[Archived] Official: Paul Lambert Appointed Blackburn Rovers Manager

[G Somerset Rover]

That's what I said in the other thread. The fear is that he'll be potted before he gets chance to shape the squad that he wants. Fingers crossed he gets at least 10-15 games into next season at the minimum.

[den]

Anyone else terrified that Venkys might do what they did with Appleton/Berg if results don't get better very quickly?

Who knows what they'll do, - but terrified? No. They've already knocked that fight out of me.

[Lancaster Rover]

You would have hoped that the assessment taken by the Venky's advisor that led to Bowyers departure also made an assessment of the plying squad, its many imitations and set some realistic expectations for the remainder of the season. I will caveat that with that's an assumption made by a sane/logical person, so the Venky's may well do the complete opposite.

[Steve Moss]

Lambert has to be given until well into the next season. He also has to be given the chance to bring his own players in. He's a good manager with a fighter's winning mentality. He needs time to purge the weak links from the squad and put his own stamp on it. If he's given that time and money, he'll get us promoted.

Firing him, or even discussing firing him, this soon into his term as manager, is madness.

[ABBEY]

Why does he play hoof it anywhere tho?

is this is chosen style or does he not trust the players he has to play footy?

I can never understand why managers do it ,it showed in the 10 mins of good stuff that if we play in your face high tempo then we can worry anyone.

[LewisF]

Exactly. We need to play with the same urgency we do last 10 minutes when we're a goal down for the whole match, because chances are we'll end up winning more.

[RevidgeBlue]

As regards PL he needs an absolute minimum 12 months imo. If at that point things are looking worse than now, then that might be the time to look at it with a view to giving a new man the chance to hit the ground running the season after next.

What does puzzle me is why PL took the job in the first place without significant funds being available this January. I can only assume he thought he could get much more of a tune out of this bunch than has actually proved to be the case. Unless money is being made available in the main transfer window in summer.

[AllRoverAsia]

He spoke about loans in January. I think PLs plan is to get rid of loads of players and rebuild in the summer - and I believe he's been promised the funds. IMO.

His job for the moment is to keep us in the Championship.

The rest will follow.

[Tom]

If at this point next season we are terrible he should be under some pressure, this season should always have been treat as one of transition when he came in.

[Blue blood]

One thing I and many others underestimated was how many players would spit their dummies out. As posted elsewhere our current bad is very different to the ineptitude under bowyer. It seems more physical than mental, which suggests sulking.

IF Rhodes, Marshall, Conway, Duffy, Hanley, Apkan and Olsson all played how they can play at the top of their game the rebuilding job would be a lot less. Likewise if the rest played at their best then there'd be a lot less liabilities that needed shipping out.

[roverandout]

He should be given the same amount of time as bowyer and more seeing as he's a superior manager!

[DE.]

One thing I and many others underestimated was how many players would spit their dummies out. As posted elsewhere our current bad is very different to the ineptitude under bowyer. It seems more physical than mental, which suggests sulking.

IF Rhodes, Marshall, Conway, Duffy, Hanley, Apkan and Olsson all played how they can play at the top of their game the rebuilding job would be a lot less. Likewise if the rest played at their best then there'd be a lot less liabilities that needed shipping out.

To be fair, Hanley and Duffy have been decent. Duffy's heading in the opposition box has always been a problem, pre-dating Lambert's arrival. Akpan has popped up with a couple of goals too.

The likes of Marshall, Henley, Conway and Rhodes are really letting the side down at the moment. Hard to say Koita, Guthrie, Brown or Williamson are letting anybody down as they are pretty rubbish anyway. Evans has had his injury issues so again, hard to blame him too much. Steele was doing fine until recently, but all goalkeepers go through periods where they make mistakes.

A new target man striker and/or an injection of pace would do us the world of good. Whether we can get them this month remains to be seen, but these are minimum requirements in the summer.

[den]

Why does he play hoof it anywhere tho?

is this is chosen style or does he not trust the players he has to play footy?

I doubt any manager anywhere, asks his back four to hoof it anywhere Abbey.

I'm hoping that the high tempo football he tells us about, goes along the lines of mixing a short, quick passing game, with intelligent use of the early longer ball, to the front runner(s). I'm also hoping that what we're seeing is just a result of the back four and midfielders not being technically good enough.

[Steve Moss]

Why does he play hoof it anywhere tho?

is this is chosen style or does he not trust the players he has to play footy?

I can never understand why managers do it ,it showed in the 10 mins of good stuff that if we play in your face high tempo then we can worry anyone.

Abbey, I understand your frustration and where it comes from. But when it comes to the tactics a manager cares to employ, we have to leave that to the manager. Too many think they have the skills and tactical nous of Premier League and Championship managers. I don't and I don't think there is anyone here on this board who does. Let Lambert and his backroom staff do what they need to do, without further burdening them with unreasonable expectations (at least at the present time).

The way I think of Lambert (and Sam Allardyce before him) was that we supporters have champagne tastes but we only have a beer budget. The objective is to keep us in the league and, maybe, win promotion. Once we win promotion, the objective is to stay in the Premier League. Playing pretty football is, at best, a tertiary concern.

This is just my non-expert opinion, but I think the teams that can play frequently "pretty" football are those with budgets, who've been together the longest, and/or with long serving managers. That hasn't been us in years. Asking Paul Lambert to play the "good stuff" with a team he hasn't had a hand in building is a bridge too far. When he's been in charge for a few years, has built and trained his team to play the way he wants them to play, then maybe we can ask them to keep it on the deck. Until then, we have to know our limitations and work within them to maintain and improve our league position. Paul Lambert is the man for that.

Also as an aside, aesthetically I don't mind long ball. It's just one tactic amongst many. There is a time and place for it. What I dislike is long ball played poorly.

[Tom]

At times we tried playing it through the middle last night at times but it's clear we don't have the players to do so and revert to long balls

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

At times we tried playing it through the middle last night at times but it's clear we don't have the players to do so and revert to long balls

Nail on the head. Our players aren't suited to any style. No pace to play on the counter. No box to box midfielder or midfielders that can carry the ball or pass No real 'number 10' and no target man of note.

I bet Lambert (having had the career he had ) looks at this lot and thinks "what a bunch of ......"

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Nail on the head. Our players aren't suited to any style. No pace to play on the counter. No box to box midfielder or midfielders that can carry the ball or pass No real 'number 10' and no target man of note.

I bet Lambert (having had the career had ) looks at this lot and thinks "what a bunch of ......"

Yeah, and if we could turn back the clock and he could put his boots on again what a difference he would make in the centre of our midfield.

We've managed over the last few years to build of team that with a few exceptions ( centre half ? ) consists of nothing. What is there to hang your hat on ? What way of successfully getting the ball from back to front ? It's as though the players were signed at random with no thought to how they would fit together in the units you need to make up a winning team.

[Leonard Venkhater]

Abbey, I understand your frustration and where it comes from. But when it comes to the tactics a manager cares to employ, we have to leave that to the manager. Too many think they have the skills and tactical nous of Premier League and Championship managers. I don't and I don't think there is anyone here on this board who does. Let Lambert and his backroom staff do what they need to do, without further burdening them with unreasonable expectations (at least at the present time).

The way I think of Lambert (and Sam Allardyce before him) was that we supporters have champagne tastes but we only have a beer budget. The objective is to keep us in the league and, maybe, win promotion. Once we win promotion, the objective is to stay in the Premier League. Playing pretty football is, at best, a tertiary concern.

This is just my non-expert opinion, but I think the teams that can play frequently "pretty" football are those with budgets, who've been together the longest, and/or with long serving managers. That hasn't been us in years. Asking Paul Lambert to play the "good stuff" with a team he hasn't had a hand in building is a bridge too far. When he's been in charge for a few years, has built and trained his team to play the way he wants them to play, then maybe we can ask them to keep it on the deck. Until then, we have to know our limitations and work within them to maintain and improve our league position. Paul Lambert is the man for that.

Also as an aside, aesthetically I don't mind long ball. It's just one tactic amongst many. There is a time and place for it. What I dislike is long ball played poorly.

I leave tactics to the manager too. But I can't pretend not to notice if there is little method and craft. Sideways, backwards and HOOF is difficult to admire, even for someone as patient as me LOL!!

[ABBEY]

never said i know more about tactic steve,Last night in the ground even a blind man suffering insomnia could see the tactics were not working.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Yeah, and if we could turn back the clock and he could put his boots on again what a difference he would make in the centre of our midfield.

We've managed over the last few years to build of team that with a few exceptions ( centre half ? ) consists of nothing. What is there to hang your hat on ? What way of successfully getting the ball from front to back ? It's as though the players were signed at random with no thought to how they would fit together in the units you need to make up a winning team.

It's almost like we were just buying random players hoping to make money on some...

Must say that Hanley has been outstanding this season. I criticised him last year and thought we should cash in, but he has really turned it around this year. At the moment he is the only part of a 'spine' that you could build the team round. Hopefully Lennihan can make an impression as well.

I can see Some Prem teams coming in for Hanley at the end of the season if his form continues.

[Blue blood]

To be fair, Hanley and Duffy have been decent. Duffy's heading in the opposition box has always been a problem, pre-dating Lambert's arrival. Akpan has popped up with a couple of goals too.

The likes of Marshall, Henley, Conway and Rhodes are really letting the side down at the moment. Hard to say Koita, Guthrie, Brown or Williamson are letting anybody down as they are pretty rubbish anyway. Evans has had his injury issues so again, hard to blame him too much. Steele was doing fine until recently, but all goalkeepers go through periods where they make mistakes.

A new target man striker and/or an injection of pace would do us the world of good. Whether we can get them this month remains to be seen, but these are minimum requirements in the summer.

Good post and fair assessment of the squad. Strange as wouldn't have had Conway or Rhodes down as shirkers. Odd really.

Disagree about Steele though. Imo he is generally poor or indifferent with the odd blinder thrown in. Bet he costs more points than he saves.

Agree with what needed. Arguably minimum requirement now though let alone summer. Biggest priorities though.

[DE.]

Disagree about Steele though. Imo he is generally poor or indifferent with the odd blinder thrown in. Bet he costs more points than he saves.

I agree he's far from the best, but I think we have bigger problems to sort before goalkeeper. Steele's another one of those not considered good enough for a team in the same league as us - we have far too many of them, but Steele is probably one of the better players in that category.

I'd advocate looking to replace Steele if we didn't have too many other positions to address, but unfortunately we almost have the entire team to address! I imagine a replacement for Steele will at best be possible next January, unless a player pops up on our radar unexpectedly.

[Leonard Venkhater]

It's almost like we were just buying random players hoping to make money on some...

My biggest worry. This seems to have been the policy for five years. Hence the sense of hopelessness.

The main purpose of a football team was obviously placed way down the list of the the owners' priorities.

It's like buying a car just for the speakers or the seat covers...but that's where the Fit and proper person test comes in....

[Lancaster Rover]

It does seem more and more that Bowyer assembled a team (and I use the term 'team' in its loosest sense) where we signed players on the basis that they were available rather than with any plan as to how we would play and/or how they would fit into the team. We have 11 very round holes and 11 very square pegs that we are determined to fit together.

The Rhodes conundrum is a perfect example of this. If we set up the team to play to Rhodes strengths we effectively nullify the threat of the other 10 players and therefore rely completely on him scoring. Last year highlighted this so much, Jordan and Rudy scored 40 or so goals between them yet we didn't even tickle the play off spots, largely because so few other players scored and our sole aim was to feed Jordan and Rudy. This method also massively affected how we defended, in order to win we needed to score 3 or 4 as we were always likely to concede.

On the flip side, what we are seeing now is trying to play to the collective strength of the team, which completely nullifies Jordan. We look defensively tight yet we often offer very little goal threat and our build up play looks laboured and predictable. There is an element of individuals not performing to standard and missing chances but still as a unit we look very disjointed and lacking in quality.

[tomphil]

Quite simply if he'd have sorted the centre of defence last season with the numerous experienced options he had instead of persevering with the two raw young centre halves together which clearly didn't work we'd have had a shout at the play offs. Enough goals were scored despite the other non contributors.