Villa failed to build on the success of three top-six finishes in the Barclays Premier League under Martin O'Neill and last season only avoided relegation by two points. It was a campaign of negativity with former Birmingham boss Alex McLeish failing to win over fans with his brand of cautious football.
Former Welsh international Savage, now a BBC pundit, has claimed that the midlands club will be relegated, but Lambert said: "I don't put targets on anybody - the team or myself. But we have to lift the feeling of what's happened here before. That's what we have to try and do."
He went on: "Last year I could see, from the outside looking in, things were not going according to plan.
"I've got to change certain things here that I think need changing. It's not been a great two years and I've got to try and do it my way.
"What changes? Just things in my own head that I've got to get across to them. Everything, the whole thing.
"I certainly think since the 'gaffer' (O'Neill) left the club has had a hard time. I certainly think that.
"But it's still a fabulous club with a great tradition that we have to try and live up to here. It's got a fantastic fanbase. The facilities are brilliant.
"We've just go to try and rectify what's happened."
Source: PA
Source: PA