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

[Tom_Mc9?]

When we played against Arsenal, Cleverley was taking free kicks and corners and seemed to be better than Westwood. Next game Westwood was back on them.

[tomd2103]

When we played against Arsenal, Cleverley was taking free kicks and corners and seemed to be better than Westwood. Next game Westwood was back on them.

Yeah, it's a strange one.  Cleverley whipped some good balls in from set pieces against Arsenal, yet was taken off them when Westwood returned. 

[ciggiesnbeer]

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)

I am afraid I agree. Unfortunately though we are light on midfielders so Westwood is going to remain a starter for sometime.

Lambert does absolutely love him though, so he must have one hell of a great attitude.

[aj2k77]

In a good midfield he would get a lot of praise, but he's another one of these bits and pieces players. Doesn't tackle, isn't physical, doesn't score many, doesn't create many, doesn't move the ball forward quickly, has a poor set piece. He's ok at ball retention and for us to start controlling more games he'd need replacing. Just doesn't influence matches enough.

[baddowvillans]

I find a real disconnect with what I instinctively feel and see and the logic I apply when I look at the table.

Watching the way (singular) we set up the team, the way we react to taking the lead, the same mistakes week on week and the baffling substitutions I just can't see how this manager can possibly turn things around - EVER!

On the other hand - and with that overwhelming feeling of how awful we are - when I see us above a stoke team who have been well praised, 2 points behind Everton and only 4 behind Spuds, Liverpool etc and another 7 clubs below us I can't help believe that so much of the reason media focus and feeding frenzy is unfair.  Will we see the same free fall headlines about Southampton when they pick up meagre points from their run of "big" games

And yet can I defend lambert?

[gpbarr]

I find a real disconnect with what I instinctively feel and see and the logic I apply when I look at the table.

Watching the way (singular) we set up the team, the way we react to taking the lead, the same mistakes week on week and the baffling substitutions I just can't see how this manager can possibly turn things around - EVER!

On the other hand - and with that overwhelming feeling of how awful we are - when I see us above a stoke team who have been well praised, 2 points behind Everton and only 4 behind Spuds, Liverpool etc and another 7 clubs below us I can't help believe that so much of the reason media focus and feeding frenzy is unfair.  Will we see the same free fall headlines about Southampton when they pick up meagre points from their run of "big" games

And yet can I defend lambert?

The table never lies. Unattractive it is, but the fanaticism with 'his' playing style can't be confused with the results.

With the exception of WH and Southampton, the table looks 'right' to me in that it's by and large reflective the spending power of each club. And therein lies the tale that won't go away whether Lambert or any other sacrificial lamb is in charge

[Sexual Ealing]

That is a very good point.

[Mister E]

The table never lies. Unattractive it is, but the fanaticism with 'his' playing style can't be confused with the results.

With the exception of WH and Southampton, the table looks 'right' to me in that it's by and large reflective the spending power of each club. And therein lies the tale that won't go away whether Lambert or any other sacrificial lamb is in charge

The table gives us a relative view of our performance; that's true.
However, the link to spend is only relevant as long as you believe that each manager is making best use of their funds. Sourhampton and Wet Spam demonstrate currently that managerial effectiveness and the absence of injuries, amongst other things, result in better performances.
With Lambert, we have a manager who seems incapable of maximising the squad at his disposal.

[Trinitymiddle]

Thought this summed up our season fairly well, from Football365:

A win. An actual win. No 'I was pleased with their character' from Paul Lambert or 'I can see a win just around the corner'. An actual, real win.

You can have a go at Villa's eye-bleeding style, their underperformance or their inability to score a goal after the 50th minute, but you can't doubt their economy of achievement. That's now 16 points for the season from just 34 shots on target and eight goals. Absolute filth.

[silhillvilla]

Is there a league table of what was spent in the summer ?

[Malandro]

If we somehow managed to fluke 7th position by the end of the season, playing the same way - crap possession, hardly any shots, no style and plain fear, I'd still be calling for Lambert's head.

Its not just about achievement, its about entertainment. Entertainment doesn't necessarily mean passing like Brazil/Spain. It means trying to play football and doing so with a bit of passion.

I don't think the players even believe in him.

[not3bad]

If we somehow managed to fluke 7th position by the end of the season, playing the same way - crap possession, hardly any shots, no style and plain fear, I'd still be calling for Lambert's head.

You realise, of course, that you could call all you liked and you'd be waisting your breath.

[SamTheMouse]

One thing is clear from Lambert's tactical approach: he's not a fan of goals from midfield.

[Tom_Mc9?]

I think the players do believe in him. Or at least seem to play for him when it gets tough. Could be blind faith, of course.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

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

I totally agree.