Few Norwich fans are likely to be raising a glass to former boss Paul Lambert any time soon but, in terms of results at least, they are clearly missing his steely presence. Lambert’s decision to swap Carrow Road for Villa Park made plenty of headlines this summer – and thus far neither side are prospering.
At the time of writing, just two points separate Lambert’s new club, Aston Villa, in 16th from Norwich in the relegation zone and, while there is optimism about brighter days ahead for Villa, the Scot needs results to stay on track with his pre-season goals.
“There is a lot of expectancy at the club and it is not something I’m going to shy away from – it’s something I will thrive on”, he said, back in June. “One of my first objectives will be to get the crowd going and to restore that good feeling back to the players so that they, in turn, can excite and ignite the passion and energy of our supporters."
If Lambert had hoped for a rampant Aston Villa start to make his summer move seem a masterstroke, he will have been disappointed with his side’s sluggish opening to the season, which has brought a meagre five points from seven games. But after the instantly forgettable Alex McLeish era, change was unquestionably needed and Lambert has not hesitated to take the tough decisions, dropping Shay Given after just two games and, more recently, taking the captaincy away from Darren Bent, then benching the striker. It has not always been popular, but the Scot has not wavered.
However, while the quality of football has improved, results largely have not. With the exception of a terrific League Cup victory at Manchester City, Aston Villa have laboured. Poor performances in their first two games brought disheartening losses against West Ham and Everton, and their solitary win came over slumping Swansea. Last weekend’s loss to Tottenham Hotspur was another setback despite a handful of promising chances.
The international break will have given Lambert a chance to catch his breath and weigh up options for a high stakes fortnight ahead. Saturday’s trip to Fulham will be a test of Villa’s progress and it carries additional importance given that the following game brings Norwich to Villa Park, a fixture that is no doubt circled on many calendars at Carrow Road. The Canaries will surely feel they have scores to settle given the Scot’s controversial resignation this summer and the legal matters that have rumbled on. It promises to be an afternoon of high emotions.
Lambert, too, feels aggrieved, admitting: "It is disrespectful and wrong to that tribunal for me to comment any more. That’s the way I’m going to leave it. My main concern is Aston Villa. Am I concerned Norwich fans are only hearing one side of the story? In a word, yes."
Norwich are in the midst of a wretched run themselves, highlighted by a 5-2 humbling at home to Liverpool and a 4-1 loss at Chelsea. With a leaky defence and a general lack of identity, no club needed the week off more to collect their thoughts and regroup. Life gets no easier soon, though, with a trip to the Emirates Stadium to face high-flying Arsenal up next. Chris Hughton’s men could be bottom of the pile by the time they head to the Midlands on 27th October. That, of course, is no longer Lambert’s concern. He has bigger plans to focus on and teething problems of his own as he looks to put his stamp on the Aston Villa squad.
Given Lambert’s standing as one of the top British bosses in the game at present, it would be a surprise if he fails to pull Aston Villa up the table as the season drags on and his tactics and philosophies are soaked up by his players. A top half finish is certainly attainable with the current squad – and he will likely be active in the January transfer market too. Patience will be key above all else as the Scot’s plan will take time to implement.
But for now, the pressure remains on. And the Aston Villa-Norwich showdown, on and off the pitch, should make for fascinating viewing.
