Paul Lambert’s time at Norwich encouraged admiration for a number of reasons, not least because of his impressive record in the transfer market. Lambert’s ability to identify affordable talent in the lower leagues is an invaluable quality, especially when there is a dearth of cost effective targets on offer.
Out of the ten signings he made at Norwich last season six were from lower league sides. All came with low price tags and low expectations, all impressed.
Steve Morrison, signed from Millwall, finished as the second highest scorer at the club with ten goals as well as four assists. Anthony Pilkington who Lambert signed from Huddersfield finished as third highest scorer with eight goals to his name.
For two signings, who are reported to have cost less than a total of £5m, to score eighteen goals between them in their first season is a truly remarkable feat.
Lambert’s ability to not only spot these players but also motivate and manage them intelligently cannot be exaggerated. Other signings he made last season were equally impressive.
Bradley Johnson, who was signed on a free transfer from Leeds, had a remarkable year in which he finished the season with the second highest number of assists behind Wes Hoolahan. He also chipped in with a couple of goals and was, on average, dispossessed less than once per game. An incredible feat for a player who has never even had a trial at a Premier League club before.
Lambert proved his transfer business was no fluke by exercising his rights in the winter transfer window, a period in which be brought in two players from the lower leagues. Jonny Howson, also brought in from Leeds, proved himself incredibly reliable with an 83% pass success rate whilst averaging the second highest number of passes per game at the club.
Defender Ryan Bennett was lured away from Peterborough and performed admirably upon his arrival. He finished the season having made more clearances per game, and blocked more shots per game, than any other player at the club. He also made the second highest number of interceptions per game. In particular, his performance against Aston Villa on the final day of the season was exceptional.
What Lambert does is to strike a balance within his squad between talent, experience and desire. By providing these previously overlooked players with an opportunity to prove themselves at a higher level he brings an energy and desire to his teams. Something that was evident in Norwich last season.
When Norwich began last season the odds for them going back down were 5/4, to finish the season in 12th place (25 points ahead of where their odds placed them) is no mean feat.
Lambert’s record in the transfer market may well have played a key role in attracting Randy Lerner to the former Colchester United manager and Lambert has wasted little time in attempting to recreate last years success.
Matt Lowton is the latest player to be signed for Villa. The former Sheffield United right-back cost Lambert £3m, sparking further rumours that Alan Hutton’s time at Villa Park could be coming to an end. Lowton joins Karim El Ahmadi and Brett Holman, both of who have made the step up from the Dutch Eredivisie, as the Villa’s latest signings.
After a thoroughly disappointing season for the Villains in which their lack of squad depth was exposed Lambert has already signalled his intentions to revamp the squad. Heskey, Cuellar, Guzan and others have been released and in their place Lambert must provide the squad with a, previously lacking, sense of enthusiasm and energy.
Lambert can stop the rot at Villa. Whilst the motivation of players like Agbonlahor, Bent and N’Zogbia is crucial he must separate the dead wood from those who are merely lacking inspiration. Lerner may no longer be willing to spend the money he has done over the course of the past ten years but in Lambert he has found a manager with whom he may not have to.
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