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

[Damo70]

I'm clearly in a minority but I've been impressed with what Fox has said to date.  Getting the balance between ambition and realistic targets just about right.  Diplomatic too.

I think his point about a 'false narrative' is true in some cases, but I am not sure it can be applied to Paul Lambert.  A manager might go into a club and install good practices behind the scenes without getting the results to show for it.  In such a case then I guess results and performances could be classed as a 'false narrative'.  For example, some people point out Eddie Howe's time at Burnley as being an important part of their recent success, even though he didn't get the results he needed at the time and got sacked.  If it was Lambert's first season, then I think there maybe could be a case, but he's well into his third season now and there hasn't been any notable progress.  It's not just the results and performances either, it's also the unwanted records, the total u-turns on playing style, disciplinary issues with coaching staff and the nonsense spoken after games.  It's a pretty damning case to be honest.         

As you say, results, performances, unwanted records and u-turns. Balanced against a few good value buys. The poster boy of which seems disinterested at the moment. Possibly why he attracts half hearted interest from a club like Spurs whilst Bony goes to City for big money. However, for me the time for change was a few weeks ago. With the transfer window closing we need to give him one last throw of the dice now. Depending on how the rest of the season goes we should consider making a quick McLeish like decision after the final game. We should also consider that whilst Fox appears to be against a change of manager he is probably considering/open to the possibility but quite rightly not saying so publicly.

[Jimbo]

Fox's spiel could have been summed up, thus:

"We've found our yes-man and we're sticking with him."

[Dante Lavelli]

We should also consider that whilst Fox appears to be against a change of manager he is probably considering/open to the possibility but quite rightly not saying so publicly.

That would be my guess too.  That gives Fox about 4 months to discreetly find a new manager.

[Dave]

Mediawatch's take:

Said Aston Villa chief executive on Paul Lambert's future: "When things aren't going well, fans bay for blood. That's not the way that I or the owner are going to make a decision. It'd be like flipping a coin."
 
Two things, Tom:
 
1) It's nothing like flipping a coin. Flipping a coin is a 50-50 call based on chance. Sacking a manager comes down to estimating if the current manager is meeting reasonable expectations, if anyone else could do better and assessing the availability of alternative options.
 
2) Describing sacking managers, a large part of your responsibility, as 'flipping a coin' slightly undermines your role as CEO, no?

[aj2k77]

I'd like to ask Tom Fox on what does he base his opinion Paul Lambert is a good manager on? If there are as he says '' a lot of reasons why the performances weren't where they wanted them to be'' any chance of filling us in on a few of them? Because it's been 2 and a half years of shit performances and results, so what's the excuses? Let's hear them. Some of the problems take a long time to fix, sounds like another 5 year plan in the making.

He mentions we are in the business of making the fans proud, then mentions results and the style of play.... is it possible someones had a word in Lamberts ear and told him, look this long ball zero possession zero goals shit is not on, you have to change it or we will have to change you.

I know it's his job but come on, does anyone believe he comes away from all the games positive after watching us take another 70 minutes to have a shot on target, and that we are so close to achieving something because of all the hard work in training. From where I watch we currently on the pitch look further away from being a good team than we did during the end of the first season, nearly two years ago. Performances and results have got worse.

The positives are that someone is asking them the hard questions and someone is answering them.

I really want Lambert sacked.

[ez]

It's obviously a load of corporate spin. Fox has been involved in premier league football long enough to know we are an appalling team having another appalling season. I expect he knows Lambert isn't up to the job and should have been sacked ages ago.

[Jimbo]

Alternatively, maybe Fox is trying to say, well we could sack Lambert, but with this chairman we could end up with anybody, so do we really want to go through with it?

[usav]

It's obviously a load of corporate spin. Fox has been involved in premier league football long enough to know we are an appalling team having another appalling season. I expect he knows Lambert isn't up to the job and should have been sacked ages ago.

Maybe this is why Randy wanted him:  winning isn't everything.

[Toronto Villa]

It's obviously a load of corporate spin. Fox has been involved in premier league football long enough to know we are an appalling team having another appalling season. I expect he knows Lambert isn't up to the job and should have been sacked ages ago.

Maybe this is why Randy wanted him:  winning isn't everything.

Newspaper in misleading headline shocker

What he actually says is

"So our brand is defined by more than winning.'

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Fox's spiel could have been summed up, thus:

"We've found our yes-man and we're sticking with him."

...for the rest of this season, then we'll see?

[tomd2103]

Fox's spiel could have been summed up, thus:

"We've found our yes-man and we're sticking with him."

...for the rest of this season, then we'll see?

Yep that would be my approach.  I think it would be a bit of a gamble and the panic button might have to be pressed if things get worse, but the end of the season would seem a natural point for a parting of the ways.  I think Lambert would walk away with his reputation fairly intact in the wider football world (those who think it's a very tough job and we have 'fickle' fans) and we could move in another direction.

[London Villan]

He could have done that without the four year deal...

[Salsa Party Animal]

I hope Tom is talking to Arsene Wenger to identify future managers in similar mould. Tom need some times to look for a new manager so he probably will have a short list for the summer time. Our priority now is to find more goals and creative players and a goalscorer to play with Benteke.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Wenger is a brilliant manager. Too good for Arsenal fans. I do wish he had left them a couple of years ago when he was rumored to be looking.

[pauliewalnuts]

It's obviously a load of corporate spin. Fox has been involved in premier league football long enough to know we are an appalling team having another appalling season. I expect he knows Lambert isn't up to the job and should have been sacked ages ago.

Maybe this is why Randy wanted him:  winning isn't everything.

Newspaper in misleading headline shocker

What he actually says is

"So our brand is defined by more than winning.'

I agree, but then again, I can see why Arsenal fans wouldn't have been too enamoured with stuff like this.

When they see that we can attract – even though we haven't won a trophy in seven years – one of the top global brands in the world for the type of money and financial commitment they're making, that makes our fans feel proud.

It's all rather nu-football, it gradually reduces it to the sort of relationship you have with M&S because you like their £10 meal for 2 offers, or Pizza Express because you like their pizzas.

I appreciate that's the way the game is these days, but I still find that sort of disconnect shown there to be pretty depressing.