Quite frankly, my head’s in a spin, as I was really convinced that the club would not sack Paul Lambert under any circumstances during this season.
But now that Lambert has been sacked, I want to be amongst the first to offer him my commiseration.
Not for anything he’s done for the club, you understand, but more for the way he must have suffered in the last few months.
My opinion says he must have gone through a world of hurt with the criticism that has come his way for a long time. No manager wants to keep reading about how poor his team, tactics and results are, but I think the pressure piled on him this season has been somewhat unprecedented: even worse than the vitriol Big Feck faced, I’d suggest.
It’s been mentioned by more than one commenter on here that Lambert has looked ill recently and it’s a point I’d agree with.
I really wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
Hopefully, he’ll take some time out and get himself sorted, before he starts at another club.
And that’s where my sympathy ends.
The brutal truth is that he’s been handsomely rewarded for doing an awful job.
I’m sure I don’t need to mention all the bad records that have been broken, but where else can you get paid so well for doing so poorly?
It’s just shocking really, but anyway, Lambert’s reign is over, so I’m going to leave it there.
So, where do we go from here?
This is the interesting or more likely, worrying part.
The big question is have the club planned for this eventuality?
Why do I have this nagging worry that it’s only down to a concerted effort from the fans yesterday, combined with the Evening Mail actually having the balls to call it as it is and the stupidly monster new $ky deal, that made the club change it’s mind?
Whatever, I was talking to an Albion fan who was insisting that we won’t go down.
A Stokey friend of mine also had a similar view, in that there are three teams worse than us.
My reply to both was “Who? We’d be better with no manager at all and surely even I couldn’t be worse!”.
So what’s my point?
Well, even if the club haven’t got anyone lined up (and it really wouldn’t surprise me if we haven’t), things could hardly be any worse.
Given the improved performances from other teams who have got rid of their manager recently, I’m now interested to see if any of our player’s performances immediately improve.
Regardless, Lambert’s removal can only be good and we should be happy, even if it’s too late.
Ya I gave up on lambert just as late as few weeks ago, after the hull game I gave up on villa surviving this season … I haven’t changed that view, I am more certain we will go down rather than stay up. Lambert is gone and he needed to go in the end, no point for him or the club to continue.
hopefully he has time now to recover. .. Hopefully Villa have enough time to recover.
Another season another write off.
I am glad we gave a manager a chance for a couple of seasons though.
and I still had faith in Lamberts ability to improve us at the start of this season.
but alas I was wrong.
This is the question now on everybody’s mind, who can Villa appoint .. and who would want to take this job?
we are still very much in the shit for now, and even if we get a half decent manager that scrapes us to safety, it will be the same old story next season Until Lerner sells.
Badger agree with your sentiments entirely. I wish Lambert no ill having suffered a near breakdown myself through the pressures of business. As I said earlier, I didn’t think he (or the club) could resist the mounting pressure much longer.
As to a new manager, we need to move quickly and decisively, something else that has been sadly lacking at the club for some time. Whoever it is we all need to throw our support behind him,
I get no particular joy from seeing a manager sacked when i believe that the real blame lies with a bunch of prima dona’s who would not try for Aston Villa. Of course they will amazingly improve (there is no other direction than up when they have played as they have done) for a new manager. As for the tv money, that will not have been news to Lerner who’s advisors will have known exactly what it would have taken to get the deal long ago. Interesting to see who of any quality will want the job. Hopefully an overseas proven manager rather than one of the spare failures on offer. Take a break Mr Lambert, I think you deserved better.
Gerry…well said mate. Lambert has shown more pride, loyalty, integrity and guts than Lerner couldnt accumulate in 3 lifetimes!
Fuck off Lerner, the Villa is OURS
Can I also remind you that the 3 relegated clubs last season ALL sacked their managers at around the same time!
Wake up you lot! Lerner is the real issue here! The players should also hang their heads in shame…..your not fit to wear our shirt!
Does anyone else find it strange that as the day the Birmingham Mail call for his head he is sacked. They must of known as they wouldn’t dare make a statement like that unless they were tipped off
That thought has crossed my mind as well.
It was surprising enough to see BBC Midlands Today giving such prominence to the Mail’s editor – and virtually repeating the ‘Lambert Out’ chorus themselves while doing it – that it almost seemed as if some of the media had gotten the green light from inside VP to go flat-out for Lambert’s head…
Oh fuckoff Langford you’re back minutes and spouting your usual inane Shite, players hang there head in shame? What fucking idiot bought them, trained them, told them the tactics he wanted? Crawl back under your rock you clown.
I’ts a shame others can’t see any further than the end of their nose, like BWS. True, the managers ultimately responsible, but like alot have said, theres a half decent squad in place, which, if I were to say go and play football, should….but they haven’t..!!!!
Even if they hated Lambert and didn’t agree with his management they should still be trying, for the Club and fans……and for that ridiculous wage they ‘earn’ (very loosely) – But they haven’t….I’ts been half hearted dire crap, and that….is also the players fault!!!
Helenius here’s a little trick for you.
Take a tenner our your pocket, rip a quarter inch square from one of the corners (are you keeping up or am I going to fast?)
Now take this quarter inch square and rip it in half again.
Now grab a pen and write on one of the tiny pieces of paper your entire knowledge of football.
Too much space son? No problem, rip it in half again.
I presume that with that contract extension he’ll receive a hefty pay-off, so won’t need to be applying for another job in a hurry. Still, we can wish him well.
If a new name is announced before [say] Saturday then we’ll know that some pre-planning went into this decision; however if it’s like the last few years under Lerner, we’re more likely to see one name after another all distancing themselves from the job – and know that it was another on-the-spot reaction by the club, with no fore-thought.
I think Fox is more professional than that and I think they might have someone already..
Fox was saying how lamberk was doing a good job 2 weeks ago he’s useless another puppet
Well at least we now know that Fox is a ‘traditional’ football guy: the ability to give the vote-of-confidence and then fire the man 2 weeks later is essential!
Paul Lambert’s reaction to being sacked:
“I thought I was excellent. Really excellent”
“I’ll pick myself up and go again.”
Who’s going to want it with Randy the scav at the Helm.I wouldn’t want it and I love the Villa.I did think it strange the other day when Harry Rednapp quit QPR he doesn’t normally quit……Ide go with Harry Rednapp utv
I have a feeling we will have a short term appointment to see us through to the summer. Please no more Scottish Managers. That’s 3 in a row now with little or no success at all.
Was Houllier Scottish???
Gerald McHoullier 🙂
As for Paul Lambert I lay that blame with that disgusting cack of a man Randolph the yellow belly Lerner the coward runs the coward hides they seek him here they seek him there……Randolph your a disgusting pillock who ruins good managers reputations.Unlucky Paul Lambert sorry you had to experience the restrictions you did but your record as a manager at AVFC wasn’t the best.Goodluck…..utv
“Your record wasn’t the best.” Correct it was actually one of the worst – broke so many unwanted records its hard to believe.
He did spend money, he wasted lots on sub standard players, he sent out the same team game after game, played the same formation, the same tactics and mumbled the same excuses. He failed to build a coaching team, and never replaced his assistant. He did nothing to help himself. The players failed, they have been well below par, but its the managers job to manage them and motivate them – he failed time after time. he stuck with his favourites too long and did nothing to help himself. in no other job would he have lasted this long, and probably at no other club.
Lerner reigned in the O’Neill spending excesses, but don’t blame him for the dirge on the pitch – the buck stops with the manager. This squad is big enough, talented enough and well paid enough to do much much better.
We will now find out how much of a footballing man Fox is now. The next appointment will determine what direction we are going in.
Pulis type appointment = keep us up all that matters and same again next season.
Up and Coming Manager = Build for future even if we go down
Benitez type appointment = Going to spend again , so make sure we stay up.
McCleish back = fuck you Villa fans, I can do what I want. It’s my club !
(Last one for amusement purposes only)
Anyone got any champagne
Was so happy when I heard the news but with west Brom winning today too I’m back to being very very worried! We need a really great manager to get us out of this, one that demands success but I can’t think of one that would even think of speaking to us! This is foxes 1st big decision for us, let’s see how good he is.
Lets be honest put all your money on Lennon, he’s probably the only daft enough person to take the job. The next Scottish failure at AVFC.
Except he’s Irish.
Yeah true!
Lol!!!
No to Lennon.
I don’t want another O’Neil chum.
Sherwood for me.
I think he will players give like gabby a massive needed kick up the arwe and get the best out of Bentley look what he with debater.
I just read that again. I am pissed.
Why is everyone into Sherwood what’s he ever done as a manager. He had 5 mins at Spurs that’s it
About the Birmingham mail knowing about this,yea I think they did and to be honest I had an incline when someone phoned up Franksy on WM tonight and said they were at the game and waited for the players to get on the coach and there was no sign of Lambert, the coach left without him. So if that’s true that points to him being fired last night.
The poor guy looked teary eyed in his post game report, so it is possible he knew what was waiting for him.
As someone said today we don’t need to speak about the statistics because they speak for themselves so it could have hardly come as a shock to the fella, he must have known he was on the edge of the precipice.
As for his successor – Mancini?
I agree – I am sure it came as no surprise to him but it always sucks to get fired.
Mancini, of course – at the moment the club is in a sorry state so anyone of his ilk would be fantastic. For me someone like Klinsmann, or any other experienced international manager, would be ideal for the rest of the season. That way we get the experience we need to stave off relegation and the opportunity to sign a proper manager in for the long term over the summer. Otherwise I fear we may end up with some like a Sherwood or Ole Gunnar.
Not sure why Klinsmann is leaving the USMNT for us. People keep naming him and yet I still can’t see him leaving them.
Why would he have to leave the USMNT? If he was brought in until the end of May he could probably do both. I’m not suggesting he is a long term solution but someone to keep us from the drop.
Mancini’s at Inter now, and doing a really poor job. He would be like most of our manager’s bar Houllier and never play youth, typical boring football. Not someone of the ilk we should look at.
Probably right BWS
An interesting possible runner (at least according to the Telegraph) is Paul Clement currently Assistant at Real Madrid.
What do you think?
I don’t feel sorry for Lambert! If he had any pride, he would have walked away months ago with NO PAYOFF. He clung on to the bitter end and will pick up his money. A 2m payoff is what is being reported. Sickening.
I am delighted we have finally got rid, and feel confident we can get ourselves out of this mess (at least the fans will unite behind the team now). In fact, I cant wait for the next game now.
But it just makes my blood boil that he was given a new contract in September. Fans were calling for his head last May, we were crap in preseason, ticket sales were down, the football was rubbish and we get a couple of lucky results, and he gets a new contract. This has now cost the club a lot of money and now put our future in jeopardy. This was another rash, poorly thought decision that went against the wishes of the fans (just like the Mcleish appointment).
Lets just hope, we make a better decision this time. We cant afford to get this one wrong.
Whoever comes in must have the fan’s support if we to have any chance of staying up.
There are not many good free manmagers.
Benno same here, I feel a lot better, my concerns are we just put two of the coaches in charge, I only hope that they are not in the same camp to playing players out of their comfort zone, the blame to me is Both owner and manager, the manager more than the owner, we know he’s a tight arse, but he wasn’t the one that picked and played shite players, our main problem is to get out of that bottom three, we can deal with that tight arse later, but again I feel as if a ton weight been lifted of my back. Up the Villa.
Great decision to ‘flip the coin’ I only hope Mr Fox is in charge of recruitment and we will see his real colours in who we get next….. If its Lerners decision expect cheap
At least we have a chance now looking at it I think it got to much for Lambert.We were and maybe still are going down but Lambert for def was going to take us down.Players let Lambert down massively a lot of games but he always defended them.I think Randy has to change his strategy or piss off quick as ive had enough of his penny pinching.I don’t want him to spend massive amount in footballing £ but at least 7 mills+ for players who are right for the club as its Lerners responsibility to keep us competitive challenging top 8.Lerner needs a good bashing from the media to he’s hasnt helped at all and he’s sposed to be in charge.
Agreed JD, but lets see who we appoint, as no-one of any decent calibre will come without a kitty to spend in the summer…..If we go for it we could get a big name who could keep us up and move us forward, but I have a funny feeling we may just get a cheap cover to keep us in the premiership and paper over the cracks.