Former Norwich City manager http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paul-c29347 Lambert heaped praise on striker Grant Holt for his notable influence at the Carrow Road, but was tightly lipped over his intentions of targeting him in the summer transfer window.
The 42-year old left Norwich for Aston Villa and was formally announced as the new manager at Villa Park on Saturday, following http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-c4752 McLeish’s sacking almost two weeks earlier.
He took over the management of the Canaries in August 2009 and propelled them to the Premier League in the space of two years from the third tier.
His impressive stint at the Carrow road coupled with the Villans dismal show in the previous term proved to be the stimulant for the move. He has now got the backing of the club owners and the players, as he starts his bid to change the situation at Villa
Park.
The Canaries, who were once tottering in League one, were lifted by the inclusion of Holt in July 2009 who has since made a massive impact at the club. The English International fired a staggering 30 goals during his first full season at the Carrow Road
in just 44 appearances to help his side creep up into the Championship.
He continued where he left of in the next season, spearheading the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Canaries-c38723 attack by scoring 23 goals and played a pivotal role in his team’s promotion to the Premier League.
Lambert, who managed Norwich for three years, admitted that Holt was the major reason behind the club’s achievements over the last couple of years. He hailed his influential presence in the team as a skipper, and termed him a ‘great’ person.
While talking to reporters, he said: “Grant Holt was absolutely brilliant for me. In the three years I've been there he was a huge part of what happened. He's a terrific guy and I have a lot of time for him. Brilliant for me as a footballer and brilliant
as a captain.”
Lambert’s departure from Norwich can have dire repercussions for the Canaries, as they won’t get any compensation for him from Villa and no deal has been put in place that will bar him from poaching players from the Carrow Road.
However, the former Borussia Dortmund player indicated that he held his former club in highest esteem and veneration and holds nothing but goodwill in his heart for them.
He added, “I have nothing but praise for the football club, fans and players. I don't think people realise how close we were. No doubt fans will say I'm the worst manager in the club's history. But that's because they are hurt.”
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