[Archived] Official: Paul Lambert Appointed Blackburn Rovers Manager

[ABBEY]

People cry out for a proper manager for years, we get one, then whine like a bitch a couple of months into his reign, baffling!!

That post should just be pinned on every page !

[JAL]

You said week in week out Phil Jones wouldn't get a game down Pleasington, we all read it and ignored it.

I was gutted to see Phil leave Rovers Gav and made it very clear at the time.

[oldjamfan1]

Too right if he's making costly errors or getting away with errors then it should be pointed out for an accurate record of the player.

He's ok when the ball is in the air coming directly towards him that's playing to his strengths. Turn him sideways on put the ball in the air and then that strength becomes slightly diminished somewhat.

His passing or distribution is dreadful - now try justify this part of his game?

Putting the ball in the net from attacking positions seems another weakness of Shane Duffy's at least when big Col was he was young and rash could put the ball in the back of the net to redeem himself from any errors unlike Shane.

So far he's not the ideal partner for young Grant Hanley and that's from my experience.

Comparing him to Hendry is just silly. You could see Col was different class (albeit raw) almost from the moment he walked through the door. If you want to make a comparison see my earlier one - Glenn Keeley. If Duffy's passing and distribution was excellent, he would still be at Everton! We have to accept that there is a reason why some of these lads are playing at the second tier. I think the Duffy/Hanley combination has looked pretty solid so far this season especially when you consider some of the dross that plays in front of them. For me, that is an area that warrants the scrutiny and criticism you afford to Duffy. FWIW my experience of centre halves is battering them the length and breadth of the north west, but I suspect that I would have had my work cut out with Duffy and Hanley!

[yoda]

Did Phil Jones ever get a game down at Pleasington then ?

just asking

[Gav]

Did Phil Jones ever get a game down at Pleasington then ?

just asking

Couldn't get a game apparently

[yoda]

Couldn't get a game apparently

Same as now then

[Gav]

I was gutted to see Phil leave Rovers Gav and made it very clear at the time.

Took you a while to see his potential though JAL, hence the pleasington comments.....

So maybe Duffy will be the same, may I urge a bit of caution this time on your part?

[Stuart]

Stu, while I'm not disagreeing with the sentiment of your post, be careful when it comes to describing Marshall as a 'bad egg'. He has apparently had depression issues in the past and, for the lad's sake, I hope it is just a bad attitude at the moment and nothing worse than that. I'm not breaching a confidence, it is in the public domain.

I didn't quite say he was but I can see how that could well be inferred. Point taken.

It's a difficult one though, and I can only go off my own perception of his actions. He was clearly not happy and his body language spoke for him. Successful football sides are usually a tight knit group and negativity - even through mental health issues - could cause this to break down.

On the depression topic, we only really hear about the very high profile footballers who struggle after they've finished playing. The lack of adulation (for want of a better word) and I expect income play a big part. I can well imagine there being an epidemic in the future of football.

[oldjamfan1]

I didn't quite say he was but I can see how that could well be inferred. Point taken.

It's a difficult one though, and I can only go off my own perception of his actions. He was clearly not happy and his body language spoke for him. Successful football sides are usually a tight knit group and negativity - even through mental health issues - could cause this to break down.

On the depression topic, we only really hear about the very high profile footballers who struggle after they've finished playing. The lack of adulation (for want of a better word) and I expect income play a big part. I can well imagine there being an epidemic in the future of football.

Depression can affect anyone, at any time, even current professional footballers. I'm not sure how Ben's problems found their way into the public forum either, but you're right. It doesn't do the team any good and if he isn't well enough to play then he shouldn't be playing, simple as that.

[Amo]

Wouldn't surprise me in the least if the novelty of a new manager's worn off, and Lambert's demanding training methods and tactics have upset the former holiday camp down Brockhall. The players were on easy street under Bowyer, and knew they could get away with putting in a shift less than every other game.

[Mattyblue]

The revisionism re Bowyer's style of play is in overdrive already.

The quality of football was crap under GB throughout his tenure apart from an odd game here and there and a spell in his first full season.

Last season and most of this was dreadful. Lump it up to Rudy was the plan last term, this year just seemed to be pass it around our own half, then lose it or lump it forward or shank it out of play.

Have we seen anything from Lambert's team as an attacking threat? No, but lets not try and pretend we were a 'good footballing side' under Gaz, because after watching his teams home and away for two years, we were anything but.

[mustard]

The revisionism re Bowyer's style of play is in overdrive already.

The quality of football was crap under GB throughout his tenure apart from an odd game here and there and a spell in his first full season.

Last season and most of this was dreadful. Lump it up to Rudy was the plan last term, this year just seemed to be pass it around our own half, then lose it or lump it forward or shank it out of play.

Have we seen anything from Lambert's team as an attacking threat? No, but lets not try and pretend we were a 'good footballing side' under Gaz, because after watching his teams home and away for two years, we were anything but.

There are very selective memories in some.

It's ludicrous how Lambert is under fire for poor football/results. His win % exceeds that of Bowyer and this phase of pretty football with poor results that Gaz mustered at the start of the season was certainly a purple patch in our style of play. The football had been utter dog for yonks prior to this season. I'd argue it was poor throughout his tenure and it certainly wasn't as great this season as some make out!

I'm going to try and ignore the premature and ridiculous comments from Bowyer's staunchest supporters. An agenda of being proven that the club were wrong to sack GB seems to take precedence over the success of BRFC. I have no doubt some were relishing sticking the boot in after the last few games. The fact that some were prepared to give numerous transfer windows, years of patience and support to a jumped-up youth coach with limited credentials, yet are calling out Lambert - a manager who has achieved more in his career than Bowyer (likely) ever will - after just seven games and no transfer window says A LOT.

[Stuart]

The revisionism re Bowyer's style of play is in overdrive already.

The quality of football was crap under GB throughout his tenure apart from an odd game here and there and a spell in his first full season.

Last season and most of this was dreadful. Lump it up to Rudy was the plan last term, this year just seemed to be pass it around our own half, then lose it or lump it forward or shank it out of play.

Have we seen anything from Lambert's team as an attacking threat? No, but lets not try and pretend we were a 'good footballing side' under Gaz, because after watching his teams home and away for two years, we were anything but.

I'll just temper that by saying that we went ahead in Lambert's first four (?) game in charge which is certainly better than Bowyer's tenure in which we frequently went a goal down before we looked like trying to score.

[Gav]

Lambert isn't under any pressure, one of two on here are trying to be controversial for sake of it, but back in the real world he's very much supported by 99.9% of Rovers fans.

He's inherited a very poor squad, due mainly in my opinion to lack of funds for the last manager, so its going to take a while for him to make his mark.

[Blue blood]

The revisionism re Bowyer's style of play is in overdrive already.

The quality of football was crap under GB throughout his tenure apart from an odd game here and there and a spell in his first full season.

Last season and most of this was dreadful. Lump it up to Rudy was the plan last term, this year just seemed to be pass it around our own half, then lose it or lump it forward or shank it out of play.

Have we seen anything from Lambert's team as an attacking threat? No, but lets not try and pretend we were a 'good footballing side' under Gaz, because after watching his teams home and away for two years, we were anything but.

There's revisionism in your post Matty - we never had a style of play! Yes we lumped it to Rudy but I wouldn't say it was a style of play because we played no one, and no style to support this. Hitting it long to a big man as a style would've had midfield runners for the knock down (whereas our centre mids weren't allowed in the opposition half) it'd have meant having wingers playing on their correct foot so they don't have to cut in for the crosses making them easier to deal with. Whilst we generally did just lump it to Rudy at no point could it be considered a style of play as we never supported this tactic with personnel or formation (outside of the cup by playing King.)

[roverandout]

I still believe Jones is overrated, never seen him have a good game at utd or england

[Hasta]

I still believe Jones is overrated, never seen him have a good game at utd or england

You could say he hasn't developed into the teletext centre half we thought he might, but to say you have never seen him have a good game for Utd is ridiculous.

Can someone clarify something on this thread to save me going back 5 days of posts. There are a lot of differing views but surely no poster is actually saying they would rather have Bowyer back than Lambert?

[onlyonejackwalker]

You could say he hasn't developed into the teletext centre half we thought he might, but to say you have never seen him have a good game for Utd is ridiculous.

Can someone clarify something on this thread to save me going back 5 days of posts. There are a lot of differing views but surely no poster is actually saying they would rather have Bowyer back than Lambert?

I've rarely seen him dominate or really influence a game. Often looks like a mistake waiting to happen.

Bowyer seemingly. had many supporters spell bound. Strange. Very average manager indeed. A bit crap really the more I reflect.

[Dunnfc]

Lambert isn't under any pressure, one of two on here are trying to be controversial for sake of it, but back in the real world he's very much supported by 99.9% of Rovers fans.

He's inherited a very poor squad, due mainly in my opinion to lack of funds for the last manager, so its going to take a while for him to make his mark.

Gav, he's being supported and no doubt deserves time in his role. If anything this season is very much like the Souness first season in terms of sussing out the squad and respective division as it's been a while since PL was last here with Norwich. He wasn't my choice but i'm far from writing the bloke off.

What pressure is on Lambert is to get results in the medium term and bar the last two games he has done, he needs to be aiming for 1.8 points a game. What I and perhaps one or two others are concerned about is not the style of play as we've seen under BSA how effective it can be but the organisation and set-up of the style because to date it's been orchestrated poorly and i don't think anyone can deny that.

Long balls are fine but make sure when someone is holding it up that you get the bodies around him quickly, no point in winning the ball if you become isolated and give it away. Credit to the pressing style which is starting to show after what i suspect is following some fitness work which is pushing us higher up the pitch in a bid to force the mistakes from the opposition.

There has been games like Bolton and Sheff Wed's where like our own center halves we've met some giants, Prince, Lees, Dervite etc. What we know from our own duo is that they struggle with the ball played in behind them as they are slow on the turn, Rhodes for all his critics is a deadly finisher and its about service to which Bowyer finally cottoned onto this season hence we changed our style from last year to get it played into him.

Sure PL will have a plan though. Its a contrast of playing styles and a medium needs to be found, at the moment we are putting ourselves under pressure with the ball coming straight back and it resembles a defense game. In Conway we've got the best assist player in the league and we need to utilise that.

[Gav]

Good points.

Treat him no different to any other manager thats taken over the reigns, he needs time and backing from the owners.

Best thing to happen to this club in 5yrs!

[Lancs Rover]

Good points.

Treat him no different to any other manager thats taken over the reigns, he needs time and backing from the owners.

Best thing to happen to this club in 5yrs!

You're making sense again, GAV. Careful.

Happy New Year to ya.

[Gav]

You're making sense again, GAV. Careful.

Happy New Year to ya.

and you pal

[JAL]

Comparing him to Hendry is just silly. You could see Col was different class (albeit raw) almost from the moment he walked through the door. If you want to make a comparison see my earlier one - Glenn Keeley. If Duffy's passing and distribution was excellent, he would still be at Everton! We have to accept that there is a reason why some of these lads are playing at the second tier. I think the Duffy/Hanley combination has looked pretty solid so far this season especially when you consider some of the dross that plays in front of them. For me, that is an area that warrants the scrutiny and criticism you afford to Duffy. FWIW my experience of centre halves is battering them the length and breadth of the north west, but I suspect that I would have had my work cut out with Duffy and Hanley!

But Col went onto be a champion of his profession which makes me ask you what do you want Rovers to achieve?

[McClarky]

Lambert has certainly got his work cut out. The most worrying thing for me has been the lack of any new manager bounce. We're as uncreative as we ever were and despite some good results the performances have been poor, and no matter how you look at it, if you play poorly you'll lose more than you win. He's got nothing out of Rhodes and Marshall who are probably our most talented players and whoever plays in midfield they look rank. Massive job ahead I think, maybe some new blood will turn things round. Here's hoping anyway.

[47er]

There's revisionism in your post Matty - we never had a style of play! Yes we lumped it to Rudy but I wouldn't say it was a style of play because we played no one, and no style to support this. Hitting it long to a big man as a style would've had midfield runners for the knock down (whereas our centre mids weren't allowed in the opposition half) it'd have meant having wingers playing on their correct foot so they don't have to cut in for the crosses making them easier to deal with. Whilst we generally did just lump it to Rudy at no point could it be considered a style of play as we never supported this tactic with personnel or formation (outside of the cup by playing King.)

Very hard to develop any style of play when you change the team around every week and play them out of position.

Lambert has certainly got his work cut out. The most worrying thing for me has been the lack of any new manager bounce. We're as uncreative as we ever were and despite some good results the performances have been poor, and no matter how you look at it, if you play poorly you'll lose more than you win. He's got nothing out of Rhodes and Marshall who are probably our most talented players and whoever plays in midfield they look rank. Massive job ahead I think, maybe some new blood will turn things round. Here's hoping anyway.

The 5 games and 11 points WAS the new manager bounce. It just didn't last as long as we hoped.