Jumping On the Bandwagon

The after-match phone-in on BBC Radio Suffolk this evening confirmed my greatest fear, and that is that the tide is turning against manager Paul Lambert. No surprise perhaps, that I was the only caller who defended Lambert. In fairness though, many of the text messages which Graeme Mac conveyed were reasonably positive and implied that in the second half especially, Town played a lot better than against Burton Albion.

To be honest, this game should have ended in a draw. I know Peterborough missed a penalty, thanks to another error by Toto Nsiala at the back, but the Posh were far from convincing throughout and had it not been for a rather naive own goal conceded by young Mark McGuinness, this game would have ended with the points being shared.

People constantly ask me why I am still backing the gaffer? We are playing lousy football. We struggle to create chances and our attack is toothless. The reason is because of the unprecedented position Lambert finds himself in. No manager – no matter how big the squad is, could do himself justice under these circumstances. Today, he had both his main strikers out through injury, and even his back up, (Olly Hawkins) was also unavailable, and will need knee surgery before he returns.

I fully expect those harbingers of doom and gloom to air their feelings. They are frustrated, and it shows. Nobody is happy, but sometimes you have to look a little further than your nose to see where things are going wrong. Admittedly, our tactics our bewildering at times and Lambert does appear to be a one-trick pony when it comes to formations, but once again, I must stress, that with so many players out through injury, he has his back firmly against the wall.

I was disappointed with former Blue Mick Mills today. Normally, I have a lot of respect and admiration for the man but today he sided with the head-hunters, which contradicted his normally balanced perceptions. I got the feeling that Mills wanted to be on the winning side, and although he was calm and controlled in his analysis of the game as it unfolded, he suddenly started to put the boot in, when enraged supporters called for Lambert’s head.

Why was he so quiet about this in commentary – only to begin his personal tirade after the final whistle blew? He seemed to jump on the bandwagon once he knew which side his toast was buttered. Listen, Mr Mick, I have supported the Blues since 1968 so don’t you dare to deny me the right to defend my side of the argument too. I pay a hefty subscription to ifollow so that I can see all Town’s games, and I am just as entitled to air my views as you! Take sides if you must, but please ensure they are balanced observations. Today you failed miserably.

I really thought Mills was better than that. He sided with Lambert’s critics and seemed as determined as anyone to heap pressure our manager. It does make me wonder how supportive of Sir Bobby Robson he was when he was under the cosh? Did he whisper to his teammates that Robson wasn’t up to it when the going got tough? We will never know. One thing is certain though, and that is that we are a broach church of opinions here, and everybody has a voice!

And finally, I do admire captain Luke Chambers. He played poorly this afternoon but his after-match interview with Brenner Woolley was exemplary. You could feel his hurt. You could feel his pain. He is a man of rare honesty in the game, and I do hope for his sake as much as everyone else’s, that we can defeat Sunderland on Tuesday, and shut up the many moaning minnies.