I agree with you Rob! O'Neil had the likes of Gareth Barry, James Milner, Ashley Young, John Carew and what did Lambert end up with! A bunch of kids and bargain basement players. It isn't fair to compare his record with O'Neil's given the huge spending power that O'Neil enjoyed during his time Villa. I actually admire Paul Lambert for the fantastic job he did with you boys and that;s why I'm a little bit stunned by all the negative comments he has been getting on here. I don't think it's right to revel in other people's misfortune especially when they did such a great job for you at one time. I hate to say it but I would have given my hind teeth to have Lambert as our manager! The guy is a football man through and through and I hope he soon gets another crack into Management.
The negative comments are a natural reaction. It's like a nasty break-up from a girlfriend you really liked. Of course you're going to be negative about where she moves on to, even if you accept that the messy break-up was inevitable and the right thing for all concerned. I'm surprised that you're surprised. Lambert's and McNally's relationship had completely broken down. I think most fans recognise the long-term permanent contribution McNally has made to our club, whereas Lambert was always much more temporary and wanted out. I suspect he would have left even if their relationship hadn't broken down. That's how managers are. The snidey comments to the meedja afterwards didn't help Lambert though. He also made the mistake of going for the first option rather than the best option. I think schadenfreude, in the circumstances, is entirely normal. I doubt a single Norwich fan expressing glee at Lambert and Villa's plight isn't grateful for his efforts at Norwich. And, although you Binners like to make a song and dance about it to tease us (as is your right...) the fact is that we can be both grateful for Lambert's efforts for Norwich and critical of his managerial record, tactics, etc, elsewhere. They're different things And the same goes for Villa as for QPR - we got a lot of stick from them at various points as our club's were on very similar trajectories or cross-overs in terms of players bought and sold, managers, etc. It's inevitable that we have a more strongly negative reaction to them than other clubs. Querying why we don't like QPR/Villa is a bit like querying why we don't like Ipswich - there's a history of clashes.
I make no secret Rob in my admiration for Lambert and all he achieved with you boys! I remember being on holiday in Crete when Sir Bobby died on the Friday and on the Saturday I was watching the results coming in and jumped up with delight when the Norwich 1 Colchester 7 result came in! Appointing Lambert was a masterstroke and looking back at the time God I wish we had nicked him from Colchester like we do everybody else who is decent at that club! He may have left you under acrimony but isn't that how most managers leave anyway? I don't know all the ins and outs but he deserves respect albeit grudging. I should have no reason to like the guy especially after the way he destroyed us during that season but I can't help admiring the man, I wish him all the very best and I know that he will soon find a club that will suit him in no time at all.
You misunderstand the point I'm making Munky. My point was to do with the success in terms of league placing and the financial aspects regarding the two clubs, which actually would probably have seen him get more money from our club than he's had at Villa Park. Had we done exactly what Villa have done since he arrived in terms of league placings, money spent etc the pundits would be saying what a great job he's done to keep Norwich up. As it is he's been fired because Villa aren't perceived in the same way and because frankly, he's done a bad job this season - though again, he's had little help. It's all relative. The way Lambert had our club set up we would not have played the same way as Villa do. Not for one moment do I think he'd have suddenly gone from one style of football to the complete opposite when what he had done had been so successful. Its true he has with Villa and I don't know why he's fallen into that but again, its all relative. There has been so much disruption there and plenty of fallings out with big earners. Their wage budget, though bigger than many, has likely been halved in his time at the club. You cannot get success by doing that in the Premier League. As I say, Villa are the true epitome of a 'poisoned chalice'. If I were a manager with a decent reputation I wouldn't go near the place with a barge pole while Lerner is there. I don't think Lambert has done a 'good' job - this season in particular has been very poor - but I don't think he's had much opportunity, if any, to actually succeed there. It was always going to end this way. We all felt it was a bizarre move at the time - we didn't think that simply because we were annoyed - it genuinely made very little sense. At the end of the day, he wanted to leave Norwich asap and would have gone anywhere. He'd burned too many bridges here. I have it on excellent authority that he even applied for the Leeds job for goodness sake. Desperation had set in and Villa is a big club. He probably felt it was a good opportunity but I don't think he was thinking clearly. I doubt he'll ever have it as good as he had here, and that's a shame because I really thought he had something special.
Didn't he have a lengthy contract still running at Villa? I'm guessing that equates to a multi-million pound pay-off. The older I get, the more selective I am about who i feel sorry for.
He deserves that pay out for all the crap he's had to put up with! Jeez what the fook am I doing sticking up for one of your greatest ever managers!
if he had stayed for one more season and kept us up,he could have left with most ncfc fans best wishes fo a much better job
I'm always surprised why anyone cares either way- Players and managers and commodities bought by companies to do a job and they are ridiculously well paid, at least in the top leagues. I support a football team, but the players and staff are largely irrelevant to me, I support the club not the individuals. Lambert left and I was disappointed because he did good job- end of story- he has done a piss poor job at Villa, especially this season, they have a decent squad, and should be doing better (on paper at least).
We can never write about PL without the stirring of strong feelings. He was brilliant for us but his leaving was a shambles and did tar the impression of the good things he achieved. I know Villa fans were split as to how well he did for them but this season and the last few games particularly have turned that tide totally against him and ultimately he had to go. Now they are prime candidates for relegation in my opinion and with the squad in a certain amount of disarray you wonder if they will be able to come straight back up should they go.
