Spot on Paul Lambert

[Bluemike]

I think a few need to remember this !!!!!

Blues boss Paul Lambert has dismissed suggestions that the Blues have hit a bump in the road, despite having won just one of their last nine matches over 90 minutes in all competitions, and has criticised the levels of negativity which he believes are incredible.

Town won eight of their first 11 League One matches to hit the top of the table but have now been victorious in only two of their last seven in the league and are second, four points behind Wycombe, albeit with a game in hand on the Chairboys.

Asked why the wins have dried up, Lambert said: “Number one – we don’t have a divine right to win games because we’re a big club.

“The club was in an incredibly not good condition when we came in, and it’s come on a hell of a long way.

“What’s heightened it is the crowd coming back, everything coming back and the club in a really good place whether I’m here or not this football club is bigger than anybody.

“The fans make it, without a doubt the fans make the club because of the size of it. You were getting 12 or 13,000 in here, and I told you before it was like a morgue.

“Now, it’s totally different. You’re getting 20,000 into the football club, there’s been unbelievably great strides, but we’re a country mile from where we want to get to, but at least we’ve given something to the supporters which I said would happen.

“We’ll have our ups and downs and you need the support, there’s not a game without them.

“So you need the support to be really vibrant the way they’ve been through thick and thin, and that’s normal.

“You’ll have bits where you do go up and down but as long as they stay with that and stick with it, and I said before the community engages with the club great if you go back to 12 and 13,000 when it was like a morgue absolutely bored stiff, no atmosphere, no nothing.

“It’s a totally different ball game now. It doesn’t matter if they can see a that says let’s have a go at this, but we’ve not got a divine right to win games.

"Sunderland had a hard time with it last year, Sheffield United were in this division for six years, Leeds United were in it, Nottingham Forest have been in it.

“It’s tough. It’s really, really tough. We don’t have a divine right to win this league. We have to earn it. And to change the mentality from what it was last year to now has been incredible the way the lads have done it."

Lambert said in the summer that there would be bumps in the road at times this season but despite the lack of recent victories he insists the current situation isn’t one.

“No, we’ve lost two league games, we’ve lost two,” he added. “Two league games we’ve lost, we drew the last few, we’re sitting second a few points off it with a game in hand.

“I can’t believe the negativity here, it’s incredible. I’d love to have seen it when it wasn’t going well. I really would have.

“Honestly, I’d love to have seen it because dear oh dear when you have negativity and you have negative people around the place or negativity it isn’t going to work, it needs positivity the place. And the football club has lost two games.”

Lambert wants the fans to turn up at Portman Road showing that positivity, making noise and their presence felt.

“I said to the lads the people coming have been brilliant, they’ve been a major catalyst with everything,” he said.

“Why pay £30 a ticket and come in and sit on your arse absolutely doing nothing, just moan and criticise? I would rather be at home having your missus nagging the tits off you than watch a game of football [like that].

“That’s what I would do, so why come to the game and pay that money? Why do you do it, to sit and criticise somebody for 90 minutes?

“It’s not my type. I’d rather not be involved in that. I’d rather leave. Come and support the team, regardless of what happens, if you’re paying money go and enjoy yourself, Whether you have flares in the stadiums, if you have flags or if you want to jump about.

“I’ve said that before, I’ve seen it in Germany and I’ve been involved in it and I’d rather that happen than people come and sit there not getting excited.”

[hallamblue]

Overall though the TREND in our league form is worrying me personally and I link it to the rotation system used. It wasn’t long ago we had a 7 point gap at the top and 2-3 games in hand . Now even if we win thrive game in hand we have we wound still be 1 point off top place . That cushion we had has GONE!

[marko69]

I agree with him 100% .......

but.......

he’s starting to sound a tad too angry. Asking why pay to sit on your arse and moan , he’d rather stay at home and have the Mrs nag the tits off him, etc etc.
I’d say reign that in just a bit Paul. Don’t be unprofessional like Mick McCarthy saying too much in press conferences.

But I’m in complete agreement.

Find your best starting 11 and everyone will be more positive.

[Andym]

I personally don't think it's as simple as the rotation system. We've had lots of games this season where we've played well for 45 minutes. At the start of the season we were perhaps fortunate to win thrm. More recently we have drawn thrm.

The glass half full supporters will claim we were unlucky not to win recently and blame disallowed goals. The glass half empty members will th ink we were lucky to win so many early games by the odd goal. I wouldn't disagree with either view.

I would maintain that over the season things balance out; maybe it already has. As has been said by many on here as well as by PL, we have no divine right to win games. If, as some believe, we have the best squad in the division, we will get promoted. I'm far from convinced.

[arana peligrosa]

Team doesn't possess required momentum. If all a bit half-assed on occasion to be truthful. We play as a cohesive unit usually over one period and fall away in the other. I often see names on the starting sheet that necessarily don't warrant inclusion and wonder why we got players on the bench that have been omitted from the start. If Lambert is trying to find an elusive starting XI that fits in with everyone you wonder when such a scenario could come to pass or even if the team is able to maintain a potential winning formula.

So many factors to consider, you got injury rosters, inept game officials, misfortune whenever it arises or luck doesn't go our way. All part and parcel of the game but the final league position is always a near clear example of where you deserve to be. Say one final time if they had offered second position at this stage of the season going back to August you feel a great many would have jumped at the chance. Team's picking up points here and there and performances are mixed. Tomorrow should be a good indication of how far we've come since relegation against one of the better teams this league can offer. If Rotherham and Accrington can take three points from us then there's every chance Bristol Rovers can join the list. Obviously would hope to avoid such a thing but the team and manager needs to redeem itself after the last mess we witnessed involving what occurred.

[marko69]

Saint, fans cannot look at a team sheet and have an opinion on who “warrants” a start. What are you basing that view on? The previous week? Unless fans are watching the entire weeks training routines, seems silly to have an opinion on who starts.

What could be seen as worrying, is the fact that the line up IS changing so frequently. Paul Lambert himself maybe is looking for players to be a tad more consistent in form in training. But being the positive guy he is, he’s not dwelling on it. He reckons it’ll click into place.
I actually believe that as well. That’s why I’m personally predicting Big wins every week with the help of my buddy, Budweiser.

[number 9]

I think Lambert got a spot on his pants after that quote. Why are some negative? Well maybe it’s because we haven’t been playing well. Win a few games and the tide will change. The proof is in the pudding...but you can’t have your pudding if you don’t eat your meat.

[Bluemike]

I think Andy is right that things do even themselves out over time and maybe it has started to already, it is true also that in recent weeks we haven't played great but what does that say about the likes of Wycombe, Blackpool and co that still we should have won those games ? A good team grinds things out when not playing well.

I do think a win against Bristol Rovers is vital if only to get a bit of belief back among some fans, we are still unbeaten in what Six league games ? And it's the tough set of fixtures that Charny highlighted so maybe it ain't as bad as it might look, maybe this is our blip and if so I'll take this against the better teams whilst still picking up points. We were always going to have a iffy spell but Lambert does need to cut down on the amount of changes a bit.

[marko69]

Win a few games and the tide will change. The proof is in the pudding...but you can’t have your pudding if you don’t eat your meat.

^ Awesome ^

“Tide will change” (must be reference to Roger Waters’ Tide is turning) ..... and, well that last bit?? No explanation required.

9 is going through a very Pink Floyd phase at the moment! Love it

Hopefully the fanbase doesn’t re-develop that “Us &Them” mentality that became so strong during the Mick Years.

[Bluemike]

Lambert will, no is, building something here, it's not a quick fix, as he says it's a long term project and he is making strides, the one thing that can destroy it is our impatient and at times lacking in understanding fans, thankfully they are a minority.

[hallamblue]

Hopefully today Lambo can add just another brick in the wall, as I’m sat here ( under influence of codeine, paracetamol and ibuprofen), feeling comfortably numb.

[Bluemike]

Did you mean Numb ? or have you spelt that wrong ?

[hallamblue]

Well how do you spell numb then ???

As in ....numb nuts

[Bluemike]

I thought you got the first letter wrong lmfao

[Tangfastic]

Lambert will, no is, building something here, it's not a quick fix, as he says it's a long term project and he is making strides, the one thing that can destroy it is our impatient and at times lacking in understanding fans, thankfully they are a minority.

Fair enough. Well then maybe our very good start meant that expectation levels were a bit too high and we’re not as good as we thought we were.

Here’s the thing, though, if we are building something, then I’m not sure that too much rotation is the best way forward. I would have thought the best way to build is to first get a settled style of playing and a settled team. Then make changes if and when required. By changing 7 or 8 players every match that strikes me that we’ve already nailed it and we have like-for-like players who can come in and replace anyone. That’s not the case, though. And I think the rotation policy isn’t good for competitiveness within the squad. You have a good game and then you’re ‘rested’ or dropped.

I can’t help think Lambert’s trying to be a bit too clever at times. I think he should go back to basics with his selection policy. I think the fans are right to question some of his team selections and to expect a certain level of performance. Things are hardly overly negative or toxic at the moment, so I think Lamberts a bit too prickly. Good performances over the Christmas period and the positivity will come back.

[hallamblue]

I agree with that tang

[hallamblue]

I thought you got the first letter wrong lmfao

I think my second descriptor has nailed it lol

[Bluemike]

Lambert will, no is, building something here, it's not a quick fix, as he says it's a long term project and he is making strides, the one thing that can destroy it is our impatient and at times lacking in understanding fans, thankfully they are a minority.

Fair enough. Well then maybe our very good start meant that expectation levels were a bit too high and we’re not as good as we thought we were.

Here’s the thing, though, if we are building something, then I’m not sure that too much rotation is the best way forward. I would have thought the best way to build is to first get a settled style of playing and a settled team. Then make changes if and when required. By changing 7 or 8 players every match that strikes me that we’ve already nailed it and we have like-for-like players who can come in and replace anyone. That’s not the case, though. And I think the rotation policy isn’t good for competitiveness within the squad. You have a good game and then you’re ‘rested’ or dropped.

I can’t help think Lambert’s trying to be a bit too clever at times. I think he should go back to basics with his selection policy. I think the fans are right to question some of his team selections and to expect a certain level of performance. Things are hardly overly negative or toxic at the moment, so I think Lamberts a bit too prickly. Good performances over the Christmas period and the positivity will come back.

Don't get me wrong Tang, I completely agree that the rotation thing has gotten a bit silly, 2 or 3 maybe but 7 or 8 is counter productive, that said a few of them have been through having little choice with injury and suspension etc. No in general the mood is pretty good among most fans, but you can just imagine it should we lose again today, as a set of fans we are very knee jerk, it's Black & White and nothing in between, sometimes a sense of perspective is needed. To contradict myself though I hope we see 5 or 6 changes today, out with Cotter, Kenlock, Huws, Judge & Edwards.