Kevin MacDonald the next Manager???

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Lets see how we get on in Vienna and against Newcastle first.

If we keep up the style of play and the results, then it may be something worth considering for a few months if no suitable manager can be found in that time.

[Monty]

You know, I'm starting to think of Klinnsman and K Mac being a sort of dream team. It would be a lot like Klinnsman and Loew with the German national team, with the bringing through of youth players and coaching teamwork. Would they wear matching suits though? It remains to be seen.

It's a funny one, because Loew's role within that team was understated in 2006, and now Klinnsman's is being understated now Loew's been a success without him. Fact remains they drew up the strategy together, and with the other coaches, and it's a strategy much like K Mac's and Randy's. It really does look an option to me, but I know others have different views of Klinnsman.

[eamonn]

KMac said in one of his interviews that he loves coaching and in an ideal world we'd bring in a proven manager who promotes Kevin as a first team coach. As has been said, managing is a different kettle of fish - judging from Randy's oddly straight-talking quotes in the Sunday Mail interview (or whatever paper it was), it sounds like he's going to offer KM the job. Asking him what he should do re Milner, aware that the transfer window is ticking and he, Lerner, could spend the last fortnight of it sorting out buys and sells, happy that the squad respect MacDonald.

I want Ranieri, but I doubt that's very likely even if he might feel he has a point to prove in England. I can't see Roma, whom he has rejuvenated, being too accomodating if we were to enquire.

[Monty]

True, Ranieri's not leaving Roma. Romanisti are strange creatures - see Totti, De Rossi, Bruno Conti - and Claudio Ranieri is definitely a Romanisto.

We need a coach who likes working with young players, who has a pass-and-move philosophy, both of which complement K Mac's coaching abilities.

[nechells]

Clearly Randy has a lot of time for KM. Even if he doesn't get the main job, he has a job for life at the club. If he wants to be part of the main show under another manager then that is something that will be negotiated as part of any deal. KM in my opinon should be the short term cosy blanket over the club, and we should hire a proper manager that has experience enough to move us to the next level.

I agree with this-Would you want any of the proposed candidates to take over though?

I think we should wait untill the right person becomes available & untill such time,KM should hold the fort.

For sure. Thing is there are candidates that are reportedly linked with the job, and then there are those that will have applied that we don't know about. I mean who'd have known we'd have Maradona wanting to manage Villa a day or so ago, as ludicrous as it sounds. From the list, Jol is first choice for me, but I'd also be willing to give Sven a shot as a mentor of sorts to KM. After that from the names we seem to know, it's anyone's guess as to how well they'd do whether they are even really candidates. I mean, Curbishley's never getting the job is he?

Out of the likely candidates,I feel Jol is the best bet however he doesn't strike me with the excitement I felt when MON or BFR joined.I think Sven is possibly a tad too old now & not as hungry as he once was.It would be a fantastic idea to bring him in as some sort of mentor to KM though,even in the short term.As the General stated-Whoever is appointed will upset some quaters of our support.I just hope the fans back the new manager as I'm sure they will.

[Concrete John]

I voted yes based on the game Saturday and the fact that I think he'd do a good job.  For me if he wins the next two games I think you HAVE to give it to him.

Taking a step back, I would say that if we are cutting back spending then we'll be going largely with the players we already have, plus the kids coming through.  With his knowledge of the club, players and youth set up, who better than Kevin Mac under those circumstances?  The existing players seem to like and respect him, so I don't think anyone else we would realistically get would do a better.  However, if we are going out and spending he has no track record in signing or recruiting players and is he a 'name' to attract top quality?

I hope randy sees it this way aswell.  Kevin Mac if we're not signing players, someone else if we are! 

[Barry Shaw]

I spent a couple of seasons at Walsall when Kev was at the end of his career and I was starting out. His legs were knackered but he was a top player and carried a lot of respect from those around him. There were other 'old timers' like Derek Statham and Wayne Clarke who were also in the team but Kev was the gaffer.

I was in the Youth/Reserves at the time and he would b0ll0ck you when you screwed up in a game/training but he was one f the only ones that would also have a quiet word of advice for you off the pitch too. My experience of him is that he is a top bloke and a real football man.

He is very well liked at the Villa and he also believes in passing footbal, which would be a nice change.

I hope he stays at the club in some capacity.

[curiousorange]

One swallow doesn't make a summer, and the note of caution I would sound would be that we know that KMac is a fine coach but what happens when we're on that crap run in the winter or the spring? Then, we'll all be cursing him for not having the experience and when we reach the transfer window, will we be wishing we had a higher profile coach to attract players? He seems too decent a bloke to take the brickbats, and for that selfish reason alone, I'd want him to step back in favour of a man more experienced.

[Captain Trips]

i think if KMac had wanted to be a manager he would have gone before now to a lower league club. He has the credentials to have been poached by now. I think he is actually happier being a coach , so the idea of him and an experienced Manager appeals more to me, than solely him as our manager.

[Simon Ward]

I think ideally MacDonald wants to be the first team coach or assistant manager, ie involved with the players day to day on the training ground. I don't believe he wants to be the manager and deal with the press, the board and all the negotiations on signing players and contracts etc.

[curiousorange]

I think ideally MacDonald wants to be the first team coach or assistant manager, ie involved with the players day to day on the training ground. I don't believe he wants to be the manager and deal with the press, the board and all the negotiations on signing players and contracts etc.

I don't know the bloke or the situation, but it looks like another Sbragia, who was promoted 'cos Sunderland were out of options, proved to be a success but jumped at the first available opportunity to get back to doing what he did best. Some people just don't like the limelight and that's fine.

[Brend'Watkins]

The longer he succeeds in his caretaker role the more likely he is of getting the job.  Now, he may well be happy as a coach, but now that he has had a taste of the managerial role there may well be no going back.  A few more wins in the same attacking style means he's a very strong candidate.  We might need to appoint him permanently or lose him to somebody else who thinks he could do a job.

[curiousorange]

The longer he succeeds in his caretaker role the more likely he is of getting the job.  Now, he may well be happy as a coach, but now that he has had a taste of the managerial role there may well be no going back.  A few more wins in the same attacking style means he's a very strong candidate.  We might need to appoint him permanently or lose him to somebody else who thinks he could do a job.

There might be an unbridgeable gap between him being offered the job and him taking it though. And if that's the case I can't see another Prem team succeeding where we failed. If he wants to go to a lower division and try his hand there first then good luck to him, but we can't make up his mind for him.

[BannedUserIAT]

Nice little insight there, Barry. Cheers.

[Risso]

One swallow doesn't make a summer, and the note of caution I would sound would be that we know that KMac is a fine coach but what happens when we're on that crap run in the winter or the spring? Then, we'll all be cursing him for not having the experience and when we reach the transfer window, will we be wishing we had a higher profile coach to attract players? He seems too decent a bloke to take the brickbats, and for that selfish reason alone, I'd want him to step back in favour of a man more experienced.

I agree with that.  Also, coaching players in the reserves is one thing.  Dealing with a pissed off first team player, like say Collins and Cuellar who can't get a game is another.

I'm not saying I'd be upset if he did get the chance, but to do so after one game would be madness.