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

[Toronto Villa]

There has been much more to Villa's play changing in the past 3 games than just Guzan rolling the ball out instead of punting it. There has been significantly more discipline throughout the side, and a distinct intent not to just whack it long from anyone. It's the right path, however it has come about and whoever it was that has been able to get it through his head that long ball/counter is completely unproductive.

It is the right path, but it is only three games, and we had a much longer period than that in his first season where he similarly had the right idea, and look how that turned out.

It is a start but he needs to show significantly more of it.

Trying to keep the ball and win games is really the absolute least we should be asking for.

Also bear in mind we might have seen more of it had we not picked up two red cards in those three games. When you consider how few straws we have had available to grab I am clutching whatever I can to start enjoying watching my team again.

[gpbarr]

I think he has made some decent signings, Vlaar Okore Benteke Senderos, he has bought in some mediocre and some crap too.

It has taken 3 years to work out hoofball will get us knowhere, his awful management of the coaching staff and some of the most embarrassing defeats in our history.

He is not good enough to be the Manager of Aston Villa.

So who do you suggest?

Guess what, it is not my job to find the next Villa manager but it would be difficult to find one that could not improve on this ones record.

Oh but it is quite difficult, quite difficult indeed. Our record of management appointments over the last 30 years tells its own sorry tale. I agree he has not done well (we would disagree on why) but relegation would be so much worse - remember Graham Turner / Billy McNeill?

[rob_bridge]

Looking at potential replacements.

There is Pullis (Short Term Hired Hand)

Eddie Howe / Sean Dyche - flavour of the month and have done excellent jobs. Not for me for Villa.

Any others?

[Holte L2]

Looking at potential replacements.

There is Pullis (Short Term Hired Hand)

Eddie Howe / Sean Dyche - flavour of the month and have done excellent jobs. Not for me for Villa.

Any others?

Cesare Prandelli

Recently sacked at Galatasary.  Has managed Parma, Roma, Taken Fiorentina to the Champions League. Italy at the 2010 World Cup.

He's also a self confessed Villa Fan. 

[Holte L2]

I'm also encouraged by the progress shown.  We look such a better side with Okore, Sanchez and Benteke in the side.  I'd like to see us tie up new deals for Vlaar and Delph.

I thought the three at the back on Saturday worked extremely well.  We used the ball wisely and our build up play was tidy and assertive.

I'd use the same formation against Swansea, but swap Cleverley for Weimann and obviously Hutton for Lowton.

[paul_e]

The issue I have with the more recent comments is that some people are now saying he deserves credit for doing the basics because at least it's a step up from where he was.  Things like making substitutes which actually had a positive effect on the game, it's noteworthy in that it's barely happened in 2 1/2 years but I can't agree that he deserves praise for it. If he does that 5-6 times in the next 10 games and makes decisions that win us points from the bench then he'll start to deserve praise but right now he's moved from incompetent to acceptable for a very small handful of games.  The problem is we've all been so starved for anything approaching decent football that people are seeing any glimmer of hope as a shining beacon.

I still think his signings have been as good as anyone in the league in the last 3 years and as others have said we'll make huge profits on a handful of them, it's when we get on the pitch that his limitations show.

[Clampy]

I'm also encouraged by the progress shown.  We look such a better side with Okore, Sanchez and Benteke in the side.  I'd like to see us tie up new deals for Vlaar and Delph.

I thought the three at the back on Saturday worked extremely well.  We used the ball wisely and our build up play was tidy and assertive.

I'd use the same formation against Swansea, but swap Cleverley for Weimann and obviously Hutton for Lowton.

I'd put Hutton back in but otherwise i'd leave the side like it was for Man Utd. I thought Weimann playing deep worked well. He's got a lot of energy in there.

[tomd2103]

I'm also encouraged by the progress shown.  We look such a better side with Okore, Sanchez and Benteke in the side.  I'd like to see us tie up new deals for Vlaar and Delph.

I thought the three at the back on Saturday worked extremely well.  We used the ball wisely and our build up play was tidy and assertive.

I'd use the same formation against Swansea, but swap Cleverley for Weimann and obviously Hutton for Lowton.

I'd put Hutton back in but otherwise i'd leave the side like it was for Man Utd. I thought Weimann playing deep worked well. He's got a lot of energy in there.

If we do keep the same formation, then the physical and athletic attributes of Sanchez and Delph mean that we could play with some in a more advanced role.  Either that, or play Sanchez in a holding role and push Delph and Cleverley on a bit either side of him.

[Legion]

Hutton in for Lowton, but Weimann to play instead of Cleverley.

[Villa in Denmark]

The issue I have with the more recent comments is that some people are now saying he deserves credit for doing the basics because at least it's a step up from where he was.  Things like making substitutes which actually had a positive effect on the game, it's noteworthy in that it's barely happened in 2 1/2 years but I can't agree that he deserves praise for it. If he does that 5-6 times in the next 10 games and makes decisions that win us points from the bench then he'll start to deserve praise but right now he's moved from incompetent to acceptable for a very small handful of games.  The problem is we've all been so starved for anything approaching decent football that people are seeing any glimmer of hope as a shining beacon.

I still think his signings have been as good as anyone in the league in the last 3 years and as others have said we'll make huge profits on a handful of them, it's when we get on the pitch that his limitations show.

100% this.

If he can keep moving us in the direction he now appears to be, then that will do for now, especially given the lack of clarity over the ownership issue. 

It will also add extra weight to the thought that it's been him holding the team back for the last 2½ years.

Any thoughts of progress on the pitch are at the moment based more in hope than expectation unfortunately, we've been here too many times before (results wise) to expect anything other than a humiliating crash.  Here's hoping!

[Phil from the upper holte]

I'm also encouraged by the progress shown.  We look such a better side with Okore, Sanchez and Benteke in the side.  I'd like to see us tie up new deals for Vlaar and Delph.

I thought the three at the back on Saturday worked extremely well.  We used the ball wisely and our build up play was tidy and assertive.

I'd use the same formation against Swansea, but swap Cleverley for Weimann and obviously Hutton for Lowton.

I'd put Hutton back in but otherwise i'd leave the side like it was for Man Utd. I thought Weimann playing deep worked well. He's got a lot of energy in there.

Definately, Lowton is fucking dreadful

[supertom]

Hutton in for Lowton, but Weimann to play instead of Cleverley.

Or Bacuna in for Weimann.

I would also be considering rotating Gabby and Weimann in the next three games as it's 3 in 5-6 days I think.

[MarkM]

The issue with how things are at the moment is that any improvement is viewed through the prism of the god awful period that has preceeded it.

Lets face is any improvement would be viewed as progress.

I am very happy with some of the results we have had lately (we could discuss style of play , luck good and bad etc... having helped the results but I won't here)

Lambert's team (him included) should be given the credit for the results in the same way they should carry the can for the previous results.

Over the longer term Lamberts has been a failure at Villa Park, my own view is that the club, the expectations, the history etc... have all been too much for him.

Not every manager can manage a club like Villa, we are the graveyard of managers and Lambert has both feet in his Villa Park Manager grave.

[supertom]

Well given that Lambert is probably here for the next three years regardless of what happens on the pitch and where the club ends up (honestly cannot see him getting sacked) I hope the improvement continues and we continue to show a little progression. If we can keep the sort of form we've shown in the last 6, then we'll probably be pretty comfortable by the end of the season. I think if we end up safe by March he'll have done well this season and it would be nice to be home and dry and not worrying in the final month and a half.

[Brend'Watkins]

Hutton in for Lowton, but Weimann to play instead of Cleverley.

I'd like to know what Weimann's role on Saturday was.  It seemed to be that all he was doing was taking up a zonal position and running around a bit. As much as i like Weimann's graft his role on  Saturday was a waste of a player.  Why not have him or another man-marking Rooney.  He has more energy than Cleverley but Clevereley is a much better midfielder.