Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: SaddVillan on May 07, 2022, 08:10:24 PM

Title: Mark Delaney
Post by: SaddVillan on May 07, 2022, 08:10:24 PM
According to The Athletic, he's moving on/been moved out


Not sure why.

Does anybody have and idea why?

https://theathletic.com/news/mark-delaney-to-leave-role-as-aston-villa-under-23-boss/rjs6qNBtTFxN/
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: cdbearsfan on May 07, 2022, 08:11:33 PM
Presumably cos the under-18s keep losing.  We are below West Brom even though we've signed all their players. I assume we will appoint whoever their kids' manager is.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Gareth on May 07, 2022, 08:35:33 PM
According to The Athletic, he's moving on/been moved out


Not sure why.

Does anybody have and idea why?

https://theathletic.com/news/mark-delaney-to-leave-role-as-aston-villa-under-23-boss/rjs6qNBtTFxN/

Nope but by the same degree we have no clue how good Delaney is in his role, with the amount of investment that has gone into the young player recruitment it is only right that the club will want the person they believe is best in that role. 

U23 isn’t purely results driven but they have seemed to cave in a few times this season appreciating that for large parts they have been without Archer / KKH / Barry / Carney / Ramsey etc.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: N'ZMAV on May 07, 2022, 08:36:27 PM
Presumably cos the under-18s keep losing.  We are below West Brom even though we've signed all their players. I assume we will appoint whoever their kids' manager is.
I thought Delaney managed the u23s?
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: eamonn on May 07, 2022, 08:37:26 PM
Gerrard was waxing lyrical about him only yesterday in his pre-match presser, unprompted.

Hard to get consistent results when his stronger players are loaned-out/promoted to the first team. In fact, that's surely sign of Delaney's success.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: cdbearsfan on May 07, 2022, 08:45:25 PM
Presumably cos the under-18s keep losing.  We are below West Brom even though we've signed all their players. I assume we will appoint whoever their kids' manager is.
I thought Delaney managed the u23s?

Ah, in that case... dunno.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: eamonn on May 07, 2022, 08:48:01 PM
I wonder will Boateng follow. Is it part of a club's identity to have ex-players employed at the club (provided they're good at what they do, obvs)?
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on May 07, 2022, 09:11:32 PM
I read earlier that the board want him out due to lack of progress by the U23s this season. Most upset if true.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on May 07, 2022, 09:18:35 PM
Presumably Mr Gerrard wants his own team in.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: paul_e on May 07, 2022, 10:15:35 PM
Seems very harsh given that most of our U23 squad this season has been 16 and 17 year olds who are playing 18-24 months up from their own age group.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: dcdavecollett on May 08, 2022, 02:23:12 AM
That's right.

Keep half the loan players and we could be top of the league!
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: OCD on May 08, 2022, 07:50:33 PM
It's hard to know without knowing the full picture. He can only manage/coach the players he has at his disposal. If the results aren't good enough, then that suggests to me the recruitment isn't providing the strength in depth of the quality we're looking for. I want us to be blooding kids through the age groups, being among the top sides but also using the loan system effectively so they get first team experience once they're good enough or old enough.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: dcdavecollett on May 09, 2022, 02:08:39 AM
What will the club say to his replacement at interview?

"We want you to improve the results of the U23s but we will insist on taking the best 7/8 players away from you, as they're going out on loan. And if you don't improve results despite that, you'll be sacked."

Not a great job spec...
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: AV82EC on May 09, 2022, 06:36:41 AM
Or maybe he isn't good enough?
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 09, 2022, 07:27:19 AM
It seems very strange. If his job is about getting results, why send the best players out on loan? If it's about attracting the best youngsters we seem to be doing that, if it's bringing them into the first team just look at last Saturday's squad and if Gerrard wants his own man it's more evidence that the idea of continuity has been scrapped.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Abbeyfealeavfc on May 09, 2022, 08:29:17 AM
It’s a shame that another Villa man is leaving the club.
Thanks Mark for your work.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Beard82 on May 09, 2022, 08:46:42 AM
Sad to see him go - because he’s villa and also we seem to be progressing players well through the setup - but likewise don’t know enough to make a judgement

Two thoughts - do you think it might be so one of our huge back room staff can take it on (maybe Banks)

The other being that SG said at Liverpool Klopp had more involvement with the U23 and wanted them to play like the first team - maybe that is another factor maybe they want someone else in place that SG feels he can work with better?

Obviously these are completely my thoughts and not based on anything and probably completely wrong
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Drummond on May 09, 2022, 08:50:33 AM
Maybe Gerrard doesn't feel like the players coming through are ready enough.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Three Spires Villa on May 09, 2022, 10:18:33 AM
Maybe Gerrard doesn't feel like the players coming through are ready enough.

Maybe, shame though
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: eamonn on May 09, 2022, 11:37:07 AM
Can't Purslow be asked about this at supporter meetings? The continuity thing and possible discarding of it cos of being too starry-eyed by the newly hired manager and his entourage is...a little concerning.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 09, 2022, 11:52:45 AM
Can't Purslow be asked about this at supporter meetings? The continuity thing and possible discarding of it cos of being too starry-eyed by the newly hired manager and his entourage is...a little concerning.

They tend to skirt round playing issues at the meetings although I do agree with your second point.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Risso on May 09, 2022, 04:06:25 PM
They're clearly not going to discuss staff employment matters with supporters, and neither should they.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: eamonn on May 09, 2022, 05:01:36 PM
Where the CEO has previously made a thing about implementing a Villa way of playing/being coached, it seems fair to ask him if that approach is still in place.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Beard82 on May 09, 2022, 05:33:49 PM
Where the CEO has previously made a thing about implementing a Villa way of playing/being coached, it seems fair to ask him if that approach is still in place.
Hmm less - and full marks to him if he answers with a straight face
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: dcdavecollett on May 11, 2022, 02:13:23 AM
Does this mean that the U-18 coaches will have to be sacked as well? After all, this team only came twelfth in its league this season.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Legion on May 20, 2022, 02:55:56 PM
Officially gone.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Dazvillain on May 20, 2022, 02:59:38 PM
Sorry, had already posted this in reserves thread……

MARK DELANEY “ It’s with a heavy heart that I’m leaving”

Story on AVFC website
Not won enough games this year ?
Weakened squad with the better players loaned out……. Club going in new direction ?
SG quoted several times that he wants to recruit seasoned pros to balance and add average age to first team
Has SG got more backroom team lined up to succeed MD ?

Thoughts ?
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 20, 2022, 03:13:34 PM
I wonder who his replacement will come from?
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: algy on May 20, 2022, 05:05:25 PM
Do wonder why he's been potted. Maybe the players going out on loan weren't arriving at the cubs ready for football straight away and needed some adjustment time? Think that was mentioned of one of the players we sent to league 2 ... Aaron Ramsey? Barry? I can't remember
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: cdbearsfan on May 20, 2022, 05:11:46 PM
I wonder who his replacement will come from?

Somewhere they love stripes, still point at planes and think people from Wolverhampton are a bit flash, would be my guess.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Holy Trinity on May 20, 2022, 05:55:59 PM
I'm gutted for Mark! Totally gutted.

One a few I would consider a club legend, perhaps not for his on field exploits but for everything he has done since he hung up his boots.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Legion on May 20, 2022, 06:19:51 PM
Was it Bocanegra that ended his playing career?
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: eamonn on May 20, 2022, 07:23:49 PM
It was Carlos B, yes.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: cdbearsfan on May 20, 2022, 11:13:52 PM
Was it Bocanegra that ended his playing career?

No, he just ended his season. He played another 48 games for us after that.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Exeter 77 on May 20, 2022, 11:53:06 PM
Was it Bocanegra that ended his playing career?

No, he just ended his season. He played another 48 games for us after that.
I thought it was a Blackburn player who caused Delaney's career-ending injury but it seems his last game for Villa was in the FA Cup against Man City when Micah Richards got the last minute equaliser. He did however play for Wales afterwards. His last game was against Czech Republic in September 2006.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on May 21, 2022, 02:52:00 AM
I wonder who his replacement will come from?

I note you didn't ask from where. There's a lot of fans not happy with this decision, myself included.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: JD on May 21, 2022, 05:15:48 AM
I wonder who his replacement will come from?

I note you didn't ask from where. There's a lot of fans not happy with this decision, myself included.

Totally agree, if they have sacked him it's a disgraceful decision.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: olaftab on May 21, 2022, 08:36:32 AM
Thanks Mark and good luck. I assume his replacement is on his way down the M6 from Merseyside.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: cdbearsfan on May 21, 2022, 09:41:10 AM
I wonder who his replacement will come from?

I note you didn't ask from where. There's a lot of fans not happy with this decision, myself included.

Totally agree, if they have sacked him it's a disgraceful decision.

Not sure why, they've been shite all season. Yes we have players out on loan. I imagine other teams do, too.

We've finished below West Brom having signed all their players.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: john e on May 21, 2022, 10:54:29 AM
Apparently Jedinak was going to be sacked but no one had the balls to tell him after he gave them one of his long stares
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: RamboandBruno on May 21, 2022, 11:04:45 AM
Apparently Jedinak was going to be sacked but no one had the balls to tell him after he gave them one of his long stares
Jedinaks young kid played for one of the youngsters sides, at my sons club, met him briefly one Sunday morning when he was still in our first team. Really big unit close up, you wouldn’t mess. Seemed like a nice chap, came to watch his little kid play, but got surrounded by kids wanting photo’s, not a bother on him.

Met Mark Delaney as well a few years back when his daughter was in the same netball comp as my daughter. Got chatting to him briefly about the Villa, lovely bloke. Can’t say ive followed the youth football at villa close enough to have any inkling as to why he got the hook.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Legion on May 21, 2022, 11:07:25 AM
Delaney was instrumental in Cam's development from an early age.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 21, 2022, 11:13:37 AM
I wonder who his replacement will come from?

I note you didn't ask from where. There's a lot of fans not happy with this decision, myself included.

Totally agree, if they have sacked him it's a disgraceful decision.

Not sure why, they've been shite all season. Yes we have players out on loan. I imagine other teams do, too.

We've finished below West Brom having signed all their players.

Surely the definition of success is bringing players through, and we're doing fine on that score.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: dr.chekov on May 21, 2022, 11:17:00 AM
Any news on who is going to replace him?
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: cdbearsfan on May 21, 2022, 11:17:54 AM
I wonder who his replacement will come from?

I note you didn't ask from where. There's a lot of fans not happy with this decision, myself included.

Totally agree, if they have sacked him it's a disgraceful decision.

Not sure why, they've been shite all season. Yes we have players out on loan. I imagine other teams do, too.

We've finished below West Brom having signed all their players.

Surely the definition of success is bringing players through, and we're doing fine on that score.

Maybe, perhaps they already have someone in mind who they think can do better.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 21, 2022, 11:27:33 AM
Or someone who is mates with the manager. This has the horrible O'Neillian feeling of one man with more power/influence than is good for us.   
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: cdbearsfan on May 21, 2022, 11:29:55 AM
Not to me, the club has a completely different structure now. We aren't run by someone who had the Cleveland Browns winning one or two games every season, we are run by people who signed the best player and won the biggest trophy in basketball. They understand how to structure a successful team.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Legion on May 21, 2022, 11:32:33 AM
Or someone who is mates with the manager. This has the horrible O'Neillian feeling of one man with more power/influence than is good for us.   

This is how I currently see it as well. I hope I am wrong.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: colin69 on May 21, 2022, 12:21:04 PM
Feel very disappointed for Mark, but I guess we’ll have to see who comes in.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: LeeB on May 21, 2022, 12:53:21 PM
Apparently Jedinak was going to be sacked but no one had the balls to tell him after he gave them one of his long stares

"Take a seat Mile"

"No mate, I'll stand. What do you want?

*STARE*

"Err, nothing, actually would you like a new contract? And a biscuit? Here, take my car"
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Risso on May 21, 2022, 01:12:06 PM
Not to me, the club has a completely different structure now. We aren't run by someone who had the Cleveland Browns winning one or two games every season, we are run by people who signed the best player and won the biggest trophy in basketball. They understand how to structure a successful team.

Exactly. O'Neill was a man who wanted to spend too much money on ordinary players. He worked for an owner with limited funds, who knew nothing about football and who'd employed two of his similarly clueless mates to run things. It was an absolute recipe for disaster. Now we have two absolutely minted owners, one of who has reached the pinnacle of his sport in the US. They've employed experienced and competent executives, and they haven't got many of the big decisions wrong so far. We can't get our bottom lip out just because a popular ex-player has been let go from a position. We don't fully know what his remit was or how he was judged on it or who is coming in to replace him.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: eamonn on May 21, 2022, 01:24:32 PM
No Sid or Della at the club anymore. Is Boateng the only ex-player link now remaining? Gerrard probably plotting to give him the heave-ho too...Still feels bitter for the wreckless challenge on George that got him a red card against Villa when we won 3-1 at Anfield two days before 9/11 (when we wore that brilliantly awful silver away kit).
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Risso on May 21, 2022, 01:32:12 PM
No Sid or Della at the club anymore. Is Boateng the only ex-player link now remaining? Gerrard probably plotting to give him the heave-ho too...Still feels bitter for the wreckless challenge on George that got him a red card against Villa when we won 3-1 at Anfield two days before 9/11 (when we wore that brilliantly awful silver away kit).

Or not planning to give him the heave ho at all perhaps. Mile Jedinak is another ex-player in the coaching set up, as is Neil Cutler.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: eamonn on May 21, 2022, 01:35:53 PM
Was not being entirely serious.
Didn't consider Jedinak as his role is more administrative, while Cutler's playing career at the Villa is less memorable than Gustavo Bartelt's.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: cdbearsfan on May 21, 2022, 06:45:28 PM
Aren't Ian Taylor and Brian Little employed by Villa in some capacity?
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 21, 2022, 06:59:30 PM
Aren't Ian Taylor and Brian Little employed by Villa in some capacity?

I think Taylor does some sort of ambassador work. Whether he gets paid I don't know. Little does whatever he wants and invokes the wrath of the Lord on anyone who tries to stop him.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Beard82 on May 21, 2022, 07:29:21 PM
Or someone who is mates with the manager. This has the horrible O'Neillian feeling of one man with more power/influence than is good for us.   

This is how I currently see it as well. I hope I am wrong.
I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t a concern - but I guess I’m currently in Risso school of thinking.  These owners know what there doing - but it does feel like the current setup is betting the jobs on SG being the one
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Ian. on May 21, 2022, 07:33:36 PM
I hope everyone is wrong on this. Randy Learner seemed to have everything right from the start and it was a great new Dawn and a proud time at the Villa. It all went very wrong though and that was probably due to this regime running the football side of things.

We seem to have great owners again and it surely can’t go the same way can it?

As regards Delaney, gutted for him, I have no idea if he’s any good I must confess, however he was  a cracking full back and has been part of the club for a very long time.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Nunkin1965 on May 21, 2022, 07:36:29 PM
I think its ingrained in all of us that were expecting it will all go wrong at some point.
Lets hope the faith the club seem to be showing the manager sees clear improvement next season.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Beard82 on May 21, 2022, 07:52:04 PM
I think its ingrained in all of us that were expecting it will all go wrong at some point.
Lets hope the faith the club seem to be showing the manager sees clear improvement next season.
Yes that’s exactly it - if it feels too good to be true it is
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: dr.chekov on May 21, 2022, 07:55:48 PM
We need it to go right before it can go wrong.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: LeonW on May 21, 2022, 08:15:34 PM
Not to me, the club has a completely different structure now. We aren't run by someone who had the Cleveland Browns winning one or two games every season, we are run by people who signed the best player and won the biggest trophy in basketball. They understand how to structure a successful team.

Exactly. O'Neill was a man who wanted to spend too much money on ordinary players. He worked for an owner with limited funds, who knew nothing about football and who'd employed two of his similarly clueless mates to run things. It was an absolute recipe for disaster. Now we have two absolutely minted owners, one of who has reached the pinnacle of his sport in the US. They've employed experienced and competent executives, and they haven't got many of the big decisions wrong so far.

I think that remains to be seen. The 4 biggest issues the owners and Purslow have had to deal with were:

1). Their first appointment as manager in the Championship.
2). Pulling the trigger or not on Smith after the Leicester game.   
3). The Joe Saga.
4). Replacing Smith with Gerrard.

• The first choices for manager before Smith were a joint management team of Henry and Terry.
• We’re it not for the pandemic, I think Smith would have been sacked.
• It’s probably up for debate as to whether us or the Manchester Blues actually got the better end of the deal, nevertheless, the club definitely didn’t want to lose Joe and it torpedoed the existing plan.
• Sacking Smith is one thing. How Gerrard was appointed is something that I think sits uncomfortably for a number of fans and that’s not necessarily a comment on Gerrard himself. But the question is, how much is it feeding into how decisions are being made now? We don’t want a situation where if Gerrard and his team goes the structure falls apart. That’s where I think the parallels with O’Neill might come from.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Dave P on May 21, 2022, 08:32:20 PM
Aren't Ian Taylor and Brian Little employed by Villa in some capacity?

Ashley Young is ex Villa and he’s employed in some capacity too.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: ChicagoLion on May 21, 2022, 09:40:54 PM
Aren't Ian Taylor and Brian Little employed by Villa in some capacity?

Ashley Young is ex Villa and he’s employed in some capacity too.
I think his role involves getting yellow cards and moaning at the ref.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: cdbearsfan on May 21, 2022, 10:59:36 PM
I quite enjoy his shithousing, tbf. It's a lot better than any of his actual football.
Title: Re: Mark Delaney
Post by: Legion on May 21, 2022, 11:00:32 PM
His bench-warming is amazing.
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