This one Lambert stat is reason we should be excited
There have been plenty of posts dedicated to wishing our new manager Paul Lambert well, and while I am of course super happy we’ve got our new manager, I saw this stat and it gave me even more reason for optimism. Courtesy of the twitter team at Opta, I’m sure you’ll agree it makes for very pleasing reading:
‘Paul Lambert used seven different starting formations with Norwich in the Premier League last season. Flexible.’
Just how awesome is that? Firstly it’s nice to be excited about a managerial appointment, and for the first time since O’Neill I’m genuinely happy with the boards decision. Villa fans by and large are equally as pleased, and it’s nice to have everyone back unified and pushing in the same direction.
Lambert looks like he won’t take any messing around and that’s exactly what we need. I hope that some of our misbehaving lot are nervous right now, because I don’t think Lambert will take any of the antics we’ve heard about the last few years. The squad needs sorting out, and I’m really confident he can make it happen. We’re hearing reports that there is a decent amount of money to spend, and as mentioned in a previous post, Lambert has a good record of finding a bargain. He also finds players who are hungry and determined to show that they belong in the top flight. This is another reason I’m excited, because it was horrible last year to see some of our own players looking like they couldn’t give a damn about the club or the fans.
Anyway back to the stat at hand, and it will be nice to see a manager finally mixing it up. I soon fell out of love with O’Neill and a big part of that was his complete lack of a plan b. I’ve seen so many people comparing Lambert to MON, but it’s quite clear that in this respect, they differ massively. Football has changed dramatically in recent times, and you simply can’t use the same players and the same personnel week in and week out. Different opposition requires different ideas and I’m delighted to see that Lambert evidently realises this.
I also read that at times with Norwich, he’d change formation in game, sometimes up to three times. This is how it should be, and we have a core of players here with the ability to adapt well in situations like this.
This is a really good appointment for our club, and now the managerial situation is sorted, we can look forward to some juicy transfer speculation! Good times.
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Just don’t expect it to last too long…
As a Norwich supporter I can confirm the above-you are in for some exciting times but dont expect:
1 Long term commitment.
2 Interesting media interviews.
3 Tolerance of criticism.
I did read somewhere that he’s left every club he’s been at his way so to speak, but at the moment we’re not too bothered with that! It’s just nice to have a manager the fans can get behind, and there is little pressure on him initially given our horrendous season last time out.
To add to this, I also don’t think long-term committment is something we have to be concerned about either. We aren’t the cream of the crop, but we are still one of the bigger clubs in English football (mostly with last season forgotten!) but the caliber of teams that are a “step up” from us aren’t teams that appoint mildly successful managers. Teams like Chelsea, Liverpool, etc. are not going to “steal” Lambart away from us unless we are very successful. And given last season, if we are very successful for two years under him and he leaves for a bigger club. I don’t have a problem with it. He’ll have deserved the move and we have gotten the success we wanted! So that is also to say I agree with your second point, that given our situation I don’t care, because our backs are on the wall and the only way to walk is forward!
Paul Lambert is a perfect fit for Villa. He’s a shrewd player in the transfer market and can get the best from those we have. He sets teams up to cause problems for the opposition and is adventurous. If Lerner can realise Lambert’s ambitions, and provide him with the opportunity to really build something, then maybe there would not be a need for Lambert to move on in a few seasons.
I’m really excited by it mate. You make some good points, and hopefully in a few seasons we’re right back up to where we were with O’Neill. Like you say he might not see the need to move on anywhere if that’s the case. I’m also happy that he appears to not take any messing around, exactly what we need with this squad.
That’s what every fan has said when he’s taken over their club…he’s after one of the big boys.
one of the big boys…well he has now got it…avfc prepared..
There is no reason to believe Paul Lambert will continue job-hopping now he’s arrived at one of the biggest clubs in the United Kingdom.
If he genuinely wants legendary status, then a club like Villa is the place to acheive it – a big stadium, lots of fans, a strong history and, most importantly, no previously great manager.
At Villa, a period of success could make Lambert a cult hero. If he ultimately got to Manchester United, unless he outperforms Sir Alex, he will always be in his shadow.
Smart appointment. Let’s hope he gets a good price for the dead wood, and gets support to re-invest.
A sour note here.
I didn’t want him from May 17th.
Average-to-good manager……. maybe?
Superstar – never !
Ambitious,…Yes.
Loyal….Never!
Any manager who resigns to enable himself to double his wages is a Rat.
Whether he comes to villa (like McLeish) or goes to Inter / Sheff Utd, wherever….
Villa needed a ‘long-term’ manager, someone to invest time and their life in building up the club.
Sorry, but Lambert is using villa as a stepping stone.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Hands up the first person who can identify an articulate and non-mumble interview with him?
Closer to Moyles imo than MON. Someone with a bit of pyshco ub their make-up.
I didn’t want him, because of his baked greed. I wanted Martinez. OK ?
Villa will rue this appointment, mark my words……
Hutton ate my hamster, well he cant be worse than mcleish so i think we can deal with it if it goes bad, altho i doubt it will as he’s a class manager
Just a quick comment about ‘hutton ate my hamsters’ notes – he claims Lambert is using Villa as a stepping stone, implying he will soon enough move on to another club, then later in his comments he compares Lambert to being like Moyles, who’s been at Everton for 10 years !!
And to be honest, if we as consistent as Everton for the next few years, that’ll do me fine rather than the near relegation problems we’ve had over the past couple of seasons.