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

[Walmley_Villa]

Interesting change of tack from Lambert yesterday, publicly calling out the players for throwing the towel in yesterday.

He is correct of course but managers dont tend to last too long after such statements, they are his players after all.

They are his team 'motivated' by him. There is definitely no do or die attitude in this team. He is responsible.

[NeilH]

You know, I am trying my best to square this whole thing. I think it’s a given that the club understand the feelings of the fans regarding Lambert, so that means that they either don’t give a hoot about how we feel or they are simply unable to make a decision. The first assumption would mean that Fox and Lerner have gone over all the sums and deem that relegating us under Lambert is acceptable, as the resulting financial consequences would be sustainable in order to reduce the outgoings of the club and totally re-align to make us a more attractive proposition to a buyer. Of course they could also have realized that with a guaranteed 20-22,000 season ticket holders no matter what, we could operate as a top half Championship club such as Ipswich and be guaranteed a number of virtual sellouts when we play local rivals in a Midland-heavy division.
The second assumption is of course based on the notion that both Fox and Lerner are incompetent fools, who have been burnt by previous bad experiences and are unprepared to make any decisions due to this. I simply refuse to believe that two seasoned business men would operate like this.

Of course I could be wrong on all counts here, so can anyone else with more business acumen than me, try to find some logic to the seeming madness of Lambert’s continued employment?

[Walmley_Villa]

I think you are giving them too much credit Neil. I believe that Lerner is burying his head in the sand. He doesn't have the appetite to go and get another manager. It could be financially driven, I don't know. Unfortunately they don't know whether to stick or twist. Making no decision is the worst decision they could make.

[peter w]

The big problem i have with the 'zzzzz' protest is that it may be seen as being humourous and the point and anger will be lost. No, it's time to be noisy. Throughout the game now. yeah, I'd like us to get behind the players but feck it that's not been working so vent your anger loudly and throughout the games. Short term pain for along-term gain. This is getting frankly ridiculous, embarrassing, humiliating, and annoying. I'm getting angry again just thinking about it.

[brontebilly]

You know, I am trying my best to square this whole thing. I think it’s a given that the club understand the feelings of the fans regarding Lambert, so that means that they either don’t give a hoot about how we feel or they are simply unable to make a decision. The first assumption would mean that Fox and Lerner have gone over all the sums and deem that relegating us under Lambert is acceptable, as the resulting financial consequences would be sustainable in order to reduce the outgoings of the club and totally re-align to make us a more attractive proposition to a buyer. Of course they could also have realized that with a guaranteed 20-22,000 season ticket holders no matter what, we could operate as a top half Championship club such as Ipswich and be guaranteed a number of virtual sellouts when we play local rivals in a Midland-heavy division.
The second assumption is of course based on the notion that both Fox and Lerner are incompetent fools, who have been burnt by previous bad experiences and are unprepared to make any decisions due to this. I simply refuse to believe that two seasoned business men would operate like this.

Of course I could be wrong on all counts here, so can anyone else with more business acumen than me, try to find some logic to the seeming madness of Lambert’s continued employment?

As Newcastle has seen over the past month or so, there isnt a huge pile of decent coaches willing to work under restricted tenures as the Villa Park gig certainly is.

We seem to be making the right noises off the pitch. My take on it is that Fox is hoping Lambert can see us safe anyway before a big call will be made in the summer. Also I believe Fox is responsible for all day to day decisions at the club which again is a positive.

However if we pull away from this 8 team mini league with maybe a cup semi final thrown in and Lambert might well be kept on.

As he said himself last week, its a coin flip re Lambert staying or going. We lose to Chelsea and Hull though and I firmly believe Lambert will be gone.

[hilts_coolerking]

As Newcastle has seen over the past month or so, there isnt a huge pile of decent coaches willing to work under restricted tenures as the Villa Park gig certainly is.

The answer to that shouldn't then be 'appoint a shit one who is' but 'make the restrictions less so'.

[Drummond]

As Newcastle has seen over the past month or so, there isnt a huge pile of decent coaches willing to work under restricted tenures as the Villa Park gig certainly is.

The answer to that shouldn't then be 'appoint a shit one who is' but 'make the restrictions less so'.

Or.. Any old clown could do better than this charlatan.

[mr underhill]

I respect the decision of the people who still want him but can there really be a compelling argument to do so? And to me, better the devil you know isn't one of them.

[hilts_coolerking]

Or.. Any old clown could do better than this charlatan.

It's very easy to sympathise with that view though.  With no goals and no points from our last six matches, 7 goals and 12 points from our last 19 matches, and a string of unwanted records, it would be extremely difficult for someone to come in and do worse.

[Clampy]

I respect the decision of the people who still want him but can there really be a compelling argument to do so? And to me, better the devil you know isn't one of them.

I don't think it's a case of 'better the devil you know' for some, it's more like who is out there? Anyone but Lambert is not really a right answer either.

[JUAN PABLO]

I voted to keep him. Things are obviously awful but I think he's doing the job he's been asked to do. Lerner will be asking a new guy to do exactly the same thing so what's the point changing it? I know there's a chance that things could get a bit better, but they could also get worse. We're set up to bore along largely where we are.

We have better players than stoke . He has

He's not getting the best out of what's available to him but it'll take a much better manager than whoever would come to us under the current regime to succeed where he's failing. In my opinion, obviously.

I don't think we'll go down and, if we don't, he'll have hit the target set to him by his boss.

McLaren, moyes and even Hughes would do better with our squad.

I think our players and Stoke's are broadly on a par.

None of the managers you mention would come here at the moment, in my opinion.

I agree , I was just picking three out of thin air who a lot of people  probably would not have fancied when they had been available .

I think our team has better players than stoke , its just we have a manager who seems to not have a clue.

[cheadlevilla]

clueless.. hopeless...witless..winless              Manager and Owner
I fear for our club. This disaster hasnt bottomed out yet

[JUAN PABLO]

Sack him now. Looking at the records, this really is the most obvious decision you can get in football.

The fact that they haven't just shows how utterly clueless Lerner/Fox are.

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.

I think Lambert should f##k off and go to forest now

That's his level

[hilts_coolerking]

I respect the decision of the people who still want him but can there really be a compelling argument to do so? And to me, better the devil you know isn't one of them.

I don't think it's a case of 'better the devil you know' for some, it's more like who is out there? Anyone but Lambert is not really a right answer either.

The answer to that question is not 'no-one'.

[NeilH]

I respect the decision of the people who still want him but can there really be a compelling argument to do so? And to me, better the devil you know isn't one of them.

I don't think it's a case of 'better the devil you know' for some, it's more like who is out there? Anyone but Lambert is not really a right answer either.

Well De Boer has hit a glass ceiling at Ajax and it’s unlikely he will win the title with them this season. He’s talked before of a new challenge, but of course this would mean compensating both Lambert and Ajax and Lerner seems intent on running us like a corner shop; so it’s safe to assume this won’t happen.