Last August, at the beginning of the season I wrote an article about the inexperience of our side, in particular the back four. PL has had two transfer windows to get the ride side on the pitch and, contrary to popular belief, has had a lot of money from RL to do so.
Essentially, he has been backed by Lerner with over 23 mil to spend, a sum that would make most other PL clubs envious. In fact, I think I read somewhere that we were the third highest spending club since RL took over (could be wrong). In my opinion, Paul Lambert is the problem, and a big one at that. We have been knocked out of cup competitions by two lower league teams now, but that is the least of our worries with relegation looming.
I believe that Paul Lambert has used our club for selfsh reasons. AV are a means to an ends. He has his eyes on a bigger club, and wanted to fill his CV with success at Aston Villa by using kids. The problem is, when you start the season with a back four who had played a grand total of ZERO top flight games, and essentially stick to that formula, things are not going to be pretty. For a man who has some experience in management and a lot in playing, how the hell did he think the season was going to pan out by having such a young squad, many from the lower divisions. If you put a Championship (I am being very generous here) team on the park, expect a Championship performance.
How arrogant and disrespectful for this incompetent man to buy players (Benteke aside) not worthy of wearing the Villa shirt. Take Bennett for example. He is possibly (no, he IS) the worst Villa player I have ever seen in 23 years of supporting the Claret and Blue. Worse than Balaban, worse than Knight and even worse than Berson. Yet, he insists on playing him week after week, despite the fact he often gives the ball away, has rubbish positional sense, makes rash tackles, thius giving away free kick after free kick. This man thinks he is Roberto Carlos given the runs forward he makes (most to no avail). Is this what we have become? A club of players like Joe Bennett?
Take his 'back to basics' rhetoric in the lead up to the Milwall game (which we inevitably lost). This interview is typical of PL and his lack of tactical nous. Referring to conceding at set pieces he said:
" Sometimes the delivery is far too good, but the ones weve conceded of late (more like all season PL), we are not dealing with bog standard balls".
What is a bog standard ball? Are you suggesting that if a delivery is of a certain standard, we have no hope of defending it? Great way to set the bar high Mr Lambert!
The next quote gives an example ofthe generalisations he has been throwing our way all season, and as such, his lack of football intelligence.
"You have to take the rough with the smooth in football. You can't be too up or too down".
Too up or too down? WTF? When has our up been?
Have you noticed he loves a good cliche. He is the most inarticulate manager we have had in recent times. He loves to say that 'we will pick ourselves up' or we 'won't roll over and die' or the best one 'we will fight'. Guess what Mr Lambert, these are basic expectations that all PL clubs should have as a bare minimum! What about instilling a decent system of play at Villa that doesn't involve knocking a long ball to Benteke? How dare you insult the Villa fans that pay their hard earned cash and make them watch your team embarrass themselves week in week out. It was a big risk for you, it could have made you look like a genius by having such a young squad, but in reality, it never was going to happen. All that you will probably do, is get Villa relegated our of the PL for the first time. That will look great on the CV eh!
McParland the great, do you still believe in PL? I say this with the utmost respect to you, because you said that the defence will gel eventually and you were not concerned. It seems selling Collins and leaving Warnock in thw wilderness has come back to haunt Lambert.
So, in summary, in my humble opinion, I am depressed as a Villa fan. I have almost become immune to losing and this, 2012-2013 squad is by FAR the worst I have seen in well over two decades of supporting the team I love. PL has experimented with our once competent club and has made a laughing stock out of us. I mean, how NAIVE to suggest that spending 23 million quid on this bunch of crap was going to get us anywhere. Lerner has backed Lambert and backed him well. I can understand why he has no funds for this window. Knowing that Lambert has wasted so much money on utter dross, would you again, open the chequebook to him.
Lambert must go. It is as simple as that really. Protests must start ASAP.
I look forward to his post match comments, I can picture the cliches:
'We will pick ourselves up', 'were in for a fight' etc etc.
JUST GO!
Go now.
posted on 25/1/13
hallgreenfox, with all due respect, 7 months and 23 million quid is more than enough time to get it right. Regardless to what he did at Norwich, he has failed at Villa.
We did not expect a Premiership or even a top six finish, just an improvement, maybe 12th place or thereabouts. So, as we approach the end of January, we find ourselves fighting the drop and being dumped out of the League Cup by a team that cost 7,500 quid and is in the fourth tier of football. THAT is failure. We are not Norwich. I don't care what he did there. The fact is, he has poisioned our club and made us the laughing stock of the Premier League.
posted on 26/1/13
Wow, I thought I was reading the Bradford post match interview with PL. This is what he said after our latest (Millwall):
"You take your medicine, pick yourself up and go again. There's no way you can lie down."
and this ispiring gem:
"We conceded from a set-piece when we were up a goal and their second goal was just a crossed ball,".
What a fantastic analysis.
FECK OFF PL.
posted on 26/1/13
Hi Aussie - Do I still believe in Lambert? Deep down I am, if not a cynic, at least cautious. I never totally believe in anybody. I try to understand what they're trying to do, look at what they are doing, and look at where they might be going. Let's look at the bare bones of our current state.
Good: We played well against Swansea. And against Baggies (Gabby's goal was a brilliant team effort). And against Bradford (on top most of the time). And against Bradford 2nd leg, for the first half.
Bad: At set pieces we might as well give them the ball and say go and put it in the net. That's terrible. And when they do we get frightened and run around in circles for half an hour. Even worse.
Question: What's wrong? Strangely, it isn't usually the defence. The defence lives dangerously at times, but actually we don't get punished for it that often. The set piece thing involves the whole team, not just the defence, and it's largely the rest of the team, or individuals, not doing their job. I've no doubt about Lambert going over things again and again on the training ground. But it's not working out on the field.
Why? Mainly lack of experience. Possibly in some cases even lack of ability. Possibly even Lambert being too stubborn to modify his defensive set up to take account of the abilities he's got to play with. Mind you, it is a long time Villa problem; remember how, under Kevin Mac, having thrashed West Ham in our opening game, we then crumbled against Newcastle, and that was with a vastly more experienced team.
And why run around in circles? Lack of leadership, particularly in the middle of the park. And tactically we tend to lack width, which under pressure becomes even more acute.
What does this come down to? Too many inexperienced players. And you're right, Lambert must bear some responsibility for that. But, remember when he came, fans went overboard about shifting out the aging dead wood, Collins, Cuellar, Hutton, Dunne, Warnock, even Bent. Buying players like Vlaar, Benteke (not sure about KEA) from abroad seemed a good idea; I still think it was. And I wasn't too worried about the players from lower divisions, but then I didn't think they'd be used quite so much.
Your question about Lambert indulging in some grand experiment is a valid one, although I'm not sure of the answer. I'm not at all sorry that Collins and Cuellar have gone; they weren't good enough, they've cost points at their new clubs, and Collins was a major negative force in the dressing room. I can see why Lambert decided it was better to go for wholesale renewal. But he may have gone too far too quickly. He did say that it was always open for Warnock and Hutton to play a part in future; did he mean it? Was it necessary to force them to train with the second team? Could he not have managed Bent in a different way? I think he's made mistakes, although individually they may not be terminal.
I've no doubt that Lambert is intensely ambitious. But I'm not sure you're right about this just being a stepping stone to somewhere else. Yes one day he intends to move on. But I think that Villa is a big club which is underperforming attracts him; he wants to build something good, and when he moves leave a legacy behind him. If he succeeds, it will be good, very good for Villa because I think his underlying ideas are right.
Where does that leave us? Basically, at the moment out of the bottom three, which is good. And our future is in our hands, unlike say QPR. But we have to start winning. We CAN win games. I'm not sure if the problems on the pitch can be solved, or if the good stuff we have will save us, but there's no point in not trying. I think the odds favour us. Just.
And Lambert? No point in dwelling on him. It won't solve our problems. Managerial change would likely make things worse. You may have doubts, but I think we have to see how things go.
posted on 26/1/13
Aussie, you have plenty to say about Lambert's perceived failure but what is your proposed solution?
The £23m you repeatedly mention is, I'm afraid to say, chickenfeed in the Premier League (your star striker cost that for example) and would probably pick you up three half decent players.
Lambert is not a bad manager. Your team is stuck in a terrible rut and I believe that many of its problems are psychological ones. Unfortunately I think they may run too deep to be reversed, although I think you will (just) stay up.
Lambert needs to be given until at least October - give him a proper transfer window to clear out some of those wastes of space you have - when your senior players set the kind of examples that N'Zogbia and Ireland do it's no wonder your younger players don't know where to turn.
And it's hardly surprising Lambert hasn't been able to add to the squad this window - who in their right mind would come to Villa right now?
Changing managers now will likely cause more harm than good - look at the likes of my team (Leicester) and others such as Coventry, Forest, Blackburn and so on, who have repeatedly and misguidedly chased success by changing managers every few months. It doesn't work.
You lot need to strap yourselves in for a rollercoaster til the season's send, allow Lambert the summer to rebuild properly (accepting the financial constraints your club has) and get behind him once again. And if you're still flirting with relegation come October/November by all means re-open this debate.
posted on 26/1/13
"Aussie, you have plenty to say about Lambert's perceived failure but what is your proposed solution?"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would have thought the title of my thread might shed some light on that.
"The £23m you repeatedly mention is, I'm afraid to say, chickenfeed"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chickenfeed you say. Hardly. It depresses me to think of how, out of that money, he only has Benteke to show for it. Still can't believe we actually paid money for Bennett, Lowton etc. Chickenfeed? Not many other clubs have spent that much, barring the obvious heavyweights (and even some of those haven't).
"Lambert is not a bad manager. Your team is stuck in a terrible rut and I believe that many of its problems are psychological ones. Unfortunately I think they may run too deep to be reversed, although I think you will (just) stay up."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you Paul Lambert? Seriously? Not a bad manager? Hmm, losing to Bradford over two legs, then Millwall, spending the whole of this season hovering over or in the relegation zone. If he is not a bad manager, what is he then? Don't care what he did at Norwich. Villa is a much bigger club, completely different kettle of fish. He has been tested, and he has found to be wanting. You mention psychological problems quite correctly. Roughly, a complete lack of confidence. Do results not breed confidence? Whose job is it to get results? Thats right, the manager's. If Lambert actually managed effectively, we'd be getting results and confidence would be high. The buck stops with the boss.
"Lambert needs to be given until at least October - give him a proper transfer window to clear out some of those wastes of space you have -"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
You must be jesting. He HAS had a full transfer windown (two actually). He failed to sort the Warnock and Hutton situation out, sold Collins and Cuellar and purchased players that are a complete embarrassment, aside from Benteke. He stubbornly leaves quality players on the bench such as Holman, Albrighton and Bent, meanwhile, we are getting relegating and beaten by teams like Millwall and Bradford.
"And it's hardly surprising Lambert hasn't been able to add to the squad this window - who in their right mind would come to Villa right now?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
And why might that be? Whose fault is that?
"Changing managers now will likely cause more harm than good - look at the likes of my team (Leicester)"
Please don't compare our clubs. Apples and pears. A managerial change is exactly what is needed, NOW before its too late. A new manager would change the culture. I mean, right now, we have completely crap players like Bennett knowing that when they put in a bad shift (which is virtually every game) they will play again come Saturday. A new manager would enable a clean start for the players who haven't been selected every week and make those complacent players pull their fingers out. This might just save us. Also, a new manager, with a bit of tactical nous and common sense, might just see that Darren Bent, Mark Albrighton, Brett Holman, Stephen Warnock etc aren't that bad after all.
"And if you're still flirting with relegation come October/November by all means re-open this debate."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh, can we? Really? Thanks!
posted on 26/1/13
Your reasonable and entirely justified points miss a couple of uncomfortable truths.
It seems that Lambert has been told to offload a lot of the big earners, the names of those you mentioned that have already gone proving the point - this, presumably, to be able to compete as the Financial Fair Play rules begin to be rolled out.
The second is around responsibility and accountability. Yes, Lambert's job is to do the best with what resources are made available to him. But if Lerner, for whatever reason, no longer sees bankrolling Villa as a viable option then I'm not sure how much of a difference a new manager would make. And how many managers would want to come and work for an owner who puts those kind of constraints on him?
You mention Norwich as though Villa somehow operate on a completely different level to them. OK, your average attanedance might be a few thousand more each week, but you both operate to a tight budget. Lambert proved he could do it at Norwich and I'm guessing that his appointment at Villa had less to do with his ability to potentially win European places and more to do with 'surviving' when the financial noose is tightened.
posted on 26/1/13
i dont think this is down to lambert... think this humiliating run is down to the 8-0 loss at chelsea.. everything was going in the right direction before that game until we finally hit form and destroyed a in form norwich at carrow road and going to anfield and winning well.... then we played chelsea and nothing has been right since... a heavy loss like that can hit any team hard but not as bad as it would hit a very young inexperienced team.
A good win will spark some confidence as long as we can stay away from an heavy defeat there is a chance for recovery
posted on 26/1/13
A good win will spark some confidence as long as we can stay away from an heavy defeat there is a chance for recovery
************************************************************
Wish I could share your optimism.
Just feel that PL seems clueless. Saying that however I think we are now stuck with him until the end of the season at least.
posted on 26/1/13
Aussie - I think you believe what you want to believe. Was only Benteke a good buy? Vlaar is at least as good as Collins or Cuellar. Lowton is definitely a decent player, as is Westwood. Bennett is a bit weak as a left back but looks as though he's quite a decent midfielder. KEA is a solid player but still finding his feet (or was before he went off to Africa). And so on. Question is, who else could we have bought for other than a vastly over-inflated price last summer? The names quoted would generally have cost a lot and would have wanted high wages. Not on in today's climate.
You say Lambert had a transfer window last summer. But a new manager coming in has to assess what he already has, come to a decision about what he needs, then try to find players to fit. Very difficult to do in that first transfer window. MON when he arrived made hardly any new signings.
Lambert said way back before the Liverpool game, when things had started to gel, that we needed some more players; if we're not getting them then it's hardly Lambert's fault.
A new manager now? But a new manager would have to work with the same players. If they're not good enough under Lambert they're not good enough under a new manager. That's the harsh truth. And who would the new manager be? Is it better for Lerner to spend money on a manager change, or buy new players?
posted on 26/1/13
McParland, you are ever the optimist, bordering on apologist. Your assertion, still, that our issues don't necessarily lie with our defence is testament to that. At least now, you agree with one of the concerns I had at the start of the season, and that is a lack of experience in the squad.
Vlaar is an average player. Lets face it. We just want him to be the next Laursen, Southgate or Mellberg, but sadly he isn't. The reason he looks fairly good is because he is surrounded by amatuers. So, yes, I stick by my original assertion that Benteke is his only decent signing. The jury is still out on KEA.
O'neill brought in Ashley Young, Stan, Carew, Maloney etc in his first year. What has Lambert done? He has wasted the money given to him on dross. Good managers spend smartly, he clearly hasn't.
Yes, a new manager now. How many times do I have to justify this. I will again, however. You say that a new manager would have the same players to work with, hardly. A new manager would most likely be less stubborn with team selection and give players like Albrighton, Bent, Holman, Fonz, Makoun, Hutton, Warnock etc a chance. There is a lot of experienced players who have the experience to get us out of this mess, yet because they are the wrong side of 25, Lambert does not want to play them regularly. Put simply, a new manager would be a breath of fresh air for the club and would create a new climate within the squad that would lift the players to perform. At the moment, because of Lambert's rigid team selections, things are stale. He has his favourites and they play consistently. Look where that has got us. I would rather we bit the bullet and sacked him now, bring in someone like Di Matteo now before it is too late.
Did you hear Lamberts latest cliche ridden interview post Millwall? 'We won't lay down' etc etc. SICK OF IT.
The man is inept and not fit to manage this club. I am glad you are optimistic about him, because there is a growing army of fans who want him out. I was right at the start of the season about our lack of defensive experience and I hope I am wrong when I say that we will be relegated.
Yes, we needed to bring the wage bill down and live within our means, but that doesn't mean you cannot field a competitve team. He has made poor choices and we are now paying for that. He wanted to make a name for himself by achieving with a young squad, but his grand experiment has come at a huge cost. I feel for the fans who pay for their tickets and mechandise week in week out, knowing that the team they will watch is the worst team in many years.
McParland, enjoy your optimism, I just wish I had it.