[Archived] Official: Paul Lambert Appointed Blackburn Rovers Manager

[ada2020]

Summer spending? We'll see, spells it out clearly here that he was assured of funds which is why he came.

http://m.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/14320206._Never_tell_me_the_odds______Paul_Lambert_confident_Blackburn_Rovers_can_beat_Burnley/

[Amo]

Lambert has thrown down the gauntlet for his players to get a result at t'Turf. Can just imagine if that was Bowyer, he'd be prattling on about Burnley's transfer budget compared to little old us.

[K-Hod]

Ultimately, it's only ever 11 men against 11 men. The players seem to be becoming more and more aware of that, play the game, not the occasion.

[donnermeat]

This is EXACTLY what you want to hear from your manager before a derby game. He's trying to change the whole ethos and as K-Hod said, it looks like it's getting through to the players at last. Helps also by the fact with the players he's brought in too.

[Neal]

Summer spending? We'll see, spells it out clearly here that he was assured of funds which is why he came.

http://m.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/14320206._Never_tell_me_the_odds______Paul_Lambert_confident_Blackburn_Rovers_can_beat_Burnley/

Yeah it pretty much does. Would expect the Rhodes money is available and whatever extra they're willing to shell out.

[Amo]

It wouldn't have made sense for Lambert to try and revive his career at a lower Championship club unless he'd been given assurances about the direction of the club. I think Lambert is making sure that Venky's keep their end of the bargain.

[sambo]

As many on here said, it seems some of the players he brought in have contributed to a completely different mentality down at Ewood.

The noises coming out of the club sound positive, and I have a good feeling that will be displayed in a battling performance tomorrow.

[den]

Yep, the noises coming from Lambert are sweet. A manager wanting promotion and not lining up excuses for failure. It's a really nice change.

[sambo]

Yep, the noises coming from Lambert are sweet. A manager wanting promotion and not lining up excuses for failure. It's a really nice change.

Very true. Not to drag up the past, but GB would often down play games like Burnley and lower expectations, perhaps to take pressure off himself or the players. Lambert is talking about going there and winning. The same applies for promotion - Bowyer mentioned a promotion push at the end of one season, however never really seemed like he demanded it off the players. Lambert seems keen for a real push next year.

[Mike E]

Very true. Not to drag up the past, but GB would often down play games like Burnley and lower expectations, perhaps to take pressure off himself or the players. Lambert is talking about going there and winning. The same applies for promotion - Bowyer mentioned a promotion push at the end of one season, however never really seemed like he demanded it off the players. Lambert seems keen for a real push next year.

Reminds me of Hughesy.

'Right lads, once we've stayed up, I'm dragging this club into Europe. Who's gunna help us get there?'

[DE.]

Asked whether he had sought assurances from Rovers owners Venky’s before he took the job in November that he could move the club forward, Lambert said: “Yes or I wouldn’t be sitting here. Everybody wants to get to the Premier League.

Consider my original remarks stating otherwise retracted!

[sambo]

Reminds me of Hughesy.

'Right lads, once we've stayed up, I'm dragging this club into Europe. Who's gunna help us get there?'

Exactly. He's laying down the gauntlet and encouraging the players to step up to prove they should be part of that journey.

It's good to hear, and it's nice to hear the fortunes of our club being played up.

[Amo]

Even if Lambert doesn't turn out to be the Second Coming, at least it proves the attitudinal contrast between a manager and a glorified youth coach.

[ada2020]

http://m.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/14327276._The_ultimate_goal_is_the_Premier_League____Blackburn_Rovers_boss_plans_to_hold_Venky_s_talks/

Funny how our previous "managers" were summoned. Not Paul Lambert he's on a mission, I hope Venkys back him I really do.

[arbitro]

http://m.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/14327276._The_ultimate_goal_is_the_Premier_League____Blackburn_Rovers_boss_plans_to_hold_Venky_s_talks/

Funny how our previous "managers" were summoned. Not Paul Lambert he's on a mission, I hope Venkys back him I really do.

It's simple for me. If they don't back him I think he will walk away.

And we will go to hell in a handcart.

[ada2020]

It's simple for me. If they don't back him I think he will walk away.

And we will go to hell in a handcart.

That sounds about right to me.

[JHRover]

I wonder whether Lambert will be going off on a 3-4 day trip to Pune in the middle of the season or whether Venkys will meet him somewhere like their Switzerland offices. Lambert doesn't strike me as the sort of person who is going to be traipsing off on a mammoth journey when the season is still ongoing. I wonder if his wife/girlfriend will be going with him to try out the shops of Pune.

Presumably this meeting is already teed up and ready to take place once the hectic fixtures are out of the way, which is again encouraging considering their failure to meet with Bowyer last summer and presumably Lambert will be getting an idea as to his budget in March so that he has plenty of time to put his plans for the summer in place in advance, rather than waiting for the summer to arrive and then dealing with it. This could also apply to pre-season. It is imperative that we have an organised and intensive pre-season this year with friendlies against some quality opposition which hopefully Lambert's contacts will be able to organise. Last season looked like we were playing catch up from the start both in terms of signings and fitness, with our showpiece friendly being against Wigan.

I suppose it all depends on how much money they will make available, both for fees and wages. Lambert has already demonstrated the improvements that can be made through 3-4 loans/short term deals, so its not necessarily going to be a case of needing £15 million like Burnley have spent, so long as he has the freedom to pay decent wages and some sort of fee and act decisively in the market when good players do come available, rather than waiting for days for approval from Venkys and missing out on targets.

[K-Hod]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/14327948.Elliott_Bennett__Tough_love_from_straight_talking_boss_is_the_reason_behind_my_reversal_in_Blackburn_Rovers_form/- I must admit I think his form has been improved hugely in the last few games.

[den]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/14327948.Elliott_Bennett__Tough_love_from_straight_talking_boss_is_the_reason_behind_my_reversal_in_Blackburn_Rovers_form/- I must admit I think his form has been improved hugely in the last few games.

I think a lot of us thought we'd bought another dud. Fair play to Bennett though, he now looks key to our performances. He plays the game the way Lambert wants everyone to play.

[tomphil]

I think in the case of Bennett and Jackson it's not they are better players than some already here but they don't half work hard for Lambert. Just players with more intensity about them than some of the more laid back ones brought in previously.

[Amo]

Bennett was a credit to the club against Burnley and drew several fouls with his tireless running and commitment. People criticised signings like Bennett as lacking imagination, but it clearly made sense in the interim for the manager to bring in players he knows will put in a shift for him, who have already bought into the ethos he's trying to cultivate at the club.

[sambo]

Just looked at our results this season and have drawn some comparisons between PL and GB. I know I should expect to hear 'he's gone, forget him', but I think it's important to compare how the 2 have done this season with similar resources. This applies to league games only.

Goals scored per game: Lambert 0.94, Bowyer 0.94 (Lambert's is slightly higher, but thought 3 decimal places was excessive!)

Goals conceded per game: Lambert 0.88, Bowyer 0.94.

Points per game: Lambert 1.28, Bowyer 1.06.

Win percentage: Lambert, 33.33%, Bowyer 18.75%

Interesting to note that with the current points per game, Lambert would amass 59 points, Bowyer 49. One is mid table, one borderline bottom 3.

I think it's also key to see that Lambert's results are on an upward trajectory as well - we have won 3 of the last 5, and the 2 defeats (Burnley/Derby) were extremely unlucky.

I know this isn't definitive by any stretch, but I found the comparisons interesting. Obviously one manager had Rhodes, the other has signed Gomez et al (that's another debate that's been done to death!).

[Neal]

Just looked at our results this season and have drawn some comparisons between PL and GB. I know I should expect to hear 'he's gone, forget him', but I think it's important to compare how the 2 have done this season with similar resources. This applies to league games only.

Goals scored per game: Lambert 0.94, Bowyer 0.94 (Lambert's is slightly higher, but thought 3 decimal places was excessive!)

Goals conceded per game: Lambert 0.88, Bowyer 0.94.

Points per game: Lambert 1.28, Bowyer 1.06.

Win percentage: Lambert, 33.33%, Bowyer 18.75%

Interesting to note that with the current points per game, Lambert would amass 59 points, Bowyer 49. One is mid table, one borderline bottom 3.

I think it's also key to see that Lambert's results are on an upward trajectory as well - we have won 3 of the last 5, and the 2 defeats (Burnley/Derby) were extremely unlucky.

I know this isn't definitive by any stretch, but I found the comparisons interesting. Obviously one manager had Rhodes, the other has signed Gomez et al (that's another debate that's been done to death!).

Some of those points gained with the previous managers squad keep in mind.

[sambo]

Some of those points gained with the previous managers squad keep in mind.

I think that's important to note - obviously it's very difficult to give a like for like comparison, and it's very difficult to know who Bowyer would have brought in (and whether he'd have sold JR) should he have been given January.

The last 5 or 6 results are the most telling for me, as our current set up has much more of Lambert's stamp on it than we had previously. As you mentioned, his first 10 games or so were with Bowyer's team - then again, come the end of Summer I'd expect Lambert's team to differ significantly from how it looks now!

Overall, I'm quite encouraged by how it's gone - admittedly, I wasn't quite so positive a month ago, but the last month has seen more of Lambert's influence seemingly having an effect. As Den said recently, I don't go into games now thinking 'we can't beat them' - like him, I think every game is winnable. We have gone to 3 of the top 6 and deserved much more than the 1 point return.

[Salgado Is Still A Hero]

I would rather have Lambert than Bowyer and so would the vast majority of others. That's all that needs to be said really.