The future of Houllier and McAllister?

[Mazrim]

I dont mind Houllier giving it a proper crack if his health is up to it. But I very much think it isnt so its neither here nor there.
McAllister is not really cut out for management (including assistant) either although I suspect he'd be a good coach.

Randy will hire a new manager and that manager will be backed as Randy has proven thus far to the tune of circa £30m each year.
That's why so many good managers will be interested, including Moyes, who would have more resources than he's ever had in several seasons combined.

Beneitez is a curious one. You have to respect his record but I cant help but feel he's losing the plot a bit and his most recent history is a bit suspect.
I'm sure he'll be interested and considered though.
I dont really know anything about Quiche Flowers. To be honest I've never heard of him. Obviously he must have some pedigree to be managing Atletico Madrid. Tell him he can have the job if he sticks Aguero in a sack and smuggles him in.

[Irish villain]

Whatever happens I just bloody hope we get it right as those lot at Tottenham did with Harry. I know he is not the most popular but he has done a fantastic job. When you see us and them in the last few years you can't but help be jealous. I mean at one point we were on a even keel, then they dropped like a stone after Jol.......now look at them.

Yeah look at them...6th. When was the last time we saw those dizzy heights?

So pedantic.

[brontebilly]

Benitez has a super CV lads. Dont be codding yourselves. With him living in Liverpool and still going to games in Anfield I dont think he is the right man for us. He led Liverpool to a serious title charge two years ago and Id argue made a proper player out of Gerrard and Carragher (whom he put centre half). Signed Torres, Reina, Benayoun, Alonso and a host of other good players. Losing Alonso screwed him though and he lost it soon after selling Arbeloa and signing Glenn Johnson was madness. With youth players coming through now at Liverpool, that may well be down to Benitez who put the boot down with their Academy a few years ago. After Liverpool, Valencia and Inter Milan, Im afraid he would look on Villa as a step down and we should stay clear.

As we are at a low ebb and have a host of players at the end of their contracts, it is the perfect time for a new man to come in. Anyone competent will take us back to the top 8 id imagine and has a healthy academy to draw from. Steve McClaren when he went to Holland didnt bring anyone with him and worked with the club coaches. it didnt work out for him in Germany but by all accounts there was players far too close to the chairman there. Villa imo is the perfect draw for him, he wont see it as a step down, his experiences in Holland and Germany will stand him in good stead and I think he is the right man for us. He completely blitzed Martin Jol for example in his time in Holland.

I dont doubt that there will be many interested but McClaren is the man for me. We simply cannot give Houllier another chance, we are not a charity and paid him a huge wage last season to improve the team in which he has dismally failed. He also brought in a clown as assistant manager. We need to make a change and make it quick.

[cdbearsfan]

Anyone for a bit of Rijkaard? It's on the Gossip Column. I like him as a manager but find it hard to forgive the gobbing incident.

[The Left Side]

Anyone for a bit of Rijkaard? It's on the Gossip Column. I like him as a manager but find it hard to forgive the gobbing incident.

I'd rather take spitting Frank over the FSW!

[Dante Lavelli]

I can't believe that after MON had total control over everything from the players' contracts to the brand of tea bag at Bodymoor, there are so many people that want to hand the club over to one person again.

The guy's an absolute control freak with a truck load of mates he takes to every job and within two months he'd have total control over everything.  If that went belly-up we'd be in an even worse position than when MON left.

That's a good point Ad@m, at Liverpool he slowly removed pretty much every member of staff and replaced them with his own - arguably - yes men.  I remember reading at the time that this had damaged Liverpool although there were mitigating circumstances with the board they had at the time.

Conversely I have read (or heard) recently that this crop of youngsters coming through at Liverpool are the result of changes rafa made after their previous manager, whatshisface... had ignored the youth system.  Indeed Rafa even talked about Gardner whilst at Inter so he knows youth football (can you imagine MON having that depth of knowledge).

Sigh, I don't know what to think anymore.   Ultimately, Benitez does not feel like a Villa man, so it's a "no" from me.  I'm out.

[bob]

Rijkaard linked in the Mirror today. That could be interesting.

[Toronto Villa]

Rijkaard linked in the Mirror today. That could be interesting.

you've basically quashed all chance of this being true by quoting your source.

[ozzjim]

What has he been up to since Barca?

[Ian.]

Is Quiche Flowers really a football manager? Can we really have someone call Quiche Flowers in charge of a football team!!

[andyh]

Benitez strikes me as being a bit mental.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I can't believe that after MON had total control over everything from the players' contracts to the brand of tea bag at Bodymoor, there are so many people that want to hand the club over to one person again.

The guy's an absolute control freak with a truck load of mates he takes to every job and within two months he'd have total control over everything.  If that went belly-up we'd be in an even worse position than when MON left.

Have to agree with Adam on this.

It would be a retrograde step to let somebody control all things Villa again, besides which, I feel we're too big to let one man dictate everything that happens at the club.

As soon as you dare to question a person who rules all like that, they flounce off in a hissy fit.

[Mazrim]

Hence my suggestion of having football people build up the infrastructure behind the scenes.
Managers come and go and if they have all the say, all the power, it all goes tits up when they leave.

[pauliewalnuts]

The thing that always used to amuse me about Rafa was when he'd start engaging in "mind games" with Ferguson, only to completely fuck it up and end up making himself look a total tool, as Ferguson effortlessly wound him up.

That and the way he says "cloob". I like that about Spanish people.

[fbriai]

That and the way he says "cloob". I like that about Spanish people.

Did you notice how people say it when you lived over here, Paulie? 'Cleb'. It's almost as though someone once heard the queen say it and, as a result, it has entered the language in that form. Problem is, if you say 'club' then no-one understands you, so you have to pronounce it in this faux-received pronunciation style.