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

[Toronto Villa]

And go back to lumping it to Benteke that we already know has limited success?

For fucks sake no, and never again. It is the most hideous football to watch. This new way of playing may not be garnering results yet as it will take some time to properly bed in. But it is a damned sight better to watch than what preceded it.

[Dante Lavelli]

We could have a "Januzaj" on loan doing similar for us/Man U.

If we wanted him to be the same as Januzaj, sitting on our bench getting a few minutes at the end of every other match is the best way to go about it.

I cannot tell if you're being flippant... What I meant was we get Januzaj on loan - currently not playing - so our team improves and in the meantime we send grelish off on loan so he can play every week.  Both players would get better and make their clubs stronger.  Also, you never know Januzaj may develop an affinity for the club whilst he is here too so we're in pole position to sign him when Man U decide to get rid.

[Toronto Villa]

We could have a "Januzaj" on loan doing similar for us/Man U.

If we wanted him to be the same as Januzaj, sitting on our bench getting a few minutes at the end of every other match is the best way to go about it.

I cannot tell if you're being flippant... What I meant was we get Januzaj on loan - currently not playing - so our team improves and in the meantime we send grelish off on loan so he can play every week.  Both players would get better and make their clubs stronger.  Also, you never know Januzaj may develop an affinity for the club whilst he is here too so we're in pole position to sign him when Man U decide to get rid.

He is very highly rated at Man U and I doubt they would have any plans to sell him.

[Dante Lavelli]

We could have a "Januzaj" on loan doing similar for us/Man U.

If we wanted him to be the same as Januzaj, sitting on our bench getting a few minutes at the end of every other match is the best way to go about it.

I cannot tell if you're being flippant... What I meant was we get Januzaj on loan - currently not playing - so our team improves and in the meantime we send grelish off on loan so he can play every week.  Both players would get better and make their clubs stronger.  Also, you never know Januzaj may develop an affinity for the club whilst he is here too so we're in pole position to sign him when Man U decide to get rid.

He is very highly rated at Man U and I doubt they would have any plans to sell him.

Not currently, but if they sign Bale - yeah I know - then next summer they may be looking to cash in on some assets that will help with FFP rules.  6 months with us from January may put us in pole position in the summer i.e. The Lukaku Theory.

[Toronto Villa]

remember though part of the Lukaku decision to stay at Goodison behind his success was that he had simply fallen out with Mourinho and was never going back. After two years on loan he had to leave. I suppose you never know if LVG keeps buying expensive players. No doubt the kid is talented

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Obviously not that, but something different. Fear this new style will just result in us playing passes across our defence and not creating any chances. Hope I'm wrong.

I miss width to be honest. He won't change from a midfield 3, but I'd like to see Bacuna on the right and Grealish on the left.

[passitsideways]

The thing is that when you attempt to move out of the stone age so to speak, by changing your style of play, it's a long process in which scoring goals constantly is the final step. That's exactly how it happened in his firsr season, where we start ed banging them in more ofte n by the end. Of course, he made the genius decision of blowing all that to shit by the start of next season - that constant chopping and changing why I'm alright with him being gone, not the style of play as it currently stands

[Toronto Villa]

He is trying to get the full backs to provide the width and keep a compact midfield to help stop the counter. He needs the full backs to get forward more, get in earlier and better crosses, something Cissokho has not been good at and actually Clark looked better at vs Swansea. Of those midfielders he needs one that attacks the box and can sit just behind Benteke. The tactics are correct, we just better players suited to this system to execute it.

[silhillvilla]

Janujaz looks absolute shite. I'd be gutted if we'd loaned him. Lightweight and crap.

[Risso]

He is trying to get the full backs to provide the width and keep a compact midfield to help stop the counter. He needs the full backs to get forward more, get in earlier and better crosses, something Cissokho has not been good at and actually Clark looked better at vs Swansea. Of those midfielders he needs one that attacks the box and can sit just behind Benteke. The tactics are correct, we just better players suited to this system to execute it.

That's all very well, but if the full backs are kept busy defending, then any supply we have just vanishes.  Overall the standard of play has been better for the last few games, but I'm yet to be convinced that it isn't anything other than a temporary blip.  There have been a few false dawns under Lambert and they've never amounted to any long-lasting improvement.

[Toronto Villa]

There needs to be variety and not just a reliance on the full backs for width that's for sure. I do think this is a tactical shift rather than a passing fad. I hope I am proved correct in that and we do not move away from it.

[andyh]

He is trying to get the full backs to provide the width and keep a compact midfield to help stop the counter. He needs the full backs to get forward more, get in earlier and better crosses, something Cissokho has not been good at and actually Clark looked better at vs Swansea. Of those midfielders he needs one that attacks the box and can sit just behind Benteke. The tactics are correct, we just better players suited to this system to execute it.

I think you make a good point and one me and friends have touched on.
He bought in players to play a particular way but has now decided to 'play' a different way so now doesn't have the players to do it.
Which all goes back to the fact the bloke is a chancer and has no fucking idea whatsoever.

[Malandro]

I wonder what made Lambert realise that 30% possession and no shots on goal was a bad plan

[Toronto Villa]

That's the crazy bit. When did the light go on? Surely it didn't take Pep to point it out.

Lambert "hey Pep, can you offer me some pointers on how to create more chances and not concede so many goals"

Pep "yes Paul, your tactic of not playing with the ball and giving the opposition the ball all the time is fucking stupid. How about you try and get your players to keep possession a bit more and pass to each other"

Takes him outside and has him watch Bayern train before sending him on his way with a 2013/2014 season DVD and some from his years with Barca.

[pauliewalnuts]

Having spent the last several years saying "I don't believe in statistics", which is understandable as they've all been absolutely shameful, I wonder, now we're getting better possession statistics, how long it will be until he starts to quite like statistics and edges towards Brendan Rodgers "but we won the possession" territory.