Firstly, in common with all other fans, I am very disappointed that Lambert has left. He has done wonders for us over the last 3 years, and no doubt he will do well at Villa too. However, I have to say that we were at rock bottom when he joined, and I think any half decent manager would have got us out of League 1. We had a very good squad for that level, and we were bookies favourites to win the title. The Championship is a different matter - I think realistically Top 10 would have been a decent finish, and Lambert deserves huge credit for getting us promotion at the first attempt. This season, I felt that with our squad we had a decent chance of a reasonable season and we finished roughly where I expected us to. I think Lambert has two key attributes. Firstly, finding the right players in the lower leagues and turning them into better players. Secondly, and more importantly, his tactical ability to play with a number of different formations not only in different games, but during games. I think it's this skill that won us all those late points in the Championship, and enabled us to compete with virtually every team in the Premiership. I do have a slight bitter feeling about the way he has gone, and I would be extremely happy if Villa finish below us this season, and ecstatic if they are relegated. However, we move on. My main point, my biggest fear, is that the players Lambert has identified as targets will now become his targets for Villa, leaving us with nobody lined up. I'm also slightly concerned that we have offered contracts to so many players, not leaving too many squad places for new recruits. It looks like Holt will be on his way, and although £5m is a great return on a player that cost us £400k (particularly a 31 year old) the concern is where we get an adequate replacement, as the Chief Exec has pointed out. Slightly worrying times, but exciting ones too!
I echo your sentiments regarding Lambert. The trouble now is his transfer targets, he might have to look else where, even when Lambert was here and Rodgers was at Swansea they both showed there's only so much you can do with a team of lower league players bound together with team spirit. Also QPR showed how difficult it can be buying so called experienced campaigners, it doesn't always work. He might have to change his policy, sure he has the basis of good squad there with some decent players, but I think if he needs to take Villa forward, his targets might have changed now he has changed the team he manages. As for Holt, I have a feeling we will see him in the Yellow & Green next year, if we won't stump up the extra year he demands, I can't see many clubs offering him a 3 year contract plus a decent size transfer fee too for a 31 year old. Also regarding Lamberts targets, I hope Mcnally has done what Swansea did, where he can't take any of our players for a year or so, for protection of the squad. If not he might be dipping in to our squad very soon, I hope not though!! OTBC
you forget, if it is a matter of security for holt's family he's after, if he doubles his money at another club, he'd only need a 1 and a half year contract to get what he would here for three years. he'd easily find suitors, very easily
Some thoughtful comments Dorset, but I disagree with this part where you seem to imply the improvements to these lower league players are somehow permanent. When in reality there was clearly a lot of maintenance involved with what Lambert and Culverhouse did on the training pitch. The massive problem facing Norwich next season is that without Lambert and Culverhouseâs rigorous drilling the lower league players performances will quickly decline and revert back to Championship/League One levels. Whoever is your next manager is going to have one hell of job of trying to keep you lot from propping up the foot of the Premiership for the entire duration of next season.
Very true and he'd also get a percentage of any transfer fee. Seems the players were kept pretty much 'in the dark' as to what was going on behind the scenes and several may want to leave as a result. The next few days and weeks are VERY worrying times indeed for us fans. IMO, McNally should have handled this better and kept the players and fans better informed!!!
McNally has made it clear no players are for sale. He has even said Villa cannot afford Holt. He's going to look pretty silly if we sell Holt to Villa.
Yes, I know; but if as has been reported in the Sun, the players are unhappy and don't want to stay - what then??????
I wonder what Charlie Wyett is saying on the matter, his employed by The Sun but his a massive city fan and confirmed what was broken on Wednesday..
