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

[Toronto Villa]

He understood the size of the club and magnitude of the position. He just completely froze on the big stage. Which for someone who as a player played on some of the biggest stages was quite surprising.

[rob_bridge]

He may be just one of those managers who has a glass ceiling of the 2nd Tier.

And there are a few of them about too.

[Deano's Mullet]

Worst manager we've ever had at The Villa. Even if his budget was reduced as some have said we at least would have expected to score some goals, play some football and manage the basics but mostly we never did.The change in mood is there to see already and I hope it continues.

[pauliewalnuts]

I thought it was a real shame it turned out so badly, but by the time this season came around, he himself looked as depressed as we all were - always downcast, never showing any excitement or energy, no vim or vigour.

Him going will probably be as good for him as it will be for us.

I wonder if he found out that whereas there's one skillset needed to take a team from the third division to the premier league and keep them there, maintaining the momentum you built up on the way up, and another for taking a club which is a permanent fixture in the top flight and getting back into the higher reaches.

I also wonder if this is the first time he's ever had to face failure, or any form of lack of success, in management, and he just couldn't cope with it.

[E I Adio]

Worst manager we've ever had at The Villa. Even if his budget was reduced as some have said we at least would have expected to score some goals, play some football and manage the basics but mostly we never did.The change in mood is there to see already and I hope it continues.

Having spent many boring and frustrating Saturdays in the 60's propping up empty crush barriers whilst watching the dross served up by the likes of Tommy Cummings and Tommy Docherty's teams, I've always dismissed claims that Lambert has been our 'worst manager ever' as typical football fan hyperbole. Now that he's gone there's been time to reflect without the pressing concern of what he will or will not do in the next fixture and I've reached the conclusion that I actually do think he is the worst Villa manager ever, or at least in my lifetime.

In the late '60's we really did have some very poor players with limited ability, who nevertheless worked their socks off, but in reality were just not up to the job. The contrast with Lambert is that he was not saddled with a team of duffers with the odd exceptionally good player, on the contrary he had a team of generally good players with the occasional duffer, but still managed to fail miserably.

[dcdavecollett]

And those 'generally good players' had mostly been signed by...Paul Lambert.

The most consistently able buyer of players since TGGT Mk 1. A shame he couldn't manage/coach them.

[john e]

And those 'generally good players' had mostly been signed by...Paul Lambert.

The most consistently able buyer of players since TGGT Mk 1. A shame he couldn't manage/coach them.

He'd be great as director of football though, not that I want him back or anything

[London Villan]

And those 'generally good players' had mostly been signed by...Paul Lambert.

The most consistently able buyer of players since TGGT Mk 1. A shame he couldn't manage/coach them.

Or not in the case of Clark, Hutton, Gabby, CNZ, Given, Guzan, Grealish, Wiemann, Delph... let alone the number of players he bought subsequently to loan out/sell.

The revisionism has already started.

[Dave]

And those 'generally good players' had mostly been signed by...Paul Lambert.

The most consistently able buyer of players since TGGT Mk 1. A shame he couldn't manage/coach them.

Or not in the case of Clark, Hutton, Gabby, CNZ, Given, Guzan, Grealish, Wiemann, Delph... let alone the number of players he bought subsequently to loan out/sell.

The revisionism has already started.

Guzan, Delph and Weimann all played the best football of their careers under Lambert. This season, Clark probably has as well.

[London Villan]

He didn't sign any of them though.

[Dave]

He didn't sign any of them though.

He signed Guzan.

Although I take your point, I thought you meant that the players listed had gone backwards under him rather than that our better players hadn't all been signed by him. Seeing N'Zogbia on that list threw me as you don't often see people putting him on a list of our 'generally good players'.

[Deano's Mullet]

Worst manager we've ever had at The Villa. Even if his budget was reduced as some have said we at least would have expected to score some goals, play some football and manage the basics but mostly we never did.The change in mood is there to see already and I hope it continues.

Having spent many boring and frustrating Saturdays in the 60's propping up empty crush barriers whilst watching the dross served up by the likes of Tommy Cummings and Tommy Docherty's teams, I've always dismissed claims that Lambert has been our 'worst manager ever' as typical football fan hyperbole. Now that he's gone there's been time to reflect without the pressing concern of what he will or will not do in the next fixture and I've reached the conclusion that I actually do think he is the worst Villa manager ever, or at least in my lifetime.

In the late '60's we really did have some very poor players with limited ability, who nevertheless worked their socks off, but in reality were just not up to the job. The contrast with Lambert is that he was not saddled with a team of duffers with the odd exceptionally good player, on the contrary he had a team of generally good players with the occasional duffer, but still managed to fail miserably.

I am commenting on Villa from 88 onwards. Venglos had a poor year but still we beat Inter and looked ok in some games. O'Leary's side was gutless and an easy touch for the second half of his reign but we were quite a good side for the first. McCleishs side wasn't great to watch but it was organised at least and didn't lose many as Lambert? Just look at the number of negative records Lambert's team set. Totally inept barring the odd game.

[brian green]

Worst Villa manager I have ever seen and the legend of him buying good players only arose because he bought so many.   However, because I wish him no ill will in spite of everything, I genuinely think if he has the honesty to address how his career has imploded, he should seriously examine his lack of communication skills.   I do NOT mean his accent or his mumbling, I mean his inability to communicate clearly and intelligently without resorting to parrotspeak.

[Ian.]

The funny thing is I liked Lambert, Macleish and Houllier. I could never hate them, maybe it's my age and my lack of opportunities to visit Villa Park, I don't know. I was glad the last two have gone but I wish them to have good careers elsewhere. On the other hand though I can't stand MON even though he brought  stability in the league and some exciting times.

[London Villan]

He didn't sign any of them though.

He signed Guzan.

Although I take your point, I thought you meant that the players listed had gone backwards under him rather than that our better players hadn't all been signed by him. Seeing N'Zogbia on that list threw me as you don't often see people putting him on a list of our 'generally good players'.

Guzan is tenuous, would TSM2 have signed him had he not been a Villa player previously.

CNZ... he's been pretty much a waste of space for three years, but the last two games has shown he has still got a bit of talent left. Hope it carries on.