We already know a lot about Paul Lambert’s achievements with Norwich as well as his tumultuous time at Aston Villa.
But, as I did with Walter Zenga, I wanted to dig a bit deeper and found out more from those who witnessed the highs and lows of his managerial career first hand.
First stop: Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
Livingston (June 2005 – February 2006)
Although Lambert did not take up his first managerial post until 2005, he had made it clearly for a number of years beforehand that he intended to move into coaching.
In 2004, Celtic allowed him to take part in two four-week-long coaching courses organised by the German FA. Lambert chose to return to Germany, where he had previously been a Champions League winner with Borussia Dortmund, because he believed the continental influence would separate him from other British coaches that all have similar methods and mind-sets.
So, he was given the opportunity to try out his German-influenced philosophy in West Lothian. However, things didn’t quite go according to plan as Livingston supporter Andrew Semple explains:
Lambert’s appointment was met with a muted response from the Livingston faithful. Here was an inexperienced coach coming into his first manager’s job – no one really knew what to expect. But he had a good track record as a player and many people endorsed him as an aspiring coach.
Unfortunately, his football was utterly dreadful – and that is putting it politely! There were lots of long, aimless balls and we relied on opponents making mistakes. Of course, he didn’t have a great team at his disposal but that’s no excuse really.
Lambert’s tenure came to an end after just eight months at the helm when he resigned after only winning five of his 32 matches in charge. Semple added:
We were all relieved when Lambert resigned. One of the worst nights in the club’s history came when we travelled to Hibernian on a Tuesday night and lost 7-0. But the scoreline could – and probably should – have been so much worse! Fans threw scarfs away and Lambert was hounded.
Amazingly he remained in charge until the following Saturday evening after we lost yet again. During the game a banner was unfurled by the fans which read ‘Lambo Out’. Fortunately, he resigned later that evening.
So we start with a black mark on his CV, but things can only get better from here.
Next Stop: High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Wycombe Wanderers (June 2006 – May 2008)
Just four months later, Lambert was unveiled as the new manager of Wycombe Wanderers; following an endorsement from his former Celtic boss Martin O’Neill.
Phil Slatter, Chairman of Wycombe Wanderers Independent Supporters Association, admits that Lambert’s appointment was very much a leap of faith.
Given his relative lack of managerial experience, we had no idea what to expect so at the time it was a case of ‘wait and see’. His record as a player was impressive but he had a poor record at Livingston. He did seem to come with a recommendation from Martin O’Neill (a god at Adams Park) so that was a plus point.
Nevertheless, Lambert proved to be a good fit for The Chairboys and his winning mentality soon won over the sceptics. No more so than when he led the club to glory in the League Cup, where they were eventually knocked out by Chelsea having reached the semi-finals. Slatter commented:
Paul took over from John Gorman whose gung-ho style of football was absolutely thrilling but suicidal at times. Lambert was more measured and focused on winning. A good comparison is our League Cup campaigns from that time. In 2005, we were 3-1 up at half-time against Aston Villa and Gorman instructed the team to go out and get a fourth goal instead of shutting up shop. We lost 8-3. A year later, Lambert took us to the semi-finals on the back of resolute second half defensive displays at Fulham and Charlton.
Overall, his style of football was relatively defensive minded and our shape was very narrow – Lambert was not a fan of wingers and tried to play through the middle an awful lot. There is no denying it was effective though as he got us to the League Cup semi-finals and then into the play-offs, even if at times it was hard to tell what his actual tactics were.
In the season that followed their glorious cup run, it looked like promotion could be on the cards for the club as Lambert led them to a seventh-place finish. However, it wasn’t to be as Wycombe lost out to Stockport in the play-off semi-final. Slatter concluded:
I personally don’t think Lambert was appreciated in his time at Wycombe. He had a bit of a rocky relationship with the fans which was partly due to the style of football he employed (at a time when there were resources available) and because he was something of a part-time manager – during his first season he still lived in Scotland and commuted on a weekly basis.
That said, the League Cup run was terrific and he took us into the play-offs at a time when League Two was arguably the strongest it’s ever been. I think if he had stayed he may well have achieved promotion – the following year Peter Taylor did so with a similar brand of football. But quite how well we’d have done in League One under Lambert is anyone’s guess.
The fallout from the Stockport defeat was instant: Lambert resigned shortly afterwards, saying it was time to “hand over the reins to someone else”. He would take a short break from football before returning to club management later that year.
Next stop: Colchester, Essex
Colchester United (October 2008 – August 2009)
Firstly, a disclaimer – trying to find a Colchester United supporter willing to speak objectively about Paul Lambert was akin to trying to find ice in a desert.
I had several leads, but no one seemed willing to talk. One responded by saying he had an unjust banning order during Lambert’s days and didn’t pay much attention to football. Another flat out refused to answer any questions and labelled some of football from that time as ‘soporific’ – admittedly, that had me reaching for the dictionary!
Several more messages went unanswered until long-time Colchester Gazette reporter Jon Waldron answered my SOS.
Lambert’s arrival came as something of a surprise. He wasn’t high in the bookmakers’ list of candidates for the job, so it was a bit of a turn up for the books when he got the role, especially as he hadn’t had any previous links to the club. It was the first appointment that Robbie Cowling had made as chairman so the U’s fans were willing to give him a chance, especially given the results in the opening weeks of that season.
Lambert had arrived midway through the 2008/09 season with the U’s in 20th place in League One following a miserable start to the season. Within a few months, he had Colchester on the cusp of the play-offs until they faded later in the season and finished mid-table.
When asked about how Lambert was able to turn things around so quickly, Waldron commented:
He came in with fresh ideas and decided pretty quickly who he wanted at the club and who he didn’t. It seemed to work, as Colchester went from having won only two league games to taking seven points from a possible 12 during his opening weeks in charge.
It took him a little time to get his style across but that was mostly due to personnel and he made a number of signings that made a difference, such as Marc Tierney, Magnus Okuonghae and David Fox. Certain players were deemed out of favour and a number of players were rather clinically left out of the squad for a pre-season trip to Germany.
He made changes off the field, too. He changed the dressing rooms around in the new stadium and ensured that the away changing room was a lot less comfortable for visiting teams, instructing that it be painted battleship grey and making it considerably smaller than its previous size.
He began the following season with a 7–1 win over Norwich City, who then proceeded to sack Bryan Gunn and appoint Lambert as his successor. It’s safe to say that the Colchester faithful have never forgiven him for the manner of his exit. Waldron added:
By the time Lambert quit Colchester, he had moulded a team capable of playing stylish football but also one that was able to grind out results, when needed. His methods were not always popular but he got Colchester playing, as their 7-1 win at Norwich ultimately proved.
The manner of his departure as Colchester manager will forever taint the memory of his brief reign at the club and what he achieved in the eyes of many U’s supporters. Nevertheless, he left his mark and will always be remembered for masterminding one of the club’s greatest-ever wins; the magnificent opening-day triumph at Carrow Road.
Finally, I asked Jon what his lasting impression of Paul Lambert is. He replied:
A driven, no-holds-barred manager who knows what he wants. Paul Lambert knew exactly what he wanted to achieve and create at Colchester and arguably, he left them in a better position than the one he found them in.
A solid if unspectacular spell, but his greatest managerial success would come in his next position.
Next stop: Norwich, Norfolk
Norwich City (August 2009 – June 2012)
The fallout from Lambert jumping ship to Norwich was nothing short of incredible. The two clubs were unable to reach a compensation deal and relations at boardroom level were hostile for months on end.
The Scot was seemingly appointed on the strength of that humiliating loss his Colchester inflicted on the Canaries. However, Michael Bailey, Norwich City correspondent for the Eastern Daily Press, doesn’t think the result was the sole reason behind the appointment:
Then chief executive David McNally was new to the post and also knew of Paul Lambert from his time at Celtic. He wanted him – but that extraordinary result certainly greased all the wheels with the rest of the board.
Despite being surrounded by controversy, Lambert quietly got on with his job and by the time he returned to Colchester for the return fixture, Norwich were second in League One and heading for promotion. They would win 5–0 that day and go on to win the league at a canter. The following season was even better, as Lambert led Norwich to their second successive promotion when they finished second in the Championship.
Here Bailey explained the secret behind Lambert’s success:
Lambert got the players and fans bonded together. He got his side to run for him and for themselves, and he picked the right players to sign so that they had strong characters – that all brought the drive and hunger everyone needed to succeed.
I then quizzed Michael on a comment I’d heard from another journalist, who claimed that Lambert was only successful at Norwich because Grant Holt organised the dressing room. He replied:
Grant was a major part of the success, and we never got to see Paul Lambert without him at Carrow Road. The rise was so miraculous – and PL’s success since has been remarkably limited – that it does beg the question his time at City was just the perfect chemistry of several things. I’m genuinely stunned it’s been so fallow for him since – and I’m yet to be convinced he can be as successful without his team of Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa.
But certainly Paul, his coaching staff, the chief executive and numerous other players all played a major role in the club’s success. Grant was just one piece.
A year later, Lambert would guide Norwich to a 12th place finish in the Premier League – which is still his highest-ever finish as a manager. However, it would be his last season at Carrow Road, as he left the club in June 2012 to become manager at Aston Villa. His departure left a sour taste in the supporters’ mouth. Bailey added:
When he left, many were very angry. But I’d say with the passing of time, he’d get a very good reception back at Carrow Road – and in truth, quite a few City fans would have him back in charge of the club right now.
Next stop: Birmingham, West Midlands
Aston Villa (June 2012 – February 2015)
Aston Villa are a club that have been in steady decline since the departure of Martin O’Neill in August 2010. After Gerard Houllier and Alex McLeish both tried and failed to restore Villa’s reputation as one of the top clubs in England, the board turned to Paul Lambert in the hope that the Scot could bring a winning mentality back to Villa Park.
Aston Villa blogger Justin Hawthorne felt that Lambert was the right man for the job:
Lambert seemed to be a great choice at the time. He had worked wonders at Norwich and had a very good reputation in the game as a progressive up-and-coming coach. His appointment was welcomed by the fans, but to be honest given that he was replacing Alex McLeish we would have probably welcomed anyone! Nevertheless, he received our full backing from the get go.
Unfortunately for Lambert, his tenure at Villa did not go according to plan. Given the hugely difficult circumstances he faced, some may argue that he did well to keep Villa in the top-flight during his first two seasons. Those campaigns were hamstrung by cash constrains and an increasingly disinterested chairman. It seemed like Lambert’s position was under scrutiny from day one, but he always managed to claw his way back from the brink of disaster. Hawthorne commented:
He was methodical in his approach and his German influences really shine through in the way that he sets his sides up. He wanted to play football and initially had the team playing through the midfield. The signing of Benteke was a masterstroke as he became the focal point of our attack, and we were at our best when we played to his strengths.
Lambert was often plagued by heavy defeats, such as the 8–0 loss to Chelsea, but somehow he always managed to nick a result when he needed to. He also didn’t take other competitions seriously enough and we suffered embarrassing losses, none more so than the League Cup semi-final loss to Bradford.
In his final season at Villa, Lambert’s trusted aides Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa left the club due to allegations of bullying he appointed the capricious Roy Keane as his number two. Initially, it proved to be a shrewd move with Villa yielding 10 points from their first four games. Following that they registered just two wins in the next 21 matches. Keane left in December and Lambert was dismissed just two months later.
Hawthorne believes that Lambert’s decision to completely overhaul Villa’s playing style was the catalyst for his departure.
His demise came as the result of his change of style. Suddenly we went from a direct attacking style to a possession based system the goalkeeper playing it out from the back. That style of play is fine if you have Barcelona or Bayern Munich’s players at your disposal, but not when you have our team.
While Lambert had to do his job under difficult circumstances, with our owner downing tools and stopping the spending, let’s not forget he was in charge of a side that the likes of Benteke, Cleverley, Delph, Vlaar, Grealish and others. His tenure was very boom and bust, but with more downs than ups, and he managed to break every negative record we had including the longest run without scoring, and he could never get us winning at home.
So I do feel a change was needed and it was the right decision to let Lambert go when we did.
Following his dismissal from Villa, Lambert spent much of his eight-month sabbatical travelling through Europe observing the likes of Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. But by the end of 2015 he would be back in football at a rather surprising destination.
Next Stop: Blackburn, Lancashire
Blackburn Rovers (November 2015 – May 2016)
Last November, Lambert was unveiled as the new manager of Blackburn Rovers. Admittedly, joining a club owned by the Venkys was a strange move for someone who had experienced two-and-a-half years at a club run by another disinterested owner. Blackburn had fallen to 16th in the Championship under the stewardship of Gary Bowyer and, as Rovers fan Mikey Delap explains, supporters were desperate for Lambert to succeed.
It’s safe to say that when Bowyer left his post at Rovers the club itself is much you like you see now – lacking in direction and any real leadership behind the scenes. At the time Lambert’s appointment was greeted with more or less universal approval, which given the last few years of growing disinterest and widespread apathy was nothing short of a miracle.
Lambert’s arrival gave Rovers an immediate lift, collecting 11 points from his first five games in charge. However, after selling top scorer Jordan Rhodes and long-serving defender Martin Olsson in the January transfer window, a run of eight winless games followed and Blackburn found themselves hovering precariously above the relegation zone.
Rovers were also under a transfer embargo, meaning that Lambert had to work minor miracles in the loan market to offset to loss of key players. Delap commented:
We marginally improved under Lambert compared to Bowyer’s reign but not to any significant degree. Rovers were far from exhilarating to watch under Lambert. The formation was compact and the aim was to make us difficult to beat…which sort of worked, but at the cost of any substantial enjoyment.
Danny Graham, Jordi Gomez and Tony Watt were all bought in on loan with varying degrees of success. Not most people’s preferred tactic but they seemed to do a decent job of keeping us ticking over until the summer.
In April 2016, once Blackburn’s Championship status had been confirmed for another season, it was announced that Lambert had activated a release clause in his contract that would allow him to depart in the summer. In the days that followed, the Scot admitted that he wanted to go in a different direction to the club. Delap added:
Although Lambert’s reign wasn’t an unqualified success, there are other factors at work at Blackburn Rovers which simply don’t exist elsewhere. I thought given the ‘right’ backing he would have done a good job here. But this is Venky’s we’re talking about – the right backing was never going to materialise. When he left it felt disappointing to me but I could understand he had just got a tad annoyed at being messed around by the omnishambles that is our owners.
Next Stop: Wolverhampton, West Midlands
So overall, what conclusions can I draw from Paul Lambert’s CV.
He’s had success, he’s had failure. Name me a manager who hasn’t tasted both of those at some point in their career.
His time at Blackburn and, of course, Aston Villa has been mentioned by several critics, but there is no denying the success he achieved with a Norwich squad that wasn’t overly dominated by star names.
With all due respect, if he can take the likes of Grant Holt and Zak Whitbread to the Premier League, surely he should be able to utilise the talents of Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro more effectively than his predecessor did.
His past is not important. What’s important is what Paul Lambert does next.
Lambert has taken over a set of players who belonged to someone else. With the exception of the luckless Mike Williamson during his time at Wycombe, he has never worked with any of the current squad.
Can he galvanise a squad that has failed to register a single win in their last seven games?
Fortunately he has a reputation for making his teams hard to beat and that in itself is a good place to start.
This was originally where I intended to wrap up this article, but last week I was invited to join Tom, Ben and a few others at the training ground for a meet and greet with Mr Lambert himself.
The first thing I noticed was how different he looked compared with the last time I last saw him in person. He looked bright, refreshed and purposeful – a stark contrast from the visibly stressed-out demeanour he exhibited in 2014.
I could see a man desperate to prove everyone wrong, he had that steely glint in his eye; he was hungry and wanted success.
He recognised a number of facts that have been all too evident this season: we play too open, the squad is too big and we are not scoring enough goals.
He also expressed concerns about whether the players are currently fit enough to play a 46 game season and spoke about how the noise from the South Bank should be motivating players to drive towards it.
In reality there is no time for pleasantries and promises. Wolves could be in big trouble if they fail to get a positive result against Preston on Saturday. They need results and quickly.
But when quizzed on that very topic, Lambert replied: “I’m not aiming for survival. I want to us to be up there with the Newcastles and Norwichs. We’re going to go for it!”
Desire – something that has been not too prevalent around Molineux in recent years. Paul Lambert has desire in abundance.
I have to say, a very nice article, but without being rude, the only line that is relevant is:
His past is not important.
We cannot change the past, only the future, so let’s move on, get behind him 100%, and see where we go.
The classic ‘without being rude’…you might as well say ‘I’m about to be rude but I’m going to try and vindicate myself first’.
Graham has taken the time to put together a very well researched piece on our new manager that contains a lot detail about his previous managerial positions yet all you can do is lambaste him for it?
Keyboard warriors like you are what’s wrong with society today.
Difficult to see where to start my response, Andy H, or is it Amanda C in disguise?
I did write I was not going to be rude, and guess what?
I wasn’t.
I wrote let’s get behind him 100% and see where we go.
How exactly is that being rude and lambasting the bloke?
And I may be wrong, but there are far more worse things wrong with society today than me possibly being a keyboard warrior.
I could say that people like you, from whom we have never heard before, are far too quick to judge others that you have never met, and are quite possibly basement dwelling trolls who never see the light of day.
I could say it but I wont, because I am not rude.
Y’all have a nice day now
Hee, hee, hee,
You naughty little boy.
Well said Clive, polite and to the point as ever. Good on yer mate
The past won’t directly dictate Wolves results, but Lambert will have learnt from his past experience, and knowing so much now about his career, fans will better understand where he’s coming from, so thanks very much Graham for the great journalism.
Thanks for the very incisive, in depth, article Grahame.
I’m an optimist and think, (as always), finally we have found the ‘right’ man.
He certainly looks better than he used to and could well be just what we need.
I am more than hopeful he can do an Alex Ferguson with us.
Once more thanks for your exploration into the past of our new manager.
May he start with a win…..
Thank you Graham for a well researched article .
Of course I will get behind him and wish him every success but reading the above doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence….
Time will tell but make no mistake we are currently fighting for our lives.
PNE are on a roll, getting something out of our next game might well be a tall order. But as always we can but hope. COYW.
Well ..without me being rude..
Lambert has had most of his success in East Anglia and In the case of Norwich used a leader such as Grant Holt – which begs a Q who would he use at Wolves?
If Williamson is going to be fit soon then he would be our version of Grant Holt to a tee and he knows him..
But of course if Williamson is still not fit who does he use..? ..certainly not DB..
So we would need to buy that no5 as a lot of us have said inc me me me..
Big Sam was always my choice but I must say that with money behind him and with his experience of changing the team in places that need to be changed PL fits big time ..
I expect him to buy 3 major signings a no 5 a really good (well known?) striker and perhaps a strong midfielder..if it takes £30M or more to achieve that then I believe he has the influence to pull it off..
One thing for sure to me is that if we are on the fringe in January he will have the insight to drive the team or even buy success to get us to the play offs ..
We have a strong do-er and what’s more he is being financially backed too.
Actions speak loader than words,with luck on his side who knows what Paul Lambert will achieve.
But we all know if Paul’s not successful Jeff will act,no pressure.
Like all wolves supporters we crave success and that therefore goes for me.UTW.
Just to add louder not loader..predicted text (bollock.)
Good article shedding some light on his previous exploits…..I think maybe a little early with the line….”The first thing I noticed was how different he looked compared with the last time I last saw him in person. He looked bright, refreshed and purposeful – a stark contrast from the visibly stressed-out demeanour he exhibited in 2014”…..for that one I will check back on Saturday evening 🙂
Here we go again as the rollercoaster picks up speed again and lets see where we get off this time….think we’ll do PNE though
First of all al the best to Sam Ricketts great bloke, great player what I’d do for a Sam Ricketts of 3 years ago.
I’m worry about the fact you did the same to Walt and we all know how that ended………only joking I hope
I remember the 7-1 drubbing of Norwich very well – an old friend of mine – a wolves lad from heath town way played and scored 2 goals – Here’s the first half https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5KIm88uj8s
I think he rated Lambert fairly highly as a manager and the respect was fairly mutual by all accounts – there was even legit talk that Lambert wanted to take him to Norwich -> http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/norwich_city_move_for_striker_1_838247
My impression is that Lambert will be very good for Wolves and with Fosun’s backing, I am looking forward to the upcoming seasons personally.
Highlights probably quicker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvxi4FDZYRs
Paul Lambert , has something to prove , that makes him a good fit for Wolves, who continue to be the club that continues to fail and that starts with the correct managerial appointment . Owners have come and gone and only two appointments have been truly successful since Graham Turner left the our be loved club. So they must take a shared responsibility surely .
He ll need time ,but that doesn’t seem to be on his side judging from the Zenga reign and the modern football culture of appointing and sacking of managers in short time scales. We all know that owners are looking for a quick return on investment , so one thing Paul wil need is to be , is a lucky manager, certainly in the early days as manager of Wolves, hopefully that will give him the required time scales he ll need to bring the success of his Norwich days to the golden palace.
A very well researched article away from the full CV the standout for me was the AV Blogger who’s surname is Hawthorne that’s proper irony.
And I not being rude to Mr Hawthorne in any way shape or form.
Well researched as ever and a fascinating read, but only valuable up to a point. League positions and points and wins gained are a matter of record and it was informative to see the scale of his achievements so far in his chequered managerial career.
I’m sure supporters opinions though vary according to whom you ask. After all, some on here feel KJ was, after initial success, completely clueless, and couldn’t wait to see the back of him. Others, like myself, believe we would be top three or four if he had stayed and been backed in the transfer market. Who is right??
KJ is water under the bridge now but PL is just jumping in upstream. Hopefully he’s a strong swimmer ’cause if he starts to sink, I don’t think Fosun will be throwing out any lifebelts.
Excellent work mate, truly excellent. We now move on. Onwards and upwards. This is certainly not going to be an easy task for PL, and I wait in anticipation at what he brings to the table. He knows what he is going to do, I know what I want him to do – but there will be some disparity there, and I don’t care as I have no influence on his decisions. That said, I do not expect us to reach the play offs, I do not expect us to be promoted, but I do expect us to try!
I have said before the first ball was kicked after our new ownership that this would be a season of consolidation. Well ….. let us start consolidating, and be ready for a major promotion push next season. We may lose some loanees at the end of this season, but hey ho, will PL be keeping them anyway?
I look forward to the future, and I expect us to be competing very well in the Premiership in the 2018/19 Season.
Was down at the open training day on Tuesday and agree that PL looks a lot fresher than he did in his AV days – think he is a genuine chap who took on the pressures that came with that particular job at the time, so hopefully if we all pull together and with funds to spend he should be a good fit. Liked the signing of Benteke at Villa and feel that if we sign quality in Jan it should be a marquee signing to get the rest of the team and the fans excited !.
Any idea’s ? – thought at the time Balotelli would have been a good choice for us and its this type of signing I would like to see in January UTW
Well researched article indeed Graham, we have our very own historian on the blog, always a plus when your memory is as bad as mine, so thank you for the deeper insight into PL.
I was in lower management in the Ambulance service and if you think football management is a dodgy arena it’s nothing compared to the backstabbing that went on by “caring professionals” . PL is just a Coach / Manager and as such knows only too well what his task is and the perils that come with the job. Through this blog and Graham’s great insight I know a little more about what we should expect from the new kid on the block so we await a positive outcome.
That said, as Clive and Wolfstroker pointed out so well, that is the past, we need to see who truly strps up to the plate at Preston and watch the development of a side that are truly underacheiving this season.
Fosun are learning.Zenga was learning.
The new players are certainly learning.
We are left waiting for the magic pill, it must come someday surely to Dog.
COMB’s
Paul Lambert writ Large.
Really informative piece of writing here Graham.
It really underlines what a lot of us think about the man.
That is, we don’t really know WHAT to think.
Some success in the lower divisions and the propensity to jump ship if things are going wrong or a bigger job comes along.
I don’t think a bigger job will come along for him now unless he makes a success of this one.
And that means PROMOTION TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE.
If that isn’t incentive enough I don’t know what is.
I like what I have heard so far from PL. He seems to be the ‘safe pair of hands’ we need right now. As much as I liked Walter, he was slightly bonkers and prone to being carried out of pubs worse for ware, smoking fags and going AWOL to Dubai. So we move on. Difficult to gauge how PL will be judged for the rest of this season. The play offs are still a possibility but this will require an immediate turn around in points accumulation. Realisticly, I would suggest a total points haul of around 60 to 65 (this would mean an average of around 1.6 points per game between now and the end of the season- if achieved over a full season = play offs) represents a decent job plus some evidence of a style and cohension in the play. Next season would seem to be the one for PL to aim for promotion. But we shall see. I wish him well and add to the comments of others in stating my appreciation for the author of this particular blog on PL.
Thanks for the research graham really good read. If he’s given a fair amount of time which I hope he is, then I think it will be a good fit. Looking forward to Preston on Saturday and how we’ll line up. Good luck PL you have my full backing!
Very well written and researched article, trouble is I was looking forward to going to Preston on Saturday in my little bubble of optimism, now my bubble has burst and the doubts creep in——–Nah bugger it, I’ll blow another one, onwards and upwards, After me now “One Paul Lambert there’s only one Paul Lambert” WWFC 2 PNE 0
Great and well-researched article. Somebody needed to write it, so many thanks Graham.
Paul Lambert has something to prove? So have Wolves, big time. This might just be a marriage made in heaven.
Preston will be tough, no doubt. I’m rooting for a clean sheet at our end and maybe nick a goal at the other. If not, a bore draw will be a fair start.
Ironically it was Preston that saw off Steve Morgan just over a year ago. The rest is history. Thank God for Preston!
Thanks Graham, a very helpful piece of work. I’m hoping this appointment will be a shot in the arm for both PL and Wolves.
Looking forward to listening in to Saturday’s game on Wolves Player. An away draw will be good in terms of steadying the ship, a win will be a bonus. Either way, I’m hoping to see a re-energised Wolves performance.
The feel good factor is back,
Wolves had an allocation of 2800 for this game and have sold 2152 as of 9am this morning. I love being away with these kind of numbers “the Wolves 12th Man cometh”.
I am in Wolverhampton mate. Just been to see my bro. Sadly things are not looking good and it is now just a matter of time. I am therefore unable to join you, but will keep an eye on the score. Speak soon buddy.
Sorry to hear this Steve….we’re praying for your brother mate …. best wishes at this time ..x
I’m only a phone call and 1 mile away mate, if you want to come round and get pissed, I can pick you up and taxi you back.
Offers there.
Hope things go smoothly for your brother, unfortunately been there done that with my father.
Love from Jen de Wolf and me.
Stu
Thanks Graham, like many others I would rather have had Big Sam in the job, but we have got PL, in my opinion the next best thing to Sam.
As is blindingly obvious he has a hell of a job on his hands and I am not expecting immediate miracles. PNE are doing well at the moment and anything other than a loss on Sat will be a great start. He will need a few weeks on the training ground to get some shape to his plans surely.
We all need to get behind him and give him the support from the stands that he needs.
So bedders. I’ve wonAn old goldfish named Clive for guessing Colin lee eh ?
Is it one of those Black Country ranting fish ?
Don’t bring it on Friday or we’ll have to have it on the table all night and it ll probably swear at everyone … tell you what , drop it in the river ouse pointing down stream and I’ll have a drive up to that causeway at Harold and see if I can get it out with a net .
How big is it ?
What sized net shall I take bedders ?
This is one of the funniest messages i have ever read on any forum. I have no idea what you are talking about but the idea of a black country ranting fish in a plastic bag on the table in a pub swearing at everyone is superb. I am imaging its language when it gets caught again ifuther up the cut in a really small net. So surreal and random, hilarious. Would love to see Reeves and Mortimer act this out, but it would have to swear in black country. Brilliant, brightened my day.
Thanks for taking the time to write the article Graham.
The one thing that has struck from all the talk and biog so far is the impression that this time round Paul seems to be determined to not get so stressed as he did in his time at Villa. I hope this means he intend to work as hard as ever but keep a cool focus so he can see things as they really are.
Wolves can easily give anyone ‘heads gone’ moments especially if we head down the table. It’s up to the players now starting on Saturday to get the focus bang on and deliver a few wins to lower the chances of a pressure cooker atmosphere developing
Here you go again you desperately sad mature men, united in your swooning of Wolves latest mistake.
As with Zenga you are lauding a loser yet again, like children .
You choose to agree with the blog, mitigating him at Villa and Blackburn by blaming the owners.
Where have we heard that poor excuse before ? Oh yeah here at Wolvo in this very same got to have someone to blame forum .
You did,nt employ the manager Jeff Shi did, so get ready to abuse the board as you do, when Mark McGhee 2 fails.
Nigel Pearson must have scared them, that the board would be bullied by him so they have gone for the soft option,someone they can control.
For those of you who called for investment as being the answer, well you have been proved wrong so keep quiet.
We know that Jocks are reputedly tight with money, well that is just fine as Fosun won,t give him any until he proves, he can create a winning team without it and utilise what he has inherited.
Not impressed with his previous but unlike you male fans, I am no expert other than he does not inspire me.
Felt sorry for Headweave from Headmonton one of this forums resident old keyboard WORRIERS, as for once I agree with him.
Zenga had a terrible past yet we supported him and now we have to support Gordon Strachans offspring.
In God we trust COYW.
I won’t hear a word against mature men Amanda. Some of my best friends are mature.
Not all of them of course.
Another very good piece Graham well researched and well presented, warts an all (and there are a few of those).
As always it is impossible to predict where this one will end, the appointment has to be successful for Wolves but also it has to be successful for PL, another failure or walkout on his CV would just about rule him out of any big opportunities in the future. Let’s hope that works in our favour.
His single mission: get Wolves to the premier league this season.
Tall order? They will back him in January so he can’t really complain.
If he fails he will be gone. If he succeeds he will probably get till xmas .
Of course we will get behind him because we want to get promotion. We are Wolves.
Fosun are global they won’t mess around. Even Jeff ain’t permanent.
In between the hogwash, you can come up with some sensible comments
Amanda but your latest epistle contains a large quota of the usual drivel.
For a start,whatever anyone may think of Lambert, I don’t think that he’s someone who the board can easily control. I’d say that the evidence suggests that he’s very much his own man.
Also, there is a balanced view of Lambert on the blog,not united swooning and lauding as you suggest.
It was nice to have you return but are you off to Oz again anytime soon?
He seems like another Walter Zenga. Great player. Successful at one club. A lot of short tenures. But at least I could understand what Walter was saying.
How come Amanda that you only raise your head when the wolves are falling down ?
May I suggest that you ” fuck off you Albion cunt “
Pmsl. Only you can say that mate. Got to be e red card. Taken for the team.
WHO IS AMANDA CAPE ?
The name is actually quite rare far less common than Amanda Cope. There are only 8 living in the UK and non are based in the English Midlands.
Outside Cyber space i was finding it difficult to find anyone who would admit to have ever having met Amanda Cape. At last someone called Mark agreed to meet me but it had to be midnight at Stonehenge and we should both be wearing masks of the infamous football manager Kenny Jacket. Needless to say i politely declined.
When all seemed lost i found Matt from London who claimed he once had a relationship with Amanda. That is until one night he discovered the tatoo which just said ‘Baggie Boy’.
Only some of that is true Colin
I already knew about the tat .
If my memory serves me correctly the encounter happened when I was driving very slowly down Ada road in Cape hill
Smethwick .
I was lonely and baggy boy was after some money for crack .. The rest is history !!
Oi .. bedders what are the arrangements with my prize fish ?
Just ordered a soundproof bowl
Well researched and written article.
After numerous false dawns along Waterloo Road let’s hope this time PL is the man
All the best Paul, we are right behind you starting with three much needed points tomorrow.
BOG
Come on me babies show us who you really are.
Oh yes and Fuck off AC you boring Albion twat.
Didn’t you red card me for saying the A@@bion word last night ?
Sorry stu .. it was Brompton.
Rumour is that he’s gone all religious.
Wants to reach out across the divide and all that !
Lieutenant Pigeon as the senior pensioner can you control the hardman forum bully from London and his gutter gibberish, along with me me me Stupid Wolf, the self appointed forum foreman.
As for that other old senile member Rampton Wolf, why is he wetting himself and what is that grown up Colin (what sort of name is that to give a child) researching names the buffoon, when Cape is for the properties we own in Cape Verde. How embarrassing all that mental strain toi produce a mental nonsense..
Get it loud and clear forum band of bros and gangstas, Jockinese Lambert is a mistake so as you do, lick lick lick just as you all did with Walter.
Lambert will be walking for sure just as the song goes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oimHJCURbo