The end is nigh.

[old man villa fan]

There are just a few managers of clubs in the world who would possible turn us down.

A handful of the elite in England, the two giants of Spain, the two Milan clubs, Juventus, AS Roma perhaps, and then Bayern Munich.

Any other club's managers from across Europe and the rest of the world would all be attracted of taking over at a club like Villa in what’s so commonly viewed as the best league in the world. And it’s not as if we don’t have the financial backing to back it up with nowadays.

Quiet simply I find it an insult when some fans ask whom else could we attract. We have nearly the world to pick from.

The trouble is that top managers from around Europe have set themselves on career paths to manage the clubs you have highlighted and also their own national team.  Some see the PL as too much of a risk that could ruin their future career.  In addition to this they would have to out perform clubs that are quite a way ahead of us either financially or in name.

I am not saying that there are not top quality managers ouside of these but it will be a long term project (in the life of a football manager) and there are few European managers that would be in it for the long haul.

In short, I do not think there is a stand out manager that would be a shoe-in for the job.

[Leighton]

Then we might as well just all give up now then. We aint big enough to attract the manager of Anderlecht, Feyenord, Sampdoria, Lyon, Gatafe, Fenerbache... need I go on?

[old man villa fan]

Quiet simply I find it an insult when some fans ask whom else could we attract. We have nearly the world to pick from.

The irony is that quite frequently the very same people who spend most of the time telling us that the manager has done a great job, and the club has improved beyond all recognition over the last four years then tell us that, should we look to replace MON, we'd be poking around the Curbishleys of this world.

That doesn't quite stack up.

It's like when the people who think sixth is an achievement call those of us who think we can do better the negative ones.

We can do better and you always have to aim higher, although sometimes you do not succeed.  It is the time to get there and how we do it that is the arguement.  Supporters in many cases are impatient for success and suggest it is easier than it actually is.

I am willing to wait if I can see a progressive plan.  I thought we had that but things have slipped a little from that path.  If I am honest, I would say reaching 3rd place the season before last was too soon, both for the club and the supporters.  We over achieved and the only way after that was down.  Some accepted it as a setback, others haven't.

[Leighton]

In hindsight, did we really need a five-year plan when Lerner arrived- or just a manager who could have come in and really shook up the place in his first season?  

And what about the next time we appoint a manager- the same question again…

[dave.woodhall]

I don't think our supporters are impatient - in fact, the opposite. The majority have seen a couple of years of little or no improvement and seemingly remain behind the man in charge. I've said before that with the set-up we have there's a manager who could get us into the top four consistently and the secret is finding him, unless of course he's here already.  

Here's another left-field potential manager - Peter Schmeichel.

[old man villa fan]

Then we might as well just all give up now then. We aint big enough to attract the manager of Anderlecht, Feyenord, Sampdoria, Lyon, Gatafe, Fenerbache... need I go on?

Who said anything about giving up. As I insinuated earlier the next manager by default will most likely be from outside the UK.  If the managers position became available there will inevitably be somebody unexpected that pops up as well.

We have to be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that we are not as big a club as we think we are at times.

I do not go with the line that any man and his dog from Europe is better than the current manager though.  So that narrows the field somewhat.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Think MON is in for the long haul. Lerner has a certain respect for him. I know that can diminish if results dont happen but still think he would stick by him regardless ....

[Leighton]

That is very left field Dave. I was thinking of a left field one also earlier today, although when you think about it its possible not that left field at all because of the obvious connections. Gareth Southgate with Brian Little in some sort of prominent capacity.

This could be  a whole new thread...

[dave.woodhall]

That is very left field Dave. I was thinking of a left field one also earlier today, although when you think about it its possible not that left field at all because of the obvious connections. Gareth Southgate with Brian Little in some sort of prominent capacity.

This could be  a whole new thread...

There's a good manager in Southgate if Boro hasn't put him off. Then again, I said much the same about Andy Townsend. TV's a much more reliable income.

[Leighton]

Yes for a while it did look a possibility that Townsend was going to use his experience and obvious talents by being directly involved within the game. A pity he took the comfy option.

This is the current state of the club for me. I’m only able to think positive about the future when we are discussing who could be the next manager. However leftfield the suggestions may be.

[dave.woodhall]

You just like making banners.

I wonder how many potentially top-rate managers will be lost to the comfy sofa option.

[Leighton]

No more orange cloth left.

I’m not sure how managers have been lost to the comfy TV sofa, but I bet Merson wishes he had discovered it sooner.

And why wasn’t Mon on a World Cup sofa this summer? Was he too busy scouting a load of foreigners?

[eastie]

Mons producer friend defected to itv and min felt it would be disloyal to go there after working on the BBC so decided against being a pundit!

I think the next boss will be foreign and jol, magath, klinsmann, laudrup and Eriksson would all probably jump at the chance if offered it- Aston villa are a very attractive club , and deserve better than martin o neill.

I thank him for his 4 yrs and taking us as far as he did but he will not take us any higher.

[peter w]

That is very left field Dave. I was thinking of a left field one also earlier today, although when you think about it its possible not that left field at all because of the obvious connections. Gareth Southgate with Brian Little in some sort of prominent capacity.

This could be  a whole new thread...

There's a good manager in Southgate if Boro hasn't put him off. Then again, I said much the same about Andy Townsend. TV's a much more reliable income.

Agreed with Southgate. Not sure if I'd want brian Little back unless he was given the job he wanted. In this 'new' villa revolution I think that 4/5 years in Little coming back would create a buzz around the place again - I'm not just talking about as manager - maybe in the 'go between' position. But is that him? Does he have the credentials to do the job?

[mshurst]

Quiet simply I find it an insult when some fans ask whom else could we attract. We have nearly the world to pick from.

The irony is that quite frequently the very same people who spend most of the time telling us that the manager has done a great job, and the club has improved beyond all recognition over the last four years then tell us that, should we look to replace MON, we'd be poking around the Curbishleys of this world.

That doesn't quite stack up.

It's like when the people who think sixth is an achievement call those of us who think we can do better the negative ones.

I think finishing 6th for 4 seasons running is a success. It's only a matter of time before we break through.