Lambert’s gone, so what’s next?

175 thought on “Lambert’s gone, so what’s next?”

1. Did u write that article Badger? Or nick it from somewhere else? 😉
   I agree about the shock though. I thought we were stuck with him too. The behaviour of the club has been irrational to say the least.
   I still think we’ll go down. I can’t see any backroom staff who could give the club a short term boost. Lerner deserves relegation. We don’t.

   1. This is all down to sky money. Also too many fans and pundits were putting pressure on and a threatened boycott of Stoke game plus a petition

      1. The roof finally fell in. TV money, results, performances, losing the dressing room, no funding, the media…it all ended in a perfect storm.

2. Aston Villa managerial latest

   Posted at 10:04
   “The new Aston Villa manager will be recommended by the chief executive Tom Fox, with the owner Randy Lerner prepared to rubberstamp his decision. Lerner will not be part of the interview process.
   “Lerner operates out of New York and is hardly ever in Birmingham, as he comes to rely more and more on the advice of his fellow-American whom he appointed as CEO last September. It was Fox who recommended Lambert should be sacked after Tuesday night’s defeat at Hull.
   “Fox will take soundings from Villa’s director of recruitment Paddy Reilly and an inner circle of trusted colleagues before moving in on a target. Coaching expertise will be essential – Villa were short in that area during Lambert’s tenure – and they won’t be put off if their preferred candidate is with another club.
   “Although time is on Villa’s side in that their next Premier League game is not until a week on Saturday when they are at home to Stoke City, Fox will want a swift appointment.

   Interesting piece from Pat Murphy on BBC…i prefer that process and Fox making the decisions – far more in tne with what is needed for the day to day growth of this club

   1. Will be another dour puppet. Probably get fergie to pick our new manager maybe cleverly as manager if fergie has anything to do with it.

   2. Reading between the lines it appears there was little love between Fox and Lambert, Lambert thanks Fatty for his” unstinting integrity and constant dignity” then the statement above says with regards to finding his replacement “Coaching expertise will be essential – Villa were short in that area during Lambert’s tenure”. (Ouch!)

3. Yes I wrote it Bum Bum 🙂
   I’m still a bit dazed, tbh and not really sure what to think.

4. Lambert has released a statement through the LMA – is it a dig at Tom Fox?

   http://www.leaguemanagers.com/news/news-7508.html

   1. Well Jaymo83 I like the bit ,you never stop learning in the game? Problem was, he never did, it was to be expected that Fox could see that Lambert was on a crash course to disaster, for the sake of his own job Lambert had to go, should have been earlier I’ve heard Klinsman is also in the running that wouldn’t be a bad shout.

   2. It looks like a dig at Tom Fox Jaymo, which is a good thing, it shows he thought he was a shit manager, and lets hope Fox picks someone who he thinks can make us proud to be fans again

   3. To put Faulkner in the list of people he thanked and omit Fox looks like that. It’s easy for Lambert to blame his sacking on Fox, as it relieves him of some of the responsibility. Fact is, if results and performances had been up to scratch he would still be in a job. Fox has done the right thing, just a bit late.

5. I dot know why but I har a lot faith in this Tom fox. Let’s get the big fat waiter in please

6. App Foxy requested Lambert to be sacked.

   1. Well at least we can thank him for that.

7. Tom fox will be picking the next manager to..utv

8. I think having Klinsmann at 2nd Fav is telling us that the bookies have no clue yet, and I guess Fox is hoping his mailbag brings a CV or two from managers currently in employment.

   I do not subscribe to the idea no ambitious manager will want the job, they will if the money is good enough, and failure is not the end. Lambert will be well compensated unless there is clause in his contract about being in the bottom 3.

   Some club traditions were maintained with the CEO giving Lambert a “Vote of Confidence” 2 weeks before giving him the tin-tack. A vote of confidence in a football manager is the same as a Final Written Warning in other forms of employment, 1 step before dismissal.

   I have no sympathy for Lambert, he was a rotten coach at Villa. The FA cup each year pitches Premiership teams against other teams who are not at that standard. But you can see lesser teams playing with spirit and all players trying their best, even though you know defeat is their likely fate. That wasn’t what Lambert’s teams have offered – we got resignation and can’t be bothered displays. The same players who gave a lazy and ineffective display in one game, appeared again in the next. The middle of winter seemed to bring on mind-numbing lethargy in every season McLeish and Lambert have been in charge. For that reason I don’t relish the first team coach Marshall, getting the temporary reins. Anybody with that job title at VP should face the firing squad also.

   1. OLL – completely agree with you about the back-room staff: as ex-players and pundits have repeated, there seems to have been little or no ‘modern’ coaching going on at Bodymoor whatsoever, so I’d have fired Marshall at the same time as Lambert.

      I also think you’re correct that the willingness of any would-be manager is basically going to depend on how much £’s Fox/Lerner are willing to guarantee for the summer, and of course just how big a salary figure they dangle in front of their Chosen One!

9. We may be able to get someone like Christophe Galtier at St-Etienne. I know they’re doing well and could make champions league but it’s that jump from Ligue 1 to Premiership and the bumper pay rise that could count.

10. I see in Lamberts statement no mention of I needed more time to turn things around,he knew he was failing big time.we haven’t the strongest squad but I’m sure under the right manager we’d be higher up the league some may disagree.

11. Lambert did say ‘he thought the experience of managing Villa would be hugely beneficial to his future management career.’ That’s for certain, if he observed how to reverse a burger bar onto the pavement in Trinity Rd, when coming in on match-days.

12. So the club has done the only thing they could do which was take Lambert out of the misery,mire he was to deep in.I don’t think they really wanted to sack him hence the Fox phone call he couldn’t face Lambert but I still think they did the right thing.Lambert was failing miserably and putting to much pressure on himself and the club.What I wonder is who had a hand in the about face & the changing of the way Lambert had the team set up from having no possession to all of it?.Whoever is next to command the on the pitch side of things they need to be quick in motivating the players as they look lost.13 games and counting which division will we be in?

13. Rumour has it Fox and Sherwood are close so I wouldn’t be surprised if a deals already been done.

14. The Mail says Lambert was sacked over the phone. Bit shabby if true IMO. Have the nuts to do it face to face.

    BWS I would be surprised if Fox and Sherwood were mates given Fox being at Arsenal. I’m really not sure about Sherwood. He doesn’t look like a yes man so it could end in tears pretty quickly if he was appointed. Give the way he comes across I can’t really see him taking the job without a cast iron commitment to a decent transfer budget in the summer. Doesn’t look like Lerner’s style to me. If he is going to defer to Fox well that may make a difference.

    1. Sherwood’s not top of my list either DS, David Moyes would be but the bookies ain’t usually wrong – they have Sherwood at 1/3.

       1. He does look the likeliest candidate. It’s Lerner/Fox problem for waiting so long to fire him. Can’t see Moyes being interested having taken the Sociedad job. He looks to be getting them out of trouble, and seems to be enjoying life in Spain.

          I think, given the lack of a good choice of free managers, and the short term vs long term requirement we would maybe be better off leaving this until the summer. Assuming of course we do stay up. I still have serious doubts that we will, but at least I feel there is now a glimmer of hope.

          1. How’s about Curbishley? West Ham looked certs for the drop in 2006, he saved their bacon and led them to seven wins out of their last nine games so he’s got form when it comes to relegation scrapes.

             1. Curbishley looked a decent manager at one point. Been out of the game for a while but did play decent football. Maybe worth a shot.

                1. We don’t need another grey dull manager. How about someone with a bit of charisma for once

       2. I’m not completely sure about Sherwood either, but –
          [a] he seemed to have done a pretty decent job at Spurs while he was there, albeit he probably had a better squad to start with;
          and
          [b] if the stories about him demanding all sorts of cast-iron promises from owners before taking a job are true, then maybe he would drag a firm commitment out of Lerner to fund the improvements that will be needed in the summer and afterwards?

          1. Your point (b) – Randy might not be happy but it’d be no bad thing.

             1. If Fox is really in charge of the interviews and appointing in which Lerner will rubberstamp who Fox chooses is correct, then Fox would send Sherwood on his way.

             2. Andrew – not sure I follow you..
                If Fox is appointing the manager, which I’d agree is what’s supposed to happen, at least according to what Pat Murphy’s put out – what’s Fox’s objection to Sherwood going to be?

                Are you saying it’s ‘personal’ or is it that Fox will stickto his existing budget and so rule-out any prospect who demands extra funding {Sherwood included}?

    2. Can anyone on this site make a case for Sherwood as I can’t see why we would want him. Or is it just me

       1. He would play the players in the correct spot and he has an all or nothing approach which could see us get out of relegation trouble. That is about the only positive thing I could say about the guy though. He’d be awful, he’s like a terrible mix of di Canio and ‘arry.

          1. Fair enough hardly wets the appetite

15. I have some sympathy for Lambert but in the end he was his own worst enemy. One of his biggest mistakes was failing to appoint an experienced long term (full time) replacement following the Culverhouse debacle. He comes over as a stubborn and obdurate man with, perhaps, too much self belief!

    At last we see Fox acting as a CEO should. The owner has the money but it’s Fox and the Board that run the business and the owner should be acting on their recommendations not the other way around.

    The bookies may have Sherwood as front runner but just lately he seems to be their favourite every time a vacancy arises. I would have no problem with a ‘heavy weight’ highly incentivised short term appointment to get us out of this mess. Benitez?

    1. I don’t H60 I feel it’s a blessing in disguise for the bloke, he looked shell shocked, mentally f**ked, I think the parting of the ways was best for all concerned.

       Benitez would be nice but didn’t he allegedly ask Randy for £50M? With that in mind I can’t see him making the short list.

       1. Would cost an arm and a leg to get him away from Napoli. Although in the summer he’s a free man. Still his idea that he doesn’t need to play youth players annoys the hell out of me. Serie A teams get these big benches that most teams have 3-4 youth players on plus most if not all their playing staff still, and Benitez decides to have a smaller bench full of just first team players, giving no one but Luperto for injury reasons a place on the bench. We need someone who can notice we have youth players and be willing to give them a go.

       2. Agree there BWS. I would imagine Lambert felt some relief for the axe to fall. It’s not nice to be failing in such a high profile way, and he did look mentally and physically wiped out. It will do him good in the long run, and maybe in hindsight he will see where he went wrong and learn from it.

          Benitez = no chance

          1. Thinks you’re all quite right. The man looked near-enough to cracking; it’s what happens when you keep banging your head against a wall hoping for some different outcome each time. Too stubborn to recognise that he didn’t have the answer, no matter how much effort he put into it.

       3. BWS my sympathy for the guy equates with your view – in that he looked a broken man. I’ve been there in business management and it’s not nice.

          1. Agree that I feel some sympathy, I think he tried but it just wasn’t enough. I put up a couple of video links some days ago of PL now and 2 years ago. It looked like he’d aged ten years.

             By bet is that not only we are relieved at Lambert’s going but he’ll probably have the best weekend he’s had for quite a while.

       4. Would love Benitez would make us very difficult to beat

    2. Would love Benitez sherwood is crap imo can’t see the point of him

16. New manager is Chinese national coach is name is Win OneSoon .

    1. We will probably get his kid, Dim Son

    2. I heard the front runner was Sum Ting Wong? Can you clarify this??

       1. Or his brother foo kin don kees!

17. I heard it was Wan King sum wan

18. haha

    In all seriosness we should be looking abroad and to experience, is Lerner ready to finally spend or buy out contracts? I think probably not.

    Rangnick, Bilic, Benitez or Hiddink please

    1. Oh yeah or Simeone of course, anyone wanna play the game where we name our favorite managers who

       Villa definitely won’t get because we’ll settle with Sherwood because he’s cheap.

       Can any pro-Sherwood fanatics explain to me what he’s done??

       1. Not seen any pro-Sherwood fanatics on here!

          The guy appears to have acquired a reputation for trying to tie owners down to written promises about the support he’ll receive before agreeing to join – some reckon that makes him almost unemployable – so whatever other qualities he has, that would at least be a pointer to what Lerner/Fox’s ambitions really are…

          1. I wouldn’t be happy wit sherwood he’s only had a few months at Spurs and wasn’t great there

             1. He had a 50% win record at Spurs. While I’m not a big fan of his, he was definitely “great” there in his stint and if we won 50% of our games left… We’d be sitting pretty.

    2. Dream on. Why would any of these top managers accept the poisoned challice of being Villa manager and risk their reputation. Most of these managers would be demanding big bucks to buy players and want to be competing in the Champions League. We’re probably more likely to end up with someome from the Championship!

       1. I know Bencey83, but I’ll keep on dreaming thanks! Would be niec though right.

          The main problem would be cashmoney as you say. But the ‘poisned chalice’ thing is bollocks, we’ve just had mediocre managers.

          The two things in our favour here are we are prem club, every manager wantes to manage in the prem and second we’re a big club ‘a sleeping giant’ to quote Maclaren today.

       2. they might make a reputation bencey

19. Fox is choosing the next manager.Fox was bought in to do the hiring & firing.Cant see a man like Fox when choosing his 1st manager choosing an unproven manager who might take us down making him look like a chump.

    1. I was just going to say the same thing. I’m sure Fox will be looking to do everything possible to get someone of quality and experience in. This appointment will define his tenure at Villa and will cement is vision for the club. As much as the club needs a good manager, I guarantee you Fox’s motivations stem from needing someone who will make him look good even if Lerner has to pay for it.
       1. 1. Seems like an astute man of action and won’t be messed with.Think he will want to prove who Tom Fox is by unveiling a proper manager lets hope so

             1. QPR taking Ramsey. We should take laudrup .

             2. Laudrup was sacked at Swansea for taking them towards relegation and being too stubborn to accept any blame for how bad they were playing. We’ve honestly have had enough of those through O’Neill, McLeish and Lambert for 1 decade.

20. Please…not McClaren!

21. Tuchel, Bilic or Klinsmann for me

    1. Not sure if Mainz would let Tuchel go, still under contract and they seem to dislike him, which you’d think means they’d let him go but they haven’t. My first choice.

       Bilic is another one I’d love to see. Another struggle to get out of his contract at Besiktas, but I think it’d be plausible. Has a 55% win record in his coaching career. Much needed.

       Klinsmann we’re not getting out of his USMNT contract. A lot of fans and coaches etc here absolutely think the guy is god’s gift to the USMNT.

22. Big Sam in the last year of his contract at Upton Park so the compo wouldn’t be excessive, couldn’t get more experienced, works on a budget (Bolton) and is a Midlander.
    Any takers?

    1. After Lambert mate I’d take a trained chimp

       1. B’ham Mail
          Cheeta signs 4 year deal at VP.

          1. Ever thought of doing stand up comic BWS. I’ve just coughing up a gold watch.

             1. Bill, Johnny Weissmuller’s is his number 2.

             2. And Maureen O’Sullivan is DOF (-:

          2. BWS Britains got talent you’d win it hands down mate,I nearly fell down a whole laffing.

             1. Giddy BWS and I use to go in the 2 penny crush at the flicks to we Tarzan, its supperman we need or Roy Rogers.

             2. Watch

    2. Could his body handle the pressure and stress? Look what we did to the last 3 managers. I would be afraid we would send him to the hospital.

       1. We could always get a defibrillator for the dugout. Hang about there might already be one from the GH days… Sorted.

          1. Safety first.

          2. BWS I’ve just started on a bottle of whisky the missus bought me for Valentine’s day, so please keep them stand ups coming, with Lambert gone and the thought of a new man at Villa I’m having happy days. Klingsman for me more of a professional man for the job, the rest have no CV that Villa want.

             1. Fairplay Bill get it down yer MATE say hi to the Mrs.

             2. Klinsmann would be the dogs Bill but I just can’t see it happening.

             3. Single Malt or blended Bill?

             4. Sorry mate cheap stuff Bells.

             5. Nowt wrong with Bells mate, enjoy.

    3. West Ham fans still want him out I’m told even though he’s arguably the best manager they’ve ever had

       1. If they do, they’re stupid. He’s not even playing hoofball anymore like he’s “known” for. If they don’t want him, he can come to Villa and bring Kouyate and Sakho with him.

          Also I’ve never witnessed a manager get the best out of Downing like he has. Top 3 goal scoring creators in the league so far.

23. Klopp?????

    1. As long as it’s not Hoddle: would probably bring David Icke as his number 2…

       1. Quality, the first thing he’d do is demand the disabled seats taken out… Well it’s their own fault anyway!
          (No offence meant to any disabled person)

          1. Shit BWS should I get rid of my mobility scooter?.

             1. Mobility scooter hey Bill?
                You must have been a wrong’un in a past life.

             2. BWS I can still out run a gazelle , think it might have been my sports in my younger days, only kidding.

    2. Absolutely dreaming. If he left Dortmund clubs would be sacking their manager’s left and right to get him in.

       1. Not necessarily top four are happy with managers and his stock is Lowcat the moment

          1. Not just talking in England but I’m sure City would get rid of Pellegrini, United get rid of Van Gaal and Southampton would probably reluctantly get rid of Koeman if Klopp came up to them and was like “I’d leave Dortmund for you”. Klopp’s stock just like their players stock is still as high as ever.

    3. Would love Klopp good chance as his stock is rock bottom and BD want shot of him

       1. Dortmund want shot of him? Dortmund still love the guy, as much as he loves Dortmund, which he does.

       2. Oohah do you mean Flopp ?

24. Big Sam for me all day long and he’s a Brummie.

    1. Hitchen I didn’t know that, a Brummie,

25. He aint H60/Bill he’s a yam yam born in Dudlaay.

    1. Sod that he could be a EDF supporter,

       1. Yeah – well it’s closer to home than Glasgow! Wasn’t Big Sam on Villa’s books at one time?

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