coach.

I think the point some people are making is that despite last night being a good and much needed win, we do need to play better than that and keep the ball better than we did. I don't see any problem with having that view. Last night reminded me a bit of the Liverpool game. We won there too which was great, but didn't pick up too many points after that.

[paul_e]

I don't think anyone is saying they aren't happy with the win, it was a good result, the defence played well and we scored a fantastic individual goal.  As said though it's not like we did anything different to the previous couple of games, the only difference is that Palace were woeful.

If we build on this and get 2-3 more wins then the picture changes but nothing from our performances or Lamberts record suggests we can do that.

I've said before I think the difference between challenging for a europa league place and a relegation battle is largely mental and as a squad we still look terrified, the amount of times we got into a reasonable area of the pitch, got closed down and retreated all the way back to Guzan was worrying and shows that we're still fragile.  Lambert needs to find a way to get some confidence into the team and I'm not sure he can do that.

[WestleyArmsAV]

Paul's doing a good job IMHO.

Can't wait for Sunday.

[pauliewalnuts]

I've said before I think the difference between challenging for a europa league place and a relegation battle is largely mental and as a squad we still look terrified, the amount of times we got into a reasonable area of the pitch, got closed down and retreated all the way back to Guzan was worrying and shows that we're still fragile.  Lambert needs to find a way to get some confidence into the team and I'm not sure he can do that.

I thought Sanchez looked a good example of that last night.

Technically, he's very good, I think, but when we're under real pressure and the passes start to go astray elsewhere, he seems to look terrified and make more errors than most. I don't blame him, he's not played many games in this league, and god only knows our passing goes astray with horrible regularity, but I thought it was particularly evident last night.

I agree, he needs to instil some confidence in them. I don't think this is an amazing squad, but I also don't think it is a bottom six squad, either, even taking into account injuries - the obvious ones being the centre halves, and I thought the defence did pretty well last night in any case.

I just don't really see how he is going to manage to instil that confidence into them, given that he hasn't managed to do it with any longevity in the two and a bit years he's been here.

Maybe by appointing a decent number two?

I agree with others elsewhere, Steve Clarke would be an obvious choice. I hope it is an appointment like that rather than a "promote Sid" style move.

[Chico Hamilton III]

If Palace had Benteke last night they'd have won - or if Bolasie and Zaha just staye calm at times.

And if my aunty was a man.......really, are we playing that card?

Ahem

Had we Delph , vlaar, benteke, kozak in these games we would have won

[WestleyArmsAV]

At least I'm talking about players who are legally ours.

[rob_bridge]

Westley to put this as simply as possible the biggest influence on us winning last night was that Zaha and Bolasie wasted almost every opportunity they had to get the ball in the box.  An acceptable premier league standard performance from either of them and we don't win that game.  I'm very happy we got the 3 points, they were desperately needed but lets not try to make out that we won due to some magic formula Lambert worked out, we punished a mistake ruthlessly with a moment of individual brilliance and then relied on Palace being shit up front.

Our defence held strong but even with a good performance from them Palace missed a sitter (the one that went straight across the 6yard box and got missed by 3 attackers) and wasted lots more chances than I'm comfortable with.

When we beat a team by playing well and dominating the game then you can come on and play this game but the 'I was right you're all shit' card really isn't suitable after a performance like that.  Yes it's a win and yes we're now unbeaten in 4 but it's still far from good enough.

I doubt anyone could summise the current situation any better.

[WestleyArmsAV]

God forbid we should go four games unbeaten playing teams in form, missing our key players, and conceding two goals, one a penalty.

[LeeB]

Westley might hold a different view to most, and may wind a few up with some of the digs, but I'd probably do the same if I had all and sundry tearing apart my posts, and I've been guilty myself.

Anyway, he's clearly a passionate Villa fan, so he's my brother, as you all are. Let's remember that.

[not3bad]

Westley might hold a different view to most, and may wind a few up with some of the digs, but I'd probably do the same if I had all and sundry tearing apart my posts, and I've been guilty myself.

Anyway, he's clearly a passionate Villa fan, so he's my brother, as you all are. Let's remember that.

Fair point. Let's all remember that on both sides of the argument.

[Gareth]

God forbid we should go four games unbeaten playing teams in form, missing our key players, and conceding two goals, one a penalty.

Alternatively we have led in 4 of our last 5 and only got one win :-)

I take your positives on board but can you honestly say when you think he is doing a good job that the football is good to watch?  and after 2.5 years we don't deserve better than attritional nothingness?

[sirlordbaltimore]

Was hoping today would continue last nights high and see him falling on his sword. I gather not so everything must be rosy in the garden then

[not3bad]

Was hoping today would continue last nights high and see him falling on his sword. I gather not so everything must be rosy in the garden then

Sure. We went up to 12th last night. That's practically champions league in Lerner's book.

[taylorsworkrate]

Could you imagine if we had held on v soton and burnley......without benteke, vlaar, Delph and kozak.  This site would implode.

Yes, beating Burnley. That would have been close to the pinnacle of this clubs history.