It was never an easy job at Norwich City - Paul Lambert
Aston Villa keeper Brad Guzan received praise from boss Paul Lambert after denying Norwich City with a string of excellent saves. Picture: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images
Paddy Davitt
Monday, October 29, 2012
11:54 AM
Paul Lambert aims to use his Norwich City experience to transform Aston Villa’s flagging fortunes.
The Scot has now presided over Villa’s worst start to a season in 43 years after Chris Hughton’s men hit back for a merited Premier League point at Villa Park.
Lambert insisted afterwards he is relishing the fight ahead after replacing Alex McLeish in the summer following his unbroken period of success in Norfolk.
The City Hall of Famer, however, believes too many forget he was dealt some tough cards before guiding the Canaries from the depths.
“I just have this belief we will be fine,” he said. “Even though with Norwich and what happened there in three years, there was a lot of hard work and disappointments too. So you just learn how to handle it.
“I think every job is hard, whether you have good times or bad times. Football management is a really tough job to do.
“The difference with Norwich was we were in League One. This league is unforgiving. League One you can get away with not playing well and maybe getting the odd bad result here and there. But let’s take nothing away from the Norwich lads, because they put the football club where they are. Nobody else but those players – they’re the ones that did it. And they have the belief that you’ll always win games.
“The three years I had at Norwich – don’t think they were a bed of roses. They weren’t. Everything is hard, every game.”
Lambert was predictably the dominant pre-match theme, but the Villa boss maintained facing his former charges was just another day at the office. The Scot was similarly succinct when pressed on his old club’s survival chances
“I really don’t know. My main concern is here. All that didn’t enter my head at all. This (Villa) is my club, it’s a brilliant club,” he said. “I know those (Norwich) lads like the back of my hand, but that is Chris’ team. I’ll be forever thankful for what those Norwich players did.”
Lambert remains unfazed by a daunting upcoming fixture list which includes games against both Manchester clubs and Arsenal.
“I just keep going and try to win. Whereever we play, we have to earn the right,” he said. “We have some tough games coming up, but I’m looking forward to them and so will the lads. You won’t need to lift anybody, they will be big time games so it is something they will raise the bar for. You know you are going to have to play very well and hopefully get a bit of luck, but I go into every game thinking I can win it.”
Lambert admitted he was indebted to an inspired display from keeper Brad Guzan before the American was finally beaten when Michael Turner glanced home Wes Hoolahan’s cross from a quickly-taken corner.
“I was disappointed. We just switched off at the corner and I have said before you cannot switch off at this level,” he said. “The lads were defending really strongly, they were throwing their bodies on the line and we had one recognised centre half in Ron (Vlaar). Chris Herd came in and I thought he was excellent.
“Brad is in world class form at the minute; a really top goalkeeper. I think the football club is really fortunate to have two world class goalkeepers.”
Joe Bennett’s early second half dismissal, after earning a second yellow card for hauling back Elliott Bennett, was the game’s defining moment for Lambert.
“I think the sending off changed it a lot. We were defending quite strongly and we were brilliant defensively,” he said. “I thought Elliott was holding him just as much so it could have gone either way.
“When I first saw it I thought he had put himself in a position he didn’t need to with him already being booked, but Elliott had a hold of Joe as well. It was an even contest. The lad is disappointed but he will learn from it. He’ll be fine. He’ll mull over it for a couple of days.”
Villa’s frustrated support voiced their displeasure at the final whistle after the 1-1 draw, but Lambert urged them to keep the faith after failing to overcome his old club.
“The fans have been brilliant. I can hear when they are not and they have been excellent. They want to win, like everybody else, but it is up to us to get the wins. I can’t fault the effort of the boys,” he said.
“They’ve been brilliant with me since I’ve been at this football club and I’ll keep doing my best to try and give them everything I’ve got.”
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27 comments
I used to go see Blackburn, Bolton and Preston when I worked in Manchester in the `70s. Also Bury at Gigg Lane. Great pies. No prawn sandwiches. Good bonhomie too.
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
No, no problens worth reporting. A few teenagers in high spirits (villa fans), the odd taunting but nothing untowards. I haven't seen much trouble at any of the games for the past couple of seasons, last time was when we had Man City at home, think it was Gareth Barrys 'homecoming' but even that was hand bags. All in all, having been to 100% home games last 3 seasons and I'd say 75% of away (league and all cups), our fans are not any worse than anyother. I miss our away days at Blackburn. Always had fun there.
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MonkeyNuts
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
??
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Hi MonkeyNuts. I think you`ll find most of the regulars on these boards are quite civilised, really. Most footy fans can get a bit passionate about their teams if they think an "outsider" may be taking the p**s. It`s ones like Ged Steroo, billythebookie and a few other occasional Leeds and Ipswich types that put the Naaaridge fans on fight alert. You have been making sensible, sober comments and folk may now be seeing that you are a proper footy person, not a troll. There wasn`t any real trouble at that Villa Park game, was there? Our Alexander Tettey even got away unnoticed for what has been described as "the worst throw-in ever". Now there`s a claim to fame!
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Hi MonkeyNuts. I think you`ll find most of the regulars on these boards are quite civilised, really. Most footy fans can get a bit passionate about their teams if they think an "outsider" may be taking the p**s. It`s ones like Ged Steroo, billythebookie and a few other occasional Leeds and Ipswich types that put the Naaaridge fans on fight alert. You have been making sensible, sober comments and folk may now be seeing that you are a proper footy person, not a troll. There wasn`t any real trouble at that Villa Park game, was there? Our Alexander Tettey even got away unnoticed for what has been described as "the worst throw-in ever". Now there`s a claim to fame!
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Mel in fairness to pl, he has said on more than one occasion that he thought the fans were brilliant for him. What goes on behind the scenes we won't know but he had nothing but praise for you
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MonkeyNuts
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Brew, no offence taken, herd deserved to go, Bennett for me was very unlucky. I'm only controversial because I add an away fans perspective. We will disagree more times than agree but on this occasion brew has it right regarding the referees non-decision.
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MonkeyNuts
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
So Mr Lambert is grateful to everything the Norwich players did for him... Not the club, the fans, the directors or anybody else, just the players... I still remember so well the words of one Colchester fan who said, when Lambert dumped them for us, "Don't trust him, he only cares for himself. When a better offer comes along, he will have no loyalty for your club, just himself. Just wait and see." Absolutely spot on!
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Mel Lacey
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Oi thought that challenge by Herd on Wessi was definitely worthy of a second yellow. I think the ref had a streak of yellow - a second Villa sending off would have fired feelings up somewhat? He did a "Wise Monkey" - saw no evil. This is NOT a dig at MonkeyNuts, though he has indeed become a controversial contributor. Seems you`re oither For `um or agginst `um. ;-)
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Oh come along Monkey Nuts, not only dew we diffrunt but we speeak diffrunt in Narfolk, how on earth you read something that I neither wrote nor inferred I fail to see, please don't throw your toys out of the pram! I am truly pleased to read the explanation of Forum as I thought it was the building by the Market in the City!
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blackdog2
Monday, October 29, 2012
I went to Birmigham once...what a dump...they don't even speak English...
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tom the taxi
Monday, October 29, 2012
For'um! Monkey Nuts, is pronounced in Norfolk as For- rum. One a two of us had a fair idea of what it means. Has one of your nuts come loose on your computer, cos I in't seen letters like that in my book of werds, all though there is a semi-circle over the o and r linking them together, but I in't got that on my computer. You keep on a mardlin' though, its nice to have another well mannered brain on here apart from mine.
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Stew Pydsodd
Monday, October 29, 2012
It's a mystery blackdog. Those poor old Binners, 17,738 in a stadium that holds over 30,000 watching a 0-3 defeat to fellow strugglers Wednesday and going bottom. How does that song go? Oh Ipswich, you've got me singing the blues.
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Swiss Canary
Monday, October 29, 2012
Forum - pronunciation: ˈfɔ:rəm from Oxford forum n. 1 a place of or meeting for public discussion. 2 a periodical etc. giving an opportunity for discussion. 3 a court or tribunal. 4 hist. a public square or market-place in an ancient Roman city used for judicial and other business As you can see blackdog2 and ncfcforever, the meaning of a forum is an open debate for public discussion, so i have every right to comment on here. Why do you feel i cant? Why would i be envious? Its all very childish that you have resorted to name calling, mind you its gone 330pm, it must be home time.
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MonkeyNuts
Monday, October 29, 2012
Why is it that we seem to have rid ourselves of the gloomy pessimistic Nodding Donkeys fans but seem to attract Leeds and Vanilla fans? Have they nothing else to do or are they envious and looking for inspiration?
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blackdog2
Monday, October 29, 2012
First we get the Leeds so called fans having a go at us now the Vanilla are sticking their nose in,i couldn't give a stuff about Lambert any more, he did great things for us while he was here now he has gone and i think we have got just as good a manager in CH,i still believe we will stay up again this season even if we dont finish as high as last year,i would much rather have our squad of players than Vanilla's,and i do think Lambo is now finding out the old grass aint so lush and green on the other side. OTBC
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ncfcforever
Monday, October 29, 2012
@Peter - i wouldn't think he would want to go in for any City players, not because they are not good enough, simply because of the facts of the friction between Manager and Directors at City. You wouldnt entertain bids from us i wouldnt have thought. What alot of fans (not all as i have had some good discussions on here this weekend) have failed to grasp is that our defence on saturday was without 3 experienced centre backs and had a total of just 48 appearances in TOTAL. For an inexperienced back 4 to put in a shift such as they did, they deserve credit for keeping a team who have largely played together for the past 3-4 seasons, down to conceding just the one, although i accept we were very very poor and will struggle without further cash injection in January.
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MonkeyNuts
Monday, October 29, 2012
@monkey.When we meet again on Saturday 4th May at Carrow Road we'll all know more.Despite a less than assured performance by his team Chris Hughton looks more like achieving survival with Norwich City than Paul Lambert will do with Aston Villa,which is not to say either will go down.Chris Hughton has the stronger squad and I cannot see Lambert getting any joy trying to pursue Norwich City players in January either.OTBC.
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Peter Watson
Monday, October 29, 2012
Fergal - I think you have taken Paul's comments out of context. He is of course referring to the fact that he didn't know or care about Norwich's survival as, if you weren't aware, he is now the Aston Villa manager.
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MonkeyNuts
Monday, October 29, 2012
While it may not be "brilliant" to live in or around Birmingham, it is close to the M6 for Glazgee. Just like PL says, lets take the positives...
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el dingo
Monday, October 29, 2012
Eat your nuts monkey. PL to say he didnt even think he was playing against his previous club is rubbish. Maybe he didnt even here us singing theres only one CH....OTBC
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sharky
Monday, October 29, 2012
He'll be here for the duration. Don't worry about our run of games Marco, you should be concerned with your own problems i.e. lack of goal scorer. How Brewer or others can agree that it was a second yellow card is beyond me. Did you not see Suarez's tackle yesterday?
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MonkeyNuts
Monday, October 29, 2012
Think you may be right there, marcohendy, though Villa would be hard pressed to find anybody of any proven quality to sup from the Poisoned Chalice that is Lerner`s Aston Villa. They should let Lambo make the move; he`s quite good at walking out.... Villa - just get a good Employment lawyer on the case quick!
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Mad Brewer
Monday, October 29, 2012
I really think he will be gone from Vanilla by xmas...with the run of games they have got coming up , its gonna be tough with what he`s got available. I`d rather be in Hoots` shoes.
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marcohendy
Monday, October 29, 2012
PL has Wenger Specs on when commenting about the Bennett on Bennett incident.
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Mad Brewer
Monday, October 29, 2012
That`s one of his favourite words, Flying Canary, it really is....... for him, since he`s been there.....
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Mad Brewer
Monday, October 29, 2012
Fail to see how PL can call the Vill fans "brilliant." The ground was far from full, the atmoshere was dead at times with the only decent noise coming from the Canary faithful.
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Flying Canary
Monday, October 29, 2012