The replacement for MON...?

[Chris Smith]

The more I think of it, the more I think we should go for Eriksson.

Do you think he is able to operate under the changed financial circumstances at the club?

[midnite]

No real outstanding candidate, I'd be intrigued to see what Southgate could do if he had an experienced man alongside him to guide him.  Southgate always struck me as a man who understood Villa and had the same ambition as the fans, was just badly advised and backed himself into a corner when he left, though he only voiced what every fan was thinking regarding our ambition.

As for the experienced man alongside him, how about the man who signed him for the Villa, the man whose heart belongs at Villa Park.  I would genuinely like to see Southgate and Brian Little given a year - we won't go down this year and if it isn't working out at the end of the season then we will have had a year to identify the manager we want to replace them.  If it does work out then so much the better - it won't have been a wasted season which is what is facing us right now.

Southgate and Brian Little? Why would that pairing fill you with so much joy?

[garyfouroaks]

One thing is apparent from this thread, the universal acclaim that greeted MON's appointment will not be repeated for his replacement.

[Matt C]

Sven Goran Eriksson? Jesus wept. No thanks.

[KevinGage]

I think Southgate was one of many players who let Sir Brian down when he needed them most.

Forget all this jazz of Southgate sharing our ambition and speaking out for the greater good. He was making noises about leaving during Sir Brian's first major rocky patch as far back as  Nov 1997. Just a few months after the club spent big money on signing Collywobbles from a then rival, and just a few months after being made captain.  And way before JG, Herbert and the politics of 99/00 onwards.

[cdbearsfan]

The more I think of it, the more I think we should go for Eriksson.

Do you think he is able to operate under the changed financial circumstances at the club?

None of us know what the financial position at the club is we are all just speculating. Appointing a 'big name' manager like Eriksson would suggest there is money available as I doubt he would taint his reputation by taking a job where he wasn't confident of success.

[TimTheVillain]

The more I think of it, the more I think we should go for Eriksson.

Think on minus l'herb 

[Chris Smith]

The more I think of it, the more I think we should go for Eriksson.

Do you think he is able to operate under the changed financial circumstances at the club?

None of us know what the financial position at the club is we are all just speculating. Appointing a 'big name' manager like Eriksson would suggest there is money available as I doubt he would taint his reputation by taking a job where he wasn't confident of success.

We know what the General said today, that the wage bill is too high and has to be reduced. I don't think that's Sven's strength, if we were looking for a dirty old man to shag the secretary then he'd clearly be ideal.

[garyshawsknee]

I think Southgate was one of many players who let Sir Brian down when he needed them most.

Forget all this jazz of Southgate sharing our ambition and speaking out for the greater good. He was making noises about leaving during Sir Brian's first major rocky patch as far back as  Nov 1997. Just a few months after the club spent big money on signing Collywobbles from a then rival, and just a few months after being made captain.  And way before JG, Herbert and the politics of 99/00 onwards.

 More importantly he hasn't served an apprenticeship as a manager. We might as well go for John Deehan if we want an ex player with managerial experience.

[Moorski]

The more I think of it, the more I think we should go for Eriksson.

And bring a circus to Villa Park with him, thats the last thing we need atm, Notts County should be a warning recently.

[TimTheVillain]

We do have a wage bill legacy to manage, and pissed off players to sort out and transfers to see to and and and .... kin Hell, cheers Martin.

[Monty]

One thing is apparent from this thread, the universal acclaim that greeted MON's appointment will not be repeated for his replacement.

Certainly not, you are right. But I don't think that's necessarily because MON is a much better manager than our options (I'd say he edges out Jol, but Bilic and Klinnsman could be better than him in future), but more to do with the fact that MON is sooo much better than O'Dreary, and the whole renewed optimism surrounding the club at the time, with the imminent takeover and everything, contributed still further to MON's instant deification.

[garyshawsknee]

It's different to other times we've had to make an appointment as we haven' just escaped relegation with a dodgy squad. The squad is generally sound,and maybe more can be gotten out of it with the full use of it and variations in play and tactics. Not sure how many of the so called candidates could do that though.

[pmk1981]

what im still stuggling to understand is why the whole back room staff have gone too.  when a manager resigns the whole backroom staff dont usually go too... it just seems more like they were sacked

[cdbearsfan]

The more I think of it, the more I think we should go for Eriksson.

Do you think he is able to operate under the changed financial circumstances at the club?

None of us know what the financial position at the club is we are all just speculating. Appointing a 'big name' manager like Eriksson would suggest there is money available as I doubt he would taint his reputation by taking a job where he wasn't confident of success.

We know what the General said today, that the wage bill is too high and has to be reduced. I don't think that's Sven's strength, if we were looking for a dirty old man to shag the secretary then he'd clearly be ideal.

We know what the General said today. However, it's quite possible that plans to cut the wage bill might be put on hold to give a new guy chance to get his feet in the door. Plus, we do slash the wage bill it's only going to be dross like Sidwell and Heskey.