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

[Ian.]

I like what he has achieved at Wigan and how. Keeping them in the Premiership is quite an achievement if you ask me.
I do like Hughes and I don't think Ancellotti or Van Gal will come here to be honest. I am not at all keen on Rafa.

[kippaxvilla2]

Someone wants us to shock football as we did with Bent.  I vote Josef Venglos.

[cdbearsfan]

I reckon we'll put up with a few scary days. We'll be linked with nightmarish managers from Hell, occasionally with a Villa connection to make them seem plausible. Curbishley, Platt, Holloway, Allardyce, Southgate, Gray. By the time Benitez / Moyes is eventually appointed on June 6th (my birthday) we'll all be hailing him as the new Ron Saunders in relief!

[kippaxvilla2]

I don't think we can underestimate the size of the decision the board are about to make on this appointment.

[Stu]

I like what he has achieved at Wigan and how. Keeping them in the Premiership is quite an achievement if you ask me.
I do like Hughes and I don't think Ancellotti or Van Gal will come here to be honest. I am not at all keen on Rafa.

He nearly got them relegated twice. In his first season in charge they finished with a goal difference of -42. This season, they only avoided the drop on the last day, while results elsewhere went their way. I really don't think he's the man.

Hughes, well, I suppose he's ok but its hardly inspiring is it? Mid-table, at best, with him.

Ancelotti, just doesn't seem like he would fit at Villa. I'm not sure what I mean here, his face doesn't fit if you know what I mean. Cool eyebrow though. Van Gaal would be amazing, he's available and has previously stated that he'd like to manage in England. Could we persuade him? I hope we try to.

In fact, I'd rather have Benitez than Hughes or Martinez, I'd toss a coin between him and Moyes.

[NeilH]

There is a possible obvious scenario that could play out here. Hughes is certainly keen to move onto something bigger, but Fulham are not likely to allow him to go unless there is an obvious (of equal) successor. Luckily the Egyptian Shopkeeper is rather friendly with St Martin of Wycombe, who is now free to find employment after settling with us. Thus we get Hughes, they get MON and everyone is happy, aren’t they?

[hartman_1982]

I like what he has achieved at Wigan and how. Keeping them in the Premiership is quite an achievement if you ask me.
I do like Hughes and I don't think Ancellotti or Van Gal will come here to be honest. I am not at all keen on Rafa.

He nearly got them relegated twice. In his first season in charge they finished with a goal difference of -42. This season, they only avoided the drop on the last day, while results elsewhere went their way. I really don't think he's the man.

Hughes, well, I suppose he's ok but its hardly inspiring is it? Mid-table, at best, with him.

Ancelotti, just doesn't seem like he would fit at Villa. I'm not sure what I mean here, his face doesn't fit if you know what I mean. Cool eyebrow though. Van Gaal would be amazing, he's available and has previously stated that he'd like to manage in England. Could we persuade him? I hope we try to.

In fact, I'd rather have Benitez than Hughes or Martinez, I'd toss a coin between him and Moyes.

I am a fan of Martines too. Wigan are a tiny club and he has done well to keep them in the league while playing football the right way. Everyone who talks about him seems to have a grate deal of respect and admiration for him. Wigan is not the right club for him, their pitch is horrific and that is why their best results come on the road. I wouldn't mind him ending up at B6 at all.

[JJ-AV]

Benitez is the man.

4-4-1-1. A flexible, fluid midfield. He would do wonders with Makoun, Delph, Downing and Bent.

[hilts_coolerking]

I don't think appointing Moyes or Hughes is much of a statement of intent, other than to say "Mid-table and happy with it".  Even less so Martinez, who comes across as a good bloke but hasn't looked like he knows how to do anything other than survive - just - in the PL.

Ancelotti or Benitez, though, would be a different story.  These guys have won things in the toughest leagues in Europe and continental trophies too.  And not 10 years ago either.

[Concrete John]

I don't think appointing Moyes or Hughes is much of a statement of intent, other than to say "Mid-table and happy with it".  Even less so Martinez, who comes across as a good bloke but hasn't looked like he knows how to do anything other than survive - just - in the PL.

Agree with Martinez, but....

Hughes - just finished 8th with Fulham and when were they last that high? 
Moyes - top 6 regulars, and one 4th place finish, with Everton.

As neither club has the resources Randy makes available at Villa, on top of what is already a pretty decent squad, does that not suggest they are at least capable of matching what MON did?

As it goes I wouldn't want Hughes, but I think both me and Moyes, who I do want, would finish higher than mid-table.

[lukey27]

I think it'll be Hughes. Yet to sign a contract extension with Fulham and ticks all the boxes. Don't quite get the negativity regarding him, considering he's just finished above us with a weaker squad and comparable injury problems. I'd happily take him over Benitez, Rijkaard or Jol.

To be honest, if I was a betting man, I think it may be done by the end of the week.

[pauliewalnuts]

The other advantage of Benitez and Ancelotti is that they make selling season tickets much easier.

Hughes doesn't.

[adrenachrome]

There is a possible obvious scenario that could play out here. Hughes is certainly keen to move onto something bigger, but Fulham are not likely to allow him to go unless there is an obvious (of equal) successor. Luckily the Egyptian Shopkeeper is rather friendly with St Martin of Wycombe, who is now free to find employment after settling with us. Thus we get Hughes, they get MON and everyone is happy, aren’t they?

According to oddschecker.com Hughes is the favourite going at Evens and a best price of 5/4. No odds-on candidates yet.

Another poster wrote today, not sure on which thread, that Hughes has a clause in his contract which allows him to walk in close season if another opportunity arises.

[Concrete John]

I think it'll be Hughes.

I think you're right.

[Stu]

I think it'll be Hughes. Yet to sign a contract extension with Fulham and ticks all the boxes. Don't quite get the negativity regarding him, considering he's just finished above us with a weaker squad and comparable injury problems. I'd happily take him over Benitez, Rijkaard or Jol.

To be honest, if I was a betting man, I think it may be done by the end of the week.

Because he's not pulled up any trees anywhere he's been I imagine. Its a run-of-the-mill, 'we're happy in mid-table' appointment. We really ought to be thinking bigger than Mark Hughes.