Now the smoke is clearing a bit, I am left with the distinct impression that the change in Lambert was due to him trying too hard to please Randy Lerner. The change was in the owner. It may have come about as a result of the global banking crisis, his no doubt expensive divorce, the conduct of O'Neill, personal fickleness or a mixture of all four. As has often been said we had no plan B to take the place of MON's profligacy so first TSM1 instilled an attitude of negativity and survival at all costs then Lambert tried to please the owner with cheap, sustained mediocrity. My opinion is that Lerner called the tune and Lambert danced to it. I was not joking when I predicted on the arrival of Sherwood that he would be much more his own man. Much less of a Smithers. How he gets on with any new owners we may or may not get, only time will tell.
I'd love to know what happened to Lambert that summer. Why go from the great stuff we were playing, and winning with, to the dire shite we ended up having to put up with.
Lambert seemed to lose all confidence in himself and teams often resemble their manager. It may have gone back to when the first 2 idiot assistants got the sack and then having Keane walk out on him, it was as though he didn't trust his ability to build a coaching team. A club of our size effectively being run by 3 coaches is just amateur hour and it was reflected on the pitch. Away to Hull we were so bad, I had visions of a Sunday league manager being in the stands and thinking that their team could do better. We were so unbelievably poor going forward it bordered on the impressive.
Quote from: OCD on April 29, 2015, 09:58:11 PMLambert seemed to lose all confidence in himself and teams often resemble their manager. It may have gone back to when the first 2 idiot assistants got the sack and then having Keane walk out on him, it was as though he didn't trust his ability to build a coaching team. A club of our size effectively being run by 3 coaches is just amateur hour and it was reflected on the pitch. Away to Hull we were so bad, I had visions of a Sunday league manager being in the stands and thinking that their team could do better. We were so unbelievably poor going forward it bordered on the impressive. I think this is probably it.When we were deep in the brown and smelly in that first season, it all changed in that second half against Newcastle. We didn't get anything out of it, but he switched to the 433 with Gabby, Benteke and Weimann and absolutely battered them for 45+ minutes. Whether that was inspiration or desperation we'll never know. Once he'd seen that he didn't change tactics again for the rest of the season.I think he took a look at the season during the summer, saw how vulnerable we'd been for a great chunk of it before the change in tactics and for a good number of games after it as well and the enormity of how close he'd come to relegating us hit home and he became increasingly negative.There are probably other examples, but the only occasion that I can remember where he really went for it after that first season, was the game at the Yawnthorns where we were 2-0 down at halftime and he brought on Gabby, Benteke and Weimann at half time to turn the game around
Lambert seemed to lose all confidence in himself and teams often resemble their manager.
Tim Sherwood insists he has no interest in the weekly machinations of the basement battle - as he eyes the points required to move up the Barclays Premier League table and away from trouble.While pundits and fans alike concentrate on every relegation clash with keen do-or-die interest and how it affects their team, Sherwood says he only has eyes for claret and blue matters.Our upbeat boss is happy that destiny is in the team's hands and he wants the issue sorted sooner rather than later.He is in buoyant mood and confident his players can do the business - if they keep up their excellent levels of performance, demonstrated in fine displays against Tottenham, Liverpool and Man City.He said: "The game against Everton this weekend is what is occupying our minds at the moment. It's the only game that matters."I have no interest in other results - no interest whatsoever."It's all in our own hands. If we do our job, we will be safe. We cannot rely on anyone else."Whatever we need, it's in our hands. I am not looking elsewhere for any favours."To be fair, other teams must have done well for us to still be in the situation we are in because we have picked up - and our performances have been very encouraging."I am just confident that we have it in our hands to do. If we continue with our level of performance we will be fine."The most important game now is the one against Everton. If we do the job there, I think we will possibly be okay - not points-wise - but momentum-wise going into our remaining fixtures."I didn't think it was going to be a walk in the park. I thought it was going to be tough."But I am relishing the challenge. I am up for the fight. Let's get going."Villa, of course, face the Toffees on Saturday - with Sherwood describing them as the Barclays Premier League's "form team."He sees an exciting, intriguing contest and one that can most certainly be influenced by a passionate claret and blue fanbase.Sherwood knows all about the excitement in B6 surrounding the FA Cup final against Arsenal - but he also knows the supporters will concentrate their attentions - much like the team - on the vital top-flight run-in to come.He added: "We need them. We have three games at home and they are going to be very, very important."The fans are fantastic. They have been great to all of the players and to me since I have come in here. We thank them greatly for that."But we need a big push from them. We need them to help us over the line. We aren't going to do it without them."There are three cup finals at home and the fourth game at Southampton will be crucial as well."We feel confident enough that we can get the points needed to stay in the division. Then we can worry about the FA Cup."Of course, we are going to treat that with the utmost respect. We have come this far. We want to win it."But it's on the backburner at the moment because Premier League survival is paramount."We have Everton next and it's going to be a tough game. They are the form team in the Premier League."They are coming here on the back of some very good results."I thought they played very well against Man Utd, very cagey on the counter-attack. They broke with a lot of pace and can cause problems for a lot of teams. They have some exceptional individuals."But we are confident. We are playing well of late."If we continue the level of performance and get a bit of luck I think we will be okay."