Fox says sacking Lambert would be like flicking a coin??

[andyh]

It really tickles me when people talk about formations and suchlike.
Firstly, remember who us picking the team and sending them out.
Secondly, does it really matter?
Seems to me that formations and statistics are something that the 'modern' game has decided is more important than desire and ability, and more often than not is blamed for poor results and performances.

[Malandro]

At least with Cleverly, expectations are so low, any positive involvement is a bonus.

Ireland was just permanent disappointment.

He managed to win player of the year. But I do agree he was overall a massive waste of money

[Ad@m]

I'm not sure about an entirely free role, but certainly more like Lampard had at Chelsea, ie the guy whose actual job it is to make runs into the area.

Technically, or sheer pace, Lampard aint all that, but his engine and ability to get into the box (a la Platt) is/was what made him great. 
It would be daft not to offer Delph a similar role, especially as we have a ready made cushion of Sanchez and Westwood to sit behind him.

Exactly.  If Lambert must insist on playing 3 central midfielders, don't tell them all to be defensive midfielders.  They also need to stop fearing the forward pass - the amount of sideways and backwards passing you see at the Villa makes me think Lambert's got Stuart Lancaster in helping out as a temporary coach.

[Monty]

I actually think Lampard had better technique than Gerrard, who always looks quite clunky on the ball, but it's true that he was no Manuel Rui Costa. What he had was energy and intelligence. Delph needs to develop the latter but he has the former, and frankly he's also got more burst and thrust than Lampard ever had (though not as much as Gerrard).

[Villa in Denmark]

At least with Cleverly, expectations are so low, any positive involvement is a bonus.

Ireland was just permanent disappointment.

He managed to win player of the year. But I do agree he was overall a massive waste of money

Wasn't that based on the fact he'd won most Man of the Match awards (which was something like 3 across the season)?

[paul_e]

I actually think Lampard had better technique than Gerrard, who always looks quite clunky on the ball, but it's true that he was no Manuel Rui Costa. What he had was energy and intelligence. Delph needs to develop the latter but he has the former, and frankly he's also got more burst and thrust than Lampard ever had (though not as much as Gerrard).

I agree, Gerrard has, in my opinion, pretty ropey technique but he's got a decent long pass and shot on him and he's a fantastic athlete, it's why I've always thought he'd be better suited to fullback at international level.

[edgysatsuma89]

Lots of different line up suggestions on here. The last time I saw so many shapes thrown into one place was on a dance floor.

Dreaming of (attempts at) change Damo.
Dreeeeeamer. Nothing but a dreeeeeamer.

I know it's 50/50 but i must have lost over 90% of my coin flips. Always used to do it with my bro to decide who did the washing up etc ... i was barely out the bloody kitchen.

[SamTheMouse]

I actually think Lampard had better technique than Gerrard, who always looks quite clunky on the ball, but it's true that he was no Manuel Rui Costa. What he had was energy and intelligence. Delph needs to develop the latter but he has the former, and frankly he's also got more burst and thrust than Lampard ever had (though not as much as Gerrard).

I was watching Man City play Chelsea the other day when they brought Lampard on as a sub. It was noticeable that even as he was jogging to take up his position, his head was swiveling round like the kid off the Exorcist. He kept doing it until the final whistle. The smart players are always looking around them to see where everyone else is.
I can't remember seeing it very often from any of our lot.

[edgysatsuma89]

I actually think Lampard had better technique than Gerrard, who always looks quite clunky on the ball, but it's true that he was no Manuel Rui Costa. What he had was energy and intelligence. Delph needs to develop the latter but he has the former, and frankly he's also got more burst and thrust than Lampard ever had (though not as much as Gerrard).

I was watching Man City play Chelsea the other day when they brought Lampard on as a sub. It was noticeable that even as he was jogging to take up his position, his head was swiveling round like the kid off the Exorcist. He kept doing it until the final whistle. The smart players are always looking around them to see where everyone else is.
I can't remember seeing it very often from any of our lot.

Lampard is exceptional at this, he looks like an owl. He's apparently a really intelligent bloke though which would help.

[Boz]

I actually think Lampard had better technique than Gerrard, who always looks quite clunky on the ball, but it's true that he was no Manuel Rui Costa. What he had was energy and intelligence. Delph needs to develop the latter but he has the former, and frankly he's also got more burst and thrust than Lampard ever had (though not as much as Gerrard).

I was watching Man City play Chelsea the other day when they brought Lampard on as a sub. It was noticeable that even as he was jogging to take up his position, his head was swiveling round like the kid off the Exorcist. He kept doing it until the final whistle. The smart players are always looking around them to see where everyone else is.I can't remember seeing it very often from any of our lot.

One of our local coaches for a youth club team hammers this message in to the kids. He believes awareness is key to being an above average player.

[Legion]

Spatial self-awareness and of others is fundamental.

[Monty]

I think Lampard got good A Level results, including an A in Latin, so yeah, he's a smart guy. Doesn't mean he'll be a smart player, though - Dave 'Oh So Secret' Kitson's pretty smart, but was a straightforward baseball bat of a striker, whereas Paul Scholes hardly seems like a member of Mensa but was one of the most intelligent players I've ever seen.

Delph's a smart, and actually quite interesting, person - rare in a footballer. However, like most of our players right now he's taking too many touches, playing with his head down, not playing the sharp pass because there's no sharp run to play it for. He could be great in that role, but you have to say that the current manager would be unlikely to give it to him.

[Neil Hawkes]

The last player I can remember doing "swivel heads" with any regularity was Stylian.

[passitsideways]

Makoun was good at it as well, except, y'know, we fucked that one up.

[Ron Manager]

Do I take it that no one has had the decency of a brief reply from the club?  Awful public relations but to be expected I suppose.