The future of Houllier and McAllister?

[Merv]

Hughes would have had a huge yes from me last August, that's when we needed him, but now with the advantage of more time and preparation to look around, I think we could do better - though he's had a decent first season with Fulham, to be fair.

Benitez... tough call. Superb, in my opinion, until two years ago. Since then, he's had a mixed time: following on from Mourinho at any club can't be easy. But I'll go along with those who believe that, if he's truly committed to the cause and is prepared to give Villa a few years to actually build something, and not just use us as a stepping job to somewhere else, he could be good.

Moyes would be a safer bet... but I think Benitez has more potential to actually drive us on to bigger things, if that makes sense.

As for some of Rafa's later signings: Johnson was well over priced at £18m but nothing wrong in targeting the player in the first place - he'd had an absolutely storming season; Aquilani was, at the time, the brightest midfield prospect in Italy and it was a bit unlucky that injury scuppered things for him (yes, even though he was injured at the time of signing......)

[VillaZogmariner]

A lot of things people forget about his time at Inter is that he once again was working with idiots at board level.

He'll come here and it will be a settled environment at board level, and he will know that he will have a free hand to do what he wants to do with the team without any interference.

[badluckeric(gates)]

Moyes please.

[Mister E]

I don't want Rafa or Mark Hughes or Fat Sam.

I want to see Gerard, Graham Taylor and  Ron Atkinson and Randy Lerner to do interview together. We need to find the man to be our Arsene Wenger.

So, presumably if the aforementioned recruitment panel came back wiith Fat Sam as their candidate you'd be happy?
I know I wouldn't.

[Mister E]

What's happened to Martin Jol? - would he not be a candidate at least? His credentials are on a par with Hughes and superior to Moyes and McLaren, I'd say.

[Rick_avfc]

David Moyes or Mark Hughes are the men to take Villa forward.  Not sure about Rafa at all - I don't think we are really big enough for him to attract real talent to push on. 
No to Mclaren and big sam and curbs

[Rick_avfc]

What are peoples thoughts on Owen Coyle?  Seems to improve a side everywhere he goes.
Just a thought, dont all go mad! 

[brontebilly]

What's happened to Martin Jol? - would he not be a candidate at least? His credentials are on a par with Hughes and superior to Moyes and McLaren, I'd say.

lost out to McClaren in his first season in Holland.

Quit Ajax midway through this season, under Frank De Boer they went on to win title in his absence.

No from me.

[Percy McCarthy]

A massive NO to Ailsa.

Who?

[VillaZogmariner]

A massive NO to Ailsa.

Who?

It's what The Fiver calls Mark Hughes. I prefer this lookalike for him though -

[Percy McCarthy]

Ta VS. So who's the original Ailsa?

[CJ]

With GED reportedly meeting Randy with his solicitor, and with GMac making all the noises about contracts and Houllier doing office work, I have a horrible feeling that Houllier will move to a director of football role (not bad) and McAllister will become head coach/manager (not good).  Houllier will get the players/contracts sorted and McAllister knows the style of football Houllier likes to play. Might seem reasonable to Randy too.

I think everything hinges on whether Houllier feels he could/should continue in any capacity at all.

[VillaZogmariner]

Ta VS. So who's the original Ailsa?

From Home and Away.

[Summers]

If GMac is instated as manager/head coach I'll actually cry.

Moyes has to be first choice, Hughes second. If Ancelotti was an option, then of course - but he isn't.

People saying Rafa - because of his previous honours - are wrong. He was at clubs who were in a position to win things, I don't think he's capable of taking us to that position.

[paulcomben]

What are peoples thoughts on Owen Coyle?  Seems to improve a side everywhere he goes.
Just a thought, dont all go mad! 

Perfectly fair suggestion and no need to be mad. He has Bolton in his blood and a long history there specifically and in the North West generally. I am not sure he would 'emigrate' well.  Mine is another vote for 1. Moyes or 2. Hughes or 3. Benitez in that order. No way to McLaren.