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

[PaulWinch again]

I see he's hinted he could drop Benteke. I doubt he'd be thinking of that given his comments about the Chelsea game. I think it's more a case of he doesn't think we can win and he'd be giving Benteke a rest.

[UK Redsox]

I see he's hinted he could drop Benteke. I doubt he'd be thinking of that given his comments about the Chelsea game. I think it's more a case of he doesn't think we can win and he'd be giving Benteke a rest.

That seems a logical idea.

Start with Tekkers on the bench. Then bring him on if Villa are still in touch with 20 minutes to go.

[mr underhill]

love it! in touch with 20 minutes to go. Fingers crossed.

[VillaAlways]

What a master plan that would be. Drop a player that has always caused Chelsea huge problems. The man is a genius.This is a similar fixture to Liverppol away, ie despite our horrible form we can often spring a surprise in this fixture and Lambert wants to write it off

Fans have every right to ring up and demand a refund for tomorrow's game following those comments.Really, what's the point?

[Gregorys Boy]

So it's ok to lose to Chelsea but we've got to beat Hull? So I presume if we don't beat  Hull who look shitter than us  he will do the decent thing then ?

Yeah, right!

I don't think anyone thinks that, but you have to be realistic and say that right now the bigger game of the two for a team in our position is that later.  Anything we get tomorrow is a bonus, but if we can't beat Hull, just like when we dropped points at home to Palace and Sunderland, it just won't be good enough.  Losing to a much better side tomorrow won't be a disgrace, just like losing on sunday wasn't a disgrace, but if we hand the game to them with little or no effort like we did sunday, then that is the disgrace.

[Clampy]

What a master plan that would be. Drop a player that has always caused Chelsea huge problems. The man is a genius.This is a similar fixture to Liverppol away, ie despite our horrible form we can often spring a surprise in this fixture and Lambert wants to write it off

Fans have every right to ring up and demand a refund for tomorrow's game following those comments.Really, what's the point?

How about seeing if it actually happens first before making silly suggestions like asking for a refund?

[Ads]

I don't like Villa managers doing this sort of thing, mainly because it never works. That Stoke result will live long and bitter in the memory. Sheffield United didn't go to plan either.

He's the manager, so its his prerogative. He has a responsibility to get results the best way he can and if that is what he feels will do the trick, then that is what he should go with. I personally think the best way of improving our chances against Hull would be a confidence boosting point or three tomorrow, as it would ease the pressure somewhat and put a bit of belief back.

His head on the block, is what I would normally say about a manager in these circumstances, but then one of the massive problems is we know its not and its unlikely to be, even with a relegation looking pretty likely.

[VillaAlways]

I don't like Villa managers doing this sort of thing, mainly because it never works. That Stoke result will live long and bitter in the memory. Sheffield United didn't go to plan either.

He's the manager, so its his prerogative. He has a responsibility to get results the best way he can and if that is what he feels will do the trick, then that is what he should go with. I personally think the best way of improving our chances against Hull would be a confidence boosting point or three tomorrow, as it would ease the pressure somewhat and put a bit of belief back.

His head on the block, is what I would normally say about a manager in these circumstances, but then one of the massive problems is we know its not and its unlikely to be, even with a relegation looking pretty likely.

Exactly right. Targeting must win games just heaps more pressure onto the team. We should be aiming to get something out of every game.
Not only that these must win games are also must win games for our opponents and we invariably draw or lose them.

[Ads]

To give some context for how bad Lambert is; in order to match the number of goals scored by the joyless, dreary and negative side McLiesh put out, we would have to score more than double the amount of goals we have now.

That’s 1.7 goals per game, to score another 26 to match a pathetic total of 37.

Given the comments that came from the club after McLiesh was rightly sacked, how on earth can Tom Fox defend the decision to keep him in a job?

The decision to keep Lambert in the job is beginning to look as fruit cake mental as the decision to appoint McLiesh, which again, is some going.

[Des Little]

I see he's hinted he could drop Benteke. I doubt he'd be thinking of that given his comments about the Chelsea game. I think it's more a case of he doesn't think we can win and he'd be giving Benteke a rest.

Benteke doesn't deserve to start; he couldn't look less interested if he tried.  The trouble is, if he doesn't play we'll have no physical presence up front so I'd expect him to play regardless.  Let's hope he sees this as his chance to shine and increase his chances of a move in the summer.  God knows he needs some incentive to put a bloody shift in.

[PaulWinch again]

I see he's hinted he could drop Benteke. I doubt he'd be thinking of that given his comments about the Chelsea game. I think it's more a case of he doesn't think we can win and he'd be giving Benteke a rest.

Benteke doesn't deserve to start; he couldn't look less interested if he tried.  The trouble is, if he doesn't play we'll have no physical presence up front so I'd expect him to play regardless.  Let's hope he sees this as his chance to shine and increase his chances of a move in the summer.  God knows he needs some incentive to put a bloody shift in.

I'm not disputing that. I just think that Lambert is using Chelsea as an excuse.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We need five wins to be certain of being safe I reckon.  The three that drop look likely to have very low points totals, maybe 35 or less and even that means the bottom three doubling their current points. If we can't get five wins from Hull, Stoke, Newcastle, Albion, Sunderland, Swansea, Qpr, Everton and Burnley and get nothing at all from Chelsea, United, Spurs, West Ham and Southampton we deserve to go down.

Right now I can't see us getting 5 wins from those games and this is with the best squad Lambert has had since he's been here.
What a mess.

[Damo70]

Lambert has 22 points from his first 23 games this season. From his first 23 games in charge Billy McNeil got 24 points. We finished bottom.

[Holte L2]

I still can't believe he's not had his Bolton moment.  The home crowd on the whole have still been relatively patient.

[Boz]

I see he's hinted he could drop Benteke. I doubt he'd be thinking of that given his comments about the Chelsea game. I think it's more a case of he doesn't think we can win and he'd be giving Benteke a rest.

Benteke doesn't deserve to start; he couldn't look less interested if he tried.  The trouble is, if he doesn't play we'll have no physical presence up front so I'd expect him to play regardless.  Let's hope he sees this as his chance to shine and increase his chances of a move in the summer.  God knows he needs some incentive to put a bloody shift in.

How about the manager doing his job and motivating his most likely goal scorer?