Paul Lambert has no intention of resting on his laurels in the pursuit of Premier League survival for Norwich. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd.
Paul Lambert reveals the secret of Norwich City’s Premier League success
Paddy Davitt, EDP Sports Writer
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
10:05 AM
Paul Lambert is adamant the fear of failure is still fuelling Norwich City’s Premier League charge.
The Canaries moved up to the dizzy heights of eighth in the table after another comeback victory against Swansea at the weekend. Lambert admits City have exceeded his own top flight expectations – but warned feet must remain firmly on the ground inside Carrow Road.
“Listen, we have punched miles, an absolute mile over our weight,” he said. “We have probably spent the least money of all in the league. Two years ago this club was so close to going into administration.
“We just keep our head down, backside up the in air and keep going. That is what we do. The fear of losing drives us on. We have to keep that. As soon as you lose it, the hunger goes from you as a player and it the same as a manager.
“I think once you lose that fear of losing it can come back and bite you. I think the players know me and my attitude by now; that you can never rest on it. Even if you have success, don’t rest on your laurels. You have to keep on going. We have bought into it and the group here have been absolutely fantastic.”
Lambert insists the mission statement remains unaltered after his side’s latest league win at the Liberty Stadium.
“Until somebody tells me it is over then I’ll believe it,” he said. “I don’t know (where we can finish). As long as I can stay above it. It’s about survival, which is staying 17th or above. That is what I want. If we can survive, that will surpass anything myself, Ian Culverhouse or Gary Karsa will have done in League One or the Championship.
“I don’t have a set target (of points) in my head. The expectancy level is already there with the amount of people who come to watch us, so I don’t need to add to it. The lads just need to go and play, keep doing what they are doing and hopefully come the end of it and we stay in this league then that will be the time to think we have done fine.”
Lambert’s mantra was echoed by Swansea counterpart Brendan Rodgers, with the Welsh side still nine points clear of the relegation zone despite a rare home defeat.
“I have said before that nothing has been achieved yet,” he said. “We cannot afford to daydream or look forward and think we are in the Premier League next season. We have put ourselves in a great position, so I cannot be overly-critical, but there’s still a hell of a lot of work to do. There are still 13 games to go. We have to focus on each one as it comes and make sure we work hard in every one of them.
“We need our foot to the pedal all the time in this league. We need eight, nine or ten players performing, but we just didn’t quite do enough.”
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36 comments
It`s all a bit risque for me. But many thanks for your educational offerings. I know when I`m licked.
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Yes that's right. But I am reassured by Richard pointing out that this is also the posture adopted by sprinters as they get ready to race. That my first thought wasn't this, probably reveals more more about how my mind works than I really wanted everyone to know...
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I ronnie
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
MB, if you still haven't understood what I ronnie was referring to it was para 3, the first sentence beginning, 'We just keep our head down...' I'll leave you to finish the sentence then go back to irony's comment.
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Michael D
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
You are right Johnny Gavin, what an excellent article and explains why Eliott Bennett kept popping up in the middle to create the goals in the second period. His best game to date. It also explains why the front two were playing wider later on, covering the full backs. I really liked the bit about the midfield pressing forward at the start to keep Swansea contained in their own half and so even though there was a gap that they could have used they did not have the structure or the realization that they could use it. Brilliant, we are Germany. OTBC.
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Swiss Canary
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Check out the Guardian webpage for Michael Cox's article on Lambo's tactics at Swansea. Class.
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Johnny Gavin Lives
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I admit that I had not really heard of him until "the" Colchester game but I remember being impressed that he ran out to hold back the people protesting at poor old Gunny, which was not what your average opposition manager would do.
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Swiss Canary
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
paul jewell,
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jmm
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
the chairman deserves alot of credit,when lambert was installed everyone was saying who is he? we all wanted pual jewell, not many people were happy with lambert getting the job, how many ncfc fans had heard of lambert before he got job??
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jmm
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
has there ever been a manager get his consecutive promotions from league 1 to championship to premiership and into europe? i hope we dont get uefa cup football as it would be to risky in the 2nd and most important season, just wondered if it had ever been done in history of premier league???
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jmm
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
1 of the things that makes lambert a top manager is that he is never affraid to change a winning team, 90per cent of managers never change a winning team, fergie does it every week and look at them, another manager that used to do it was rafa benitez but didnt work for him ,as he was unable to keep players happy at the same time as making sure they feared him and his decisions, i think lambert is the modern version of alex fergurson,
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jmm
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I still don`t understand what Irony meant. Honest.
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
It`s all getting a bit frisky since Sian dumped Ged. Glad I`m too old to get involved! OTBC.
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I doubt if Ged even knows where Sian's buttom is!. But if you're desperate, Sian, I'll volunteer.
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The Crab
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I thought Ged claimed he had?
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Soglio Star
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
What's occuring you naughty old Crab? I wish someone would put their finger on my buttom!
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Sian
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
"button" even!!!
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The Crab
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
take your finger off the buttom les!
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The Crab
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
have seen many Cty managers in my time as a fan but Lambo is by far the best he has worked wonders since he arrived .The City Board must do everything to keep him at the club.OTBC
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leslie cater
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
have seen many Cty managers in my time as a fan but Lambo is by far the best he has worked wonders since he arrived .The City Board must do everything to keep him at the club.OTBC
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leslie cater
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
have seen many Cty managers in my time as a fan but Lambo is by far the best he has worked wonders since he arrived .The City Board must do everything to keep him at the club.OTBC
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leslie cater
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The body posture thing is about being in the blocks, ready to sprint into action. And Mad Brewers reference to Duncan Forbes - conjures up the image of him in the current side playing sweeper behind the back four - just in case someone gets through...
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richard
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The body posture thing is about being in the blocks, ready to sprint into action. And Mad Brewers reference to Duncan Forbes - conjures up the image of him in the current side playing sweeper behind the back four - just in case someone gets through...
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richard
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I agree with Mellow Yellow that Norwich did outwit Swansea. I did not read the Guardian blog but it seemed as if they started with a 4 4 2 to contain and frustrate Swansea and then moved into a diamond to pile on the pressure once they had them confused. Fantastic stuff it is. Let's enjoy as this bus does not come round very often and we all know what the bus service is like in Norfolk.
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Swiss Canary
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Interesting, Michael D, that Brendan Rodgers has said that Norwich play "without fear". So PL hasn`t fooled him, for one! You`ve hit the nail on the head. It`s complacency that Lambo is trying to suppress. We should control our triumphalist urges until we`ve... triumphed. ie stayed in the Prem.
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Try and write an intelligent comment and it gets ethered. The gist was that I think it is the fear of complacency that drives PL more than the fear of losing. But after all the hedonism following the Swansea win, I am very happy to see PL keep the team's feet firmly on the ground, even if he is undoubtedly a very ambitious person. I am not sure he fears losing, but he certainly hates doing so, and thank goodness for that, I don't expect any relaxation to set in soon...
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Michael D
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Actually, I meant sextet. I`m going for the advanced qualification!
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I meant Quintet! Pass my journalism exams if I carry on like that!!
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Paul Lambert is a genius at motivating his players. His approach allows players to play without pressure, not fearing any team they play. He is also an intelligent manager. The Guardian had a fascinating blog yesterday showing how Lambert outwitted Brendon Rogers with his tactics. The man is really special.
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mellow yellow
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Lambo`s Fergie genes are showing. Mind games. Norwich teams don`t look very fearful when they get out there! Specially not our heavyweight, long-ball bruisers; Hoolahan, Drury, Naughton, Surman, Fox and Bennett. These rather thuggish players make it possible for more delicate specimens, like Holty, to survive. This particular player has been transformed from the quivering jelly he once was, to the colossus he now is, through the example of this quartet of neo-Forbesian cloggers. I think I might sort-of understood what Ironnie said but not really sure.....I have probably missed the point, as usual. OTBC.
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Body shape?! The key to managing a squad of players is man management skills. PL has that in spades and ultimately what motivates him he seems able to instil into the players. We have all worked for bosses who are determined and driven but who are critical and make us feel useless - PL is one of those rare people who makes you feel capable of anything. We probably can keep him for perhaps 2 more years at which point he will need to move to a bigger club to prove his credentials. Meantime let's enjoy this amazing ride!
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Tracksuit Joe
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I have to agree with that Ronnie. I was a bit confused by what he was suggesting. Perhaps this is the running posture that they use in the one of those training sessions at Colney from which fans are excluded.
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Swiss Canary
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
It is fear of complacency rather than fear of losing, and that antidote to some of the hedonism around after the Swansea win is very welcome! PL's 'just win' philosophy as outlined by Emma Ward yesterday, shows the very high ambition level he has instilled in the squad - but it is his skill in keeping everyone's feet on the ground at the same time, that I think is really key to City's success. It is the professionalism displayed by everyone in the club that really reassures me, knowing that the second the team rests on its laurels, the results can reverse - no AVB or Mancini statements, 'we underestimated our opponents' from PL, and thank goodness!
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Michael D
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I am more worried about his body shape analogy than this fear of losing philosophy. The pose he suggests brings to mind one that somebody might adopt during a rigorous amount of physical activity but not a sporting one and one less likely to be adopted by the males involved...
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I ronnie
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Paul Lambert continues to push City forward, if its fear that does it, then thats fine by me. He obviously knows what he is doing and compared to the managers we had before him, he is brilliant. ILWT.
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Abraham
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Paul Lambert's low key (but resolute) approach contrasts with so many managers and players who rush to be quoted and then end up with their words coming back to haunt them. the wins over Bolton and Swansea show the character and resolve instilled in the squad by the manager. The fact that our best players like Hoolahan and Holt are left on the bench and come back to play even better shows what a great man manager he is.
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burnhamcanary
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Who am I to question the great and mighty Lambo...however, in my experience fear is not a good motivator long-term. It certainly makes you dig in and get stuff done in the short term, but at some stage we are going to have to shift to something more positive. I don't get the impression that the current Spurs team are playing out of fear, they go on to the pitch confident that they are going to win. You have to be determined not to lose, otherwise you are in danger of collapsing as ManU were doing a little at the start of the season but fear only takes you so far.
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Swiss Canary
Tuesday, February 14, 2012