Villa boss aims to deliver

Paul Lambert hopes he can bring back the feelgood factor back to Aston Villa and he attempts to embrace the club's glorious past.

The Scot, who succeeded Alex McLeish as manager this summer, knows the fans have had very little to cheer about in the last two seasons and is determined to change around their fortunes as quickly as possible. By contrast, Lambert has enjoyed nothing but success in recent years, having led his Norwich to two straight promotions, and then a season of consolidation in the Premier League last term. However, the 42-year-old is only too aware that he has joined a club with a rich history, and with that comes an increased weight of expectation, but it's a challenge which he is certainly welcoming. Lambert told Scotland's Sunday Mail: "Aston Villa are a big club with a massive support. "They expect to be successful and to be winning - and they are quite right to think like that. It's up to me to make that a reality and I will give it my best." The Villa boss has already made moves to strengthen his squad since taking over McLeish, having drafted in Ron Vlaar, Karim El Ahmadi and Matt Lowton, and while the trio may not be household names, he is convinced they will prove to be excellent additions. He added: "I have always said the game is about the players - and I'll never change my opinion. Ultimately, they win or lose games. It's as simple as that. "I take great care about the type of player I sign. They have to have the right characteristics, be confident and must be able to fit in. "I have inherited some good players and have added quality. The names of my new signings might not roll off the tongue but I believe in them. "I'm aware of the standards of Aston Villa and I'm aware of the history. "The memory of winning the [European] Cup in 1982 is something we should embrace and respect. Players such as Peter Withe, Allan Evans, Dennis Mortimer, Gordon Cowans and Gary Shaw are legends. "I'm not scared of memories. It gives us something to aim for, although we must be realistic."