With Paul Lambert’s first press conference as Aston Villa manager finished, little new came out of the club in terms of what was going to be happening.
Lambert, keen to get the fans on side as he suggested he was not going to be setting targets going forwards, made it clear that the prime focus of his role in the short term is to get the team to play with freedom. In the eyes of the Scottish manager, Villa have a lot of work to do although it was clear to see that taking the job at the club was a chance to build on an already burgeoning career.
Such a choice must have been a no-brainer if we are honest though as after two consecutive seasons of overachieving with Norwich City, Lambert must have been aware that the job was only going to get harder. Contrast that to the Villa job where, after a season of poor performances, Lambert will be given money to spend and a chance to improve on a 16th placed finish.
If you were to be offered both roles at the same level of pay, which would you choose? A continuation of miracles, or an easy job? I’m sure many would have followed Lambert’s path not because of the lure of Villa as a club per se but because of the fact that, for the club from Birmingham, the only way is up.
As fans, we must be glad to see that the board have recognised the need for expenditure. Whilst diligence over Financial Fair Play is both necessary and worthwhile, adopting the strategy the board had initially set for Alex McLeish, had he survived the close season, was going to prove disasterous. Speaking personally, I can only welcome this move, even if it means we operate at less than optimum capacity in the interim.
After all, a club such as Villa quickly became one that fell into the media spotlight for the wrong reasons last year as the management of the club and situation become more and more chaotic. Change was inevitable and, to credit the board, their steps to enact this change quickly should only be lauded.
It also appears, as we had reported in recent times, that transfer dialogues are already under way. Whilst the new manager was far from open about what was happening with Grant Holt, if anything, Aston Villa Life understands that a shortlist of players was presented to Paul Faulkner last week shortly after Villa’s new manager was approached.
To that end, Lambert will most likely spread his risk across many players given his extensive knowledge of lesser known talents, as well as the need for Villa’s team to be bolstered in numbers as well as quality. The bottom line is expect dependable players who are an upgrade on what we have rather than marquee signings, that is unless Randy Lerner feels the need to stimulate season ticket sales.
Whatever happens though, I am sure that fans can be united in two things. Firstly, that Paul Lambert enjoys a long and successful career at Aston Villa and, secondly, that Dave Whelan shuts up forever.
Whilst the former is probably much more likely than the second, I am sure many Villa fans will be far from upset should Wigan Athletic get relegated next year due to their incessant yapping and overhyping of their manager.
Regardless, Villa fans can take much pride in the next steps of the football club, knowing that the future is looking brighter day by day.
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