The Round Ball Game - II

[cloughie]

Just as in politics and business, being a name in football is peculiarly more important than having had persistent success. It's like being sprinkled with magic dust. I genuinely can't understand this phenomenon unless it is indicative of a societal deficit in imagination. Following the managerial merry-go-round that has seen a reallocation of the good and the bad to various Premier League teams, the fans of Stoke City appear to be full of excitement about the latest in this theme, Paul Lambert. Lambert has cleverly joined Stoke at a time when he has been able to acquire new players in the January transfer period and the club is about to embark on a series of easy fixtures. That might well get him off to a reasonable start.

But my main memory of him is of his time at Aston Villa when ultimately he was considered by many to be atrocious. Consequently, I thought I would check to see what else he has done. Apart from a two and a half year period at Norwich City when he was mainly successful, he walked out on Livingston after just seven months on the grounds that they had only won two games; he resigned from Wycombe when that club was eliminated from League Two under his management; he left Colchester* in less than one year of being in charge; he left Blackburn in six months under a release clause in his contract by mutual consent; and he left Wolves after six months when he and that club agreed to part company following a review.

...and he terminated talks with the Owls because he was only likely to be offered six months contract. Norwich seems to have been his one success. *His departure from Colchester was triggered by them thrashing Norwich and he was thge new Norwich manger within days.

[johncorrigan]

...and he terminated talks with the Owls because he was only likely to be offered six months contract. Norwich seems to have been his one success. *His departure from Colchester was triggered by them thrashing Norwich and he was thge new Norwich manger within days.

Yeah...but he's in this photo, chaps.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1200x675/p04450cf.jpg

[Lat-Literal]

Yeah...but he's in this photo, chaps.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1...5/p04450cf.jpg

It wasn't a roundabout dig at St Mirren. I had no idea. In fact, I'm always on tenterhooks these days whenever criticising someone who happens to be Scottish or Irish as it looks like a roundabout dig at Scottish and Irish friends which is the last thing I want. I go through a thousand pains in this sort of area. At the same time, I could have bet on there having been a Mirrie connection as stuff always goes wrong for me in that sense. It's exactly what happens. And what I note is that they have had the good sense not to get him in as their manager.

[Alison]

Its just possible Paul Lambert will join Hodgson, Moyes and Puel in having their tarnished reputations somewhat restored.

Villa were going downhill big time and no subsequent manager has greatly improved the position. Blame the owner.

Not saying I would have wanted him at Leicester but he’s a fair catch for Stoke!

[EdgeleyRob]

Petty I know but I fell out with Paul Lambert,then Wycombe manager,when he said
"I used to play for a club that had more fans than Stockport can get in their ground watching us training" (just before the league 2 play off semi in 2008)
The rest is history

[Alison]

Petty I know but I fell out with Paul Lambert,then Wycombe manager,when he said
"I used to play for a club that had more fans than Stockport can get in their ground watching us training" (just before the league 2 play off semi in 2008)
The rest is history

Hmmm, gone off him a bit now then.

[cloughie]

Its just possible Paul Lambert will join Hodgson, Moyes and Puel in having their tarnished reputations somewhat restored.

Villa were going downhill big time and no subsequent manager has greatly improved the position. Blame the owner.

Not saying I would have wanted him at Leicester but he’s a fair catch for Stoke!

You missed Big Sam and Pardew off the list - and you don't think that Carlos will save Swansea!

[Lat-Literal]

I don't rate - or like - Pardew. Accept that the Villa owners were partly to blame but Prince William could have put money in and so called Cameron except that he couldn't make up his mind which team he supported. That was once he had been told what the word "football" means. Of course, Benteke had that one very good season and then he went rapidly downhill.

[johncorrigan]

Petty I know but I fell out with Paul Lambert,then Wycombe manager,when he said
"I used to play for a club that had more fans than Stockport can get in their ground watching us training" (just before the league 2 play off semi in 2008)
The rest is history

Don't reckon that were the Buddies.

Hey Lat, re Lambert, I never took it as a dig at the Buddies, by the way...sometimes you get to like someone for something that happened a long time ago...I don't really care much about Lambert nowadays...bit boring...but he was a fine player while he played for us and left in favourable circumstances; unlike the guy, Ian Ferguson, who scored the goal that magical day in '87. Bloody Souness wouldn't leave him be and eventually took him to Ibrox...I got to not liking a sort of hero. And I hated Souness ever since! I'm sure there are some Liverpool fans who might be horrified at that, but that's footie for you.

[Lat-Literal]

Don't reckon that were the Buddies.

Hey Lat, re Lambert, I never took it as a dig at the Buddies, by the way...sometimes you get to like someone for something that happened a long time ago...I don't really care much about Lambert nowadays...bit boring...but he was a fine player while he played for us and left in favourable circumstances; unlike the guy, Ian Ferguson, who scored the goal that magical day in '87. Bloody Souness wouldn't leave him be and eventually took him to Ibrox...I got to not liking a sort of hero. And I hated Souness ever since! I'm sure there are some Liverpool fans who might be horrified at that, but that's footie for you.

That's good news JC.

A part of the difficulty is that I've never made up my mind which Scottish team to support. It could well be Dundee Utd because of Hamish McAlpine, their colours and DC Thomson. Oh no. I have just made it worse. The other contenders are Celtic, Hearts, Stranraer, Queen of the South, Stirling Albion, Inverness CT, Ross County, Arbroath and Montrose. And St Mirren.

[cloughie]

That's good news JC.

A part of the difficulty is that I've never made up my mind which Scottish team to support. It could well be Dundee Utd because of Hamish McAlpine, their colours and DC Thomson. Oh no. I have just made it worse. The other contenders are Celtic, Hearts, Stranraer, Queen of the South, Stirling Albion, Inverness CT, Ross County, Arbroath and Montrose. And St Mirren.

You mean you wouldn't go for those with the lovely names like Brechin City, which isn't a city, Cowdenbeath, Stenhousemuir or give East Fife five and Forfar four. Whetever happened to Third Lanark and Airdrieonians? I also wonder how many Carlisle fans in the days when they dropped to the conference nipped up the road to Gretna to witness the short marriage of their team with the Scottish top flight?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I don't rate - or like - Pardew. Accept that the Villa owners were partly to blame but Prince William could have put money in . . .

Behave yourself, Lat You know perfectly well that there would be uproar if a member of the Royal Family did that. (Don't forget Franco and Real Madrid

Nigel Kennedy is a Villa supporter too.

[johncorrigan]

You mean you wouldn't go for those with the lovely names like Brechin City, which isn't a city, Cowdenbeath, Stenhousemuir or give East Fife five and Forfar four. Whetever happened to Third Lanark and Airdrieonians? I also wonder how many Carlisle fans in the days when they dropped to the conference nipped up the road to Gretna to witness the short marriage of their team with the Scottish top flight?

Ah cloughie, Cowdenbeath, the Blue Brazil! Is there a better nickname for a club? Third Lanark and Cathkin Park...I got there with my Dad to a Cup replay before they disappeared. Airdrieonians is still there, cloughie...7th in League 1 just now. I always thought they were Onians who came from Airdrie, whatever Onians are.

[Alison]

Good luck to everyone today.

[Alison]

You missed Big Sam and Pardew off the list - and you don't think that Carlos will save Swansea!

Big Sam already fine reputation, Pardew not turned it round yet, nor Carlos.