With Paul Lambert linked, it seems that some fans are unhappy with such an appointment. Why though?
Why do we do this to ourselves? Roberto Martinez was slated when he was a favourite, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was then called naive, and that the approach of the young Norwegian showed a sign of how unambitious and unattractive we where as a club.
Lambert has been marked as a “Martin O’Neill Mark II”, although I do question how that can be seen as a negative.
The concern I have is that it seems analysis is looking more at the negative than the positive, as though fans are more willing to pick holes in the choices being made rather than see the good sides of what is being done. I just wonder why that it is. Yes, the club has had two seasons of disruption, but surely hiring a manager who has done very well recently is a good thing?
People have seen that Lambert has worked with O’Neill in the past and instantly assumed he will just copy Martin “Messiah in his own Mind” O’Neill. People talk about his “great friendship” with O’Neill which would be better described as a professional relationship.
The truth of the matter is Lambert is far closer to Villa’s own club captain, Stiliyan Petrov, than O’Neill, to the point that the Scottish manager has visited our club captain on several occasions.
The three things that Lambert and O’Neill have in common are a large opinion of themselves, a connection with Celtic, and their famed man management. If you’ve watched Lambert this season you will have seen a tactically adept man, out-thinking other managers on the side lines repeatedly. Look at how he managed to “beat” Brendan Rodgers twice this season with a roughly equivalent side.
Lambert is the type of canny manager we haven’t seen at Villa Park for a long while. Our team choices will be tactically very sound, able to switch formations, and be comfortable in them.
The first team will not remain stagnant with the same players being stuck with regardless irrespective of form.
The most important thing, however, is Lamberts determination to play good football whilst maintaining a steely hard to beat resolve.
Yes it is a risk appointing Lambert, but no more or less of a risk than appointing any other manager. However, it should be the kind of risk that people should be happy with.
If we start off next season with a critical approach, where does it go if we do get off to a bad start? What happens if Lambert struggles through the first season? What happens if he has the same issues with some players if he can’t get rid of them?
Then what? Do we sack him? We can’t do that again after three years of changing – we must show patience. If anything has been learned from the past few years it is that having the wrong manager is not the only problem the club have had. It may take another 12 months for Lambert to get the squad how he wants, so lets give him the support and time to try and sort this mess out. Assuming of course Lambert takes the job.
As for criticism of Lamberts supposed “transfer policy”, I do get a tad confused. He’s never had the chance to spend big money (bear in mind Norwich were in League 1 a few years ago when he took over) so it’s no wonder he’s only ever bought lower league players.
His spend was £10m last summer and his wage budget was far lower than that of Rodgers at Swansea, with Norwich having a reported £15k a week wage cap.
Regardless of that, why are we fixated with price? It’s the quality and potential of the player that should concern us, not their price tag. If we pick up a fantastic player for peanuts, would we complain? So why all the question marks?
Lambert has shown in his time he has an eye for a player, always seems to improve them. He has never really had the chance to shop in Europe given the clubs he has manage, but are players he would have been looking for at League 1 and Championship level any better abroad and any cheaper? Not in my opinion.
Lambert has also got coaching badges during his time in Germany in 2004, so he knows about Europe and isn’t afraid of looking at options elsewhere. He has a wealth of knowledge about lower league players, and I’m sure will have contacts in Germany too.
As for the slightly annoying cliches about our “scouting system”, why do people still assume it will be the same as when O’Neill was in charge, ie people will only be scouting in the UK? Both Houllier and McLeish were looking at, or bought, foreign players from the continent so our view is not as restricted as some may think.
Come on Villans – give the new man, whoever he turns out to be, a chance. Positive mental attitude may sound like a cliche, but the fans need to get behind this manager and forget the past. Only then may the future be any different.
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