Paul Lambert Seeks January Epiphany


Unless you’re a student or one of those smug people who work in education, chances are you’ve already slipped back into work mode before this morning. The Christmas tinsel is back in its box and the BBC is handing back G.O.L.D. its Morecambe and Wise box set as we speak. But spare a thought for Paul Lambert. The poor chap didn’t get much of a Christmas, and the fact is he could have done with a break, because he’s about to take on the month that will define his first season as Aston Villa boss.

While forgetting three defeats on the spin is a tough task for fans, our ire is tempered by the knowledge that Aston Villa have the opportunity to add to the squad now the transfer window is open. It’s obvious what’s needed – an experienced hand in defence, a ball winner and grafter in midfield as a priority, and we’re satisfied that not only are we still in touch with mid-table, but that we’re outside the bottom three to boot.

But for manager Lambert, January is make-or-break. On Tuesday, he takes his young charges to Bradford City for the first leg of the League Cup semi-final. How they approach this game could set the pattern for the rest of the month, and it’s certainly no given that Villa’s quality will be enough to dominate a spirited Bradford. In terms of players, Villa sit exactly where they deserve to be in the table, floating around the bottom end of the top flight. That’s no slur: before the return of Darren Bent and Gabriel Agbonlahor, Villa’s true star was Stephen Ireland, who isn’t a certain starter.

However Tuesday finishes, it’ll have to be put to the back of Lambert’s mind instantly as he considers how to overcome Southampton at Villa Park next Saturday. The Wigan game took on greater emphasis following the thrashings by Chelsea and Tottenham, but the Saints game is monolithic. Lambert will have pinpointed it as the moment we finally start to ease away from trouble, and a win would also give a massive boost of confidence before a daunting trip to local upstarts West Brom. The only other league game sees a freefalling Newcastle come to Birmingham. So it’s not hard to see that positive results are not only desirable, they’re absolutely vital.

Add to that an FA Cup tie at picturesque Millwall, the second leg of a semi-final that everyone in Britain is desperate to see go wrong for Villa, getting new players in, keeping hold of current ones, fending off injuries, answering seven hundred questions about Darren Bent per day and probably making the tea at the training ground, and it’ll feel like working 25 hours a day for the Scotsman. There is a consolation though: our Christmas form means expectations are low. Paul Lambert might be about to undertake his greatest ever month as a manager without anybody realising it.

Chris Stanley

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