It's been a while since I've written about football, specifically about Aston Villa, because let's face it, writing anything half decent, particularly when you're not getting paid for it, requires at least some degree of inspiration, which Aston Villa spectacularly failed to provide last season.

Even the sacking of McLeish and the subsequent speculation about a replacement manager couldn't make me muster any sort of excitement after the suspense and subsequent shuddering disappointment of the last appointment. I refused to have any sort of expectation that the board might actually do the right thing for fear of having those hopes shattered again.

However, I think they may have done just that. Despite not having a cool nickname like El Hunko or Kinky Florist, and a very undrawable face (yes, it's his face and not my inability to draw anybody without chiseled cheekbones), the appointment of Paul Lambert is one that makes me happy and cautiously optimistic for the coming season and the future of Aston Villa Football Club.

With his no-nonsense approach, ability to get the very best out of otherwise mediocre players and determination to succeed, he managed to achieve back to back promotions with a Norwich side which astoundingly included five of the starting eleven who lost 7-1 to Lambert's then team Colchester in his last game before taking over at Norwich, who were lingering at the bottom of League 1 but went on to gain promotion as champions. 

If Lambert can have anywhere near the effect on the fortunes of Aston Villa as he had on Norwich's in his almost three years at the club there can be no room for complaint, but fans need to realise that success cannot be achieved overnight. It will take time to mould a team who have suffered inconsistent management and significant upheaval over the past two seasons into a cohesive unit who will perform to the best of their ability, and I have no doubt that many of our players are far better than they have demonstrated certainly last season.

Realistically, a mid-table finish next season without having to look over our shoulders up until the last day of the season might be considered relative success, so although I am once again looking forward with anticipation, it is measured anticipation with realistic expectations and hope for raising those expectations further down the line.

Welcome to Villa Park Mr Lambert.