[Archived] Official: Paul Lambert Appointed Blackburn Rovers Manager

[Pedro]

Lambert has a miles harder job on his hands than Souness did.

Lambert: Crowds of 12-13,000 - affects attracting players

Souness: Crowds of 19-20,000

Lambert: Relegated from the PL 3.5 seasons ago - affects attracting players

Souness: PL Champions 4.5 years ago

Lambert: Unpredictable Venkys behind us - possibly no transfer kitty

Souness: Walker Trust with a strict mandate behind him - biggest transfer kitty in the division.

Lambert: Hanley, Duffy, Conway, Rhodes - Average team for the division

Souness: Short, Flitcroft, Dunn, Duff, Jansen, Gillespie, Berg, Berkovic, Friedel, Taylor - superb team for the division

I agree with a lot of what you say here and agree that Lambert's task is tougher. I just wanted to point out that Friedel, Berg, Berkovic were actually brought in by him. As were other key signings Hughes, Bent, Curtis, Bjornabe, Mahon and Hignett. He inherited some great youth players and one or two decent others, but was given the opportunity to sign the team he wanted. I hope Lambert is afforded this too and other supporters don't think that previous promotions were built upon a simple change of manager, each man overhauled the squad.

[JBiz]

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

.

Stuart- I asked this question to abbs with his haters comment and Khod with his similar one (he answered look at the 9 likes but I can't see on my phone) so this isn't specifically aimed at you just your post;

Which people?

I don't think any true rovers fan would want this to go wrong unless they are masochistic in the extreme!

There are people pointing out the teams mistakes and any "bowyerisms" he may say, just like before but that's natural- heck even the blue eyed boy (who's been lauded as peter white esq on here) has said that.

Whilst Shaun might carry on harping on about how the players are mentally fatigued under PL after what GB did them, I'm quite sure that most of us have moved on.

Onwards and upwards as they say. We've got at least 2 years before we can judge this manager properly.

[K-Hod]

Stuart- I asked this question to abbs with his haters comment and Khod with his similar one (he answered look at the 9 likes but I can't see on my phone) so this isn't specifically aimed at you just your post;

Which people?

I don't think any true rovers fan would want this to go wrong unless they are masochistic in the extreme!

There are people pointing out the teams mistakes and any "bowyerisms" he may say, just like before but that's natural- heck even the blue eyed boy (who's been lauded as peter white esq on here) has said that.

Whilst Shaun might carry on harping on about how the players are mentally fatigued under PL after what GB did them, I'm quite sure that most of us have moved on.

Onwards and upwards as they say. We've got at least 2 years before we can judge this manager properly.

I think it's more a fear of being proven wrong, which is just a bit daft and sad above all. Who cares if anyone was ever wrong FFS? It's only a messageboard!

Lambert is a better manager than Bowyer, and I'm glad he's here, it's as simple as that.

[47er]

Stuart- I asked this question to abbs with his haters comment and Khod with his similar one (he answered look at the 9 likes but I can't see on my phone) so this isn't specifically aimed at you just your post;

Which people?

I don't think any true rovers fan would want this to go wrong unless they are masochistic in the extreme!

.

Well Blueboy for a start wouldn't you say?

[Stuart]

Stuart- I asked this question to abbs with his haters comment and Khod with his similar one (he answered look at the 9 likes but I can't see on my phone) so this isn't specifically aimed at you just your post;

Which people?

I don't think any true rovers fan would want this to go wrong unless they are masochistic in the extreme!

There are people pointing out the teams mistakes and any "bowyerisms" he may say, just like before but that's natural- heck even the blue eyed boy (who's been lauded as peter white esq on here) has said that.

Whilst Shaun might carry on harping on about how the players are mentally fatigued under PL after what GB did them, I'm quite sure that most of us have moved on.

Onwards and upwards as they say. We've got at least 2 years before we can judge this manager properly.

Just read the thread. Oh, and the various Facebook groups.

We are also seeing Rhodes become another write-off - just before the transfer window opens. It's almost like people don't want success.

[JHRover]

Just read the thread. Oh, and the various Facebook groups.

We are also seeing Rhodes become another write-off - just before the transfer window opens. It's almost like people don't want success.

Lots of people are desperate for us to sell Rhodes, and have been waiting for it every window since he arrived. It's strange. Like inventing imminent transfers to the 'mighty' Sheffield Wednesday, a side barely any better off than us in the table, as though them having a new owner and more supporters than us suddenly means we should gratefully hand over our prized asset.

No doubt if he were to leave and join a Championship rival and score a hatful for them then some realisation might set in. I wonder what the reaction will be if he scores the winner against Middlesbrough on Boxing Day. I almost get the impression some Rovers fans would prefer it if Rhodes was lining up for Middlesbrough rather than Rovers.

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why if Rhodes isn't good enough for us and should be offloaded asap that clubs like Middlesbrough (supposedly fantastic) and Hull have both made 8 figure cash offers for him in the last 18 months.

Because IMO if he is good enough to be worth £14 million and good enough for (at the time) Premier League Hull and play off finalists/promotion favourites Middlesbrough then he's good enough for us.

Keeping Rhodes throughout is another big tick in the Venkys positive column, which is growing steadily.

[den]

We are also seeing Rhodes become another write-off - just before the transfer window opens. It's almost like people don't want success.

People DO want success and some fans and managers know Rhodes hasn't and won't bring it. In fact his lack of footballing ability hamper it - even when he scores. Two strikers like Watford have would make a massive difference to us.

[RevidgeBlue]

People DO want success and some fans and managers know Rhodes hasn't and won't bring it. In fact his lack of footballing ability hamper it - even when he scores. Two strikers like Watford have would make a massive difference to us.

We did nothing with two extremely successful strikers last season and that won't change until the output from the midfield/wide men improves as well.

[den]

We did nothing with two extremely successful strikers last season and that won't change until the output from the midfield/wide men improves as well.

You and me see it differently Rev. You want to set up a team that provides chances to a striker that is pretty hopeless with his all round game. That's what we've been doing since Rhodes signed. We set him up, he scores, but most of the time he's "isolated" "ineffective" or in plain language useless. I want a side where everyone contributes, all of the time. Where were not carrying players. Where there's a threat all game, every game, from everybody.

What's most important - setting up a striker who badly affects performances to score every third game, or setting up a team to win games every week?

[K-Hod]

In that case Den, everyone else needs to contribute and get forward to do so, which they aren't doing, they aren't really helping Rhodes either tbh.

[Stuart]

People DO want success and some fans and managers know Rhodes hasn't and won't bring it. In fact his lack of footballing ability hamper it - even when he scores. Two strikers like Watford have would make a massive difference to us.

Rev has already responded to this very adequately but to add.

Rhodes is probably the cherry on top of a decent attacking midfield. Plenty of teams have better midfield than us but not many have a better striker. That's why they want Rhodes.

In recent times he has had to make his own chances and, yes, at times, win games by himself. The thing is though, do we have to sell him to buy better midfielders or can we keep him and loan them? Strikers are always the most expensive players in a team. The reason for that is goals win games. Rhodes has done his job - consistently - for the last three years and before. Our various midfielders haven't really done theirs. Let's get one or two decent (PL quality) midfielders on loan and see what happens between now and the end of May.

I genuinely don't see the point in looking to sell him. A stupid offer we can't refuse is one thing, to actively be wanting to offload him is folly.

[JBiz]

I agree, why sell now when we are looking up?

GB may have done ok with transfer business as a whole, mistakes a plenty but many good spots- maybe now we can operate at cost rather than constantly at a profit.

Why sell anyone we don't have to? Surely buying a creative CM would help rhodes, or even a more dynamic partner for foil.

If the aim is promotion, then then the expectation should follow - no promotion contender is selling their best players!

[Pedro]

Am I right in thinking that for us to improve the playing staff drastically, we have to generate the funds to do this as we can't let the owners fork out? (We'd be back under embargo).

If this is the case then the answer is already there. Unless we do only loan players, Rhodes is 100% a goner in January.

[JHRover]

Am I right in thinking that for us to improve the playing staff drastically, we have to generate the funds to do this as we can't let the owners fork out? (We'd be back under embargo).

If this is the case then the answer is already there. Unless we do only loan players, Rhodes is 100% a goner in January.

Every other club in this league spent money last summer. The vast majority of those didn't have to sell their star player(s) first to do so.

Derby were able to spend £20 million without being embargoed and without selling anyone.

Sheffield Wednesday have spent substantially and will no doubt look to do so again without selling anyone.

If Venkys want to spend their money strengthening Rovers then there are ways to do it.

If Lambert's target is promotion then the first step on that road isn't to cash in on the only player we have who knows how to score.

[philipl]

Am I right in thinking that for us to improve the playing staff drastically, we have to generate the funds to do this as we can't let the owners fork out? (We'd be back under embargo).

If this is the case then the answer is already there. Unless we do only loan players, Rhodes is 100% a goner in January.

No, not so. Other clubs have found ways around the rules and there is every prospect of the rules being binned next summer anyway. Only whipping boy Shaw didn't work this one out...

[G Somerset Rover]

May as well go here:

http://mobile.rovers.co.uk//news/article/paul-lambert-fode-koita-blackburn-rovers-reading-2863694.aspx

I wouldn't be so confident if I were Paul. I mentioned it in the Reading thread, but the guy doesn't even take part in shooting practice pre-match with the other forwards. I found that very strange given he's one of two players (alongside Browny) who need it most.

[DE.]

May as well go here:

http://mobile.rovers.co.uk//news/article/paul-lambert-fode-koita-blackburn-rovers-reading-2863694.aspx

I wouldn't be so confident if I were Paul. I mentioned it in the Reading thread, but the guy doesn't even take part in shooting practice pre-match with the other forwards. I found that very strange given he's one of two players (alongside Browny) who need it most.

Probably just trying to give the guy a confidence boost - he doesn't really have any other options until January at least, and seems determined to play Koita rather than Lawrence behind Rhodes.

[blueboy3333]

Well Blueboy for a start wouldn't you say?

you'd say but that's just you...a tad confused and very quick to judge.

I can't wait for Lambert to be a massive success.

[G Somerset Rover]

Probably just trying to give the guy a confidence boost - he doesn't really have any other options until January at least, and seems determined to play Koita rather than Lawrence behind Rhodes.

A very poor man's Jason Roberts is probably about the best thing you can say about the lad. As you say, hopefully better will come in during Jan.

[47er]

you'd say but that's just you...a tad confused and very quick to judge.

I can't wait for Lambert to be a massive success.

Not quick to judge and not just me. You've sent a series of posts which give a completely different impression to that above.

But I'll take your word for it. Onwards and upwards eh?

[blueboy3333]

Not quick to judge and not just me. You've sent a series of posts which give a completely different impression to that above.

But I'll take your word for it. Onwards and upwards eh?

Indeed, and merry chrismas to you and yours.

[USABlue]

I am not so sure some of this is Bowyerites as they are being called, I think it is just some thought that replacing Bowyer would somehow magically catapult us up the league. Then when a highly rated manager came in expectations went through the roof. Now that performances have not met the expectations of some they see it as failure almost.

Points return has been satifactory but it feels as though performances have not really improved, although they have fundamentally. Bowyer had some decent games the team's played well but got no return.

I did not like the sound of the game from the start on Sunday we seemed just so flat. Why? Don't know I can only speculate, over trained, not tough enough mentally, feeling sorry for themselves,miss buddy Bowyer, pulling a Chelsea, Sunday game don't know. My hope is that Lambert has them all sussed by now and will build this team around those who are willing to give blood for the shirt.

There is of course still a little apprehension with Lambert, his has Villa as a blot on his otherwise.very impressive record. Now, is that just Villa being the poisoned chalice or it PL just not as good as advertised. I think he is top drawer and I hope, no I pray, I am right cos I think this is the last roll of the dice for BRFC.

[JHRover]

Rock bottom Aston Villa reeling from life post Paul Lambert

The Sun's Andy Dillon (@andydillon70) looks at how the Premier League's basement club, Aston Villa, have sunk to new dismal depths since sacking Paul Lambert back in February.

BEING CAREFUL what you wish for is most poignant at Christmas time.

Aston Villa fans would do well to remember this as they ponder life post Paul Lambert.

Especially if they end up swapping places with their one-time despised manager come next May.

Blackburn Rovers lost their first game since Lambert took over in a 1-0 defeat at Reading on Sunday.

Villa are planning an open top bus parade after a 1-1 draw against a team considered erratic even by Newcastle's volatile standards at the weekend.

Villa are ten points adrift of safety at the foot of the Premier League. Blackburn are six points off the Championship top six and Play Off places.

Lambert's transfer embargo is being lifted while Villa will struggle to sign anyone except the most desperate or mercenary players when they go scrabbling around when the winter window opens next month.

Under Lambert Aston Villa spent only two weeks in the bottom three of the top flight.

That was achieved with a limit on spending. His biggest signing was around lb6 million on striker Christian Benteke.

And every year he managed to persuade the highly-rated Belgian to stick around at Villa Park despite interest from bigger and more successful clubs.

Benteke has now gone as a lb32 million star to Liverpool. Villa are now preparing a massive clearout under Remi Garde, the second manager to have a go at trying to do what Lambert did since he got the sack ten months ago.

Tim Sherwood had a pop and got Villa to the FA Cup final where he was totally humiliated by Arsenal last May. He is still feeling a bit red-faced: only at the moment he is soaking up the rays on a sun lounger in Barbados while 'looking for work'.

Lambert engineered back to back promotions when he was at Norwich prior to Villa park too.

Before Norwich he came to the attention of City's board by masterminding a 7-1 win for Colchester at Carrow Road.

He took Norwich from League One to the Premier League and a twelfth placed finish.

A man of steely resolve and derided for playing boring football, he is big on results but not so on pairing football with Strictly come Dancing.

He is now focusing his energy on reviving Blackburn Rovers - the only team outside of the elite group of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City to win the Premier League title.

Remi Garde must think his eyes are deceiving him when he looks at the Premier League table as his team flounders.

When Lambert got the sack it meant there wasn't a single Scotsman working as a manager in the top tier of English football - in the 1970s and 80s that would have inconceivable.

Football seems to be like the festive season where people fall for fancy wrapping and shiny paper - in this case foreign sounding names.

Lambert is one of those gifts that doesn't look like it's any good but turns out to be the most useful thing you ever got.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

Was about to say what poor writing then I remembered it was the Sun

Even as a Lambert fan I think that's a pretty contrived argument. At present there's nothing to indicate Rovers are capable of getting into the play-offs this season or next season. And I don't see how the bloke can argue Lambert wasn't poor at Villa, he definitely was. Two 15th placed finishes and struggling again the season he was sacked, 30% win ratio, just not good enough for a club Villa's size. In my opinion Lambert is one of many managers who can exceed the limited expectations of small clubs but not fulfil the huge expectations of big clubs. Souness, Hughes and Allardyce are the same.

[DE.]

Villa may historically be a big club, but they aren't run like one. There's a reason nobody with any worthwhile reputation goes near there these days.