Who Should be Aston Villa Manager ? Now with new, revised poll

[citizenDJ]

They won't, Holtepaul. Whether we like it or not, the Villa situation is something of a media frenzy right now, and an easy target for the press (where the fine details and facts really don't matter all that much).

It's ironic, in a way. Like ten thousand spoons.

[maidstonevillain]

On the pitch, we have at best half a squad having released ten players. We are currently selling our most high profile player (again), our best player last season also wants out. We have pretty much no defence - we have no keeper, no right back, a left back and two centre backs who clearly have to be replaced, whilst our best centre back wants to go and play in Scotland.

We spent almost the entirety of last season at the arse end of the table (maybe that's why they thought of Martinez, we spent last season watching Wigan's results pretty closely)

Off the pitch, we still haven't found a sponsor, after the last one dumped us. we are under a mountain of debt, with a gigantic wage bill made worse by the fact that a good chunk of the half a squad we do have don't actually contribute anything and probably never will - Beye, Ireland and co.

We've just been done up like a kipper by Dave Whelan, with the fact we targeted a man who had never won back to back top flight games in the first place now made worse by the fact he didn't want to talk to us. We then put out a statement about it which is pointless and just causes more embarrassment, as it just makes s look desperate not to look like he turned us down.

We are looking for a manager at the absolute ideal time to do so, but appear to have learned nothing from last August.

Regardless of why things happened, that is where we are right now, unfortunately. Can anyone really blame the press for having a field day?

I've supported Randy from day one, and he has had some harsh criticism in the past, but this is about more than putting money in, it is about putting together a team to manage the club properly. Right now, on and off the pitch we are looking like a club going backwards.

It's all about perception though.  You could also say:-
We've got a rich owner with a track record of putting his hand is his pocket.
We have the current England centre forward.
We spent the 2nd half of last season in top 6 form.
We have an exciting group of youth players coming through.
We've realeased/sold some unwanted players (Sidwell, Carew, etc.) to make room on out wage bill.

Yes, we need to find a new manager and he needs to then sign some players, but I honestly don't think we're in the mess you portray.

Totally agree.

[ozzjim]

What amazes me is the amount of people passing rumours as ITK, especially through twitter and another villa site that comes up on News now - seems that a manager is rumoured and boom it is hard fact.

Another week to run I reckon if Randy is back in the USof A

[Matt Collins]

On the pitch, we have at best half a squad having released ten players.

And the right back, with no cash for any of them. Plus we're certain to lose young and may lose downing. So we need 4 players coming in with around £15m income to get them, plus whatever randy stumps up personally, just to be as good as the team that was 3 points off the relegation zone with 2 games to play. That squad underperformed but we could well struggle in a similar manner without strong leadership

You are starting to sound like a member of the press.

By my reckoning, from the squad that did actually play/or even get on the bench last season, we have lost one ageing GK who needed replacing anyhow, and one Defensive midfielder, who half the fans did not rate.

[citizenDJ]

I agree with Matt, though; I'm sure that as soon as the new manager is in place all this will go away.

And assuming the club don't do anything REALLY bloody stupid, I don't see how we won't be alright. Ignoring any managers from abroad (although we don't know of the club are ignoring them), we're left with a pretty strong field to choose from.

Moyes, Hughes, Coyle, McClaren, Benitez, I wouldn't be disappointed with any of them. Especially now that McClaren simply can't be ridiculed by the press after their heroic defense of him this week, right?

It might not seem like it if we get caught up in the media excitement, but we've a good selection to choose from.

[Concrete John]

What amazes me is the amount of people passing rumours as ITK, especially through twitter and another villa site that comes up on News now - seems that a manager is rumoured and boom it is hard fact.

The one thing that us fans have in common with the press/media is that we're absolutely starved of any real facts about what's going on, so rumour gets jumped on and discussed to the point where you hear it so often it gets confused with fact.

[TopDeck113]

I've worked through my initial antipathy towards Steve McClaren and realised that I'm basing it solely on his time as England manager and the media reaction to him sheltering under an umbrella and the ludicrous Dutch accent (i.e. the sort of thing that thousands of holiday-making Brits will do over the next couple of months when conversing with foreign nationals). 

Rather like when Wolves fans derided the appointment of SGT simply on the basis of The Sun calling him a Turnip, I'm now of the opinion that through nothing more than unfounded prejudice we could miss out on a manager who would actually be a good fit for a club of our status.

Consider the following:

(1) Learnt his trade firstly as a well-respected coach, including a stint as Fergie's assistant.

(2) In conjunction with a very supportive chairman and chief exec, did an excellent job at Boro: landed the only major trophy in their history, reached a European final, attracted a high calibre of player and from a productive academy brought through some excellent youngsters.

(3) Since being over-promoted to England coach, he has achieved success with another underachiever in a European league and with it no doubt extended his knowledge of players who are currently off the Champions League radar.  I can't really comment on whether he deserved the sack after only a few months at Wolfsburg, but these things happen.

(4) Would return to English football with the drive and ambition to prove plenty of people wrong.

[MYSTERYMAN]

I was in the Mark Hughes camp even bumping into Randy after the Villa Everton home game LAST SEASON  to express my thoughts on it he said at the time yes agreed but too late as he had taken the Fulham job which led me to think when GH went and MH resigned that it would be him . I can tell you with as much certainty as anything that a lot has changed and they are genuinely concerned that MH would end up turning us over and they will not be approaching him . It it happens I will be gobsmacked from how direct my nderstanding of their feelings and  how they think it would be  shortlived and the concern that we would be  just a stepping stone for MH . I am getting a lot of PMS which I am not being rude as I haven't replied  but genuinely I do not know who the target is because I am not sure how / what happened with the oustanding candidate Moyes . There is nobody ITK on this it's between 2 people and they aint letting onto anybody which is how it should be but yes frustrating the nearest to ITK now is probably Kendrick  . I also wouldn't rule out the McCleish rumour he would want the job and so would Bruce who still lives in Lapworth and has said to people how much he thinks of Lerner and what he must be like to work for  .

[citizenDJ]

I've worked through my initial antipathy towards Steve McClaren and realised that I'm basing it solely on his time as England manager and the media reaction to him sheltering under an umbrella and the ludicrous Dutch accent (i.e. the sort of thing that thousands of holiday-making Brits will do over the next couple of months when conversing with foreign nationals). 

Rather like when Wolves fans derided the appointment of SGT simply on the basis of The Sun calling him a Turnip, I'm now of the opinion that through nothing more than unfounded prejudice we could miss out on a manager who would actually be a good fit for a club of our status.

Consider the following:

(1) Learnt his trade firstly as a well-respected coach, including a stint as Fergie's assistant.

(2) In conjunction with a very supportive chairman and chief exec, did an excellent job at Boro: landed the only major trophy in their history, reached a European final, attracted a high calibre of player and from a productive academy brought through some excellent youngsters.

(3) Since being over-promoted to England coach, he has achieved success with another underachiever in a European league and with it no doubt extended his knowledge of players who are currently off the Champions League radar.  I can't really comment on whether he deserved the sack after only a few months at Wolfsburg, but these things happen.

(4) Would return to English football with the drive and ambition to prove plenty of people wrong.

I agree with all that, mate. I do think he's a good candidate; as you say, he's had ups and downs, but then lots of managers do, and the ones that don't probably won't want to come to Villa, I'm afraid!

But, he does have that absurd reputation...but as I said earlier, given how appalled the press were at people's reactions to him, I'm sure there will be no more negative press about him....after all, that would be mean and to overlook his managerial talent, right?!

[JUAN PABLO]

Two horse race between McCleish and Bruce then ..          and MH using us as a stepping stone , is he that good?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Bruce to Villa, MON to Sunderland? That would please a few.

[Dave]

Two horse race between McCleish and Bruce then

Christ, that would be depressing.

[Concrete John]

I've worked through my initial antipathy towards Steve McClaren and realised that I'm basing it solely on his time as England manager and the media reaction to him sheltering under an umbrella and the ludicrous Dutch accent (i.e. the sort of thing that thousands of holiday-making Brits will do over the next couple of months when conversing with foreign nationals). 

Rather like when Wolves fans derided the appointment of SGT simply on the basis of The Sun calling him a Turnip, I'm now of the opinion that through nothing more than unfounded prejudice we could miss out on a manager who would actually be a good fit for a club of our status.

Consider the following:

(1) Learnt his trade firstly as a well-respected coach, including a stint as Fergie's assistant.

(2) In conjunction with a very supportive chairman and chief exec, did an excellent job at Boro: landed the only major trophy in their history, reached a European final, attracted a high calibre of player and from a productive academy brought through some excellent youngsters.

(3) Since being over-promoted to England coach, he has achieved success with another underachiever in a European league and with it no doubt extended his knowledge of players who are currently off the Champions League radar.  I can't really comment on whether he deserved the sack after only a few months at Wolfsburg, but these things happen.

(4) Would return to English football with the drive and ambition to prove plenty of people wrong.

I agree with all that, mate. I do think he's a good candidate; as you say, he's had ups and downs, but then lots of managers do, and the ones that don't probably won't want to come to Villa, I'm afraid!

But, he does have that absurd reputation...but as I said earlier, given how appalled the press were at people's reactions to him, I'm sure there will be no more negative press about him....after all, that would be mean and to overlook his managerial talent, right?!

OK, take out the England thing and what have you got?  An OK job at Boro where league placings were poor, but won a cup and a good Euro run.  Good job then done in a poor-ish Dutch league followed by the sack in Germany.  To me that is the CV for a manager of a lower mid-table club and not one pushing for the top 6/4. 

[MYSTERYMAN]

N

Two horse race between McCleish and Bruce then ..          and MH using us as a stepping stone , is he that good?

No I akm not saying they have approached them I just know they are and would be interested  in Villa job  there is a lot more to the MH thing that we don't know about because for me I cannot see how Martinez would be better than him . Spoke with Man City people who have worked with him and got nothing but praise for him

[citizenDJ]

Hmmm. Steve Bruce would be worth considering, too, although we could do without the end of season collapse!

I'd be much, much less keen on McLeish, though. Although, he does get a defense organised....