Not because he's going. We all knew he would leave eventually. I'm disappointed because he's been willing to sell himself so cheaply.
First of all, he was Villa's THIRD choice. Behind a guy who has only managed in Norway and someone whose main claim to fame is surviving on the last day of the season. I would have thought that pride alone would have made him tell them to go screw themselves. And also made him suspicious about what these American owners know about football and how they will treat him once he is there.
Second, I could have understood if he had gone to Liverpool, like Rodgers. That's a club with a serious chance of offering European football with some major players even now. How are Villa that much of a step up from us? What can he achieve with them? Seventh and Europa League in a couple of seasons? He could have achieved that with us if he had stuck around, and his reputation for doing so would have been massively increased. Yes, Villa are historically a bigger club than us, of course. But how much more do they offer now? I suppose the American owners will promise the earth during the interview (especially as they have no one left to turn to if Lambert says no), but in reality I think he'd have almost as much in the way of resources with us as with them.
Third, it seems like the resignation was an act of pique. How strange for someone as cool and unemotional as Lambert as a rule to decide his future on a moment of anger.
Fourth, I really thought Lambert was more logical than to just jump at the first opportunity that comes along. Hasn't he seen the long list of promising managers who end up failing and becoming those also-rans who are trotted out every time a lower-level Prem or higher-level Championship job becomes available because they gambled too early? He doesn't need to go running to Villa - he is better than that. I think he may be making a terrible mistake. Stick around and he could have aimed much higher.
A dreadful day for Norwich, and a dreadful ten days what with the Holt transfer request and so on. I just hope we don't end up with one of those also-rans.
And I suspect, a year or so on, it might be a dreadful day for Lambert, too.
First of all, he was Villa's THIRD choice. Behind a guy who has only managed in Norway and someone whose main claim to fame is surviving on the last day of the season. I would have thought that pride alone would have made him tell them to go screw themselves. And also made him suspicious about what these American owners know about football and how they will treat him once he is there.
Second, I could have understood if he had gone to Liverpool, like Rodgers. That's a club with a serious chance of offering European football with some major players even now. How are Villa that much of a step up from us? What can he achieve with them? Seventh and Europa League in a couple of seasons? He could have achieved that with us if he had stuck around, and his reputation for doing so would have been massively increased. Yes, Villa are historically a bigger club than us, of course. But how much more do they offer now? I suppose the American owners will promise the earth during the interview (especially as they have no one left to turn to if Lambert says no), but in reality I think he'd have almost as much in the way of resources with us as with them.
Third, it seems like the resignation was an act of pique. How strange for someone as cool and unemotional as Lambert as a rule to decide his future on a moment of anger.
Fourth, I really thought Lambert was more logical than to just jump at the first opportunity that comes along. Hasn't he seen the long list of promising managers who end up failing and becoming those also-rans who are trotted out every time a lower-level Prem or higher-level Championship job becomes available because they gambled too early? He doesn't need to go running to Villa - he is better than that. I think he may be making a terrible mistake. Stick around and he could have aimed much higher.
A dreadful day for Norwich, and a dreadful ten days what with the Holt transfer request and so on. I just hope we don't end up with one of those also-rans.
And I suspect, a year or so on, it might be a dreadful day for Lambert, too.
