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

[Villa'Zawg]

Apologies if it's already being mentioned.

The front page of The Sunday Times sports section reports that Rijkaard wants the Villa job - "The former Dutch international contacted Villa last week to express his interest in replacing Houllier and is understood to have received a positive response."

I can't be arsed to pay for it VD. Do you have a way of posting it?

Not unless I typed it and there really isn't anything else of interest in it.

[maidstonevillain]

I am really in quandary about who I would prefer. But if it came to Ancelotti-v-Benitez, it has to be Rafa everytime.

1. Has far more Premiership experience.
2. Managed and constructed his own Premiership team, and taken them to two CL finals. Not simply inherited a Premiership team.
3. Seems to really love the Premiership, and UK generally, and really wants to manage again in the Premiership.
4.Just get the impression that he is would relish and value the opportunity more than Ancelotti, and be more respectful of the tradition and history of Villa. Get the feeling Ancelotti would treat the position more as simply a well paid job if nothing better comes along.
5.More experience of dealing with the buying and selling of players in the Premiership.
6.Gut feeling.

[old man villa fan]

Would love to see CA as manager and him saying to AY "extend your contract for a year and let's see what we can achieve".

Can't see it on both counts, infortunately but here's to hoping.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Would love to see CA as manager and him saying to AY "extend your contract for a year and let's see what we can achieve".

Can't see it on both counts, infortunately but here's to hoping.

With you 100% on that one!
Having Carlo in charge would make all of the players sit up and take note. They'd either know they are on their way out, staying because he rates them, or be begging to have another go at showing how good they are. And all that has gotta be good for the team/club/us. Here's hoping!

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I am really in quandary about who I would prefer. But if it came to Ancelotti-v-Benitez, it has to be Rafa everytime.

1. Has far more Premiership experience.
2. Managed and constructed his own Premiership team, and taken them to two CL finals. Not simply inherited a Premiership team.
3. Seems to really love the Premiership, and UK generally, and really wants to manage again in the Premiership.
4.Just get the impression that he is would relish and value the opportunity more than Ancelotti, and be more respectful of the tradition and history of Villa. Get the feeling Ancelotti would treat the position more as simply a well paid job if nothing better comes along.
5.More experience of dealing with the buying and selling of players in the Premiership.
6.Gut feeling.

Sort of agree with all of this maidstone, but why did it all go wrong at Liverpool towards the end? He was constantly criticised for weird team selection/squad rotation (were his hands tied on this?) and he certainly seemed to underachieve in more recent times. The Kop gave him a lot of stick!

[Holte L2]

We can't get much better if we appoint Ancelotti. He's won the lot and only 52

[Michel Sibble]

Reading that book excerpt it seemed Benitez was working in an asylum with Gillett and Hicks both trying to out-cockswing eath other and possibly he cracked?

Its possible his media portrayal of a man losing his mind lacks the background needed to contextualise his reign towards the end.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Reading that book excerpt it seemed Benitez was working in an asylum with Gillett and Hicks both trying to out-cockswing eath other and possibly he cracked?

Its possible his media portrayal of a man losing his mind lacks the background needed to contextualise his reign towards the end.

It must have really got to him, working with/for (against?) those two knobheads. He'd have a good boss in Randy, but he reminds me a bit too much of GH who was always going to be not the man we really wanted. We need to get it right this time!

[Holte L2]

Benirez,reminds,me very much of GH. Which is precisely why I don't want him.

[maidstonevillain]

I am really in quandary about who I would prefer. But if it came to Ancelotti-v-Benitez, it has to be Rafa everytime.

1. Has far more Premiership experience.
2. Managed and constructed his own Premiership team, and taken them to two CL finals. Not simply inherited a Premiership team.
3. Seems to really love the Premiership, and UK generally, and really wants to manage again in the Premiership.
4.Just get the impression that he is would relish and value the opportunity more than Ancelotti, and be more respectful of the tradition and history of Villa. Get the feeling Ancelotti would treat the position more as simply a well paid job if nothing better comes along.
5.More experience of dealing with the buying and selling of players in the Premiership.
6.Gut feeling.

Sort of agree with all of this maidstone, but why did it all go wrong at Liverpool towards the end? He was constantly criticised for weird team selection/squad rotation (were his hands tied on this?) and he certainly seemed to underachieve in more recent times. The Kop gave him a lot of stick!

Accept that entirely, and at the end he did seem to lose the plot. Maybe it was largely to do with issues in the background. We will never know.

But, he has achieved with his own Premiership team. Also seems to be more passionate about working and managing in the Premiership.  And he has has a point to prove.

To some extent Ancelotti is untested in the Premiership. People said of Avram Grant that any idiot could have taken that Chelsea team to the CL Final. But that was the same team Ancelotti won the double with (and did not take to the CL final).

Maybe with Rafa it's a case of the Devil you know. But I am warming to him. He is a gamble, but I think Ancelotti is more of a gamble in the Premiership, particularly if we are looking for some one to work on a limited budget, and over a long period.

[Michel Sibble]

I fear Ancelotti will turn us down. He will be expensive and in high demand, and there is no guarantee he could replicate his successes with a club like ours. It is definitely worth a go, but are we prepared for the disappointment if he turns us down?

I'm leaning towards FSW. Wants to be in Premiership (GH needed convincing), can build a squad, will have modest sums to play with and will only have RL to answer to.

[JJ-AV]

We can't get much better if we appoint Ancelotti. He's won the lot and only 52

So has Benitez and he's 51.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Until all of the recent increased links with CA I was of the opinion that he was almost too big for us - he'd want lots to spend and would be in a rush to create his own new team, overlooking our good players and all of our good kids coming through etc - but the enthusiasm for him on this thread has sort of won me over. Moyes was my original first choice, but I don't know if he has the ambition.
As you say maidstone, Rafa has the experience and clearly does have a big point to prove.
(Still reminds me of GH though, with a bit of added fluff!)

[The Left Side]

Let's hope the ITK knowledge is correct and Carlo is our man

[holtepaul]

For those who say CA would not know / understand or even care about the club and it's tradition, how would you feel if a certain Mr Laursen was brought back as part of his team.

I have read (how true it is I do not know) that CA and ML have been close ever since the Milan days.

Could you imagine it, one of the best managers in the world, together with the modern day Mr Aston Villa.

It would be like going back to BFR / Andy Gray - I would love it.

I want Ancelotti - however, i've gotta say, if that deal goes belly up, I'd be chuffed to bits with FR (not even gonna bother trying to spell it now !) or Rafa.

By the way, read FR's wiki page - it's basically saying he likes winning but attractive football, and does not single out players for praise but prefers to state one player is part of a team - seems to me that is what Randy wants to hear.

Anyway - CA FR or Rb - and they've got my season ticket by Friday !