Will any potential new managers form a queue here...

[Holte L2]

Moyes, Hughes or Lambert for me.

Lambert is an unproven MON. None of the above would be able to attract the calibre of player that GED would IMO

Why?

Because GED is a worldwide name in football and the other two aren't. He has far more contacts than all 3 put together.

Of course they are.  Al three have fantastic reputations.  That's a massive assumption there. As for GED  Your talking about the man who attrachted Salif Diao, Sinama Pongholle, and Bruno Cheyrou.  I think we could have done that.

No they aren't. They are names on these shores, Hughes is more global than Moyes. I think you are being naroow minded if you don't believe that GED is a bigger name and has more contacts than the three names you suggested.

I think your being narrow minded to think that Hughes and Moyes aren't global names.  We're playing in the Premier League, which watched around the world. 
Bryan Robson could quality players but that definately didn't make him a good manager.
Anyway, with regardless to that point Hughes and Moyes are more tactically astute that Houllier and G Mac.  And I'd rather pick a manager in terms of tactics and man management.

[Louzie0]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3555098/David-Moyes-plays-down-Aston-Villa-link.html

Moyes (and Hughes on same page) have distanced themselves at this point.  Villas Boas has been linked in very speculative terms by some bloggers.

[levico]

I'm getting to the point where I am almost ambivalent over whether GED stays or leaves (suspect it will be the latter). What is more important to me is getting rid of McAllister - I think he is the root cause of a lot that has gone wrong this season.

If GED goes he needs to be replaced with someone who has his own favourite assistants - if only to make sure McAllister goes.

[luke25]

I want Houllier to stay on in some capacity if his health allows it, without a doubt its been a total twat of a season but he's spent the whole season putting the foundations in place, and if we appoint a new manager next season he'd most probably have his own idea's and we'd  be looking at another season similiar to this one, however if Houllier was to move upstairs in a DOF role, over seeing the scouting, youth development etc then we could get a coach in such as Hughton who'd be willing to work in those conditions.

[Dante Lavelli]

Before GH was appointed I said I'd like Klinsmann and a director-type to work with him - someone like GH. I still don't think that would be a bad idea.

I was also an advocate for Klinsmann but with the roles reversed.  Whilst at Germany he was the man that completely changed the way the U21 team played in order to benefit (his) full squad.  He also instructed all clubs to adopt a similar style of football.

This suggests to me that he is best at sorting out the bigger picture rather than the details of the opposition and the more tedious tasks (Low did most of this I believe).  I have also read that Klinsmann was pretty hands off a lot of the time, living in LA and stuff like that.

I cannot see him completely immersing himself in the villa job which, if he was the manager/coach this would be necessary.

[Monty]

I was also an advocate for Klinsmann bur with the roles reversed.  Whilst at Germany he was the man that completely changed the way the U21 team played in order to benefit (his) full squad.  He also instructed all clubs to adopt a similar style of football.

This suggests to me that he is best at sorting out the bigger picture rather than the details of the opposition and the more tedious tasks (Lowe did most of this I believe).  I have also read that Klinsmann was pretty hands off a lot of the time, living in LA and stuff like that.

I cannot see him completely immersing himself in the villa job which if he was the manager/coach this would be necessary.

Well that would be up to him, and if he wanted to immerse himself then I'd let him. The reason I'd like him as head coach is because he's a great figurehead and macro-strategist (to use horrible jargon I promise never to use again), but perhaps doesn't quite have the nuts and bolts to be a genuine coach or the transfer acumen to be an upstairs type. He seems to have great personal motivation skills as well, which would count towards him as head coach, and shares the footballing philosophy of GH so they could work well together. If he got a like-minded and likeable first-team coach as well (ie bye-bye G Mac) then the whole management team could really work well together.

[murgsy]

Michael Laudrup?

[dave.woodhall]

If he got a like-minded and likeable first-team coach as well (ie bye-bye G Mac) then the whole management team could really work well together.

However, our current first team coach is.........?

[Monty]

If he got a like-minded and likeable first-team coach as well (ie bye-bye G Mac) then the whole management team could really work well together.

However, our current first team coach is.........?

You're right, it's Sid! That's perfect. If Klinsmann would then like his own assistant to go alongside the whole team (and replace G Mac) then great. I will carry on dreaming about this scenario until we inevitably appoint Curbishley or something.

[VillaZogmariner]

Moyes - No thanks, starts every season poorly and with our record in March that is not what we need. Also spent a lot of money at Everton on poor/below average players.

Coyle - Is the new Paul Jewell so that's a no from me.

Lambert - Not enough experience, but could work under the guidance of Houllier

Grayson - see Lambert

Hughes - Fairly decent record at Blackburn/Man City & Fulham, but there is something about him I don't like but can't quite put my finger on it.

Benitez - Has got the experience and also the pedigree to do a decent enough job for us, I wouldn't be too upset to see him take over.

McLaren - A lot better manager now then he was in charge of England. Not sure I'd look forward to his attempt at a Brummie accent though.

Vila Boas - The name says he is ideal for the role, as does his record. However I suspect he will go to a bigger club than us when he leaves Porto.

Ranieri - Experience in the Premier League and I'd think a point to prove. Not sure what his record was like in Italy though.

[dave.woodhall]

If he got a like-minded and likeable first-team coach as well (ie bye-bye G Mac) then the whole management team could really work well together.

However, our current first team coach is.........?

You're right, it's Sid! That's perfect. If Klinsmann would then like his own assistant to go alongside the whole team (and replace G Mac) then great. I will carry on dreaming about this scenario until we inevitably appoint Curbishley or something.

Meanwhile, we have to face reality. A new manager will bring in his own coaching staff.

[Monty]

Ranieri was mixed in Italy. Most agree that he was unfairly dismissed by Juve, especially when you look at the records of his successors. At Roma he guided them to their billion-and-first second place finish, but this season fell victim to the politics around the club before the recent takeover. However, it's fair to say that he spent a fair amount of money at Juve without huge reward, and his presence caused genuine division at times at Roma.

Dave, while that's undeniably often true, if there's a coach at the club who shares their vision and is good enough etc, they are often kept on. In Sid's case, he was even promoted. I also think Steve Clarke was at Chelsea before Mourinho, so there's another example (I'm sure there are many more).

[dave.woodhall]

Dave, while that's undeniably often true, if there's a coach at the club who shares their vision and is good enough etc, they are often kept on. In Sid's case, he was even promoted. I also think Steve Clarke was at Chelsea before Mourinho, so there's another example (I'm sure there are many more.

The problem is that he's always been under the radar before, whereas now he's part of the first team set-up. The other, sad but true, fact is that we can't criticise the way the team plays without bringing him into it.

[luke25]

Hughes - Fairly decent record at Blackburn/Man City & Fulham, but there is something about him I don't like but can't quite put my finger on it.

Exactly my feelings, the last bit is bang on, I really don't like him but can never work out why.

[Monty]

The problem is that he's always been under the radar before, whereas now he's part of the first team set-up. The other, sad but true, fact is that we can't criticise the way the team plays without bringing him into it.

Sadly that's very true. Hardly a novel suggestion, but it could well be the case that a specialist defensive coach would benefit him and us in general. I certainly think the team's play in possession has, overall, improved this year, so he and the staff seem to be doing something right. There could be something to build on there.