The replacement for MON...?

[nick harper]

All Mcdonald's comments and body language suggest someone who is really not convinced he is up to the job or in his heart that he really wants it.

I just think it would be a big big mistake and we will undo the good work and progress O'neill, for all his faults, has brought us.

Give it to Eriksson and review at the end of the season. He has a good record overall and certainly in the short term, will help to maintain stability and a decent profile in the media rather than slipping into obscurity as others have said.

[Matt C]

I'm sure KM will take the job if offered. I'm just not convinced we should offer.

[Matt Collins]

I thought Magath was told to sell a number of players to balance the books going into last season, and then almost taking Schalke to the title?

Of course, the timing of MON's departure has left us in the lurch. But several people on here were arguing for MON to leave for ages, and even touting the name of Jose Mourinho amongst a number of candidates.

I'm not seeing much by the way of preferred candidates from those people now. Bit harder than you thought I reckon!

[Ger Regan]

Of course, the timing of MON's departure has left us in the lurch. But several people on here were arguing for MON to leave for ages, and even touting the name of Jose Mourinho amongst a number of candidates.

I'm not seeing much by the way of preferred candidates from those people now. Bit harder than you thought I reckon!

Leaving out the laughable Mourinho suggestions (although I'd hope for the sanity of the posters they were tongue in cheek), but you can't see the difference in wanting him to leave, and wanting him to leave, but not so bloody close to the start of the season?

And yes, trying to find a manager is a lot harder at the beginning of the season than, say, late may.

[Monty]

I have really immense misgivings about K Mac getting the job full time. Everything he does and says seems to scream of a man who is thoroughly uncomfortable with the position he's in right now, and Sunday seemed to be as much mental fatigue on his part as inadequacy from the players. I have no evidence or anything, but might he be too close to the players? Kind of the opposite of MON, I know, but there is such a thing as too close for a manager. For a coach, being close to the players can be a really useful and good thing, but for a manager it's a problem.

Don't get me wrong, he's an immense coach, has to be a big influence in the new set-up, whoever is the manager. But to be actual manager full-time? I would worry.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

All Mcdonald's comments and body language suggest someone who is really not convinced he is up to the job or in his heart that he really wants it.

I just think it would be a big big mistake and we will undo the good work and progress O'neill, for all his faults, has brought us.

Give it to Eriksson and review at the end of the season. He has a good record overall and certainly in the short term, will help to maintain stability and a decent profile in the media rather than slipping into obscurity as others have said.

All Mcdonald's comments and body language suggest someone who is really not convinced he is up to the job or in his heart that he really wants it.

I just think it would be a big big mistake and we will undo the good work and progress O'neill, for all his faults, has brought us.

Give it to Eriksson and review at the end of the season. He has a good record overall and certainly in the short term, will help to maintain stability and a decent profile in the media rather than slipping into obscurity as others have said.

Totally agree. He would keep a high profile for the club and bring in some good players even if only on loan. Plus his club record is impeccable  ..............

[pauliewalnuts]

I have really immense misgivings about K Mac getting the job full time. Everything he does and says seems to scream of a man who is thoroughly uncomfortable with the position he's in right now, and Sunday seemed to be as much mental fatigue on his part as inadequacy from the players. I have no evidence or anything, but might he be too close to the players? Kind of the opposite of MON, I know, but there is such a thing as too close for a manager. For a coach, being close to the players can be a really useful and good thing, but for a manager it's a problem.

Don't get me wrong, he's an immense coach, has to be a big influence in the new set-up, whoever is the manager. But to be actual manager full-time? I would worry.

I agree entirely.

I'm also a bit worried by the "well, I'll see how I feel after the Everton game" approach, which means the transfer window will have slammed shut.

For all the talk of sliding backwards when MON left, which I do not in any way accept as an inevitability, we'll be asking for it if we appoint someone who doesn't look like he wants it, and has never done it before.

This a high stakes game. A season of mediocrity and it is bye bye to Ashley Young at the end of the season, as well as anyone else who has a good season this year.

[jembob]

I have really immense misgivings about K Mac getting the job full time. Everything he does and says seems to scream of a man who is thoroughly uncomfortable with the position he's in right now, and Sunday seemed to be as much mental fatigue on his part as inadequacy from the players. I have no evidence or anything, but might he be too close to the players? Kind of the opposite of MON, I know, but there is such a thing as too close for a manager. For a coach, being close to the players can be a really useful and good thing, but for a manager it's a problem.

Don't get me wrong, he's an immense coach, has to be a big influence in the new set-up, whoever is the manager. But to be actual manager full-time? I would worry.

Petrov was calling for K Mac to be made manager after the West Ham game because he is popular with the players - that's a bad sign as far as I'm concerned as they will think that he'll be a soft touch. If he gets the top job and fails, we'll lose him from the Club which would be a real loss.
Much as he'll bring a bit of a circus with him, Sven would do for the rest of the season. We won't win the title so we might as well have some fun on the way to finishing 6th again.

[ROBBO]

KM says he will know more on Monday, not good enough, time is passing and delaying for yet a few more days puts us deeper in it. Randy if you have a manager in mind(non American) appoint him now and lets get on with transfers.

[JJ-AV]

I'd be shocked if we signed anyone else, it's too late for us to just identify a target now and go and get him. Only way it could happen if talks have been ongoing and somehow the media haven't picked up on it.... Which would mean it's not going to be a Huntelaar/Flamini that we crave.

[mallo]

I'm afraid I'm beginning to see the signs of a very long, and not particularly inspiring, season.

[Dave Clark Five]

Petrov was calling for K Mac to be made manager after the West Ham game because he is popular with the players - that's a bad sign as far as I'm concerned as they will think that he'll be a soft touch. If he gets the top job and fails, we'll lose him from the Club which would be a real loss.

Its funny how they get these quotes in times like these. They usually get things like this from players of lesser status than Petrov, as they did with Curtis Davies.
A great deal of it is brown nosing to the new manager to help them get into the team. Once the first few matches are out of the way, the usual in-fighting and bickering starts and, in the case of a caretaker manager, there will be all manner of behaviours going on that will make his job difficult. I am afraid that he seemed to have a resigned look about him on Sunday. Let's hope we see a difference tonight as the alternative managers that we are likely to get fit into the 'devil you don't know' category as far as I am concerned.   

[nick harper]

I'm afraid I'm beginning to see the signs of a very long, and not particularly inspiring, season.

Ditto. Painful to contemplate after the progress and relative success and high profile we've enjoyed over the last 2 or 3 years...and as I invested in season tickets with some optimism in the Summer.

[Dave Clark Five]

...and as I invested in season tickets with some optimism in the Summer.

The ridiculous thing about it is that we renewed our season tickets earlier than ever before, for some bizarre reason.  We must have had a feeling that it would be difficult to get into the away scheme with loads more people becoming season ticket holders. Whatever our deluded reason was, for several weeks prior to 09/08, I was not looking forward to the new season at all. We will still go however bad it becomes but people will have to excuse any moaning that comes out because sometimes it is only the music hall nature of it all that makes it enjoyable in a masochistic sort of way.

[godzvilla]

Quote from this mornings Times "Mac Donald remains uncertain whether he wishes to be thrust into the glare of top flight Mangement . But it is thought the Club would be receptive should he wish to work alongside a more experienced figure such as BRIAN LITTLE ,a Villa legend , so that he can prioritise coaching the Team " .
Welcome back ' Sir Brian ' ?...... maybe even  John.Gregory ?!   ,  ................Godzvilla!