Lambert: It's an Absolute Disgrace
Tuesday, 19th May 2020 23:54

Blues boss Paul Lambert has doubled down on his criticism of the EFL for a lack of leadership, branding the current indecision regarding the future of League One “an absolute disgrace”. The Town manager added that he doesn’t expect the campaign to resume and gives short shrift the extended play-off proposal.

Lambert hit out at the EFL in a 5 Live interview on Monday and has reiterated that condemnation for the way they have handled the fallout from the coronavirus crisis.

“I think it's an absolute disgrace what's happening, with League One especially,” Lambert told the Daily Mail.

“It's terrible, it's so wrong that they haven't told us what is going on. There are so many unanswered questions and it seems there is so much passing the buck here and there.

“Will someone just make a decision? It's badly lacking leadership. They should be saying, ‘We can't make everyone happy, but here is the decision that we think is best for now’.

“You might not keep everyone happy but at least we can all get our head around it and make plans, be that playing the season now or ending it and not coming back until September or whenever.

“This in-fighting, what's happening here or there or who wants what, that's no good for me, it's not a nice situation.”

As revealed by TWTD at start of last month , most of Town’s staff are on furlough at present.

And as things stand, the players are due back at the club to train on or after May 25th but Lambert says that’s not particularly useful with no date for a resumption set.

“You can't take people off furlough if no one else in the division is going to do it and games aren't going to be played,” Lambert continued. “We can't have a training date if we don't have a start date.

“Football is one organisation - why are we not singing from the same hymn sheet? What's different? It's the same game, the same ball. It should be one organisation saying, ‘This is what we have to do’.

“Personally, I would love to finish, if it is safe to do so. We have five home games left and could finish well. But, looking at it, I don't see how that's going to happen now.”

As in his previous interview, Lambert says the Premier League should help clubs in the lower leagues.

“I'd like to see more financial help filtering down from the Premier League,” he said. “They've done that in Germany, eight million euros to help with testing.

“The Premier League is the richest league in the world. If you don't help these clubs down there, what's going to happen to them? These clubs are vital to the communities.

“If you're sitting up there at the top in the Premier League, why not give a little bit to help them through this? It's not right.”

Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has proposed extending the play-offs to eight teams, those placed from third to 10th, but Lambert isn’t a fan of the suggestion.

“The top 10 having a play-off idea, I don't know who is coming up with these,” he added. “They must lie at night and come up with another great idea and just put it out there. I mean, that one about turning your face away when you tackle, come on?

“What we need here is some clear thinking and decisive decision-making, and we need it now.”

Even if the 23 clubs agree to extend the play-offs, Town seem unlikely to be involved. Although they are currently 10th in the table, under a points per game or weighted points per game calculation - the methods of deciding positions the EFL is understood to favour - they would drop to 11th.

The EFL board meets on Wednesday with the clubs set to vote on proposals aimed at resolving the situation on Thursday or Friday.

Photo: TWTD

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rabbit added 17:46 - May 20 Bluearmy-81 complete U turn on your part since the end of December when you criticised supporters for turning on PL, bearing in mind the last match played was 10th March!
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cat added 19:41 - May 20

Spot on T&B82 but I'm with 73 as I brought in to hurst‘ style of 4.2.3.1 and think given time it'd have worked out better. Hurst got that fortunate away win in Wales then had what was considered an easier run in then his down the ‘toad' (lol) Let's face facts here, would be have done worst than Lamberts 27% win ratio??? Come to think of it, is that actually possible whilst trawling the lower leagues!

Bluearmy_81 added 20:49 - May 20 Rabbit don't remember defending PL when he was under criticism. You've made up things about the protest and the Facebook group so wouldn't be surprised. I think your main aim is to get a reaction but I won't rise to it
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Facefacts added 20:51 - May 20

This is a non story, of course it is, but even then, Paul Lambert is way off message here. It puts the club in a false position that he is free to make these comments to the media, as our manager. He is in League One, not back in his heyday. Not been successful for donkeys years. So out of touch. The wrong manager for this level. Most of the teams can't afford to finish the League One season. There is still this big club mentality around, just turn up and we will roll teams over. "We are playing well". I applaud the younger players like Dobra getting a new contract, of course, but what are we doing giving one to Cole 'greying at the temples' Skuse. What are we doing giving Paul Lambert a long contract and we keep no control on his mouth. He hasn't learned one thing from being a manager at this level. Still thinks he's working at the top level. Borussia Dortmund this, Glasgow boy that. A few wins and we will be back in the big time... Sure, Paul. We will get relegated out off this league too. Just roll up with our new contracts and let the fans s--k it up. Five Live and TalkSport see him coming and feed him the cliches. Really lucky that the virus interrupted the terrible run of form, couldn't buy a win anywhere. Why would that change now? It wouldn't.

have_a_word_with_him added 23:40 - May 20 I don't care what you think about the decisions of the football hierarchy, I'm more interested in your decisions around our team, formation, style of play, recruitment etc. And on that front I'm pretty disappointed to be honest.
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rabbit added 08:52 - May 21

Bluearmy_81 I am not trying to get you to rise to anything only answer questions to various spurious baseless comments you make, as for making things up.....
There was a protest and you were no where to be seen; fact. You have even admitted that!!
Facebook page comments were absolutely accurate at the time I posted it.
Anyway to remind you just a little about your defence of Mr Lambert:
1st Aug If Ips not in top 6 end Sept/Oct will it be PL fall guy not Evans
18th Sept In response to Dissboy "Evans is great, its all Evans etc....
But more recently as I said before:
10th Dec Haha town fans crack me up, turning on Lambert.
26th Dec after PL press conference, "Can't believe how quickly you have turned on PL.
So what have I made up?
I answer your questions, I answer other peoples questions in relation to anything I post do you have the integrity to now answer me when I ask you to clarify your points?

rabbit added 09:16 - May 21 Bluearmy_81 my apologies should have proof read before I posted, it should read In response to Dissboy "PL is great, its all Evans" etc... Sorry about that.
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