The end is nigh.

[pauliewalnuts]

Randy Lerner has set out to build a future based on traditional English values so do you think he would take on a manager from outside England?

When?

And his first choice for manager before he realised everyone wanted MON was a German

[Risso]

I'm pretty sure that O'Neill would object a tiny bit to being called English as well.

[old man villa fan]

Randy Lerner has set out to build a future based on traditional English values so do you think he would take on a manager from outside England?

When? - Well, that's how I have viewed it from his actions to date - from your comment I'm obviously wrong!

And his first choice for manager before he realised everyone wanted MON was a German - Did he say this? If so, I'm obviously wrong to ask the question.  I am on a bad run aren't I?

[old man villa fan]

I'm pretty sure that O'Neill would object a tiny bit to being called English as well.

Who said English.  Suggest you go back and read again!

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I'm pretty sure that O'Neill would object a tiny bit to being called English as well.

Who said English.  Suggest you go back and read again!

Where does the 'English values' bit come into it then?

[old man villa fan]

I'm pretty sure that O'Neill would object a tiny bit to being called English as well.

Who said English.  Suggest you go back and read again!

Where does the 'English values' bit come into it then?

Traditional English club values.

[smudger]

I think he is good, but it's not impossible that someone could do better. Take Hairy Ballsack at Tottenham as an example, much as i hate to admit it. In considerably less time he has taken them to a cup final and now got them in the Champions League, and crucially playing some pretty damn entertaining football in the process. They have a pretty similar budget to us, and needed some sorting out when he arrived (although they did have some talent in the ranks).
 It's just that there are plenty that would do worse as well, so i think changing him would be a pretty big gamble. Unlike when O' Dreary was here, it couldn't have got much worse at that point.

[Olneythelonely]

Randy Lerner has set out to build a future based on traditional English values so do you think he would take on a manager from outside England?

When?

And his first choice for manager before he realised everyone wanted MON was a German

I had never heard this before now, is this true?

[Risso]

I'm pretty sure that O'Neill would object a tiny bit to being called English as well.

Who said English.  Suggest you go back and read again!

You did.

Randy Lerner has set out to build a future based on traditional English values so do you think he would take on a manager from outside England?

Well, his current manager isn't English, so it's entirely possible he might appoint somebody else who isn't.  What exactly are these "English values" anyway?  We've got a kit deal with Nike, and are sponsored by a Cypriot foreign currency company.

[pauliewalnuts]

Randy Lerner has set out to build a future based on traditional English values so do you think he would take on a manager from outside England?

When?

And his first choice for manager before he realised everyone wanted MON was a German

I had never heard this before now, is this true?

Word was he wanted Klinsmann.

[pauliewalnuts]

Randy Lerner has set out to build a future based on traditional English values so do you think he would take on a manager from outside England?

When? - Well, that's how I have viewed it from his actions to date - from your comment I'm obviously wrong!

And his first choice for manager before he realised everyone wanted MON was a German - Did he say this? If so, I'm obviously wrong to ask the question.  I am on a bad run aren't I?

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just wondering why and how he's done that?

EDIT first bit, I mean.

[sfx412]

Randy Lerner has set out to build a future based on traditional English values so do you think he would take on a manager from outside England?

When?

And his first choice for manager before he realised everyone wanted MON was a German

I had never heard this before now, is this true?

Word was he wanted Klinsmann.

I think the word was he knows Kilinsmann well, but Klinsmann was not interested at the time because of commitments.

Commitments, he's now shed :)

[dave.woodhall]

No I'll be saddened too.Unfortunately I don't think people will realise how lucky we were to have him til he's gone and we've got some muppet in charge

What makes you think that a) those who want him gone aren't fully aware of his capabilites and b) we couldn't get a better manager?

who is available and attainable ??

Depends how you see the Villa. Believing us capable of much more that we're currently achieving, I would say all except maybe two dozen or so in Europe.

Who in your opinion can get us into the top four or further based on our financial position as we think we see it at the present time and is attainable?

Is there anybody in English football?

Who would you say from Europe?

Randy Lerner has set out to build a future based on traditional English values so do you think he would take on a manager from outside England?

Would be interested to read your views.

I can't remember Randy saying that any of the values he wants to keep/instil at Villa would include hampering the club by limiting his choice of manager.

In England, Moyes and Hodgson, maybe Avram Grant. Possibly one of the younger breed of managers in time, such as Simon Grayson or Paul Lambert. Abroad there's Claudio Ranieri, Felix Magath, Delio Rossi, Gregorio Manzano, Quique Flores, Claude Puel, Ottmar Hitzfeld to name a few who are experienced and would maybe fancy a crack at the Premier League. I also think a few clubs will be looking at how Steve McClaren gets on at Wolfsburg.

[KevinGage]

Hmm, this is becoming the stuff of legend now. Milner was shunted all over the place at Newcastle - right wing, left wing, centre mid, second striker. He didn't have an extended run at centre mid. When we signed him he was seen as a right winger/midfielder. When, this time last year, we debated Barry's replacement and Milner was touted as a candidate for centre midfield, there were many who rubbished the idea.
 

Not really Merv.

There were a number of Newcastle fans who came on here around the time he signed and said his best form for them had been in the centre. MON then said himself last summer that Milner had been badgering him to play in the centre and felt it would be a natural transition in time.

You say many rubbished the idea, I'm sure a few did. But I recall many threads with probable formations (oh what fun they are) with Jimmy in a more central role. As a winger he doesn't have a good enough turn of pace, tricks or delivery to be truly top class. But the qualities he has -good engine, fantastic work rate, good range of passing, not afraid to shoot, are all things you'd look for in a CM.

I'm not reluctant to give MON praise when due - I have - in this very thread. He just doesn't need to be made out to be some kind of visionary re team selection/ positioning et.c. When he's pretty much only doing the obvious or trying what has already been done before.

I'll throw in another one into the plus column that I omitted yesterday: he is the first manager I can recall that has got us to go to places like the Emirates and Old Trafford and almost expect a result. We might have pinched victories here and there under BFR at Anfield and Highbury -and with JG at Anfield. But last season many tipped us to win at Old Trafford - and we did (of course their injury crisis might have had something to do with it, but still).  We were also tipped by most pundits to go to the Emirates and win a few weeks later. We didn't of course, but it does indicate a change in how we are perceived and expectations across the board.

[Fasth56]

I bet a higher percentage of Villa fans were not saying that last season at wembley for the league cup final. To come out with a stat " a large percentage", based on the fans out at Portugal is ludicrous. I base my opinion on 42 years of following the Villa therefore my contribution has more gravitas than a large percentage of the posters on here. Seems to work all ways this plucking fictitious percentages out of the air!