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

[hilts_coolerking]

And then he'd have been criticised for saying nothing.

There's an alternative option to either saying nothing or spouting rubbish, namely saying something sensible and credible.  The statement the other day - and indeed most club statements in recent years - have been worthless.  In some cases downright bizarre.

[old man villa fan]

All the stuff he spouted a couple of weeks ago about Lambert being safe:

Fox told BBC Sport sacking Lambert mid-season would be like "flipping a coin".
"When things aren't going well, fans bay for that type of blood," Fox said.
"That's not the way that I or the owner are going to make a decision. It's a false narrative."

That's just over two weeks ago... why say it and then sack him two games later...why say anything at all.

The team has fallen apart in 2 of the last 3 games, a lot has changed.

With hindsight you can read the statement a different way to how it sounded to most fans at the time.  "Flipping a coin" - change might work, might not.  "Fans baying for blood" - emotions running high, timing?  "Not the way to make decisions, false narrative" - make the decision when the timing is right.

As I said, the fight has gone out of the team.  Had Lambert lost the dressing room?  Things have not gone well this season but there has been a dramatic turn for the worse over the last two weeks.

[DrGonzo]

Oh joy.  Found out in the pub at full-time.  "Shots, barmaid, please!".

[pauliewalnuts]

All the stuff he spouted a couple of weeks ago about Lambert being safe:

Fox told BBC Sport sacking Lambert mid-season would be like "flipping a coin".
"When things aren't going well, fans bay for that type of blood," Fox said.
"That's not the way that I or the owner are going to make a decision. It's a false narrative."

That's just over two weeks ago... why say it and then sack him two games later...why say anything at all.

It is the old "vote of confidence", isn't it?

[KevinGage]

With the benefit of hindsight, I don't have a huge issue with what Fox said.

The sentiment, at least.  The false narrative toss did sound a bit too close too corporate-speak for my liking.

The manager had their full backing. Right up until he didn't.

[German James]

Heads.

[Dante Lavelli]

Makes Fox look like a total twat now as well.

You must be joking?!

[PeterWithesShin]

He'd have looked even more of a twat if we'd stuck with Lambert and got ourselves relegated.

[Toronto Villa]

It does happen, still doesn't make it a very clever thing to say at the time. Especially knowing how poor we were/are and the general feeling towards the manager from the fans and the press.

Look how it was derided at the time.

He should have kept his mouth shut for all the good it did.

He publicly backed the manager which any new manager will appreciate. He took decisive action when it became obvious the situation became untenable which all good executives are able to do. He doesn't look a twat at all.

[hilts_coolerking]

He publicly backed the manager which any new manager will appreciate. He took decisive action when it became obvious the situation became untenable which all good executives are able to do. He doesn't look a twat at all.

He does look a bit twattish.  That nonsense statement in which he appeared to support the manager but implied it was no more than 50/50 and the false narrative guff was excruciating.  The situation had become untenable a good while before, so he was late to the party on that one.  He even oversaw a new 4-year contract.  Lambert should have been sacked before Christmas to give the new guy at least some opportunity to improve the squad but instead he waited until just after the transfer window closed and when we'd gone even further down the table.  A good executive would have seen all this a lot quicker and been decisive 3 months ago.

[Damo70]

I don't agree with death by a thousand cuts or a drip drip effect. I believe you should publicly back the manager 100% until you decide to definitely make a change. Admittedly that could make you look like you have done a U-turn or were being less than honest previously but I still think that is the way it should be handled. We seem to do that to be fair.

[Toronto Villa]

He publicly backed the manager which any new manager will appreciate. He took decisive action when it became obvious the situation became untenable which all good executives are able to do. He doesn't look a twat at all.

He does look a bit twattish.  That nonsense statement in which he appeared to support the manager but implied it was no more than 50/50 and the false narrative guff was excruciating.  The situation had become untenable a good while before, so he was late to the party on that one.  He even oversaw a new 4-year contract.  Lambert should have been sacked before Christmas to give the new guy at least some opportunity to improve the squad but instead he waited until just after the transfer window closed and when we'd gone even further down the table.  A good executive would have seen all this a lot quicker and been decisive 3 months ago.

All tempered by the fact he's brand new in a job and working for bloke who had given Lambert every benefit of the doubt known to man. I don't think he could have acted much quicker even if he really wanted to.

[hilts_coolerking]

All tempered by the fact he's brand new in a job and working for bloke who had given Lambert every benefit of the doubt known to man. I don't think he could have acted much quicker even if he really wanted to.

Fair enough.  Personally I don't think he's covered himself in glory.

[mr underhill]

no one has covered themselves in glory but for the sake of the club the right decision was made. Let's hope it's not too late to  keep us up and that this time, they get the choice of manager  right.

[martin o`who??]

The analogy is fair, this goes either one way or the other now.