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

[amfy]

Southampton being the most obvious example - I hope we don't have to go through what they have to get to where they are now!

[pauliewalnuts]

Must admit I wasn't aware of any animosity towards us by Everton fans. Does it pre-date the 2008 Ashley Young goal at their place?

I suspect it might go back to 1977, although I don't know why.

[Ads]

Everton will always be the second club in their city and as we well know, that breeds some strange behaviour. They're prone to bitterness and jealousy, so I think the media fawning over O'Neill at a time when they were by and large finishing a place above us, got on their nerves. I assume it amplified some already existing ill feeling.

[adrenachrome]

We all agree
Everton are tragic

[Gareth]

This perceived change of mentality is it better quality passing or are we just keeping the ball amongst the back four 30yds from our own goal to get the possession % up?  I've not seen anything of ydays game as the last 18 months just make me not want to watch MotD or Football First when we lose.

I'm thinking next job saving epiphany might be spending January buying 8 wingers & simultaneously selling Benteke so they can't be used.

We seem to have had so many changes to mentality, tactics & back room staff under Lambert it still beggars belief to me that he is trusted to do the job, he's like a 12 year old on Football Mgr tinkering on the blind hope of stumbling on something that works.

This next week is huge, for me 4pts and a cup win are the bare bare minimum.  We the fans have every right to expect 6pts and a cup win as him and his team have short changed us so so often.

[silhillvilla]

This perceived change of mentality is it better quality passing or are we just keeping the ball amongst the back four 30yds from our own goal to get the possession % up?

The latter from what I've seen. WBA away the other week was surreal, goal kicks going backwards, Hutton and Cissoko playing square balls across our own box etc etc.

[PaulWinch again]

He still needs to work out how to get us regularly creating chances.

[dave.woodhall]

This season is an improvement on his first one. I think we'd be a lot more content had we not had to endure his second.

[Malandro]

He still needs to work out how to get us regularly creating chances.

Its hard to watch when we are going forwards, you can just see some of them have no idea what to do with the ball. Its odd when you have a guy like Benteke up there and also the pace (he does still have it) of Agbonlahor

[Toronto Villa]

This season is an improvement on his first one. I think we'd be a lot more content had we not had to endure his second.

You're right. Last season was crushing in every way and any good will he had banked post McLeish, and ending the first season on somewhat of a high was washed away. This season the football has improved eventually but the results aren't there yet and the goals are practically non existent. It isn't helping the argument of things being better, but hopefully we can look back and say things did get better.

[caster troy]

This season is an improvement on his first one. I think we'd be a lot more content had we not had to endure his second.

You're right. Last season was crushing in every way and any good will he had banked post McLeish, and ending the first season on somewhat of a high was washed away. This season the football has improved eventually but the results aren't there yet and the goals are practically non existent. It isn't helping the argument of things being better, but hopefully we can look back and say things did get better.

Season 1 : Win 34% Draw 24% Loss 42% Goals per game - 1.5
Season 2 : Win 27% Draw 20% Loss 53% Goals per game - 1.05
Season 3 : Win 27% Draw 26% Loss 47% Goals per game - 0.6

I know we are only halfway through this season but I think we are closer to last season's results than his first season. Conceding a few less goals no doubt but the chronic lack of goals scored means we aren't winning enough games. Maybe we will win the next 4 and score a few to make things look a bit better but I just can't see it happening sadly.

[Malandro]

This season is an improvement on his first one. I think we'd be a lot more content had we not had to endure his second.

You're right. Last season was crushing in every way and any good will he had banked post McLeish, and ending the first season on somewhat of a high was washed away. This season the football has improved eventually but the results aren't there yet and the goals are practically non existent. It isn't helping the argument of things being better, but hopefully we can look back and say things did get better.

Season 1 : Win 34% Draw 24% Loss 42% Goals per game - 1.5
Season 2 : Win 27% Draw 20% Loss 53% Goals per game - 1.05
Season 3 : Win 27% Draw 26% Loss 47% Goals per game - 0.6

I know we are only halfway through this season but I think we are closer to last season's results than his first season. Conceding a few less goals no doubt but the chronic lack of goals scored means we aren't winning enough games. Maybe we will win the next 4 and score a few to make things look a bit better but I just can't see it happening sadly.

thats pretty piss poor over three seasons.

Although, when you look at it objectively, probably enough to keep us up. I'd imagine that's what the job is about.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Changing our style halfway through the season is madness, especially when we haven't got the players to create chances. Is Agbonlahor gonna play that killer ball? Or is Weimann gonna spot one of Benteke's runs? Unlikely as they struggle to control a ball.

It sums Lambert up for me. He has no long term plan. If he did, he would've started this in the summer and recruited players who are comfortable on the ball.

[silhillvilla]

So the stats show we're actually getting worse.

[Chris Smith]

Changing our style halfway through the season is madness, especially when we haven't got the players to create chances. Is Agbonlahor gonna play that killer ball? Or is Weimann gonna spot one of Benteke's runs? Unlikely as they struggle to control a ball.

It sums Lambert up for me. He has no long term plan. If he did, he would've started this in the summer and recruited players who are comfortable on the ball.

The way we are playing needs a focal point for the attack. With Benteke and Kozac out we could not play this way with any success as neither Gabby nor Andi are comfortable with their back to goal.