The replacement for MON...?

[Moorski]

my main problem with Sven would be the style of play. Ok, he's no hoofball merchant like MON but he's a bit defensive

Correct Greg - Middlesboro 8  Man City  1 !

[jonzy85]

I can't believe people are even considering Sven. Definately damaged goods!!

Damaged goods as in how? You reading The Sun a bit much?

[Bosco81]

Finding this new manager isn't as easy as we thought it would be is it ?

I can see Kevin McDonald staying until at least January, if he makes a reasonable start, which looking at our fixtures is more than likely.

[ROBBO]

To keep faith with the supporters and show that his intentions havn't changed the next manager must be sellable to the fans. The last thing Lerner needs is a drop in support, get the right manager and hopes will be raised again, get it wrong and he will see attendances drop away dramatically.
Sven may do the trick in the short term(lock up your wives) he is well connected and his record is okay.

[citizenDJ]

No, it's tricky alright. There really isn't an outstanding candidate among the suggestions so far, in my view. Still, the press seem to think we've been 'inundated' with applications, so maybe there's a few surprises yet to come.

[Ben H]

Davide Ballardini (ex Lazio?) is now being linked, currently without a job

[pauliewalnuts]

Why, having established ourselves as a top six club, would we appoint a bloke who has never experienced a transfer system, has never managed in a top league, and until quite recently, was roundly unpopular in his national team job?

That would be insanity.

[TimTheVillain]

Am I the only Villa fan who would love to see Allardyce at VP ?

Dudley born, intimate knowledge of the Premier League, a background of being able to attract and play non Englisg players with fab technical ability.

What's not to like ( managerial wise) ? - Newcastle was always a hard challenge - way harder than Villa.

I certainly hope you are.

So, who do you suggest ?

I would rather have Sam Fox in charge.

Hey, Bob Bradley it is for you then -- a man with no experience at this level, wouldn't know anything about the West Ham team we face on Saturday for instance.

Cheer leaders as well ?

[PeterWithe]

My favourite continues to be Frank Rijkaard, getting him from Galatasaray should not be difficult, he has a distinguished playing and managerial track record, he speaks good English , culturall he would fit, and would offer an International perspective without wrecking the British backbone of the team.His lack of Prem knowledge counts against him, but it didnt do Ancelloi and Wenger any harm.

Same here, it shouldn't be too difficult to tempt him to England as well.

[ktvillan]

I fear it wont make much difference though...the owner no longer believes in us getting in the top 4.

Rubbish. Not wanting to pay big wages to players who aren't playing is not a signal Randy has no ambition to finish in the top 4 any more.

Great point Jonzy, let's start a campaign to install Peter Ridsdale instead.

[ROBBO]

We may be pleasantly suprised at the quality of the applicants. Lerner has the reputation of backing his manager and it could be that a couple of top managers already employed could fancy Villa.

[curiousorange]

Kilinsmann's always been my first choice to succeed MON and I hope it happens. He knows the game back to front, he's innovative, he's exciting, he's good at bringing talent through, he speaks excellent English so communication isn't a problem, he's liked in this country by most people who aren't rabidly anti-German anyway. Yeah, his record at Bayern sucked but his national team record didn't and you can say what you like about Low being the 'brains', but if that was absolutely true then the Germans wouldn't have given a crap about trying to keep him on after WC2006 - even Beckebauer wanted to keep him on. Chelsea and Liverpool both sounded him out about taking jobs there and his win ratio, though obviously he's coached less games than somebody like Sven, is about 56%. I say sod it, after this summer we won't get Champions League anyway but let's just try something different.

I also think a charismatic and offensively minded coach is more likely to persuade a player like Ashley Young to stay.

[garyfouroaks]

I fear it wont make much difference though...the owner no longer believes in us getting in the top Four.

Harsh. Man City have spent over £200m so far and have still not got in the Top Four, if Randy feels that neither he nor the Club have the cash to "chase the dream", I for one respect that. That does not mean that by shrewd management we may not still have a chance.

MON did make some cracking signings, leaving us an established top six side. IF, the money invested in Harewood, Salifou, Routledge, Maloney, Davies, Sidwell, NRC, Shorey, Young and Petrov had been spent to greater effect, we might be "there" already.

[jonzy85]

I don't mean to be too harsh....obviously City have moved the goalposts.

It's his money and it's up to him how to spend it, but I cant help think that because of City's mega-billions, he is starting to think what's the point?

I don't blame him, I just find it depressing.

[Risso]

I fear it wont make much difference though...the owner no longer believes in us getting in the top 4.

Rubbish. Not wanting to pay big wages to players who aren't playing is not a signal Randy has no ambition to finish in the top 4 any more.

The hierarchy of the club have gone from saying that they would pay 20 (or was it 30) million for a player if he was the right one to Randy's statement
about where our new level is.

Actually, they said they COULDN'T pay £30m for a player.  Get it right.