Shane_villan is looking forward to Lambert.

Foreword: Alternative views and opinions however robust but not libel are healthy for growth; a Lion should never be caged.

My Next Season Prediction

Am predicting a mid table or above finish next season depending on how Lambert hits it off with the players after their holidays when they all finally meet up, this will determine our fate next season. If Lambert goes in there with his known ego; if he demands respect from the players they will switch OFF automatically. From a players/Agent prospective he has not done enough at this level as a manager to demand respect from players who have played at this level their all career to date.

Two known ways to win players over are through friendship like Mcleish tried last season or through your ability as manager. Either way he will have to earn their respect through communication, clever (fun) training programmes and well thought out preparation for games.

If he fails to win them over am anticipating an up and down season with rumours every day in the papers/online from our biggest player’s agents wanting out the club; linking them to other clubs etc.

Lambert’s Vices & Weaknesses

His big ego which he doesn’t merit at this level as manager is First one on my list; Second his inexperience; the fact is Paul Lambert has never managed big personalities before, all the players at Norwich no disrespect to them are lower division players so it would not be that hard for most decent managers to win them over and manage them from set go. My prediction is Hughton will do a very good job there if he carries on that siege mentality of punching above their weight which Lambert instilled there. I rate Chris Hughton highly great humble young English manager.

It’s Lambert’s Biggest Challenge as Manager to Date

Some forget he is still fairly an amateur at this level I do not buy all that exaggeration of his ability, as his most short sighted admirers are currently doing. Next season will test his ability to the fullest level or face the axe; Darren Bent wants to break into the England team so does Gabby (Who was our best and most influential player last season despite what some villans think, stats don’t lie but he did fall off his game 2nd half). Marc Albrighton will be back like terminator and still is a potentially England senior once his confidence is re ignited (Those who disagree about his ability are usually the same ones who trashed Ashley Young’s ability while he was still here because they lack the ability to spot the potential or ability in a player, form is temporary class is permanent).
Charles NZogbia and Steven Ireland are the types who need constant reminder from their respective manager of his faith in their ability while being played.

So communication and finding a role that suits all our potent deadly 5 in the team set up will prove fruitful; Albrighton, NZogbia, Bent, Gabby & Ireland can all play together and be a constant thorn to our opposition in a good set up. Jean II Makoun could be a good addition back from his loan spell but like most Scottish managers I doubt he fits Lamberts ideal of what a midfield general should be, so am expecting he will be sold at some point. Mind you I could be proved wrong but time will soon reveal.

Our Youngsters Should Not Be Frozen Out

Our youngsters deserve a chance in my opinion and should not be frozen out if all the transfer rumours of in comings are to be believed; Albrighton, Bannan, Lichaj, Herd, Baker, Carruthers etc and even some of those still in the academy should be looked at and given an opportunity at some point. Lambert should not be allowed to freeze most of them out if that’s what his plans otherwise we may live to regret it like his influence MON to Cahill. Chris Herd deserves that right back role and Eric Lichaj deserves that left back role we need new centre halves. In deed the near future will reveal if Lambert makes the right decisions in all these areas, but personally I think not.
The rumoured likes of Naughton, Snodgrass, Holt, Matt Phillips and Ayala may have been a great purchase for the likes of Norwich, but are average players from my opinion and observation. We should be aiming higher or place faith in our youngsters with a couple of real quality additions.

Beyond Lambert’s Motivational Manager Effect

These motivational managers like Lambert always do best in their first couple seasons, after that their heads usually swell up with ego and that’s when cracks usually happen. (To the hard Lambert fans I done a complimentary analysis of him last season so yes am aware he has some tactical ability on another Villa website)
Examples of these manager types;

Owen Coyle/Martin O’Neill/Harry Redknapp; Martin O’Neill was mainly responsible for why we never broke into the top four that season we all know which one but I doubt he will ever admit that. Just as Harry Redknapp’s ego and flirting with the F.A got the better of him last season at Spurs main reason they cracked (He fell out with half the players sound familiar?) and missed out by dropping to fourth. Roberto Martinez would make a very good appointment for them their shrewd Chairman Levy.

A Rampart Ego If Not Checked Mate

A manager has to be challenged on transfer policy especially one with a known ego such as our Lambert. Players are the assets of the club and it would be folly for any owner and CEO to ignore that by leaving it solely in the manager’s responsibility. Daniel Levy is in my opinion an example of a very good competent Chairman. You could argue Newcastle have now recently copied the Spurs formula with Mike Ashley and Carr handling their transfers similar to how Comilli and Levy did during Comolli’s stint there.

Together they brought in the likes of Kevin-Prince Boateng, Taarabt, Kaboul, Modrić, Ekotto & Berbatov. Even Van der
vaart who was signed during Harry’s reign was targeted by Levy. Levy challenged and brought out the best in Harry during his time there in my opinion. This shows what having a competent football brain aside from the manager involved in the transfer dealings of the clubs assets can achieve. We all remember from the MON experience what happens if such a manager goes unchallenged.

UTV

On Hodgson’s Lions at Euro’s 2012

Roy Hodgson will fail any manager who leaves out his best and most experienced defender like Rio Ferdinand with stupid excuses is doomed to fail. Earlier in the year Rio Ferdinand was voted by experts the best EPL defender of his decade, Ferguson played him over 30 games last season. Fact is Hodgson had no backbone to stand up to Fergie who wanted to save Rio for next season, reason he was omitted. I suspect this was the main influence not just the bad apple that’s the John Terry saga. Plus leaving out players like Adam Johnson, Darren Bent (Yes he would have been fit for Euros he said so himself and the doctor backed him) and Micah Richard for some failed Liverpool players is a crime to English football.

Hodgson is way in over his head like Alex Mcleish was here. I can see him using the same excuses Mcleish did last season blaming injuries, youngsters and of course lack of time to prepare come England’s exit. Hodgson does well at small clubs/teams that he can organise to overachieve; Fulham and WestBrom for example, but England just as Liverpool are a different kettle of fish for his style & ability.

He failed at Liverpool because of the very high expectations there by their fans (Mind you I think Brendan Rodgers will do a good job there I rate him highly if the owners give him time to instil his philosophy) and will fail again with England because despite the bar being lowered drastically by the F.A and media, England still ranks top 6 in the world so making the semi finals should be realistic or the minimal quarter finals which TBH should be seen as a failure judging from the FIFA ranking. Redknapp could be England’s solution if the F.A still hold the desire for success tournament based football suits Harry’s managerial abilities.