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

[supertom]

Can't recall Lambert ever dropping Westwood, he loves him for some reason.

Because he's been one of our most consistent players for a good few years now and he plays a crucial part in the game.

I don't see it to be honest. I think now that TC is here we've got another player who does exactly the same thing, only slightly better. I'm also not convinced Westwood has enough about him at this level.
He's a consistent 5-6 out of ten most weeks for me. Granted that puts him above a lot in our squad, some of whom will produce the odd mind numbing 3-4/10. I suppose mediocre is better than being mostly shit, but the reality is we need better.

[gpbarr]

And how angry you are he won.

Roll on Sunday and Sandwell away.

Your half right  (for once).

I'm delighted we won. I'm angry we still have to put up with this useless  manager.

Is the correct answer....papered over the cracks. 

Hope Westley is right and the excuses made for Lamberts ineptness are proved correct because if we get to March and have to sack him the real damage will have been done....now was the time to act, get him gone, get a new coach who actually does want to pass the ball, doesn't just pick his favourites week on week irrespective of form (Westwood / Gabby / Weimman etc) and recognises that having a wide option in the squad is not against the rules.

The last couple of games have been a quandary, this club needs invigorating, it isn't going to be sold so the only way to do this is improve the fayre on the field....I'm in the camp that he cannot and will not do that, he'll grind out the odd result like last night but he does not have the capacity to change the mentality so it will roll along dull, frantic, pointless and boring...hence wanting him gone!  I make no apology for that, he has had 2.5 years and we haven't improved, time to let someone else have a go!

Sacking Lambert would actually be papering over the cracks too. The clubs problems right now go way, way deeper than a struggling manager

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Can't recall Lambert ever dropping Westwood, he loves him for some reason.

Because he's been one of our most consistent players for a good few years now and he plays a crucial part in the game.

I don't see it to be honest. I think now that TC is here we've got another player who does exactly the same thing, only slightly better. I'm also not convinced Westwood has enough about him at this level.
He's a consistent 5-6 out of ten most weeks for me. Granted that puts him above a lot in our squad, some of whom will produce the odd mind numbing 3-4/10. I suppose mediocre is better than being mostly shit, but the reality is we need better.

Agree with that. His corners are awful too.

[mattjpa]

I've enjoyed the playing style

This needs repeating time and again.

You have actually "enjoyed" Paul  Lambert's playing style??

Look. I'm all for people having their own opinions and at no time have I jumped in to slag you off for your all encompassing love of Paul, and I can see where you are coming from vis-a-vis our injuries and getting the most out of a fairly poor squad.
But it really stretches the imagination to think that anyone has actually "enjoyed" our playing style over the past two seasons!

Yes that does seem very odd.

Most peculiar indeed.

Maybe its how weve taken 16points from a whopping 34 shots all season and a massive 8 goals that he really loves?

[passitsideways]

Can't recall Lambert ever dropping Westwood, he loves him for some reason.

Because he's been one of our most consistent players for a good few years now and he plays a crucial part in the game.

I don't see it to be honest. I think now that TC is here we've got another player who does exactly the same thing, only slightly better. I'm also not convinced Westwood has enough about him at this level.
He's a consistent 5-6 out of ten most weeks for me. Granted that puts him above a lot in our squad, some of whom will produce the odd mind numbing 3-4/10. I suppose mediocre is better than being mostly shit, but the reality is we need better.

He's hardly been put in the position to show anything more than mediocrity though, given that he's deployed to basically run his arse off and afforded little opportunity to try anything else. Remember the assist he provided for Gabby's winner at Norwich a couple of seasons ago? That was something which required vision and genuine quality on the ball - but since then, he's barely had an opportunity to make a pass like that.

The same probably would apply to Cleverley

[supertom]

Can't recall Lambert ever dropping Westwood, he loves him for some reason.

Because he's been one of our most consistent players for a good few years now and he plays a crucial part in the game.

I don't see it to be honest. I think now that TC is here we've got another player who does exactly the same thing, only slightly better. I'm also not convinced Westwood has enough about him at this level.
He's a consistent 5-6 out of ten most weeks for me. Granted that puts him above a lot in our squad, some of whom will produce the odd mind numbing 3-4/10. I suppose mediocre is better than being mostly shit, but the reality is we need better.

Agree with that. His corners are awful too.

His set piece delivery is one of my pet hates. It's not quite up there with our throw-ins, but it's toward the top.

[supertom]

Can't recall Lambert ever dropping Westwood, he loves him for some reason.

Because he's been one of our most consistent players for a good few years now and he plays a crucial part in the game.

I don't see it to be honest. I think now that TC is here we've got another player who does exactly the same thing, only slightly better. I'm also not convinced Westwood has enough about him at this level.
He's a consistent 5-6 out of ten most weeks for me. Granted that puts him above a lot in our squad, some of whom will produce the odd mind numbing 3-4/10. I suppose mediocre is better than being mostly shit, but the reality is we need better.

He's hardly been put in the position to show anything more than mediocrity though, given that he's deployed to basically run his arse off and afforded little opportunity to try anything else. Remember the assist he provided for Gabby's winner at Norwich a couple of seasons ago? That was something which required vision and genuine quality on the ball - but since then, he's barely had an opportunity to make a pass like that.

The same probably would apply to Cleverley

In his first season he had a lot of promise and he got something like 6 assists which isn't too shabby. He's not really kicked on since then. I do agree a bit part of that lays at the managers feet. He's not quite mobile enough or skilful enough to be deployed higher up, and he's not tough enough to be a better deep lying player for me.
I think he's a Premiership squaddie at best, not a week in, week out sort of player. But we're playing too many squad level players at the moment.

[tomd2103]

Can't recall Lambert ever dropping Westwood, he loves him for some reason.

Because he's been one of our most consistent players for a good few years now and he plays a crucial part in the game.

I don't see it to be honest. I think now that TC is here we've got another player who does exactly the same thing, only slightly better. I'm also not convinced Westwood has enough about him at this level.
He's a consistent 5-6 out of ten most weeks for me. Granted that puts him above a lot in our squad, some of whom will produce the odd mind numbing 3-4/10. I suppose mediocre is better than being mostly shit, but the reality is we need better.

My main concern with Ashley Westwood has always been his lack of physicality and athleticism at the top level.  In possesion he is mostly fine, but his lack of mobility and tenacity hampers us a bit as he can only really play the holding role in a three man midfield.  In contrast, Sanchez has got the physical and athletic attributes, but has looked decidedly sketchy on the ball so far (hopefully that will improve with time).

People criticise AW for never passing forward, but when he picks the ball up in deeper midfield positions, he often has very little in front of him to pick out.  I think a genuine number ten playing in front of him would help with that and I think he has got the ability to pick those passes.  Some better players around and he would be fine for the level we are currently at, but I think if we do have any designs of moving forward in the future then we may need better.       

[passitsideways]

Can't recall Lambert ever dropping Westwood, he loves him for some reason.

Because he's been one of our most consistent players for a good few years now and he plays a crucial part in the game.

I don't see it to be honest. I think now that TC is here we've got another player who does exactly the same thing, only slightly better. I'm also not convinced Westwood has enough about him at this level.
He's a consistent 5-6 out of ten most weeks for me. Granted that puts him above a lot in our squad, some of whom will produce the odd mind numbing 3-4/10. I suppose mediocre is better than being mostly shit, but the reality is we need better.

He's hardly been put in the position to show anything more than mediocrity though, given that he's deployed to basically run his arse off and afforded little opportunity to try anything else. Remember the assist he provided for Gabby's winner at Norwich a couple of seasons ago? That was something which required vision and genuine quality on the ball - but since then, he's barely had an opportunity to make a pass like that.

The same probably would apply to Cleverley

In his first season he had a lot of promise and he got something like 6 assists which isn't too shabby. He's not really kicked on since then. I do agree a bit part of that lays at the managers feet. He's not quite mobile enough or skilful enough to be deployed higher up, and he's not tough enough to be a better deep lying player for me.
I think he's a Premiership squaddie at best, not a week in, week out sort of player. But we're playing too many squad level players at the moment.

I think he's got enough in him to be a James McCarthy or Joe Allen sort of player i.e. midfielders who are handy squad options for teams contending for Europe, and thus good enough to start every week for teams who are below that level of ambition - although I suppose both of those are more mobile. I just think we're so far off even that level that I'm not too bothered at this stage to finger him as an area we should particularly look to upgrade on - in the sense that I reckon the money it would take to get that desired upgrade is probably enough to get the attacking mid or winger who we really genuinely need right now. I honestly do think a half-decent manager with the right system can make him into a player good enough to start every game for a 10th-placed side; which is what we realistically can hope for at this stage.

[Chipsticks]

Can't recall Lambert ever dropping Westwood, he loves him for some reason.

Because he's been one of our most consistent players for a good few years now and he plays a crucial part in the game.

I don't see it to be honest. I think now that TC is here we've got another player who does exactly the same thing, only slightly better. I'm also not convinced Westwood has enough about him at this level.
He's a consistent 5-6 out of ten most weeks for me. Granted that puts him above a lot in our squad, some of whom will produce the odd mind numbing 3-4/10. I suppose mediocre is better than being mostly shit, but the reality is we need better.

My main concern with Ashley Westwood has always been his lack of physicality and athleticism at the top level.  In possesion he is mostly fine, but his lack of mobility and tenacity hampers us a bit as he can only really play the holding role in a three man midfield.  In contrast, Sanchez has got the physical and athletic attributes, but has looked decidedly sketchy on the ball so far (hopefully that will improve with time).

People criticise AW for never passing forward, but when he picks the ball up in deeper midfield positions, he often has very little in front of him to pick out.  I think a genuine number ten playing in front of him would help with that and I think he has got the ability to pick those passes.  Some better players around and he would be fine for the level we are currently at, but I think if we do have any designs of moving forward in the future then we may need better.       

Honestly I could see him being captain in a few years time, sure he could do with bulking up physically but the way he (tries to) provide the link between defence and midfield is so important and I always notice his abscense when he's not playing.

Personally I see Cleverley as offering us something a bit different in being able to push onwards further up the pitch, whereas Westwood needs to sit deep. Only issue is that only really one of him and Sanchez can fill that position and you need to choose between strength and defending or ball retention.

I also agree strongly that having a good number 10 in front of him would bring out the best in him, I think that's why Joe Cole's here at the moment, maybe until we can find some better / younger, maybe that's what the future holds for Cleverley?

[WestleyArmsAV]

Most clean sheets away from home in the top flight this season.

UTV

[PeterWithesShin]

Most clean sheets away from home in the top flight this season.

UTV

Fewest goals in the top flight this season.

UTV

[Tom_Mc9?]

Westley, again I'm not one to have a go. I did, until recently, defend Lambert too and I still want him to succeed. However, his style is not  pleasing to the eye in any shape or form. The last game I went to and enjoyed it was probably when we battered Sunderland a year and a half ago. We should be entertained more often than not - not have it once in a blue moon.

[eamonn]

Can't recall Lambert ever dropping Westwood, he loves him for some reason.

Because he's been one of our most consistent players for a good few years now and he plays a crucial part in the game.

He only came into the team regularly two years ago.

Consistently bland and powder-puff. Rarely puts through a penetrating ball, often loses runners when tracking back, mostly is ineffective at set-pieces. Has no physical stature or a low centre of gravity to make-up for it.

He sums-up Lambert's Villa quite well - if he wasn't there no one would really notice.

[Malandro]

Can't recall Lambert ever dropping Westwood, he loves him for some reason.

Because he's been one of our most consistent players for a good few years now and he plays a crucial part in the game.

He only came into the team regularly two years ago.

Consistently bland and powder-puff. Rarely puts through a penetrating ball, often loses runners when tracking back, mostly is ineffective at set-pieces. Has no physical stature or a low centre of gravity to make-up for it.

He sums-up Lambert's Villa quite well - if he wasn't there no one would really notice.

On top of that, if one of his jobs is supposedly to do the dirty/unnoticed work in midfield, i'd say he is failing because we get overrun so often.

I don't believe that every other player in the team would be worse at free kicks and corners (well apart from our marauding left back)