Paul Lambert - are things looking up?

[Josh 0]

Well, after

our 4-0 win tonight that takes Lambert''s managerial record with us in the

league to won 3, drawn 3 and lost 1. That’s 12 points from 7 games. I''m not

sure about you, but I''m happy with this as it''s good enough for the play offs.

Also encouraging is no team has scored more than 2 goals against us in the

league with Lambert in charge.

 

Other encouraging signs in Lamberts

short era have been Russell''s injury time equaliser at Gillingham and Holts

injury time equaliser against Charlton. For once we are showing good attitude,

keeping our heads up and fighting to the end, even when decisions appear to be

going against us. Perhaps in recent times these may have been 2 games lost. Or

even worse, our heads going down after the opposition score and being on the

receiving end of a thrashing, which has often been the case.

 

Frustrating moments have been

insistence on long ball tactics, especially against MKDons and Walsall. It

clearly doesn''t suit us and it''s little wonder we only came away from these 2

games with a point. Thankfully it seems like we have gone back to our passing

ways and recent results have been more encouraging.

 

I agree with the majority of

Lamberts team selections, which is more than what could be said for Roeder and

Gunn. It''s great to see youth being given a chance, especially with the

emergence of Korey Smith in midfield, who I think has been a great influence

and has a big future ahead of him. I''m not so impressed with Daley, but I''m at

least glad our manager is willing to give these kids a proper shot.

 

Grant Holt is also an excellent

choice of captain for me, he is such grafter and this is the message that needs

to be spread through the team. Don''t give up and get stuck in!

 

The decision to get Lambert in as

early as we did in the season could end up really paying off. It was harsh on

Gunn to be dismissed so abruptly, but I like the fact a tough decision was made

and we are moving forward because of it, instead of potentially putting up with

mediocrity. I believe the team is now taking shape, looking settled and

performances are improving. It''ll be interesting to see who Lambert brings to

the club in January, I am hoping for a new right back!

 

One other thing, it seems like

people on here like to nit pick at our performances (such as Hoolahan being a

bit frustrating tonight). But lets look at the facts, a new manager finding his

feet, 7 points from 12 games, and a target man who''s netted 6 or 7 goals

already. Things aren''t so bad are they? Things won''t always be perfect, and

this league was never going to be easy, but in Paul Lambert I believe we have

found someone who might just get us out within 2 to 3 years. I never believed

in Gunn so I''m delighted we have Lambert right now.

 

Lets stay positive and enjoy the

changes. Things are looking up in my opinion. Improving team spirit, emergence

of youth, a captain fantastic and goalscorer in Grant Holt. And who knows, 3

points on Saturday MIGHT be enough to leap frog us into the play offs!

 

Oh, and on a side note...I was at

Sheffield United tonight and watched Ipswich blow a 3-1 lead, fantastic! And we won 4-0! Definitely a night to be optimistic :)

 

[Josh 0]

oops, not sure what happened to the start of my post! No edit button!??

[Lambo 0]

Great post mate, agree with it entirely.

And unfortunatly no, try as we might they still won''t give us a damn edit button.

[ref89 0]

An edit button, here?[quote user="Josh"]oops, not sure what happened to the start of my post! No edit button!?? [/quote]

[Snoots 0]

Good constructive post. Persoanlly, I think that the squad/team that Gunn put together would have fought to the end of a game under Gunn. I can''t prove that of course but what si gratfying is that they are doign it under Lambert anyway. I do think that one of the reasons why things are looking up is Lambert''s decision to bring Hoolahan, Russell and, for that matter, Doherty back into the fold. No reasonable supporter can disagree with the assertion that it was pigheaded of Lambert to exclude both Hoolahan and Russell over a period when staibility and gaining points was particularly critical. The rehabilitation of these players can only be good for overall team morale and harmony and, in any case, we cannot afford to leave out players of the quality of Hoolahan and, I would argue, Russell. Personally, I think that last night''s game may have signalled a positive turning point for the reasons mentioned. Having said that, it''s Bristol Rovers on Saturday !

[First Wizard 0]

Never had any doubts to start with!

[paul moy 235]

[quote user="Bob Franklin"]Good constructive post. Persoanlly, I think that the squad/team that Gunn put together would have fought to the end of a game under Gunn. I can''t prove that of course but what si gratfying is that they are doign it under Lambert anyway. I do think that one of the reasons why things are looking up is Lambert''s decision to bring Hoolahan, Russell and, for that matter, Doherty back into the fold. No reasonable supporter can disagree with the assertion that it was pigheaded of Lambert to exclude both Hoolahan and Russell over a period when staibility and gaining points was particularly critical. The rehabilitation of these players can only be good for overall team morale and harmony and, in any case, we cannot afford to leave out players of the quality of Hoolahan and, I would argue, Russell. Personally, I think that last night''s game may have signalled a positive turning point for the reasons mentioned. Having said that, it''s Bristol Rovers on Saturday ![/quote]

 

On the contrary, the historical evidence shows that the team would not have been as motivated under Gunn. Performances against Charlton last season and the Colchester game are indelible proof. Lambert has performed a miracle in a very short time IMO.

 

[First Wizard 0]

[quote user="Bob Franklin"]Good constructive post. Persoanlly, I think that the squad/team that Gunn put together would have fought to the end of a game under Gunn. I can''t prove that of course [/quote]

Priceless logic from Mellissa.[:S]

[Reggie Strayshun 0]

Whilst it''s undeniable that most of this team are Gunn acquisitions,I''ve seen no evidence that he had any nous as regards tactics/motivation.

 

It''s a bit early to suggest that Lambert has performed a "miracle"......we''ll only be able to sat that in May,but the signs are finally looking better.

 

Surely it''s all down to consistency now? We''ve proved that we can dispose of the Orients of this world with ease,at home. But we now need to start beating the better teams(like Bristol Rov on Saturday) and picking up some regular victories away. All this "we''re being targetted by poor referees" stuff just doesn''t wash with me.  We have been chucking points and goals away willy nilly since we were in the Prem. It isn''t a recent thing. But we find ourselves 2 pts off a play off spot and only 10 off an Automatic one. It could have been 16,and a pretty insurmountable hurdle,if things hadn''t gone the right way last night.

 

So, more of the same,and less of the previous Gunn/ Rodent/Grant dross,and we''ve got a real chance.

[WeAreYellows49 0]

[quote user="paul moy"]

[quote user="Bob Franklin"]Good constructive post. Persoanlly, I think that the squad/team that Gunn put together would have fought to the end of a game under Gunn. I can''t prove that of course but what si gratfying is that they are doign it under Lambert anyway. I do think that one of the reasons why things are looking up is Lambert''s decision to bring Hoolahan, Russell and, for that matter, Doherty back into the fold. No reasonable supporter can disagree with the assertion that it was pigheaded of Lambert to exclude both Hoolahan and Russell over a period when staibility and gaining points was particularly critical. The rehabilitation of these players can only be good for overall team morale and harmony and, in any case, we cannot afford to leave out players of the quality of Hoolahan and, I would argue, Russell. Personally, I think that last night''s game may have signalled a positive turning point for the reasons mentioned. Having said that, it''s Bristol Rovers on Saturday ![/quote]

 

On the contrary, the historical evidence shows that the team would not have been as motivated under Gunn. Performances against Charlton last season and the Colchester game are indelible proof. Lambert has performed a miracle in a very short time IMO.

 

[/quote]

 

Totally agree