Indecent haste?

[WikiVilla]

I think Mourinho will get the ManUre gig when SAF goes, Moyes has done nothing to warrant him being linked with that job
Our next manager needs to be a long term appointment, Hughes may just fit the bill or Mclaren, Jol or Koemann

[Rudy Can't Fail]

If you have a search on google there are some scouting reports that Vilas-Boas did for Mourinho. They're incredibly detailed and suggest that he is meticulous in his planning.

It'd also suggest that his expertise is more in coaching and match analysis rather than setting up the infrastructure of the whole club. Admittedly I'm leaping to that assumption because I think he AND Houllier could be a complementary partnership.

Mark Kelly - how are Porto structured? I know they have a wealth of scouts as their business model is largely built upon buying cheap (from abroad) and then selling for big fees. Based on the fact that Vilas-Boas only joined in the summer is it correct to say that he is working under a DoF at Porto and therefore he'd be happy work under these conditions?

Agree with you about the partnership of Vilas-Boas and GH.

Porto don't have a DoF but do have a chairman that orchestrates everything, especially the worldwide scouting, which as you rightly point out has been a fantastic scource of income for them. I'm struggling to think of a club in Europe that have traded better and so consistantly over the years.
My guess is that Vilas-Boas would be happy to have a DoF working under him, allowing him to concentrate on the football side but still have final say on everything. Mourinho at Real changed the culture by basically cutting the legs off the Sports Director and getting him under his control.

Obviously Vilas-Boas may have his own ideas on who he wants on his staff, including a DoF but at least in the short term, I can see GH being able to positively contribute given the chance. Porto have had a well organised structure in place for a very long time, we haven't apart from the youth set up. I'm not even sure we have a head scout at the moment.

My only concern is that Porto insist that Vilas-Boas stays on for one more year, it's something they manage to do with all their best players who get offers from Spain, England and Italy. If we fail to get him this summer, I can see him taking over from Redknapp at Spurs, should he end up replacing Capello next summer. I hope I'm wrong.

[joe_c]

I think coyle would see villa as a huge step up from Bolton and as he left burnley for Bolton he is clearly ambitious to progress his career, moyes may relish a fresh challenge and jol would be a reasonable shout if reunited with hughton as his number 2, as for Hughes I'm not adverse to it but he wouldn't be my choice.

Hughes did  however get the best from friedal, warnock, dunne and Ireland when managing them and would be popular with those players I imagine.

I don't think commanding the respect of three players who have demonstrated questionable attitude and commitment and another who will surely only be about for another season is a tremendously sound basis for giving someone a job.

[SoccerHQ]

I obviously wish GH all the best getting back to good health but I really can't see him being the manager next season. You can't plan anything or achieve anything if the man in charge is missing at least 7 games a season (I'm counting those two games at the start aswell seeing as he couldn't get out of his contract with the French FA) so give him a backroom role and get someone else in charge.

I'd be well happy with Moyes or Coyle.

[Toronto Villa]

puts his tin hat on....................

Sam Allardyce

would give us the fighting spirit we need

I am fully aware of the long ball criticism, but surely that was based on the players that were available to him

He would luv to prove the doubters wrong

for one I would welcome him to VP

you're going to need a lot more han a tin hat with a suggestion like that. He'd bring horrible football to Villa Park. No thanks. A million times over.

[Toronto Villa]

Moyes is solid if unspectacular. Would that change if he had more cash. I don't know. I think he's a form of MON in that he'll make us very solid, and we'll be in it every year, but never quite have enough. I wouldn't be against him, but I'm not sure he'd be my first choice.

I'd be very wary of Coyle. I know he's done a good job at Bolton, but I get the impression he's always looking for the next big job. If we hired him I just get the impression he'll never he be satisfied with what he has. Kind of like Steve Bruce in some respects just a lot better. Still, if you could tie him down to a long term deal he would be a very interesting project. He'd be a hero if he could transform us into a serious player in English football once again.

Jol's interesting because he made Spurs relevant again. But he spent a lot of money and when he finally left they were hardly pulling up any trees. Another on who's been to a lot of clubs in a short space of so you have to wonder about his level of commitment.

I don't mind the idea of Dave's suggestion of Director Of Football with a young up and comer in the hot seat. Not sure Pires would be my choice but I wonder how someone like Grayson might do, or even someone from the continent where the DOF role is more common.

I'd like to see Houllier stay on because he has some great contacts in Europe and an eye for talent. I'd want to see him oversee our entire operation if at all possible if he can't carry on as manager. I'm hoping that we don't come to that and he can.

[Dave Cooper please]

Too much Everton baggage for me,

What the fuck does that mean? Is Everton baggage worse than, say, Bolton baggage or Real Madrid baggage?
What are you on about?

[gervilla]

puts his tin hat on....................

Sam Allardyce

would give us the fighting spirit we need

I am fully aware of the long ball criticism, but surely that was based on the players that were available to him

He would luv to prove the doubters wrong

for one I would welcome him to VP

you're going to need a lot more han a tin hat with a suggestion like that. He'd bring horrible football to Villa Park. No thanks. A million times over.

Why not go mad alltogether...Randy, did u get a phone number from Tony Pulis yesteday ?

[CJ]

puts his tin hat on....................

Sam Allardyce

would give us the fighting spirit we need

I am fully aware of the long ball criticism, but surely that was based on the players that were available to him

He would luv to prove the doubters wrong

for one I would welcome him to VP

you're going to need a lot more han a tin hat with a suggestion like that. He'd bring horrible football to Villa Park. No thanks. A million times over.

Why not go mad alltogether...Randy, did u get a phone number from Tony Pulis yesteday ?

Adamski - whatever you've been drinking you need to stop. Now. It's making you have nightmare thoughts

[Greg N'Ash]

extreme short term i know, but i wouldn't mind Wilkins in till the end of the season either above or below Gary Mac. Experienced no.2, seems to command the respect and good will of the footballers he coaches, good with the press, and would act as a buffer between Mac and those less than enthused with his coaching and maybe rebuild a bit of harmony.  Want us to finish as high as possible now we're all but safe and if he was here short term then in a month we and the club will  know more where we stand with GH.

[eastie]

I rate Wilkins but im sure Mcallister can cope for 4 games without the need for anyone to come in, it would not be a worthwhile exercise this late in the season and would probably undermine Gary macs authority.

I just hope that Gerard doesn't recommend Gary mac on a long term basis, although I have a very strong feeling that moyes will be tempted and his friendship with Gerard could swing it.

[WikiVilla]

Perhaps Roeder will help GM out to the close of the season?

[Clampy]

I'm not sure if there's any need for someone like Wilkins now either. I'm not sure whether Moyes would come, but the older he gets he's going to want to have a crack somewhere else eventually.

[Mister E]

Perhaps Roeder will help GM out to the close of the season?

What, in a sort of Laurel and Hardy way ....

[Mister E]

Grayson or Lambert with GH as the DoF.
As long as GMac gets his marching orders.