ArteSuave

There's a lot of gray area between it not being "down to Lambert" like samjp said and Lambert having "nothing to do with it" like DCJ said IMO. I think from what has been said and done since the bomb squad was disbanded it seems pretty clear to me that Lambert has nothing against the players that were in it and they have nothing against him. That suggests to me that it wasn't his idea, but I still think he agreed to it.

Deeney would cost about 5 times more than we have left to spend and is a bluenose arse biscuit.

Yeah, we're not likely to actually get a Makelele clone but Sanchez is a good approximation. That's pretty much the basics of what the role Makelele played was IMO. He was always calm in possession and good at organising too, as well as reading the play as Ash says. Sanchez looks very calm on the ball to me, it's only the reading and organising that he might be missing. Okay they're pretty key aspects but Vlaar/Senderos can help with the organising and we can all just hope he's a great reader of the game.

Are you trying to say that Makelele was renowned for his distribution? He used to do tiny low risk passes once he'd won the ball, that is part of what the role is. As you rightly say Westwood distributes the ball in a far more advanced way. I agree that we rarely play 4-4-2 (just 6 times last season) but even when we play a midfield 3 Westwood isn't sat behind the other CMs just in front of the CBs as an extra defensive player like Makelele was. Here's an average position map for two halves from a 4-3-3 vs Liverpool: By contrast here's the average position of Chelsea vs Arsenal. Makelele is number 4:

I disagree that we play anything like that midfield system to be honest. Westwood doesn't sit in front of the back four and make tackles like Makalele did at all, in fact the stats show he makes less per game than any of our other CMs (less than 2 per game). Westwood is the more current version of a central midfielder, one who passes the ball well and keeps his team in shape. His average position is far further forward than someone who plays the 'Makalele role' and his tackling and passing stats are the polar opposite. Here's the only average position charts I could find. 4-4-2 but shows Westwood's position. You know who is who:

Good, because nobody is selling that idea. Lambert clearly agreed to it, but even Hutton is convinced it wasn't his idea judging by his attitude towards the manager and comments to the press.

Chadli is a good shout, he didn't even make the bench on Saturday. He was really dangerous for Twente, based on his performances in Holland I'd like a loan with an option to buy (for about half of what Spurs paid).

I think the phrase "high above" from Hutton in reference to where the decision came from seems far more applicable to board room level than footballing staff. Nobody has claimed Lambert was "completely against it" as far as I can see (this seems to just be a straw man you've created), just that the bomb squad idea wasn't down to him.

04/05? We've played that shape for the last three seasons. I think Richardson will be the one that misses out when Sanchez begins to start games. We've played with a bullying CDM for the last 3 seasons? Who was that then? There are lots of different 4-3-3/4-5-1 systems and the one I was talking about was the one that every man and his dog was playing after Mourinho had so much success with it. This: Our midfield has been about 18 stone ringing wet in total for the last 3 seasons but Sanchez is a Makalele and although the biggest clubs have moved on to having destroyers who are also good on the ball, I'm more than happy to make do with this system, current finances considered.

You weren't listening then, you were thinking of something else...

Yeah, I'd like to see that 04/05 favourite the 4-5-1/4-3-3 with lots of pressing and a CDM bully who just munches anything even resembling an opportunity for the opposition.

Not quite the massive goal swing in the example but most of you are due at least a poke in the eye as per the OP. Con is due a punch in the face though.

This isn't a charity tournament.

He's not really a prolific tweeter as far as I know so I wouldn't read too much into it. I think its just easy to get daz316 wobblin.

(Long pause) nah/nope cracks me every time.

This is the moment I was won over by Keane when we were being linked with him. His actions have done nothing but strengthen my support since. Godspeed, you crazy bastard.

The soundtrack is great but it's come with the unfortunate side effect that I now know every goddamn word to the pina colada song.

He made some disparaging comment about the Senderos Vlaar bro hug.

Get a **** grip? Things that piss you off that shouldn't. Honestly.

He sounded the exact same as he does in every other interview, like he didn't want to be doing an interview.

An entire defends putting in a good performance. It brings a tear to your eye.

On that evidence we'll be **** good when Benteke and Kozak are fit.

He wants to play regularly and IIRC we just signed a better CDM than him about 2 hours ago.