Geoff Bird has submitted the following. It’s slightly edited to remove names, so criticism is a little more indirect. We don’t want main articles pointing fingers at the writers, there’s plenty of room for that in the replies. Thanks;
Ok scribes, get ready, because whatever the result is this afternoon, you will be on here tonight anyway slagging off Paul Lambert. That’s just the way it works. Whatever stupidity MON drilled down upon us, some of us on here defended him as if the sun rose in his backside every morning.
With Lambert, it is in reverse. I almost thought the other day when the author of an article was frothing at the mouth, he was on the verge of accusing Lambert of paying Cieran to break Kozak’s leg so that he could divert attention away from some throwaway lines. About how the FA Cup wasn’t the life and death experience that defined some commentor’s very existence.
But if we win tonight they will be on here screaming Sun-style nonsense like “Lamberk’s (very imaginative) players care, even if he doesn’t!” If we draw or lose it will be because he has bought poor players, or not played the poor players he’s bought, or, for conspiracy fans “because Lambert had dispirited the players by osmosis with his negativity.”
Get set, on your keyboards…go!
I reckon Lambert does care, I just don’t think he’s very good at tactics, team selection and substitutions.
I actually think that’s a bit unfair Geoff.
You make out like people have wanted Lambert to fail from the off, where that simply isn’t true, imo. He’s had the vast majority of the fan’s confidence ever since he came and many bought into the plan.
I can’t say I was madly convinced about him (the best of a bad bunch) and certainly never bought into the plan, but I’d say I was a minority back then.
Anyway, like I say, the majority supported him and it’s only recently that many have turned, with the shit performances and boring footy that we’ve had to endure.
I even gave Lambert a bit of credit in my thoughts after the Sunderland game!
Lambert will only get stick if we play poorly against a struggling league 1 side.
And rightly so, imo. It’s his team and he’s had long enough.
Its now pretty obvious that Gary Gardner has no villa future, another great prospect leaving. I don’t know why but this has made me anti Lambert.
Its strange because PL has actually said he rates GG..
well I think its clear he doesn’t? I know hes short on match fitness and actual games but surely today if we could get a couple goal lead, give him 20 minutes at the end?
Lambert has named a very strong side against Sheffield United. Only three changes and out of those, Steer is the only player that doesn’t feature too often.
So 3 changes, 1 enforced. So who is telling the truth? PL (who spoke what most managers are really thinking) or the managers playing the PR game who were quick to pledge their love for the Cup and have made wholesale changes?
I see a hell of a lot of PL managers have made from what im hearing an average of 6 changes are they playing to win the game to progress?bollox like RW states it’s all pr shite i think villa have put out almost a full strength team.
17 changes norwich v fulham.where’s their priorities then?at least lambert had the balls to say what he did.
Lowton CH ? Also gets a big cheer from the Sheffield fans.
1 down
I have a season ticket, my judgement on Lambert is his tactics, the FA Cup is the one competition where anything goes results wise. If we get thrashed then he will rightly be lambasted especially if our pass completions and possession stats are as bad as they have been
Have to agree with the article to some degree, i mean other conspiracy theory articles like kozaks leaked broken leg story to distract the fans from what Lambert said would be hilarious if the guy wasn’t being completely serious! It was a ridiculous article from somebody that is only a fan of villa when we are in bad form and then gives up supporting the villa when we are doin well! And he is right there is noting that Lambert can do that the fans won’t slate him for! Darren bent just scored for fulham, wait for the calls to have him back now haha clueless isn’t the word.
Is this an article?
1 down to the mighty blades!
I’m just completely lost for words, not just Lambert who has his views on the FA cup, but for managers taking away the fans day out, that’s a sin in my book, The cup to me is what every fan wants to win, is this now the changing face of modern day football, to be honest I will not renew my seats, that will also make others follow, empty seats in ground’s youve lost that atmosphere and don’t bother to go again. It happened in the 70s the ground was empty,its gong to come again IMO.
..and they all came crawling back in the early 80’s, claiming to be die hards.
Blow hards, more like!