Lambert’s woes at Villa have an all-too familiar feel to them for anyone who once witnessed Walker’s travails on Merseyside…
Tue 15 Jan 13 by Rick Waghorn
By one account I read, Villa owner Randy Lerner is ‘exasperated’ about his team’s present plight.
The same account insisted, however, that the club’s US-based owner will reach for his cheque book first transfer-wise before pulling the plug on Paul Lambert’s short-lived and troubled reign at Villa Park.
Judging by the reaction of the Villa faithful to the painful Capital One Cup display at Bradford City in mid-week and the 1-0 home defeat by relegation rivals Southampton at the weekend, exasperated would probably sum up the mood of a restive Holte End.
A brief respite came in the FA Cup success against Ipswich, but restless and natives will be in the same sentence again this weekend if Saints reverse is followed by derby defeat to the Baggies.
Slump further into that relegation mire as Harry wheels and deals his Rangers charges through the transfer window and how Lerner plays his hand in the next couple of week’s will be crucial to the Scot’s managerial future.
For just as you sensed that the travelling Villa supporters did as much as anyone to haul the ex-City chief across to the Midlands with their ‘One Paul Lambert!’ routine in that final home game of the season at Carrow Road, so they could do just as much to hurry him on his way.
Which is why Lerner – the son of an ex-US Marine, if memory serves – will need to display suitable courage under fire to keep Lambert in position.
The point of this piece is not to dance on anyone’s managerial grave nor to point accusing fingers at Lambert for believing that the grass was that much greener in Birmingham.
Rather to ponder just how hard it must be to manage ‘star’ players of a certain age and disposition. Particularly when your own individual reputation rests on it.
Coaxing the best out of a 28-year-old Darren Bent was always going to be one of the acid tests of his ability to ‘step up’ to the next level.
Bent commands a weekly wage packet that would dwarf anything that anyone at Norwich was on; let alone a Colchester or a Wycombe. And has done now for sufficient years to ensure that he might have grown fat – mentally, if not physically – on the proceeds.
How you keep your supposed ‘star’ turn wanting it week in, week out is the $64 million dollar question for all managers seeking to better themselves on the highest of stages.
The difficulty for clubs of a Villa’s ilk is that without the untold millions that a Manchester City can command – and, therefore, can ‘afford’ to have Mario Balotelli off with a sick note – is that both owner and supporter notice when their highest-earner is AWOL.
It tends to stick out more like a sore thumb – and it becomes the focal point of all-too much of the debate and over-shadows all else that Lambert can clearly deliver.
From tactical nous and nuance like you wouldn’t believe to that Champions League winners medal still sat on a mantelpiece somewhere, Lambert has so much in his managerial locker; so much that, in theory, should command the respect and attention of the Bents of this world.
Rising to the challenge of the arrival of Christian Benteke would be what most right-minded punters would expect – just as City skipper Grant Holt did to the arrival of Steve Morison.
Instead, Bent has been in and out of the team, the captaincy has gone and now he is the subject to the transfer rumour mill – West Ham United being one of his apparent suitors.
None of which will play well with the supporters. Equally, none of which matters if Benteke is doing the business. He papers over the Bent cracks and Lambert is the hero – easing Bent’s wages out of the door as the young, hungry heir to his strike throne revels in his Premier League opportunity.
And ‘owes’ the Gaffer for giving him the opportunity. And puts a shift in, accordingly.
It is fascinating to watch. And for those with longer memories, smacks all-too much of the trials and tribulations that followed Mike Walker as he walked out of Norfolk and sought further fame and fortune at Everton – where Duncan Ferguson would play a large part in shaping Walker’s fate.
Big Dunc. As in ‘He’s tall, he’s skinnie; he’s in Barlinnie…’
Personally, I hope Lerner stays the rod and spares the manager; that time is granted to Lambert to mould a side far more into his way of thinking.
Whether the footballing fates will be that kind to him, however, probably hangs in the balance.
Not heard a single villa fan call for Lamberts head, I personally would keep him even if we went down.
I don’t expect much change off the west brom game either however as we all know, its a funny old game who knows how it will pan out, we are defo in trouble that’s a fact.
Not dancing on anyones managerial grave…?? Not much your not, lol however. He’s not quite dead just yet. Norwich are doing great and all the best to you, I actually would have loved hewton at villa. Blues manager or not, he seems a class act, but u and I both know ( this season not withstanding) in football terms the grass is defo greener at villa than Norwich, with no disrespect intended you are a yo-yo team most likely due to your location and fan demographic. Enjoy your time in the sun, you know only too well how dull it is in the 3rd tier
Dion there must be something wrong with your hearing, as there was a chorus of boos at the end our your defeat to Southampton to the weekend.
Lambert has a big problem sorting out the inherent problems within the Villa squad. Whether he will be given time to sort things out, I guess we’ll find out sooner or later!
I can’t say I am surprised at the way things have gone at Villa, Lambert underperformed with Norwich last season – which explains why he left – he is an attacking coach that struggles to organise the defence (Norwich didn’t keep a clean sheet until February last year), and Villa is a club with historic issues with the squad – Bent, Ireland, Dunne – and the Petrov situation can’t have a helped – so his attempts to rebuild the club were always going to be difficult… especially given the Villa fans.
What surprises me is the way Lambert has reacted post match. When he was at Norwich, win, lose or draw, he always said ‘I thought we were excellent’ – it became a bit of a standing joke (he even said it after the Tranmere match that stalled out coronation in League 1). Yet I haven’t heard him say it once since he has been at Villa.
As for comparisons, if Lambert can offload the overpaid old guard, and re-find his taciturn non-committal optimism, there is no reason why he can’t replicate another Norwich manager, who achieved roughly the same with Norwich, Ron Saunders.
But as you say it is a matter of time, and the whims of Randy Lerner.
Truth is ,we had problems before Lambo arrived.
Unfortunately,he has made them 10x worse.
Its a big job,lot of pressure,don t really know if he s quite up to it.
As for Norwich,you re doin well and I believe got the best of the deal management wise.
Hope you go on to establish yourselves in the epl.
Be nice to see you pip Manure to the title this year.
ATB UTV
Boos perhaps I was away I didnt hear , I meant in pubs on busses on trains, where the masses talk. I’ve not heard. Calls for his head
Hello Rick
I do enjoy your stuff RE:Norwich, Villa, and Lambert but I think this time you are wide of the mark my old son.
The internet is indeed full of wailing Villa ‘fans’ calling for this and that – but Villa Park and our away support are not.
That should tell you all you need to know about certain types of football fans.
We are not ecstatic – but we can see what Lambert is trying to do – and we will stick with him and with our young side whatever division we find ourselves in – because they and he – will come good.
Best of luck.
Dion you have Not heard a single villa fan call for Lamberts head blimy you cant sit in the same stand as me or drink with the same people after the game, it was 50/50 before Southampton i think the majority would get rid now if there was a suitable replacement, but there lies the problem
Dion… have a brief read of the Villa talk forum, youJll see the majority that post would like shot of.
Steve. The number of people. who voice an opinion on a forum, would nearly total a hundred, the thousands. Who pay their money. And go to games.. I.e. true fans. Are nit calling for his head, in the same way as our chief exec. Doesn’t have to go on a loud hauler to. Gee up some support from the fans… “…where are you… ” etc…. Sorry couldbt resist. Xx
Cb. Your right I guess we talk to different people. It’s ugly. At the moment but Lambert is quality
believe!