The Paul Lambert Show – Thanks for the Memories

This time 48 hours ago I was driving over the Aston Expressway, and as Villa Park appeared in my view, something happened that had never happened before.

I was angry.

Normally, I’d glance over and feel a burst of pride looking over at the most beautiful stadium in the world. Sure, those feelings have been slowly diminishing – but they’ve always been there.

This is the result of spending a 6 hour round trip on a coach to Hull on a miserable Tuesday night the previous day only to be served up something reminiscent of a betting scandal. The team not only didn’t look like winning – they didn’t look like they were trying to win.

Little did I know that beneath me the cogs were beginning to turn, and by the time I got home the news would be broken. It was the news that by now, almost all Villa fans had been waiting for, and the news none of us thought the club would make.

For me, at least, and maybe others – the initial wave of relief and joy has been slowly developing a tinge of anxiety.

What we have perceived to be the root of our problems has gone, but what now? With Scott Marshall in charge for Sunday’s game, what will the direction of the team be? Who will they look to for inspiration? What if the rot has run too deep into the club, and won’t subside until we see more significant overhaul? The threat of relegation is still very real.

Regardless, we as fans have a duty to fulfill this weekend, we need to play our part in lifting the team and being less on their backs than we have been recently – but I know that we will be.

As for the man himself, I was thoroughly behind him all along, but my waivering support changed in Hull, the straw that broke the proverbial Camel’s back. Enough was enough. But even with that said, reading over Lambert’s subsequent comments I genuinely have sympathy for the guy.

He was given the incredibly hard task of restructuring a huge club with a (rightfully) highly expectant fanbase on a shoestring budget, and I have a lot of respect for his efforts. For the various flops we’re all aware of, He purchased some potential club greats in Benteke, Vlaar, and getting Guzan to re-sign. This is also ignoring all the players he’s bought through that we have yet to see the best of, in Sanchez, Kozak, Helenius, Westwood, Senderos, Gil, Bacuna, all bought for very little in relation to their talent.

I also had a lot of respect for the game he tried to play during his first year, where we truly saw exciting attacking football, even if its success was hindered by a shaky defence and widely-acknowledged lack of experience. It was only when this clear direction was put aside in favour of an array of odd, under planned tactics in hopeless hoofball and sideways-going-nowhere did it start to seem like the man might truly be out his depth.

He cared greatly for the club and fans, and always wanted to deliver what we were asking of him. It’s such a shame that he wasn’t quite capable; it’s obvious from accounts of him that he’s a very genuine guy who is passionate about his work.

Even if he did greatly underachieve for us, he’s still created some magnificent moments over his tenure. I don’t think I’ll ever forget coming back from 2-0 down to Albion after 10 minutes to win 4-3; Delph’s incredible footwork to beat Chelsea; or putting 6 past Sunderland on a Monday night.

These will be the games I remember when people asking me about what it was like growing up as a Villa fan, and I will always applaud what Lambert was trying to do.

You may have overcomplicated football, broke various records for the worse, and left me feeling more frustrated than I knew I could be in football – but your intentions were always pure. Some of my most cherished Villa memories were from you Paul, and for that I thank you.