There are so many ways for a manager to approach his team. Finding that sweet spot can be a long road. So many have crashed and burned they could start their own league. Were they all that useless?
The set up in this league leaves only one person with a rope around his neck when he signs on and that is the manager. Twitchy owners, reticent players, no talent, fans baying for blood-it all falls in the manager’s lap. Anyone want to give it a go? Very few get past that first turn.
Ferguson, Wenger, and Moyes comes to mind. Did any of them have huge success to start their careers? Or did they have patient owners? Hopefully Pardew will have success with a long term contract.
Is the hounding managers’ get just human nature?
People are a lot like pack animals. There are the fans, the media, and the players. They all belong to a pack, we just don’t call it that. The dynamics of the practice field or locker room has a hierarchy and where people fit in. It is up to the manager to keep things in control.
McLeish had a few problems with player conduct. Look at the mess that fell into Houllier’s lap with a punch up at his love in. There can be only one alpha male in the dressing room, and that has to be Lambert. He has to bring his best to the table right from the first day, a date that is only a short three and half months in the past.
Not only that, he has to sort out the leaders, the followers, and the ones who will try to undermine his position. And that is on top of rating the talent each player brings.
Misplaced egos can always create problems. Alpha dogs don’t like those that challenge their authority, neither do alpha dogs like to be put in a new pack – I’m thinking of Darren Bent and Charles N’Zogbia here. Both forced their will on the last manager in my opinion, and he had trouble handling it.
By comparison, I’m guessing Lambert is using the bench to push his will on the players. Such a move isn’t really confrontational but more than a strong hint at who is the boss and it isn’t going to change, neither should it change.
It was his first order of the day-to fill the bench with players he can use. It’s Lambert’s way – like it or lump it – and I doubt much is going to change his mind. It’s what he has to do to keep tabs on the team. He is the leader.
It is about the leader, but followers have to do their jobs right too
Within the team there are leaders and followers. An example is Ron Vlaar – he is a leader on the field and, in all likelihood, in the dressing room too. This happened quickly, perhaps another blow to a few egos.
We spend a lot of time talking about the team gelling on the field and it is, even if it isn’t always as fast as some fans might want. However, there is also a new hierarchy being formed in the dressing room and that might take a little longer. After all look at all the new players that have shown up – they aren’t what I would call a hippie dream.
What Villa do have is strong willed players and some players with experience. They will come to the forefront in due time, or they will prove themselves incapable of leading and will be gotten rid of – it is up to Lambert to make sure no bombs go off during this period.
In the future, I would think that players will be recruited not only for their abilities on the field, but also their character to be the glue that holds the team together. Give Lambert time – two or three years in reality – to put in place an environment where everyone knows their place on the team, and the needs of their contribution to the team. Give Lambert that time and I, for one, think there will be a great harvest to reap from just a little patience.
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