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

[SteveD]

Why this great faith in GH's scouting/DOF abilities. The signing of Bent was a no brainer. And then there's Bradley, and Makoun (he can pass a ball square over 10 yards but otherwise hardly looks an impact player from what I've seen so far). Why do we need to accommodate Houllier in the set up, apart from feeling sorry for him? It's not worked, time to move on and not build the club around him.

[Mazrim]

I think we can strike Osama bin Laden off the list.

[Grubly Magoo]

I'm in a strange position of quite liking Ged despite our poor results - I think I like what he is trying to do at least?!
Possible solution could be moving him upstairs and having Poyet in to manage first team. He seems to have done well whenever he's been on my radar but I admit to not knowing much about him which could scupper my argument.....

[theleftside]

owen coyle for me, or mark hughes.

[Risso]

Where is the recent evidence for these great contacts of Houllier's? 

[WikiVilla]

Why this great faith in GH's scouting/DOF abilities. The signing of Bent was a no brainer. And then there's Bradley, and Makoun (he can pass a ball square over 10 yards but otherwise hardly looks an impact player from what I've seen so far). Why do we need to accommodate Houllier in the set up, apart from feeling sorry for him? It's not worked, time to move on and not build the club around him.

Totally agree, time for GED to go.

Did he ever really want the job ? Seemed to be a chore from day 1
He then fucks up by appointing a poor team around him
Bent was a no brainer, Makoun / Bradley / Cummings, all a bit mediocre really (albeit Makoun may be ok next year ??)

[JUAN PABLO]

Bent was a no brainer. Shame MON didnt have a fookin brain...

[eamonn]

I'll repeat what I've said in a different thread: Paul Lambert is going to be a top manager at a top club.  To me he's cut of the right cloth: he had a varied playing career - including a stint in Germany, he has served his managerial apprenticeship in the lower divisions and - at least from what I can glean from the Football League Show - has got Norwich playing a style of football that I'd love to see once more at the Villa.  His record of handing out thrashings in local derbies is also impressive!

His profile now is similar to that of Moyes when he was at Preston.  Some club sooner or later - sooner if Norwich miss out in the play-offs - is going to take a chance on him. In my opinion, that club is going to be handsomely rewarded for taking that chance.  At present he's not going to get a job with any of the Top 6 clubs, but he'd do really well for a underachiever like Everton, one of the North East clubs - or the Villa.

Agreed, but Norwich won't need to miss out in the play-offs. They are likely to finish second and get automatic promotion and in that case I think he will stay on for at least next season

[Holte L2]

I'll repeat what I've said in a different thread: Paul Lambert is going to be a top manager at a top club.  To me he's cut of the right cloth: he had a varied playing career - including a stint in Germany, he has served his managerial apprenticeship in the lower divisions and - at least from what I can glean from the Football League Show - has got Norwich playing a style of football that I'd love to see once more at the Villa.  His record of handing out thrashings in local derbies is also impressive!

His profile now is similar to that of Moyes when he was at Preston.  Some club sooner or later - sooner if Norwich miss out in the play-offs - is going to take a chance on him. In my opinion, that club is going to be handsomely rewarded for taking that chance.  At present he's not going to get a job with any of the Top 6 clubs, but he'd do really well for a underachiever like Everton, one of the North East clubs - or the Villa.

Agreed, but Norwich won't need to miss out in the play-offs. They are likely to finish second and get automatic promotion and in that case I think he will stay on for at least next season

The same was thought about Owen Coyle.  Lambert would jump at the chance to manage us? And agreed, he's class. Exactly what we need providing he's got free reign to do manage without a DOF.

[Holte L2]

I'll repeat what I've said in a different thread: Paul Lambert is going to be a top manager at a top club.  To me he's cut of the right cloth: he had a varied playing career - including a stint in Germany, he has served his managerial apprenticeship in the lower divisions and - at least from what I can glean from the Football League Show - has got Norwich playing a style of football that I'd love to see once more at the Villa.  His record of handing out thrashings in local derbies is also impressive!

His profile now is similar to that of Moyes when he was at Preston.  Some club sooner or later - sooner if Norwich miss out in the play-offs - is going to take a chance on him. In my opinion, that club is going to be handsomely rewarded for taking that chance.  At present he's not going to get a job with any of the Top 6 clubs, but he'd do really well for a underachiever like Everton, one of the North East clubs - or the Villa.

My thoughts exactly!

[TheSandman]

I'd be pretty happy with Lambert.

Another name from the Championship would be Brendan Rodgers.

[Dante Lavelli]

I'll repeat what I've said in a different thread: Paul Lambert is going to be a top manager at a top club.  To me he's cut of the right cloth: he had a varied playing career - including a stint in Germany, he has served his managerial apprenticeship in the lower divisions and - at least from what I can glean from the Football League Show - has got Norwich playing a style of football that I'd love to see once more at the Villa.  His record of handing out thrashings in local derbies is also impressive!

His profile now is similar to that of Moyes when he was at Preston.  Some club sooner or later - sooner if Norwich miss out in the play-offs - is going to take a chance on him. In my opinion, that club is going to be handsomely rewarded for taking that chance.  At present he's not going to get a job with any of the Top 6 clubs, but he'd do really well for a underachiever like Everton, one of the North East clubs - or the Villa.

Agreed, but Norwich won't need to miss out in the play-offs. They are likely to finish second and get automatic promotion and in that case I think he will stay on for at least next season

The same was thought about Owen Coyle.  Lambert would jump at the chance to manage us? And agreed, he's class. Exactly what we need providing he's got free reign to do manage without a DOF.

I think Lambert of all people would benefit from a DoF as he has so far been shopping in a different market to what Villa will be.  Therefore it is highly unlikely that he will have a list of good value transfer targets, for Norwich yes, for a villa unlikely.  Therefore he can concentrate on coaching, match day preparation whilst someone else can sort out the stuff that so far he has not done.

[Mister E]

Martinez was also an up-and-coming C'ship manager before joining Wigan. Although he has been ok, he may end up back in the C'ship.
Brendan Rodgers didn't cover himself in glory at Reading ...
I'd like to see Lambert, with a senior guy to support him - whether that's Hou or someone else, I don't know.

[ozzjim]

The points re Lambert are very valid. And Moyes when he got to Everton made 2-3 very astute sigings from the Championship that he knew would succeed in the prem (Cahill and Lescott) but I would still want someone like Houllier putting all the scouting networks (not actually being the scout) organising the structure of the club etc.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

The points re Lambert are very valid. And Moyes when he got to Everton made 2-3 very astute sigings from the Championship that he knew would succeed in the prem (Cahill and Lescott) but I would still want someone like Houllier putting all the scouting networks (not actually being the scout) organising the structure of the club etc.

In the horrible event of Houllier being given a job 'upstairs' there would be no way we'd have Lambert here, Houllier would want somebody who he has worked with before that shares his football philosophy.