[Archived] Official: Paul Lambert Appointed Blackburn Rovers Manager

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Wasn't it us who chased Lambert, though? Would he have needed to give any assurances other than yes, I'll sign?

Even if we chased him - I would have hoped they would have had discussions with him as to what he would do, his plans for this season and for next.

[DE.]

Even if we chased him - I would have hoped they would have had discussions with him as to what he would do, his plans for this season and for next.

This is Venky's we're talking about, so who knows? Even if they did, I'm not sure Lambert was in a position where he needed to promise anything this season. I'm sure he gave them an overall view of where he expected us to be during various points in his tenure, but I'd be shocked if he'd suggested we would be anything higher than mid-table this season.

[JHRover]

I wouldn't like to even try and guess what Venkys expected when they appointed Lambert, but nobody with a clue about football would have expected this squad to be anywhere near the top 6 this season. I don't think Mourinho would have got a team with Chris Brown and Nathan Delfonso in contention for promotion.

There's no way Lambert would have promised promotion this season having inherited a side with 3 wins in 17. He might be confident in his own abilities but promising a promotion push having been marooned in the bottom half in November would have been senseless.

It was obvious by January that promotion was not expected or targeted. Hence why no money was spent on permanent transfers, Lambert continually talked about the summer window as being the big opportunity. Surely if Venkys were expecting promotion this season they would have told him to keep Rhodes or spend more money on better players as a last roll of the dice this season. The focus appeared to be on ensuring that we remained clear of risk of another embargo rather than going for promotion this year.

Surely they can't expect promotion when banking £20 million in selling our best players in the last few transfer windows and not spending.

[OJRovers]

The bottom line is it doesn't matter who the manager is.

Whilst we continue with a club structure not fit for purpose we will continue to fall backwards.

The sooner the owners realise this the better. Personally, I don't think they will ever change.

[47er]

I'm thinking that was their plan. Get Lambert in by telling him everything he wants to hear (summer transfer kitty etc.) but with no thoughts that they would ever have to actually put up any money because Lambert would get us promoted this season.

Now it's backfired spectacularly, they are back to being confused.

Must be a fair chance this is how it went. Can't think of any explanation that fits as well.

[G Somerset Rover]

Why are you advocating starting a senior citizens team? He's far too old.

We need(ed) somebody who could give us a chance (however small that was/is) of getting back to the promised land. He wouldn't have been a long-term solution but has a record which is second-to-none of getting teams up, and while doing so on a small budget. I was, and am happy with Lambert, but had expected us to be performing better than we are to date, which is why I cited Warnock as a manager who is getting every last ounce out of his players. As I say, it will be interesting to see how they do next season.

The bottom line is it doesn't matter who the manager is.

Whilst we continue with a club structure not fit for purpose we will continue to fall backwards.

The sooner the owners realise this the better. Personally, I don't think they will ever change.

There's the rub!

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

I wouldn't like to even try and guess what Venkys expected when they appointed Lambert, but nobody with a clue about football would have expected this squad to be anywhere near the top 6 this season. I don't think Mourinho would have got a team with Chris Brown and Nathan Delfonso in contention for promotion.

There's no way Lambert would have promised promotion this season having inherited a side with 3 wins in 17. He might be confident in his own abilities but promising a promotion push having been marooned in the bottom half in November would have been senseless.

It was obvious by January that promotion was not expected or targeted. Hence why no money was spent on permanent transfers, Lambert continually talked about the summer window as being the big opportunity. Surely if Venkys were expecting promotion this season they would have told him to keep Rhodes or spend more money on better players as a last roll of the dice this season. The focus appeared to be on ensuring that we remained clear of risk of another embargo rather than going for promotion this year.

Surely they can't expect promotion when banking £20 million in selling our best players in the last few transfer windows and not spending.

Not certain many expected top 6 - though possibly being only 3 points off top 6 in December raised expectations - but I think most expected a far better points return and position than we currently have, (btw I have a recollection that we paid a small fee for Ward)

[K-Hod]

Not certain many expected top 6 - though possibly being only 3 points off top 6 in December raised expectations - but I think most expected a far better points return and position than we currently have, (btw I have a recollection that we paid a small fee for Ward)

And Bennett I think.

[LewisF]

Speaking of Ward, and I'm aware this is the wrong thread but I'd have him next to Hanley next season if we don't bring in anyone better, he's impressed me much more than Duffy

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Must be a fair chance this is how it went. Can't think of any explanation that fits as well.

There are a 1000 and 1 reasons why they seem to so slow to react - thinking PL would get us promoted IMO isn't one of the more likely (just on the basis that they have been burned with promises like that before).

For me the most obvious is that this is the way they have been from day 1 - is what is happening at the moment any different to what has gone on for the last 5 years ? Most decisions are usually last minute, with voids of silence in which rumour and speculation fill.

What I think we need to consider in all this - is that we are one loss making business amongst their significant business empire. Even as fans, Rover's isn't always our number 1 concern - not that suprising that we aren't dealt with properly. As I said previously - they desperately need to appoint a CEO with scope and budget - and just let him/her get on with it.

[den]

His overall performance as manager will not have given Venky's any persuasion to release funds as he has not demonstrated an ability to improve on what Bowyer was serving up.

Disagree completely.

From around the time Rhodes was sold we were playing some of the best football we've seen for years. Boro, Derby, Burnley then the four straight home wins saw some very good displays. It's tailored of lately, predominantly from the Leeds game which came at the end of the most hectic schedule that any championship club had to endure. Then followed the three games where we were down to ten men for long periods of the games. Suspension to Hanley for the Northend game, coupled with Duffys sending off meant we had neither first choice centre half on the park, watt had gone off early also and that ended his season. The Rhodes sale along with Watt having to go home and a half fit Graham for the last few games really hurt us. The Hudds game was dire though.

So I think if you look at the results only, then I can understand the viewpoint that we have shown no improvement. If you actually look at how well we were doing prior to the recent games, and what's happened to the squad since, there is plenty of evidence of improvement - and a big improvement.

We all know that the squad has been decimated though. This summer - like Lambert says - is massive. The owners really are under the microscope and everyone at the club will be watching them. We can either move forward by the owners showing real ambition, or we'll move backwards at a rate of knots. I don't see next season being simply mid table again and that's where I seem to be on my own here. Previous to Lambert, there was no hope. Everything at the club was wrong and there was absolutely no reason for optimism. Now at least, the owners are being called out - and for me there's at least a modicum of hope. That's something that wasn't there previously.

If significant money is made available, should Lambert be given the opportunity? Of course he should. He's the one who's pushed it and for me, there's plenty to suggest he's capable of realising his ambitions here. Apart from that, who else is there that could be expected to do the job? Can't think of anybody.

[DE.]

Disagree completely.

From around the time Rhodes was sold we were playing some of the best football we've seen for years. Boro, Derby, Burnley then the four straight home wins saw some very good displays. It's tailored of lately, predominantly from the Leeds game which came at the end of the most hectic schedule that any championship club had to endure. Then followed the three games where we were down to ten men for long periods of the games. Suspension to Hanley for the Northend game, coupled with Duffys sending off meant we had neither first choice centre half on the park, watt had gone off early also and that ended his season. The Rhodes sale along with Watt having to go home and a half fit Graham for the last few games really hurt us. The Hudds game was dire though.

So I think if you look at the results only, then I can understand the viewpoint that we have shown no improvement. If you actually look at how well we were doing prior to the recent games, and what's happened to the squad since, there is plenty of evidence of improvement - and a big improvement.

We all know that the squad has been decimated though. This summer - like Lambert says - is massive. The owners really are under the microscope and everyone at the club will be watching them. We can either move forward by the owners showing real ambition, or we'll move backwards at a rate of knots. I don't see next season being simply mid table again and that's where I seem to be on my own here. Previous to Lambert, there was no hope. Everything at the club was wrong and there was absolutely no reason for optimism. Now at least, the owners are being called out - and for me there's at least a modicum of hope. That's something that wasn't there previously.

If significant money is made available, should Lambert be given the opportunity? Of course he should. He's the one who's pushed it and for me, there's plenty to suggest he's capable of realising his ambitions here. Apart from that, who else is there that could be expected to do the job? Can't think of anybody.

I'll obviously take your word on performances den as you will have seen far more of the side under Lambert than I have. I am indeed mainly judging on results - after all, how many times did we hear that performances under Bowyer this season were great - particularly that match against Burnley - but results weren't matching up? I didn't go to any of Bowyer's matches this season so for all I know talk of good performances under him may have been utter codswallop - but the bottom line is the same either way, results are not good enough and I can't imagine our beloved owners basing their decisions on anything beyond that.

I pretty much agree with everything else you say. I think pretty much every single one of us would give Lambert a vote of confidence to receive backing in the summer - but from Venky's remote and uncaring point of view it's easy to see why they may choose not to.

[Pedro]

I said it previously but what happened to his head to make it go so round?

Food happened ☺

[Athlete]

The bottom line is it doesn't matter who the manager is.

Whilst we continue with a club structure not fit for purpose we will continue to fall backwards.

The sooner the owners realise this the better. Personally, I don't think they will ever change.

Correct I've been banging on about a proper structure with authority for a long while is it going to happen is it B@@@@@@@

VENKY'S OUT

[Mattyblue]

There has been a marked drop in performance since the uncertainty re funds and Lambert's twice weekly vent to the press.

The fact so many players are only signed up to May, be it loanees or that they are soon to be out of contract will be adding to the malaise- especially if the rumoured lack of funds makes them being bought/offered a new deal look slim.

Like den, I honestly saw a glimpse of something in that March period, however that was dependent on good performances from Gomez, Graham, Hanley, Duffy, Marshall, Watt (in bursts), the emergence of Lenihan, the under rated efforts of Evans.

Too many of those players then got injured or lost form. The rest of of the squad is made up of journeyman/poor players and along with the financial uncertainty has seen a collapse.

I really did see something in Lambert's approach in March and for me he deserves some help to ensure it wasn't a flash in the pan. I just can't see him getting it though and League 1 is getting ever closer.

[West Yorks Rover]

Just playing devils advocate here for a minute.

Nigel Pearson and Claudio Ranieri has assembled a Premeirship winning side on peanuts, City spent more on 1 player than Leicester have this season!

We all know our squad is full of league 1 players, but with Leicester doing so well on a shoe string does this not give chairmen (we should be so lucky) the right to expect more and refuse when managers ask for untold riches to improve the club?

Whats happened to the management team actually coaching players to be better, rather than just being cheque book managers?

I'm pretty sure Pearson was given significant funds to get Leicester promoted though, but I take your point on how well they have done this

season on peanuts compared to many.

Who brought Kante in btw ?

What a player he is.

[McClarky]

The bottom line is it doesn't matter who the manager is.

Whilst we continue with a club structure not fit for purpose we will continue to fall backwards.

The sooner the owners realise this the better. Personally, I don't think they will ever change.

Exactly right. It ain't gong to happen though is it.

[Mike E]

Rumours on fb that 8 players (unnamed) being let go, with Spurr offered a new deal, and a plan to relay 8 Brockhall pitches approved.

I wonder if movement is afoot?

[Give 'Em the Axe]

Got a link to that,man?

[koi]

Rumours on fb that 8 players (unnamed) being let go, with Spurr offered a new deal, and a plan to relay 8 Brockhall pitches approved.

I wonder if movement is afoot?

Only eight? shame.

[LewisF]

Brown, Taylor, The Fonz, Guthrie, Henley, Jackson, Kilgallon, (?)

??

[punerover]

Craig Conway? He hasn't featured and doesnt seem to be a part of Lambert's Plans

Brown, Taylor, The Fonz, Guthrie, Henley, Jackson, Kilgallon, (?)

??

[LewisF]

Yeah true, having recently signed a new deal I wouldn't have thought of him, but thinking about it Lambert doesn't seem to rate him much recently

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Brown, Taylor, The Fonz, Guthrie, Henley, Jackson, Kilgallon, (?)

??

Is Willamson at the end of his contract ?

[LewisF]

Is Willamson at the end of his contract ?

if I remember correctly he is, yes