The replacement for MON...?

[Pete3206]

Me too.

Dowie for Villa!

[peter w]

Why would Sven be a good candidate? Other than him being neither KMac or Curbishley? He needs to have money to do anything anywhere - see Lazio, Man City, Notts County and without it he isn't good enough. He made his name in Sweden at Gothenburg granted but since then its been money all the way that has built his reputation. Failed with England, failed badly with Mexico, and the same with the Ivory Coast. he will need to work within budgetry restrictions at Villa. Definitely not the man for us. He will bring Beckham with him though, by all accounts.

[Olneythelonely]

I'm so bored of all this manager talk shit.

You talk about it a lot considering.

[eastie]

Sven is high profile and would bring a level of excitement - don't rule out beckham on loan later in the season which would be a huge money spinner too.

I'm beginning to feel excited about what he could achieve here and if it is between him and curbs then I can't see why they would need 2nd stage interviews-it's surely a no brainer.

[puppyfeat]

Sven must be worth so much with all the jobs and pay-offs he's had that he could do the job for free - and perhaps even buy us a player or two out of his small change.

If he gets the job then many of Birmingham's waiters, hotel workers etc are likely to feel the benefit - he was famous for his generous tipping when at Man City. 50 squid notes not uncommon.

[pmk1981]

that villa insider person on twitter saying that the place is buzzing blah blah.  and also says this is NOT confirmed and just the rumour flying around the office.  im NOT saying its definate houllier.... read into that what you will

[Olneythelonely]

that villa insider person on twitter saying that the place is buzzing blah blah.  and also says this is NOT confirmed and just the rumour flying around the office.  im NOT saying its definate houllier.... read into that what you will

I have. I reckon bollocks.

[Mazrim]

The "Villa insider" is nothing of the sort.

[garyfouroaks]

Reluctantly, I am in the Sven camp.

His league record is good, and no-one has done better with England since.He knows the English league. His agent Athol Still is one of the big Euro movers and shakers. He would bring a profile to the club media wise that others would not. He does not have a big retinue. Him, Tord Grip who likes to travel by bus........and thats it. So no big backroom staff to hire - or crucially, to fire. He also has instant credibility with the players. By all accounts he was popular both at Man City and England amongst the staff.

Yes he has his downsides, but its not a bad list of credits either.

[richard moore]

Me too.

Dowie for Villa!

At least we'd get more women flocking to VP...

[Hookeysmith]

Why would Sven be a good candidate? Other than him being neither KMac or Curbishley? He needs to have money to do anything anywhere - see Lazio, Man City, Notts County and without it he isn't good enough. He made his name in Sweden at Gothenburg granted but since then its been money all the way that has built his reputation. Failed with England, failed badly with Mexico, and the same with the Ivory Coast. he will need to work within budgetry restrictions at Villa. Definitely not the man for us. He will bring Beckham with him though, by all accounts.

He will not bring Beckham - He can only play for a team where the main kit sponsor is Adidas
And to be honest why the fuck would we want an aging, one trick pony, underpant salesman in our team

[SoccerHQ]

Be interested to see the length of contract for whoever's in charge. If it's only 18 months, I reckon Randy would pay them up in the summer and then have a good crack at getting a Jol or Moyes in.

Be honest, those lists of candidates strikes me as short term ish, can anyone see them lasting as long as O'Runner?

[Surrey Villain]

Me too.

Dowie for Villa!

At least we'd get more women flocking to VP...

Sorry, is that reply out of sequence?

[glasses]

Sven is high profile and would bring a level of excitement - don't rule out beckham on loan later in the season which would be a huge money spinner too.

I'm beginning to feel excited about what he could achieve here and if it is between him and curbs then I can't see why they would need 2nd stage interviews-it's surely a no brainer.

Perhaps. As you would expect the whole office has been talking this through, and perhaps with curbs they are encouraged by his hunger for the job in the interviews. You would imagine he would really want this bad, its easily the biggest job he would have had. Sven on the other hand would possibly be a little more laid back and nonchalant.

To be honest, I can think of good points for both, but would opt for Sven because, as you say, it would be exciting.

[Merv]

He needs to have money to do anything anywhere.

That's 99% of trophy-winning managers though, Peter. Especially in the modern game. The new manager will have to wait for funds, obviously, but he'll get them. And it's also a question of how you spend the money, and how much: MON's downfall, I believe, was spending way too much on players he then sidelined pretty smartly. Eriksson might not be the same.

Yes, he failed with Mexico and the Ivory Coast (though these deals, with a coach brought in just before a tournament, always seemed doomed to fail, I think). England? Don't consider him a failure there - see what's happened since with the same group of players. I do think club football suits him better, though. He can build good sides.