[Archived] Official: Paul Lambert Appointed Blackburn Rovers Manager

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

To be fair, Souness brought in Berg, Friedal and Berkovic. Bent was a good signing for the situation as well.

That's what my first 3 points are about though. As a general rule, to buy good players you need money and to get them in on loan you need a certain level of attraction. Souness had more money and Rovers were more attractive back then. I can't emphasise that lack of attraction enough as if many fans are expecting Lambert to get 3-4 quality players in on loan in January, then they could well be disappointed at the end of it. I hate to say it but we have a large debt, poor crowds, an average squad, and are based in one of the least desirable areas of the country.

We're no longer in the market for a modern day Berg (who'd won the treble with Man U the season before) and probably aren't for a modern day Berkovic (3 successful seasons in the PL and a cup for Celtic). Friedel was like Gestede, one of those everyone else has overlooked. Lambert could get 1 of those in January, he ain't gonna get 3-4. Nobody is that good or that lucky.

[patrickvalery]

That's what my first 3 points are about though. As a general rule, to buy good players you need money and to get them in on loan you need a certain level of attraction. Souness had more money and Rovers were more attractive back then. I can't emphasise that lack of attraction enough as if many fans are expecting Lambert to get 3-4 quality players in on loan in January, then they could well be disappointed at the end of it. I hate to say it but we have a large debt, poor crowds, an average squad, and are based in one of the least desirable areas of the country.

We're no longer in the market for a modern day Berg (who'd won the treble with Man U the season before) and probably aren't for a modern day Berkovic (3 successful seasons in the PL and a cup for Celtic). Friedel was like Gestede, one of those everyone else has overlooked. Lambert could get 1 of those in January, he ain't gonna get 3-4. Nobody is that good or that lucky.

Let's be perfectly honest, souness cheated his way out of that division with that healthy chequebook. I agree that we can't replicate that now. But that doesn't mean the task is impossible. It can be achieved by putting together a squad on the cheap because the division isn't great. But what that approach dies take is time and patience. That concerns me because I'm not entirely sure the fans base is prepared to give that. And you have to say, will a manager of Lambert's caliber be willing to stick with a long tern project when other clubs come calling?

Something doesn't ring true about appointing Lambert and Irvine (relatively speaking champagne quality) and giving them a beer budget. Can you really imagine Lambert calling Irvine to persuade him to take a job at a basket case club, with no cash and a dwindling fan base? Either the poverty plea is a lie or the club have told a few porkies to our new management team. If I were a betting man I'd say we'll be conservative this window and go big (ish) in the summer. I've hear nothing from Lambert to suggest he thinks we've got enough to go up this season.

Someone drew comparisons with Houghton and that sounds pretty close to the blueprint to me.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

Realised that was all a bit negative! I do think Lambert can get us in the play-offs, but next season rather than this. He can make a good signing or 2 in January, then 2 or 3 in the summer, work with the squad he already has for 2/3 of a season and then (in the words of our Gary) have a real good go. Basically like Dyche did with Burnley and Howe did with Bournemouth.

[oldjamfan1]

Let's be perfectly honest, souness cheated his way out of that division with that healthy chequebook.

Not sure that's a fair choice of word there PV.......apart from the fact that spending money on players is within the rules, we weren't the only club spending. I would also argue that two of our home grown players were the final piece in the jigsaw that season.

[patrickvalery]

Not sure that's a fair choice of word there PV.......apart from the fact that spending money on players is within the rules, we weren't the only club spending. I would also argue that two of our home grown players were the final piece in the jigsaw that season.

Yeah point taken (I'm sounding like bowyer now), it was a poor choice of words. I didn't mean it literally. But it does help when you can afford the likes of berkovic, higgnett, berg, Hughes, bent etc.. Plus keep whoever you like from the relegated squad. I just meant that you see other sides with far less achieve the same thing.

I did love that souness side by the way. Played some really top drawer football. I dunno how good gengenpressing would do against that side. They'd have just passed right through you. This modern game doesn't half over complicate things.

[philipl]

As I understand it, Lambert is on a king's ransom to get us promoted THIS season. And there are resources available for the January window including the services of somebody an awful lot smarter than the gone rogue shelf salesman to make sure we don't end up back in FFP bother.

This simple proposition seems to be by-passing most of this thread.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

As I understand it, Lambert is on a king's ransom to get us promoted THIS season. And there are resources available for the January window including the services of somebody an awful lot smarter than the gone rogue shelf salesman to make sure we don't end up back in FFP bother.

This simple proposition seems to be by-passing most of this thread.

Probably because for the last 5 years we've seen Venkys work along the lines of budget managers, budget coaching staff and budget players. You saying "As I understand it" is hardly solid grounds for everyone to expect Lambert to be able to go out and spend big in January. Because if the demand is for us to be promoted this season then I'd say the absolute minimum he needs is £15m to sign 4 quality players. Its the worst window to splash the cash in, time constraints make it a sellers market and anyone decent will come at a premium.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

There's no guarantee that just splashing the cash will work. Roy Boy and Kiddo are the proof of that. We need to be getting in players of the right mentality.

[DE.]

But what that approach dies take is time and patience. That concerns me because I'm not entirely sure the fans base is prepared to give that. And you have to say, will a manager of Lambert's caliber be willing to stick with a long tern project when other clubs come calling?

Not sure about this PV. On forums and social media there may be some impatience, but the fans at Ewood were incredibly tolerant of Bowyer and never really got on his back, even this season when things fell apart completely. There's no reason to think Lambert won't be afforded the same tolerance.

As for him leaving to go elsewhere, I think that'll depend on how well he does for us. In theory if a bigger club wants to take him it'll mean he's done a good job here and left a decent squad for the next man to utilise. Of course, with Venkys that next man could be Judan Ali, but still...

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Given how the Villa job went tits up I'd say he's at his level at the moment. He'll have to do a proper job of sorting us out for a big club to come calling.

[JHRover]

Lambert was sacked with Villa in the relegation zone having had a disastrous season.

He knows that no Premier League club will offer him a job after that and his best chance now is to rebuild a Championship club and get them promoted.

Until he does that then not many clubs would consider him.

Then there's the people like Dyche, McCarthy, Rowett, Karanka and Hughton who have done very well at their clubs yet haven't had Premier League offers. Why would Lambert be ahead of those until he does well with us?

[philipl]

Lambert is in last chance saloon at Ewood so far as his managerial career is concerned.

A failure with Rovers and he's another Mark McGhee....

On the other hand, a success at Rovers and he will be a Premier League manager again. Then if you are looking at the history of Rovers managers tempted away since Jack got involved, there are only two- Souness to Newcastle who to be honest got lucky because he was so close to the sack, and Mark Hughes to Man City.

Given the swirling availabilities of the global mega elite managers, is a Champions League outfit or a Man U or Spuds going to take Paul Lambert?

[Loadsamoney2015]

In truth we lost dalglish to Liverpool too but their heirachy changed their minds leaving Kenny in limbo.

[Tom]

In truth we lost dalglish to Liverpool too but their heirachy changed their minds leaving Kenny in limbo.

Are you really not bored of this yet?

[Loadsamoney2015]

Of course not.. Bye again..!

[47er]

Out loud?

In front of the mirror?

[the original david brent]

Looking forward to seeing a Rovers player scoring a goal from open play! The last we saw one was a fluke cross from Lawrence against Brentford over 6 weeks ago!

[patrickvalery]

Lambert is in last chance saloon at Ewood so far as his managerial career is concerned.

A failure with Rovers and he's another Mark McGhee....

On the other hand, a success at Rovers and he will be a Premier League manager again. Then if you are looking at the history of Rovers managers tempted away since Jack got involved, there are only two- Souness to Newcastle who to be honest got lucky because he was so close to the sack, and Mark Hughes to Man City.

Given the swirling availabilities of the global mega elite managers, is a Champions League outfit or a Man U or Spuds going to take Paul Lambert?

Champions League side - No, absolutely not. But Lambert could have gone to a club abroad or a Championship club with better resources than we claim to have.

And that's my point. I cannot see how he could have been persuaded, and subsequently then persuade Alan Irvine to join him, if we only have the ability to loan a handful of players every window.

I'm not privy to inside information, so its gut instinct. And i'm not sure how the club can have worked it to give him some spending power. But i just can't believe he would have joined us if it felt it was flogging a dead horse. If the club were perilously close to financial meltdown and the only way to get back to the promised land is starting from scratch, then they would have only been able to appoint a manager willing to play the long game to enhance himself. Lambert and Irvine were brought in for an impact. They aren't here to build an ethos from top to bottom with the aim of a first team coming to fruition in five years time. That way can work if you get it right, but 1) How do you know you're on the right lines until the end product arrives and it's either good enough or not. and 2) I'm not sure anyone associated with the club is prepared to wait that long anyway. Fans, owners, players the lot.

[patrickvalery]

Not sure about this PV. On forums and social media there may be some impatience, but the fans at Ewood were incredibly tolerant of Bowyer and never really got on his back, even this season when things fell apart completely. There's no reason to think Lambert won't be afforded the same tolerance.

As for him leaving to go elsewhere, I think that'll depend on how well he does for us. In theory if a bigger club wants to take him it'll mean he's done a good job here and left a decent squad for the next man to utilise. Of course, with Venkys that next man could be Judan Ali, but still...

Not sure thats the case DE. Simply the nature of the game nowadays. Everyone wants success and they want it yesterday. It wasn't a dig. Just the way i see the game nowadays.

[Mattyblue]

Not sure thats the case DE. Simply the nature of the game nowadays. Everyone wants success and they want it yesterday. It wasn't a dig. Just the way i see the game nowadays.

Not at Ewood Park under Bowyer, the fans were extremely patient with him.

[K-Hod]

Of course not.. Bye again..!

Well, you're banned again, and you'll continue to be banned each time you register, so it must be a pretty rubbish messageboard experience for you. Can't believe you can be bothered, I'd just find another hobby if it were me...

[Stuart]

Let's not get too downhearted. Performances haven't been great under Lambert but he equaled Bowyer's win count for the entire season in 4 games. Are we really going to judge our new manager this harshly after six matches, before he's had a single transfer window to try and rectify the situation here? We have a lot of very average players, and a lot of players distinctly below average. You only have to glance at our bench to see Lambert has very little to work with.

We're still only six points off 6th place. This was our first loss in the league since Oct 24th. Once January has been and gone we'll have a much better idea of what Lambert is aiming for.

Amazing really. With Bowyer, he "hadn't had long enough" even up to the time when he was replaced, such was the infinite amount of patience some people felt he deserved (because we couldn't do any better).

Now people can't wait for the wheels to come off.

It must be a home grown thing.

[JAL]

The obsession that some of our fans have with Lowe is sometimes mind-numbing. There was this bloke on Twitter that attributed all of our recent successes entirely to the absence of Lowe in the team, as if a new management team had no effect. And unsurprisingly there were quite a few who seemed to side with him with a few tasty words thrown in towards the player. While it may be true, why bring it up when the guy's injured? Let's see him get back and see how he plays under PL eh?

And, I was watching the Football Today show where they were discussing the Mourinho issue. Alan Curbishley said that there are two types of managers when it comes to picking the team. Those that pick players based entirely on form and those that pick players based on effort and perceived ability. And he reckoned Jose belonged to the latter category with him always being loyal to his core group of players even if they had been performing badly. He also went on to say that this is because Football managers have a lot of time for players that give their blood and sweat for the team even if they're slightly less talented. Which is why he says most managers prefer to pick players whom they know will give their all for the cause. Only a few brave managers he says choose players purely based on talent these days.

That says a lot about why the likes of Jason Lowe has always been picked by all managers he's played for while the likes of Rochina plod around from team to team. And again, unsurprisingly, Lowe gets

If Lowe comes back,and if Pl picks him in the team it will once again prove that fans have the knowledge of a chipmunk compared to a professional football manager.

Which league does the team play in? how high are they in this league and how many empty seats are there to taken ones? How many times have they beaten Burnley with Jason in the team ?

With just one solitary goal to show for over a hundred games from the centre of midfield you must be on a wind up.

[DE.]

Amazing really. With Bowyer, he "hadn't had long enough" even up to the time when he was replaced, such was the infinite amount of patience some people felt he deserved (because we couldn't do any better).

Now people can't wait for the wheels to come off.

It must be a home grown thing.

Bowyer had some positive impact on the club (mainly during his first season), and that won't be forgotten, but it was the right time to remove him and we've finally got what 99% of us have wanted ever since Allardyce was potted - an experienced, well-connected manager. It's time to leave GB in the past and move forward. I'm as guilty as anyone for bringing Bowyer up in a negative light recently, but am going to stop doing so and focus solely on the new man at the helm.

For the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to the January window and seeing what our manager has in store.

[Stuart]

I just think we need a Lambert home win. A convincing one would be good but a win will do for now.