It's not Sherwood!

[Toronto Villa]

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 imagine there's some truth in what you said there Brian, but I might counter a little of that with the rumours that circulated that Lambert was given funds and chose not to spend it. Yet under the same owner Sherwood has come in and very quickly added many new faces to the coaching staff. This at a time when the club was reportedly much closer to being sold, he sanctioned adding several new contracts that Randy would might have to absorb as part of the sale if the new owner wanted his own management team.

As much as Lerner clearly reigned things in Lambert took frugality to an entirely different level. Couple that with some utterly bizarre decisions topped off by the Assistant Manager circus.

[OCD]

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.

Any new owners might just have Fantastic Mr Fox report to them and not get involved with Sherwood.

[OCD]

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.

[SoccerHQ]

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.

In a funny way even though he changed half the team that summer he changed very little in terms of formation, we finished with the strikers in great form and that continued at the start of the next season. Over course of that season Gabby and Weimann started to get marked out of games easily by defences particularly at VP....and Lambert hardly did anything to change things other than seemingly crossing his fingers and hoping they'd start playing well again.

[Villa in Denmark]

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.

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

[LeeB]

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.

That Hull game really was the pits, we were as bad in that game as I've ever seen us.

[paul_e]

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.

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

Exactly, he tried to trade attacking flair for defensive stability but did it using attacking players out of position/style rather than buying McLeish style cloggers.  Look at the fullbacks he used last year, Bacuna and Luna are both much better going forward than they are defending and yet he had them tucking in and defending a wing on their own, it's like he could spot players who were good at playing attacking football but then didn't have the guts to let them play the style which had made him buy them.  The improved attacking performances since he left back up the idea that there's plenty of goals in our squad (which he said himself) but he just wasn't willing to take any risks in trying to get those goals 'out'.

[supertom]

What was strange with Lambert was in the pre-season gone he tried a number of different systems and seemed to be attempting to play more possession based football and create more chances in the final third. Among that he tried the 4-2-3-1 in a few games and indeed Bent actually looked useful in pre-season.
He came into the season proper, and then we just reverted to playing 9 men behind the ball and hoping to break quickly. For the first 5 games it seemed to be going alright. But it was very much a McLeish way of playing. Lambert also opted to go for Gabby and Weimann up front, even though Bent was the most effective front man in pre-season. It's almost like he seemed to ignore much of what he'd spent pre-season working on.

Things then went tits up of course. Then we saw that switch to a more composed, possession based game, which had absolutely no penetration. He just completely lost the plot. He never seemed to have a clear idea of what he was going for. He kept relying on Weimann and Gabby to pull him out of a hole, but for several reasons that just didn't work. Between the end of that opening good run of form in the league, and Sherwoods arrival, Gabby was just abysmal. Weimann always tries but isn't very good. Benteke looked miserable and had no service.

The whole assistant fiasco for me was when Lambert really lost the side to be honest. The players must have felt let down by a culture of bullying from those two, which Lambert let happen (it's on his head ultimately). Finally the club turfs them out. We plod on till the summer but Lambert never acted quick enough in replacing his back room team, nor did he bring enough in.

So you get rid of two bullies. You're looking for a new assistant...who do you bring in?
Roy Keane...
Roy fucking Keane...
Ridiculous decision that we all knew would go wrong, and it did. There was absolutely no way back for Lambert then. Players won't give their all for a manager they don't trust. They won't buy into a manager who persistently doubts himself. (The complete turnaround on the bomb squad and young and hungry policy).

Sherwood has a clear idea of what he wants. For better or worse he'll probably stick to his guns. I don't think the squad will ever question Sherwoods confidence in what he is doing. I just hope we didn't bring him in too late. I think we'll be okay though.

[cheltenhamlion]

What was also clear from the Q+A with Fox at the Trust AGM is that Lerner has fuck all to do with the running of the club now. He puts the money up but this is very much Fox's show now.

[Mister E]

Lambert seemed to lose all confidence in himself and teams often resemble their manager.

Just reading the "Secret Footballer" book and he said exactly this about the managers he's played under. Having a credible playing strategy and a tangible philosophy mans that players can align with their Manager; the opposite is true. Furthermore, manager-mood is reflected by the players.

[PaulWinch again]

Right Fab lead us the Premier League safety and cup glory please.

[PeterWithesShin]

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."

[Louzie0]

I love Tim. 

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I hope he's still so confident in his post match press conference on Saturday afternoon. One thing is enjoying how we're improving our performances but right now, whether he prefers to close his eyes or not, we're in a relegation battle and every point counts.

I'm a firm believer that practice makes perfect and Sherwood is obviously trying to get the lads to keep improving their game, game by game. It is however a bit of a luxury that may turn round and bite us on the arse.

Nervous about Saturday? You betcha!

[brian green]

I remain of the view that all the above posts are a true and clear account of what Lambert did. For purely self educational reasons I would like to know why he changed. It seems clear to me that the big sea change which has happened at the club is that the directional axis of Lerner/TSM followed by Lerner/Lambert has become Fox/Sherwood and it is an altogether more positive and effective structure.
As I look back on the sad decline of the Lerner years at the club the two biggest clues to how we have finished up in the horrible situation we are in was firstly Randy Lerner personally intervening in the signing of Alex McLeish and Lambert's infamous defence of his record with the claim that the diminution of fan expectations constituted progress. For me those two occurrences are the two biggest dots in the join-the-dots picture of the recent past.