Paul Lambert

[Richard]

What a shameful pre season this is turning out to be . We now see a manager who has completely no conviction or belief in his own philosophy on football . How can such a radical change of policy result in anything but the impending doom which we seem to escape from by the skin of our teeth every season . Talk of a so called " long term project " is evidently HOLLOW . FALSE LIES . From sub standard youngsters one year to " has beens" and " never beens " the next .

                                                                  Having just seen a disastrous world cup when everyone agrees to have a successful team you need a sound structure , system , philosophy etc ; the events at the Villa show that we`re a million miles from any of that .  How can a smaller club like Southampton have such an impressive scouting system compared to ours. Noticed that Luna and Sylla could be on their way to second division Turkish and Italian sides which tells you how suitable they were for Villa in the first place. Now I see that Delf , player of the season last year , could be on his way to West Ham for £5m FFS ! Been supporting Villa for 40 years and never felt so miserable about a new season .

There are other posts that I'd like to respond to on this page but this one is the catalyst for them so I'll just do it to this.

 

I do get frustrated very easily when I feel people are not actually understanding what is going on or where they are basically turning a situation around to suit their own stance,  or they like damned if you do damned if you dont situations I recognise that is something in myself I have to deal with but nevertheless it does frustrate me.

 

have you stopped to consider the situation for one moment.  To seriously reflect on what is happening to us this season and what has been happening to us for a few years now?  Can you put a little meat on the bones of where we are as a club and what the manager has to work with? Or would you rather just use any stick to beat him?

 

Se for me when you say what a shameful pre season this is turning out to be I do have some sympathy with that point.  Any attempt at agreeing with anything else in your post ceases there by the way but I kind of have sympathy for the first sentence.  You then go on to say " We now see a manager who has completely no conviction or belief in his own philosophy on football . How can such a radical change of policy result in anything but the impending doom which we seem to escape from by the skin of our teeth every season "

 

Let me take the last bit first,  we have been heading towards the trap door for a few years now to be honest and that is due to the way in which his team strengthening has been restricted by the cost cutting put in place by the owner to try and get the club on sound financial footing,  or so we were told,  before the manager could start spending money to a higher degree on better quality signings to improve the strength of the squad after that. And during that time the manager had the sole objective of retaining our top division status,  and this he did. 

 

In terms of his philosophy well that was simply to retain our status,  bring in up and coming hungry talent and then work to budget restrictions before he could then bring in the better quality player.  What we have now seen is the owner shift that approach by putting the club up for sale at the moment when increased spending should have arrived,  whether this was always his plan or whether this is a decision he has only recently taken is up for debate.  I tend to err on the side that this was always his intention actually and that he never had any intention of allowing increased spending at this stage.  Regardless of that his decision has basically blown any "philiosophy" that you perceive to have changed out of the water.

 

However the manager now has to work with that,  he does not have the luxury of sitting back and doing nothing,  he still has to make sure this club remains in this league,  and that is as much for his own reputation now as it is for the sake of the club.  So as much as I do not like the signings we have made so far,  I can completely understand why he is doing it.  He has no money to speak of and has to try and make sure we stay in the league.  So he is going for experience and quality that we do not have,  in positions we need.  That is not a philosophy change that is sticking to his philosophy but trying to do it on the cheap forced by events above him.

 

In terms of Villa seeming lurching from one to another I think that is down to the change of strategy of the owner and the management team having to adapt to cope with that,  as for SOuthampton well they have stuck to an approach because of stability and an owner who is clear on the direction.  Also they have spent more than us,  and I'm afraid in the game today it is about who spends more.

[DelboyVilla]

Quality and experience are two different matters (and two very different prices).

 

Lambert for me is a reactive not proactive manager i.e. a shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted guy!

 

He doesn't foresee problems and issues he only reacts late to problems after it has been blindly obvious to most for some time.

 

Of course the whole situation is being clouded by the fact that we have Coco the Clown as an owner but it doesn't forgive all of his short comings. In some ways the sale of the club has given him a lifeline because in any other scenario a manager with Lambert performance record would have been sat at home waiting for a manager to be sacked from Scottish League 2 so I could have the faint hope of applying for a job to resurrect my career!

 

Any new owner whenever they arrive will need to immediately sack Lambert and bring in a proactive forward thinking manager as it will be as productive as spending £50m in the transfer market (without falling foul of FFP).

[bobzy]

He won't win in some people's eyes.

 

- States he wants to bring in young and hungry players

- Brings in said players and moulds a young squad, kicking out older players (generally; and high earners)

- Fans cry out for experience as squad is too young and naive (results are poor)

- Lambert starts to bring in experienced players to complement the youth

- Lambert is a reactive manager and that sucks

 

Great stuff.

[Mantis]

 

Hang on a second, I thought one of the biggest gripes about Lambert was that his transfer policy was too extreme and that there wasn't enough experience? Now that we're bringing in experienced players for the first time since he's been here it's all a big disgrace? It's clear he doesn't have much to spend anyway (hence the free transfers).

I don't agree with this line of reasoning being lazily used against anyone who has a problem with Lambert's complete u-turn in policy. Firstly, at least ascertain whether the poster in question himself criticised the 'young and hungry' policy on that basis before trying to put words in his mouth via some flimsy generalisation.

Secondly, I'm sure that some of those who did call for experience weren't therefore endorsing the current policy which basically centres around the idea that being older than what we have automatically makes it a good signing regardless of how untalented or past it the signings in question are.

 

 

I wasn't putting words into anybody's mouth or generalising.

 

What a lot of people seem to miss is that there simply isn't any significant money to spend right now. As somebody said earlier, it's a case of gambling on very cheap young players again (and Lambert has received a lot of flak for those kind of signings in the past) or signing older experienced players on free transfers.

 

What is Lambert supposed to do with so little to spend? If anyone's to blame it's Lerner for seemingly not even allowing moderate investment.

 

[SikhInTrinity]

I think the clear thing here is and what fans struggle with is Lambert is doing exactly what the owner wants him to do. We can sit here, complaining about formations, tactics and purchases. Granted he's made many mistakes but he's also done some decent things IMO. He has kept the club up and unfortunately that is what our budget and the owners remit is stretched too. So while fans want us to play pass and move, more progressive football, i can understand to some extent why he takes us down the survival football, with the resources he has at his disposal.

[DelboyVilla]

Southampton IMO have gone from being a good example to a poor one of how to run a club. This summer they have lost so far their manager, their main striker, their captain and creative force, their best young player and look set to lose their best defender in Lovren and their main holding midfielder in Schederlein. They have replaced them so far with an inferior manager and a couple of risky unknowns from the Dutch league. I doubt whether they will be top ten next year.

 

Personally I don't want a manager who makes obvious mistakes realises 1 or 2 years later and then makes a 180 degree turn around to the complete polar opposite. I understand that everyone makes mistakes but Lambert has that anti-midas touch i.e. everything he touches turns to shite.

 

I also think he has not made best use of our academy players which has been a big mistake.

 

Lambert also seems to have created his own cheaper bomb squad.

[SikhInTrinity]

Southampton IMO have gone from being a good example to a poor one of how to run a club. This summer they have lost so far their manager, their main striker, their captain and creative force, their best young player and look set to lose their best defender in Lovren and their main holding midfielder in Schederlein. They have replaced them so far with an inferior manager and a couple of risky unknowns from the Dutch league. I doubt whether they will be top ten next year.

 

Personally I don't want a manager who makes obvious mistakes realises 1 or 2 years later and then makes a 180 degree turn around to the complete polar opposite. I understand that everyone makes mistakes but Lambert has that anti-midas touch i.e. everything he touches turns to shite.

 

I also think he has not made best use of our academy players which has been a big mistake.

 

Lambert also seems to have created his own cheaper bomb squad.

 

I love people bringing this academy into the debate, where have Ciaran Clark, Nathan Baker, Bannan, Delfouneso, Weimann, Gary Gardner all come from? Yes Grealish, Robinson may become superstars but previous evidence suggest the talent we produce aren't exactly world beaters.

[DelboyVilla]

 

Southampton IMO have gone from being a good example to a poor one of how to run a club. This summer they have lost so far their manager, their main striker, their captain and creative force, their best young player and look set to lose their best defender in Lovren and their main holding midfielder in Schederlein. They have replaced them so far with an inferior manager and a couple of risky unknowns from the Dutch league. I doubt whether they will be top ten next year.

 

Personally I don't want a manager who makes obvious mistakes realises 1 or 2 years later and then makes a 180 degree turn around to the complete polar opposite. I understand that everyone makes mistakes but Lambert has that anti-midas touch i.e. everything he touches turns to shite.

 

I also think he has not made best use of our academy players which has been a big mistake.

 

Lambert also seems to have created his own cheaper bomb squad.

 

I love people bringing this academy into the debate, where have Ciaran Clark, Nathan Baker, Bannan, Delfouneso, Weimann, Gary Gardner all come from? Yes Grealish, Robinson may become superstars but previous evidence suggest the talent we produce aren't exactly world beaters.

 

 

 

Lambert wouldn't know what to do with a world beater? Probably put him in the bomb squad?

 

We don't produce world beaters but we have produced our fair share of solid Prem players over the past few years. I'd rather them than cheap foreign imports.

[ArteSuave]

 we have produced our fair share of solid Prem players over the past few years.

 

Have we? The past few years? Who were they then?

 

Edit - From my reckoning the only academy graduates who have shown themselves to be current solid prem players from the past 10 years are Gabby, Whittingham, Weimann, Cahill and Davis.

 

Edit 2 - I really can't see how that is Lambert's fault. I'd rather we gamble and get Vlaar, Benteke and 5 Lunas instead of going with what our academy produces.

Edited July 15, 2014 by ArteSuave

[rodders0223]

Southampton IMO have gone from being a good example to a poor one of how to run a club. This summer they have lost so far their manager, their main striker, their captain and creative force, their best young player and look set to lose their best defender in Lovren and their main holding midfielder in Schederlein. They have replaced them so far with an inferior manager and a couple of risky unknowns from the Dutch league. I doubt whether they will be top ten next year.

 

Personally I don't want a manager who makes obvious mistakes realises 1 or 2 years later and then makes a 180 degree turn around to the complete polar opposite. I understand that everyone makes mistakes but Lambert has that anti-midas touch i.e. everything he touches turns to shite.

 

I also think he has not made best use of our academy players which has been a big mistake.

 

Lambert also seems to have created his own cheaper bomb squad.

 

 

In what way has Lambert realised he has made a mistake and has changed the remit?

 

It is the owner who decides such things with the budgets provided.

Lambert clearly had to reduce the wage bill, whilst buying cheap players on cheap money. He did this and as a result we know have the money to go and add experience to the side.

[DelboyVilla]

 

 we have produced our fair share of solid Prem players over the past few years.

 

Have we? The past few years? Who were they then?

 

Cahill definitely, Ridgwell up until recently, Bannan still in Premiership, Gardner Snr, Albrighton. Weimann is playing for us, as is Gabby, Clark and Baker.

 

Certainly no world beaters but all play in the Premiership.

[DelboyVilla]

 

Southampton IMO have gone from being a good example to a poor one of how to run a club. This summer they have lost so far their manager, their main striker, their captain and creative force, their best young player and look set to lose their best defender in Lovren and their main holding midfielder in Schederlein. They have replaced them so far with an inferior manager and a couple of risky unknowns from the Dutch league. I doubt whether they will be top ten next year.

 

Personally I don't want a manager who makes obvious mistakes realises 1 or 2 years later and then makes a 180 degree turn around to the complete polar opposite. I understand that everyone makes mistakes but Lambert has that anti-midas touch i.e. everything he touches turns to shite.

 

I also think he has not made best use of our academy players which has been a big mistake.

 

Lambert also seems to have created his own cheaper bomb squad.

 

 

In what way has Lambert realised he has made a mistake and has changed the remit?

 

It is the owner who decides such things with the budgets provided.

Lambert clearly had to reduce the wage bill, whilst buying cheap players on cheap money. He did this and as a result we know have the money to go and add experience to the side.

 

Why bother with Lambert then Lerner could just pick the team each week and save spending £2m a year on the whining Scots git!

[ArteSuave]

 

 

 we have produced our fair share of solid Prem players over the past few years.

 

Have we? The past few years? Who were they then?

 

Cahill definitely, Ridgwell up until recently, Bannan still in Premiership, Gardner Snr, Albrighton. Weimann is playing for us, as is Gabby, Clark and Baker.

 

Certainly no world beaters but all play in the Premiership.

 

 

So Ridgewell, Bannan & Baker are good enough to be considered "solid prem players" (your words)?

 

I'll have to respectfully disagree.

[rodders0223]

 

 

Southampton IMO have gone from being a good example to a poor one of how to run a club. This summer they have lost so far their manager, their main striker, their captain and creative force, their best young player and look set to lose their best defender in Lovren and their main holding midfielder in Schederlein. They have replaced them so far with an inferior manager and a couple of risky unknowns from the Dutch league. I doubt whether they will be top ten next year.

 

Personally I don't want a manager who makes obvious mistakes realises 1 or 2 years later and then makes a 180 degree turn around to the complete polar opposite. I understand that everyone makes mistakes but Lambert has that anti-midas touch i.e. everything he touches turns to shite.

 

I also think he has not made best use of our academy players which has been a big mistake.

 

Lambert also seems to have created his own cheaper bomb squad.

 

 

In what way has Lambert realised he has made a mistake and has changed the remit?

 

It is the owner who decides such things with the budgets provided.

Lambert clearly had to reduce the wage bill, whilst buying cheap players on cheap money. He did this and as a result we know have the money to go and add experience to the side.

 

Why bother with Lambert then Lerner could just pick the team each week and save spending £2m a year on the whining Scots git!

 

 

I am not even going to justify this with an argument.

Pathetic.

Edited July 15, 2014 by rodders0223

[romavillan]

How many times is this £2m a year thing going to crop up? Someone posted a list of the highest paid managers in the world, the bottom of the top 20 was less than £2m a year and Lambert was not on the list.

[DelboyVilla]

 

 

 

 we have produced our fair share of solid Prem players over the past few years.

 

Have we? The past few years? Who were they then?

 

Cahill definitely, Ridgwell up until recently, Bannan still in Premiership, Gardner Snr, Albrighton. Weimann is playing for us, as is Gabby, Clark and Baker.

 

Certainly no world beaters but all play in the Premiership.

 

 

So Ridgewell, Bannan & Baker are good enough to be considered "solid prem players" (your words)?

 

I'll have to respectfully disagree.

 

Their bank manager thinks otherwise!

[PussEKatt]

As with anything else in this world ( including managers and players ) you get exactly what you pay for.

[DelboyVilla]

 

 

 

Southampton IMO have gone from being a good example to a poor one of how to run a club. This summer they have lost so far their manager, their main striker, their captain and creative force, their best young player and look set to lose their best defender in Lovren and their main holding midfielder in Schederlein. They have replaced them so far with an inferior manager and a couple of risky unknowns from the Dutch league. I doubt whether they will be top ten next year.

 

Personally I don't want a manager who makes obvious mistakes realises 1 or 2 years later and then makes a 180 degree turn around to the complete polar opposite. I understand that everyone makes mistakes but Lambert has that anti-midas touch i.e. everything he touches turns to shite.

 

I also think he has not made best use of our academy players which has been a big mistake.

 

Lambert also seems to have created his own cheaper bomb squad.

 

 

In what way has Lambert realised he has made a mistake and has changed the remit?

 

It is the owner who decides such things with the budgets provided.

Lambert clearly had to reduce the wage bill, whilst buying cheap players on cheap money. He did this and as a result we know have the money to go and add experience to the side.

 

Why bother with Lambert then Lerner could just pick the team each week and save spending £2m a year on the whining Scots git!

 

 

I am not even going to justify this with an argument.

Pathetic.

 

Won't or can't who cares!

[DelboyVilla]

How many times is this £2m a year thing going to crop up? Someone posted a list of the highest paid managers in the world, the bottom of the top 20 was less than £2m a year and Lambert was not on the list.

£2m or £1m or £500k whatever it is it's still a lot of dosh for the performance received!

[SikhInTrinity]

 

 

 we have produced our fair share of solid Prem players over the past few years.

 

Have we? The past few years? Who were they then?

 

Cahill definitely, Ridgwell up until recently, Bannan still in Premiership, Gardner Snr, Albrighton. Weimann is playing for us, as is Gabby, Clark and Baker.

 

Certainly no world beaters but all play in the Premiership.

 

 

Cahill - granted. Ridgewell has gone to the states, the defender we used to rip the piss out of, Bannan won't feature for Pulis. Gardner a CM converted to a RB, Albrighton - average, Weimann - we slag off, Gabby is the only one who I would deem a success, Clark and Baker, did you watch the performances of them defending. The fans berate these players as not being good enough weekly and you want us to add more of them in. Good idea that.