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

[RussellC]

I think Pulis is vastly underrated, and I'm fairly sure that regardless of yesterday's result he'll guide WBA to comfortable safety as he did with Palace last year, who, incidentally played some very exciting, attacking football along the way (remember the comeback win at home to Liverpool).

Agreed, in an ideal world we'd be looking at a Caesar Prandelli or a Frank De Bouer, but when Fox talks about "flipping the coin" you couldn't have got a much safer (and affordable) bet than Pulis to come in and keep us up which, let's face it, is the pressing matter, not trying to play like Barcelona.

Either way, that's no longer an option.

[silhillvilla]

Just got back from the game. (Boozy day) Has he gone yet?

Nope - there is no good news today.

Andy Murray got mullered at least

[curiousorange]

Just got back from the game. (Boozy day) Has he gone yet?

Nope - there is no good news today.

Andy Murray got mullered at least

NOT good news if your girlfriend watched the whole thing in lieu of how we normally spend a Sunday morning.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think Pulis is vastly underrated, and I'm fairly sure that regardless of yesterday's result he'll guide WBA to comfortable safety as he did with Palace last year, who, incidentally played some very exciting, attacking football along the way (remember the comeback win at home to Liverpool).

Agreed, in an ideal world we'd be looking at a Caesar Prandelli or a Frank De Bouer, but when Fox talks about "flipping the coin" you couldn't have got a much safer (and affordable) bet than Pulis to come in and keep us up which, let's face it, is the pressing matter, not trying to play like Barcelona.

Either way, that's no longer an option.

There's a pretty big gap between playing better than a Pulis team, and playing like Barcelona, mind.

The point is, someone like Pulis wouldn't be coming here just to keep us up and then fuck off, he'd be here for several years. That's the man who produced the most anti-football, gamesmanship obsessed, eye wateringly horrible side in the 20 plus years of the premier league. The man whose side became a by-word for cheating and cynicism.

Why the fuck would anyone want to sign up for another three years of non-football? Haven't we had enough of this shit?

[hilts_coolerking]

"Pulis would do a better job than Lambert"

Which means absolutely nothing. If Lambert is so piss poor, being "better than Lambert" is surely the emptiest praise?

No my point is not an assessment of Pulis's suitability; more that even someone whose football is so reviled, offers zero entertainment and only modest results is seen (by some) as preferable to what we've got.  It says more about Lambert than it does about Pulis.

[Steve kirk]

The only hero to zero comparison I can recall is not quite the same.   Vic Crowe was idolized as a player but ultimately reviled as a manager.   Stuart Pearce's demise at Forest is more accurate.

As someone who went to a lot of games during Vic Crowes tenure I completely disagree about him being ultimately reviled, I dont remember it being like that at all, as fans we may have thought a change may be needed but there was no clamour to sack him as there is now with Lambert, there was a lot of sympathy for Vic when he lost his job as we knew the part he had played in the fightback

[curiousorange]

And this thing about him getting Palace to play exciting, attractive football? I would argue that being as he hardly had a chance to bring anybody in, Pulis had a squad of players that were the last kind of players he'd have chosen. What Palace needed was organisation, and let's face it, when you've had Neil Warnock as boss, Pulis must have felt like getting Rinus Michels in.

[dave.woodhall]

As someone wrote recently, appointing Pulis means abandoning any pretences you might have about style, and any hopes of success, in return for finishing a guaranteed fourteenth. You can't bemoan downgraded expectations and want him as manager.

[Ad@m]

And this thing about him getting Palace to play exciting, attractive football? I would argue that being as he hardly had a chance to bring anybody in, Pulis had a squad of players that were the last kind of players he'd have chosen. What Palace needed was organisation, and let's face it, when you've had Neil Warnock as boss, Pulis must have felt like getting Rinus Michels in.

But isn't that the point?  Pulis showed that he's capable of of moulding his style to the players at his disposal.  Something Lambert's shown over and over again is way beyond him.

And PS I absolutely wouldn't want Pulis in charge, but at this stage anyone is preferable to Lambert!

[RussellC]

I think Pulis is vastly underrated, and I'm fairly sure that regardless of yesterday's result he'll guide WBA to comfortable safety as he did with Palace last year, who, incidentally played some very exciting, attacking football along the way (remember the comeback win at home to Liverpool).

Agreed, in an ideal world we'd be looking at a Caesar Prandelli or a Frank De Bouer, but when Fox talks about "flipping the coin" you couldn't have got a much safer (and affordable) bet than Pulis to come in and keep us up which, let's face it, is the pressing matter, not trying to play like Barcelona.

Either way, that's no longer an option.

There's a pretty big gap between playing better than a Pulis team, and playing like Barcelona, mind.

The point is, someone like Pulis wouldn't be coming here just to keep us up and then fuck off, he'd be here for several years. That's the man who produced the most anti-football, gamesmanship obsessed, eye wateringly horrible side in the 20 plus years of the premier league. The man whose side became a by-word for cheating and cynicism.

Why the fuck would anyone want to sign up for another three years of non-football? Haven't we had enough of this shit?

When I watch us set-up to play a high defensive line against possibly the quickest striker in Europe, and watch us concede possession within half a second of almost every throw-in we have, and watch a Manager refuse to make a change in either tactics or personnel until the game is beyond our reach, then yes, I'd welcome Tony Pulis with open arms. I also think he would have come on a short-term contract had we offered it 6 weeks ago.

On a humorous note, I just read a tweet along the lines of "Gardener goes to Brighton, Hypia gets sacked. Gardener goes to Forest, Pearce gets sacked. Recall Gardner immediately!"

[curiousorange]

And this thing about him getting Palace to play exciting, attractive football? I would argue that being as he hardly had a chance to bring anybody in, Pulis had a squad of players that were the last kind of players he'd have chosen. What Palace needed was organisation, and let's face it, when you've had Neil Warnock as boss, Pulis must have felt like getting Rinus Michels in.

But isn't that the point?  Pulis showed that he's capable of of moulding his style to the players at his disposal.  Something Lambert's shown over and over again is way beyond him.

And PS I absolutely wouldn't want Pulis in charge, but at this stage anyone is preferable to Lambert!

Motivating a team that was adrift with nothing to lose was impressive, as was getting some momentum out of nothing. Doing it again with heightened expectation would have been the proof that he wouldn't just revert to the mean.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

"Pulis would do a better job than Lambert"

Which means absolutely nothing. If Lambert is so piss poor, being "better than Lambert" is surely the emptiest praise?

No my point is not an assessment of Pulis's suitability; more that even someone whose football is so reviled, offers zero entertainment and only modest results is seen (by some) as preferable to what we've got.  It says more about Lambert than it does about Pulis.

Which I think is pretty much my point but much more clearly stated.
Thanks hilts.

[Des Little]

I'm sorry but right now I can't think of many people I'd want in charge less than the clueless oaf that is currently here. In fact I can't think of anyone.

[Clark W Griswold]

Keown is absolutely right, he has the players but has no idea how to use them. Perhaps we should keep him on as a scout whilst getting a proper manager in.

[brontebilly]

I think Pulis is vastly underrated, and I'm fairly sure that regardless of yesterday's result he'll guide WBA to comfortable safety as he did with Palace last year, who, incidentally played some very exciting, attacking football along the way (remember the comeback win at home to Liverpool).

Agreed, in an ideal world we'd be looking at a Caesar Prandelli or a Frank De Bouer, but when Fox talks about "flipping the coin" you couldn't have got a much safer (and affordable) bet than Pulis to come in and keep us up which, let's face it, is the pressing matter, not trying to play like Barcelona.

Either way, that's no longer an option.

By all accounts West Brom were beyond diabolical yesterday too, Pulis playing Lescott at left back, Anichebe up front. Be careful what you wish for