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Lambert: Full-Back Decisions Not Tricky
Friday, 12th Feb 2021 10:40

Town manager Paul Lambert dismissed the idea he has difficult decisions to make regarding his full-backs ahead of Saturday’s game at Shrewsbury, adding that skipper Luke Chambers won’t be able to go on forever.

New loanee Luke Matheson impressed at right-back in last Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Blackpool, while Myles Kenlock put in similarly solid displays in the 1-1 draw at Crewe and against the Seasiders.

On Tuesday, captain Chambers and Stephen Ward, both 35, returned to the side as Lambert “went for a big, tall and experienced back four”, according to assistant manager Stuart Taylor after that match.

The Blues boss denied he had a big decision to make in that area of his side despite the options at his disposal.

“No, it’s not tricky, football it’s not rocket science,” he said. “Wardy and Luke have done really, really well for us. With the pitch I knew Tuesday was going to be a really bruising encounter. You have to remember those guys are 35, it’s hard for them, especially in the full-back area.

“The two younger ones did great for us against Blackpool. I’ll see how everybody is this morning.”

He says Kenlock took being left out at London Road despite his previous performances well with the players aware that with games coming thick and fast that they will be rested periodically.

“He’s done great,” Lambert said. “Myles is great, not an issue, not a problem, everybody understood, everybody knows we’ve got 12 games in this period of time. The guys were good, not a problem.”

Academy product Kenlock is now 24 and has made 80 starts and seven sub appearances for the Blues without really ever establishing himself as the first choice.

Does Lambert believe the Londoner can kick-on and be the club’s regular left-back? “I think he’s got to look at that himself, 100 per cent. I think he had Jonas Knudsen in front of him, who was consistently great here and he played second fiddle to him.

“Then Jonas got injured when we came in and I think he played about 17 games back-to-back in the Championship year and did really well.

“I think he came right off the gas last year, I don’t think he performed to the level I think he can perform to. But I think when he played against Crewe and he played against Blackpool, he was very, very good.

“Myles has got it in him, but I think you just answered the question there, it’s the consistency level.”

Asked whether Matheson’s loan signing could see Chambers revert to centre-half from the right-back role he’s occupied for every game aside from the Blackpool match this season, Lambert said: “I’ll pick a team that tries to win. Woolfie [Luke Woolfenden] and Mark [McGuinness] have done well together.

“The two kids have done really well together, they did well against a hard Blackpool side as well. They did well the other night, got caught with the free-kick, Mark maybe shouldn’t have come [and made the challenge that led to the free-kick] but predominantly they’ve done really well. They’ve been very good, not a problem with them. Two younger kids have done great.
And Matheson was great against Blackpool.”

Reflecting further on Chambers perhaps returning to his preferred central defensive role, Lambert added: “Luke’s just unfortunate, nobody can beat time, it catches you. I had it myself, I know what it’s like. You’ve just got to look at it and face that it’s coming.

“That’s what happens in football, you can’t go on for ever and ever. It’s a really hard thing for you to accept at times, or you can accept it and move on. It’s hard for a footballer, it’s a tough job they’ve got.”


Photos: Matchday Images



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Razor added 10:46 - Feb 12
And play Harrop you pathetic excuse for a manager!!
0

sospier added 10:48 - Feb 12
Play the two young lads PL it's not rocket science.
8

aas1010 added 10:59 - Feb 12
Lambert out🪓🪓
5

TractorBoy added 11:03 - Feb 12
“That's what happens in football, you can't go on for ever and ever. It's a really hard thing for you to accept at times, or you can accept it and move on." Come on, Paul. Practice what you preach.
9

ricardo55555 added 11:05 - Feb 12
Its not rocket science that when you play 4-1-2-1-2 narrow against a back 5 team with no wingers to press full backs there is a huge opportunity and necessity for the full backs to join the attack and get up and down the touchline all match long as our formation lacks width!

So two out of form 35 year olds should do!
8

DifferentGravy added 11:09 - Feb 12
"You have to remember those guys are 35, it's hard for them, especially in the full-back area"

The man is an absolute buffoon and contradicts himself at every turn.........
SO DONT PLAY THEM THEN!
14

OsborneOneNil added 11:15 - Feb 12
FOOOK OFF.
1

TractorJed added 11:18 - Feb 12
Not rocket science! You are certainly making it look much tougher!!
8

ThaiBlue added 11:32 - Feb 12
Do 1 lambert everyone can see its a problem left and right back you plonker
4

algarvefan added 11:35 - Feb 12
Sir Bobby Robson, not as blessed as Lambert with players, picked his best side every time. The year the won the European title I think there were about 66 games on tough pitches like Peterborough's everywhere, but his best 11 started every week.

Never change a winning side, especially 4 changes!!!!
15

exeterblue10 added 11:38 - Feb 12
Jonas Knudsen, 'consistently great'???? What planet are you on Paul 'football is not rocket science' Lambert?
5

spanishblue added 11:43 - Feb 12
I can remember being 29 and playing 18 games in 21 days, with an ankle strapped together on my good leg lost 3 of them, 20 year olds bounce back, Kenlock probably had his best game for us, made the mistake of assisting Judges goal
5

Suffolkboy added 11:46 - Feb 12
PL unfortunately never ever acknowledges there's more than one way to solve a problem , merely skates around the obvious challenges , hasn't the courage to accept outright responsibility ,always choosing to emphasise he's been there before , at big clubs , knowing pressure and really knowing his ability to deal with it and how !REALLY ??
So many of these comments appear contradictory ,and its HIS job to get the most out of the assets/ resources one way or another ; perhaps just adapting his somewhat rigid thought processes might see players utilised best in different positions , different formations ? That requires he assess each individual thoroughly for strengths and weaknesses , assess adaptability , assess how compromise is best achieved for overall success,which means defending comprehensively and actually scoring goals .
Afraid PL and Co thoroughly disappoint in so many ways ,yet we all want to see them succeed .
COYB
6

BlueandTruesince82 added 11:48 - Feb 12
Help put and end to these delusional ramblings, sign this

http://chng.it/BxRY7kzW

Sign the petition, boycott the club, support blue action!
2

RobITFC added 11:49 - Feb 12
My god he must just say these things to wind the fans up ?
4

prebbs007 added 11:53 - Feb 12
ENOUGH !!!!!!!!!
1

grow_our_own added 12:10 - Feb 12
Just go you incompetent fool!
0

heathen66 added 12:10 - Feb 12
OMG
What is he spouting on about
I would suggest that Kenlock was pretty p***d off at being dropped, but dare not tell you to your face as he would not play for a long long time.
He played well when Knudsen was injured as ward was earlier in the season, but as soon as the senior pro was fit (irrespective of form) they come straight back in...no questions !!!
I believe Kenlock has been harshly treated by Lambert and McCarthy.
Ward has brought nothing to the table since he signed
As for Chambers, he has been poor at RB and at CB for a while now and will get no better.

You are right Mr Lambert...it is not Rocket science...Play Matheson and Kenlock. These lads need to be given a chance. They are young, they do not need to rest.
Play your best players available in their best positions and play as a team, not 11 players shoe horned into a group because of who they are.
11

PortmanTerrorist added 12:11 - Feb 12
Re our defence, from our Management at Posh:
“went for a big, tall and experienced back four”
"The two kids [Woolfie and McGuinness] have done really well together"
“Myles is great, not an issue, not a problem, everybody understood....”

And don't get me started about 2 up top.

If our Management and players (what were Dozzell and our Ass Manager talking about post match) are so confused and deluded is it any wonder we are where we are. I want to defend the Management, but when their garbage starts to seep into our finest like Dozzell, who seemed to genuinely believe that re Posh "they weren't a better side than us"....then am entitled to feel as sad and angry as I do.

Big changes needed in attitude and application (Parrot comes in and plays like he cares more than existing, brain-washed players) and if those in place cannot see or deliver that then it is League 2 we should be pondering as an escape from this league and not the Championship.
3

johnwarksshorts added 12:14 - Feb 12
How can Kenlock progress if you dont give him a run in the side.
6

90z added 12:28 - Feb 12
Coming to the end of Mick McCarthys time he used to add little comments in to wind the fans up. Everything Paul Lambert has got to say just irritates me! This guy is absolutely clueless. But dont worry guys his played for some massive clubs. 😂😂😂😂😂
6

Stewart27 added 12:30 - Feb 12
Pathetic excuse of a manager
3

Dissboyitfc added 12:31 - Feb 12
It's hard for a footballer, it's a tough job they've got.”

Tough being a supporter, with nothing to cheer!

Lambert out!!!
6

blues1 added 12:31 - Feb 12
Algarvefan. You are right of course that sir bobby played the same team every week. But he had mo choice as we didnt have the size of squad to do anything else. So not really a comparable situation. Really dont get that some of the changes hes making are right or necessary tho. Says that he played that defence on tuesday bcse of the pitch, which suggests he was expecting boro to play long ball, then plays a narrow midfield, which gave them the freedom to attack us down the flanks a d get crosses in. Clearly he didnt see their previous game when despite the pitch, they were still playing football on it, not just humping it forwards. Simply no idea whatsoever.

2

suffolkblueeye added 14:30 - Feb 12
Sh*t manager keeps talking sh*t
5


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