The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL

[Monty]

Agreed Sam. Whatever went on with those two, the choice presented to us is that he either didn't know about it, or knew about it and took no action. There is no other scenario, and neither is acceptable really. I also don't want to be managed by someone who really thinks that firing long balls into a crowded final third is an acceptable attacking tactic, which completely cripples all of Lambert's good footballing intentions. I really don't care what other good points he has, frankly, because this fault is just fatal.

[Clampy]

Its at times like this you really see the power of the press. I always think im too clever to get duped by shit like this but its starting to turn and this nearly got me. First, well placed friends in the media start peddling stories about the constraints he has had to work uner and start telling us we should be greatful to have him. Even go as far as to try and guilt us into backing him with full support. Then he comes out with this sob story and low and behold everyone starts feeling sorry for him. I would suggest those who are now sympathising remember, this is his squad, his players. These were his coaches. This was his style of football. The recruitment policy was his, nobody elses. He decided to go for youth and enthusiasm and not not mix it with experience. As far as I can see the bomb squad was his idea. The substitutions or lack of them were his doing. The choice to alienate players, like Martin bloody O'Neil the second was his. The records and results are because of what he has done over the last two years.
Nobody forced him to come here and yes it has been hard, probably too much for him at this stage of his career. It will make him a stronger manager and in 5-10years time another club will benefit hugely from this because he has great potential.

I am glad he is here at the moment and thank him for sticking with us through this mess. But when we are taken over, he deserves a thankyou, a pay off and a glowing reference to take with him to his next club. A fresh start needs to be a fresh start.

You're clearly referring to James Nursey's article. James Nursey has been pretty consistent in his view on Lambert, so what he said is nothing new. Just because it's contrary to your opinion doesn't necessarily make it part of a bigger media game. To me there is more to the situation than, "We lost 10 home games this season, therefore Lambert Out." A total dismissal that there is an argument to defend our performances and Lambert's tenure (funds and youth) is for me missing some quite obvious points. What I'm saying is, it is quite possible that people like James Nursey wrote the article he did because he actually believes what he wrote is true.

I agree with him, and I'm just a Villa fan on a forum, so I'm not part of Lambert's synical Murdock-esque manipulation of the media.

The arguments against Lambert should be counterbalanced with an appreciation of the limits he has worked under, and also the small successes in his time here – most notably doing the financial job he was asked to do, and the fact that this has resulted in the youngest squad in the premiership. If you don't think youngsters are capable of showing the inconsistencies – losing to Bradford, indifferent form – then so be it, but anyone's purely negative spin, the simplistic reduction of Lambert's job down to a few soundbites, is worse than anything I have read anywhere in the media, good or bad.

There's indifferent form and there's losing 22 games in one season.

[cdbearsfan]

Have we finally come to the conclusion that there is no takeover...?

Come on geez

It doesn't look like it. Lucky we've got you to keep us up to date or I just don't know what I'd do.

Any updates? Spotted any potential new owners at Woollongong Airport?

[Malandro]

Have we finally come to the conclusion that there is no takeover...?

Come on geez

It doesn't look like it. Lucky we've got you to keep us up to date or I just don't know what I'd do.

Any updates? Spotted any potential new owners at Woollongong Airport?

G'day peeps.

[itbrvilla]

Have we finally come to the conclusion that there is no takeover...?

Come on geez

There is a takeover.... ADMIN said so....

[Olneythelonely]

Have we finally come to the conclusion that there is no takeover...?

Come on geez

Are you not bored yet?

[not3bad]

Have we finally come to the conclusion that there is no takeover...?

Come on geez

Well is there or isn't there? Were you not implying you are ITK?

[pauliewalnuts]

Agreed Sam. Whatever went on with those two, the choice presented to us is that he either didn't know about it, or knew about it and took no action. There is no other scenario, and neither is acceptable really.

That's true, either way, he's sleeping at the wheel at best, or at worst, getting his staff to be wankers.

[Chris Jameson]

Have we finally come to the conclusion that there is no takeover...?

Come on geez

Well is there or isn't there? Were you not implying you are ITK?

Of course he's ITK. Leave him alone. As you were LondonBoy, thanks so much for all the info.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Have we finally come to the conclusion that there is no takeover...?

Come on geez

There is a takeover.... ADMIN said so....

He even named the owners and the date when it happened! We were taken over a few weeks ago FFS! Keep up people.

[aj2k77]

Its at times like this you really see the power of the press. I always think im too clever to get duped by shit like this but its starting to turn and this nearly got me. First, well placed friends in the media start peddling stories about the constraints he has had to work uner and start telling us we should be greatful to have him. Even go as far as to try and guilt us into backing him with full support. Then he comes out with this sob story and low and behold everyone starts feeling sorry for him. I would suggest those who are now sympathising remember, this is his squad, his players. These were his coaches. This was his style of football. The recruitment policy was his, nobody elses. He decided to go for youth and enthusiasm and not not mix it with experience. As far as I can see the bomb squad was his idea. The substitutions or lack of them were his doing. The choice to alienate players, like Martin bloody O'Neil the second was his. The records and results are because of what he has done over the last two years.
Nobody forced him to come here and yes it has been hard, probably too much for him at this stage of his career. It will make him a stronger manager and in 5-10years time another club will benefit hugely from this because he has great potential.

I am glad he is here at the moment and thank him for sticking with us through this mess. But when we are taken over, he deserves a thankyou, a pay off and a glowing reference to take with him to his next club. A fresh start needs to be a fresh start.

You're clearly referring to James Nursey's article. James Nursey has been pretty consistent in his view on Lambert, so what he said is nothing new. Just because it's contrary to your opinion doesn't necessarily make it part of a bigger media game. To me there is more to the situation than, "We lost 10 home games this season, therefore Lambert Out." A total dismissal that there is an argument to defend our performances and Lambert's tenure (funds and youth) is for me missing some quite obvious points. What I'm saying is, it is quite possible that people like James Nursey wrote the article he did because he actually believes what he wrote is true.

I agree with him, and I'm just a Villa fan on a forum, so I'm not part of Lambert's synical Murdock-esque manipulation of the media.

The arguments against Lambert should be counterbalanced with an appreciation of the limits he has worked under, and also the small successes in his time here – most notably doing the financial job he was asked to do, and the fact that this has resulted in the youngest squad in the premiership. If you don't think youngsters are capable of showing the inconsistencies – losing to Bradford, indifferent form – then so be it, but anyone's purely negative spin, the simplistic reduction of Lambert's job down to a few soundbites, is worse than anything I have read anywhere in the media, good or bad.

There's indifferent form and there's losing 22 games in one season.

It's actually surprising when we go 2 or 3 games unbeaten, that's what our good runs amount to.

[Chris Smith]

Agreed Sam. Whatever went on with those two, the choice presented to us is that he either didn't know about it, or knew about it and took no action. There is no other scenario, and neither is acceptable really.

That's true, either way, he's sleeping at the wheel at best, or at worst, getting his staff to be wankers.

Of course there are other explanations. there is an understandable tendency to draw whole conclusions from the sketchiest of facts. Just because they work in football doesn't mean that normal employment law is waived and therefore standard procedures have to be followed. Your conclusions might be correct but to say that 'there is no other scenario' is stretching the known facts to suit an argument.

[pauliewalnuts]

Agreed Sam. Whatever went on with those two, the choice presented to us is that he either didn't know about it, or knew about it and took no action. There is no other scenario, and neither is acceptable really.

That's true, either way, he's sleeping at the wheel at best, or at worst, getting his staff to be wankers.

Of course there are other explanations. there is an understandable tendency to draw whole conclusions from the sketchiest of facts. Just because they work in football doesn't mean that normal employment law is waived and therefore standard procedures have to be followed. Your conclusions might be correct but to say that 'there is no other scenario' is stretching the known facts to suit an argument.

Not really.

I'm not making any point about employment law or their rights as employees, or indeed anything about their dismissal or not.

I'm just saying that, on a practical level, if it's true they were doing things like - to take one of the things mentioned - coaching the players in long ball tactics, then whether Lambert knew about it or not, it's a poor state of affairs.

If he did know about it, why are they doing it? If he didn't know about it, how come he doesn't know what his coaching staff are up to?

I'm not suggesting he should have had them sacked on the spot, I'm suggesting he should have known what they were doing - they're his coaching team, he is supposed to be directing them.

[Toronto Villa]

Prior to the whole thing blowing up, whenever we launched long ball after long ball, I never once linked it to the coaches. Taking the players out of it for a second, it's only natural when things are going well or not well to link it to the manager. I have never heard when Man U were battering all before them that the tactics and performance was down to Phelan and co. How the team lines up and plays on a weekend is down to the manager and the instructions he has provided to his coaching staff. It would be absurd to think Lambert, 5 minutes into a game looking round at Culverhouse and saying "I didn't ask you to practice this". Lambert must have been fully aware of what his coaches were doing, or he allowed them far too much power to do what they wanted. Either way it isn't acceptable.

[Chris Smith]

Agreed Sam. Whatever went on with those two, the choice presented to us is that he either didn't know about it, or knew about it and took no action. There is no other scenario, and neither is acceptable really.

That's true, either way, he's sleeping at the wheel at best, or at worst, getting his staff to be wankers.

Of course there are other explanations. there is an understandable tendency to draw whole conclusions from the sketchiest of facts. Just because they work in football doesn't mean that normal employment law is waived and therefore standard procedures have to be followed. Your conclusions might be correct but to say that 'there is no other scenario' is stretching the known facts to suit an argument.

Not really.

I'm not making any point about employment law or their rights as employees, or indeed anything about their dismissal or not.

I'm just saying that, on a practical level, if it's true they were doing things like - to take one of the things mentioned - coaching the players in long ball tactics, then whether Lambert knew about it or not, it's a poor state of affairs.

If he did know about it, why are they doing it? If he didn't know about it, how come he doesn't know what his coaching staff are up to?

I'm not suggesting he should have had them sacked on the spot, I'm suggesting he should have known what they were doing - they're his coaching team, he is supposed to be directing them.

As you say, "if" it is true, but it is all based on hearsay.