Paul Lambert has no intention of resting on his laurels in the pursuit of Premier League survival for Norwich. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd.

Norwich City boss Paul Lambert backs Fabio Capello

Paddy Davitt, EDP Sports Writer Saturday, February 11, 2012
9:01 AM

Paul Lambert insists there can only be one boss in the wake of Fabio Capello’s high profile England exit.

The Scot admitted yesterday he had sympathy for Capello, who quit after outspoken criticism of the FA’s decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy ahead of his court case over allegations of racial abuse towards QPR defender Anton Ferdinand. Lambert believes questioning a manager’s authority is a recipe for disaster.

“I was as surprised as everybody else that he resigned,” he said. “I think he had earned the right to take them into the European Championships as he had got the team there. I don’t know the ins and outs of it, but if you are not making the decision about who your captain is then that becomes a major issue. The manager of the football team should be left alone to make the decisions. What is the point of having a manager otherwise? He should be the one who dictates who is the captain, who isn’t the captain, who plays, who doesn’t, all that sort of thing. That is kind of where it has fallen down.”

Lambert added his voice to the growing clamour for Tottenham’s Harry Redknapp to succeed the Italian.

“He is the best out there,” he said. “It is a fabulous achievement what he has done with Tottenham and before that coming up at West Ham, Portsmouth, Bournemouth. I have had a few dealings with him and I think he would be brilliant for the country because everybody loves him and that is half the battle. I think he knows how to man-manage people and get the best out of them. There are a million and one people who have said that before me. I never worked under him as a player, but looking at it, he seems to be a man you would want to play for. If you are asking me, he is certainly the one who is the best candidate.”

Redknapp himself has already ruled out the prospect of doubling up alongside his role at White Hart Lane and Lambert believes the demands of Premier League management make that a tall order.

“I’m not sure. That is a hard one to judge, to do the two jobs at virtually the same time. He’ll know himself. He is a really top manager. Only Harry would know that himself,” he said. “He has been at it for years. Every club that he has been at, he seems to have turned it around.”

Latest Norwich City stories

9 comments

LincolnCanary. It won`t happen. Better now?OTBC. (But I know naaaathin`!).

Report this comment

Mad Brewer

Sunday, February 12, 2012
Please dont even think about leaving St Paul!! You have given the City something they havent had for years with the players you have. If you think of leaving, I hope Delia handcuffs you to the changing room!! LOL Thank you

Report this comment

Geffy1

Saturday, February 11, 2012
I don't think PL would go to Everton, but he might be tempted by Spurs....

Report this comment

Ben Bussey

Saturday, February 11, 2012
I don't know if I'm just worrying about nothing, but I can see this whole affair turning into management dominoes - Redknapp to England, now talk of Moyes to Spurs ..... Lambert to Everton? I am just praying that PL loves Norwich enough not to get sucked into all of this - but he's easily good enough to start to get drawn in. Please tell me this won't happen.

Report this comment

LincolnCanary

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Not sure, Brew. I think the CPS should have insisted oin the hearing being held now, rather than postponed till July. I believe the FA were in an invidious predicament. Support Terry, or lose the manager.

Report this comment

Soglio Star

Saturday, February 11, 2012
I know that if i had been accused of making racist remarks to a work colleague, or someone working for another organisation, i would be suspended with immediate effect. Not sacked, but taken out of the situation until the allegation was investigated and a decision made. I would be suspended on full pay. If guilty i would expect to be sacked, and if innocent then i would be reinstated. Why should it be any different for Terry? It happened whilst he was at work. He should not even be playing any football at all, let alone part of an argument as to whether he should lead the national team.

Report this comment

Tom Jeffries

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Without knowing exactly what was said by Terry, it is probably hard to decide if the FA were right. However, the CPS believe there is a case to answer, and it may have been better for all concerned if this could be held now, and not delayed until July. The squad sounded as though it had become split, and they may resent being told what to do by someone they no longer respected.

Report this comment

Soglio Star

Saturday, February 11, 2012
The affair seems contrived. Had the FA handled it differently and at least got Capello on board before making the announcement, then there would have been no need to resign. But maybe he wanted to and they wanted him to do that. Terry was a useful point of leverage. I know government Ministers sometimes resign to defend themselves (Chris Huhne) but in Terry`s case should he not be presumed innocent, etc, etc?

Report this comment

Mad Brewer

Saturday, February 11, 2012
If ever a club needed "turning around" it is England.

Report this comment

Swiss Canary

Saturday, February 11, 2012