New Stoke manager is

[Lancasterclaret]

Paul Lambert

J percy on twitter (v accurate btw)

[randomclaret2]

Blimey

[bob-the-scutter]

[edison]

I'd be going mad at that news. How on earth?

[Rick_Muller]

that's like sacking Jamie Oliver from your restaurant because the menu needs changing and hiring "Jim" from the greasy spoon roadside cafe to take over... they'll reap what they sow

[cutsy123]

Id be very disappointed

Take them down a division they deserve it

[edison]

Only Sherwood would have been more hilarious

[Chobulous]

This in my view is a very short term appointment. Get us to the end of the season, keep us up if possible, payout compo at the end of the season and spend the summer looking for someone better.

[edison]

This in my view is a very short term appointment. Get us to the end of the season, keep us up if possible, payout compo at the end of the season and spend the summer looking for someone better.

If it works out, then no harm

[duncandisorderly]

Where would he, and we, be now if he'd been appointed in 2011?

[edison]

Where would he, and we, be now if he'd been appointed in 2011?

Why say that? That is just...just horrible

[TopCat]

Appointed until 2020.
Will he last that long?
Very surprising appointment, bet Stoke fans are happy.

[ElectroClaret]

At least he had the good sense to bale out of Deadwood when
he twigged the insanity around him.

So that's a plus. About the only one, mind.

[Guich]

That's hilarious.

Moan enough to get Mark Hughes out, and then watch with disbelief as the miserable, uninspiring Lambert arrives to lift the spirits.

[Cubanclaret]

Don't think he's a bad manager, and was probably treated a bit shoddily at Wolves, but in no terms can he be seen as an upgrade on Hughes. There's bound to be a nervousness sweeping through the Potteries, a little like when Laws was appointed at Burnley.

[TVC15]

Really do not get this appointment - at the very least Lambert was 3rd choice.

He has failed pretty miserably at a number of clubs now and I thought he might struggle to get another role in the Championship let alone bag himself a 2.5 year contract at an established Premier League team.

I ain't got a clue how it works with these appointments. Surely if Stoke would have offered him a 6 month contract to keep them up with a bonus and offer of a longer contract Lambert would still have bitten their hands off to get a chance like this ?

[UpTheBeehole]

Laws-esque

[duncandisorderly]

When Laws was appointed we were a first time premier league club who had naively let our manager join a relegation rival as we bumbled our way to relegation. At least Laws had previous connections to our club.
Stoke have been a premier league club for ten years and have probably turned over close to £1,000,000,000 in that time, played in FA Cup finals and the Uefa Cup....

If Paul Lambert is the answer then someone hasn't understood the question.

[claretspice]

Not a big fan of Lambert personally, but I don't think his managerial record is that bad and this could be one of those appointments that eventually looks wiser than anyone thought at the time. Unlike his last 2 jobs, he comes into a club that is stable off the pitch, and unlike in the job before that he has a fairly expensively resourced squad to play with. A couple of signings at the back end of this window (don't be surprised if he shows an interest in Ashley Westwood) and we'll begin to see whether I'm making excuses for him, or whether his very impressive record at Norwich really was a flash in the pan.

[claretburns]

Decent appointment, did a great job at Norwich, good job at Villa, kept them up year after year, he leaves and they're relegated. Since then with them lot down the road and with Wolves been shafted by owners not backing him or wanting the "big foreign name" at Wolves for example.

Personally think he will keep them up but the board also thinking if relegation does come they have a man experienced in the Championship.

[TVC15]

That very impressive record at Norwich was 7 seasons ago though !

What might be in favour for him this time I will accept is his record as a footballer. He was an extremely intelligent footballer and one of the very few British footballers to have the career he did abroad. He played with and against many big international players and has more insight into how they tick than many of his peers in football. Stoke like most teams in the league are packed with players from around the globe. His knowledge might come more to the forefront than at his other clubs.

I can only imagine that it's this that got him the job as it cannot be his managerial track record

[Lancasterclaret]

Suspect this is a sign of the new reality hitting football clubs in the prem but outside the top six.

You can't possibly get in that group and stay there, so make sure you stay up first.

[elwaclaret]

I was told this this morning..... thought they were winding me up.

[jrgbfc]

Seem to recall most people saying similar when West Ham went for Moyes. Not turning out too badly so far is it?

[TVC15]

Seem to recall most people saying similar when West Ham went for Moyes. Not turning out too badly so far is it?

Apart from the fact that West Ham did give Moyes a much shorter term contract didn't they ? And Moyes record as a manager in this league is considerabley better than Lamberts.

Plus very early days for Moyes and all he has done so far is get West Ham playing to somewhere near the level they should be given the players they have got and the money they have spent. Will be interesting to see if he is the long term answer to a club whose owners wanted them to push for top 4 or 5 after moving into their new stadium.

[joey13]

He’s a legend at Stoke , apparently frequents Keele services regularly , although I’m not sure on what basis .

[BeijingClaret]

Only Sherwood would have been more hilarious

Judas

[happyclaret17]

New Stoke manager is.....f-cking deluded.

[TheFamilyCat]

There was a quote from the chairman stating he was impressed with Lambert's knowledge of the squad.

I wonder what he was asked; their shoe sizes and favourite sandwich?

[cricketfieldclarets]

Dont think hes that bad a manager. And will have links to europe from his time at Dortmund etc. Stoke have a decent enough squad and enough money.

That said as a Stoke fan id be expecting bigger.

Although a lot of similar appointments in recent years.