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

[ktvillan]

my reading of the situation is that Randy has decided that we can't compete financially with the top 6 and so he has decided to go with the steady option, someone who will be happy working within financial constraints of making us a more or less self-financing club, someone who's aim will be to keep us top half with the outside chance of a cup or Europa League qualification....

I am also beginning to suspect that Randy is reigning in his ambitions for the club.  I suspect this may have informed the decision to part with Houllier when the indications were that he was fit enough to continue.  I suspect they did not like the projected costs of his team rebuilding plan.  The calibre of the managers they have been considering to replace him - McLaren, Martinez, McLeish - does not indicate a desire to push for top 4 but to keep us steady in the upper half of the table.  It's speculation, but there appears to have been little attempt to attract a genuine top rated manager.  Not good enough for Aston Villa FC and, if true RL will be letting us all down very badly and destroying the dream we all bought into 5 years ago.  He can refurbish as many buildings as he likes, it all counts for notjhing if he gets the footballing side badly wrong. Of course he could still prove us all wrong by pulling a top manager out of the hat, but it seems very unlikely.

   

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

There are currently 4 champions league places up for grabs, Chelski, Man Ure and Man City should more or less be guaranteed 3 of those places. That leaves Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool and whoever else wants to gamble to fight over the other place.

Once the financial fair play rules come into effect, the only clubs that will be able to compete for the champions league places are those that are already in it unless a club vastly over achieves.

I think Randy has realised this and is adjusting his goals accordingly. Top half prem is now the aim.

The champions league boat has sailed.

[Doorbell]

Steady the ship, get back in the black, sell the club (or return to the deadly doug days)....

[Monty]

The day Randy considers that we cannot compete is the day he should start considering selling the club.

[john robsons sideburns]

I guess that we all have to accept that this is now a done deal, and that McLeish is going to be our manager whether we like it or not.

For the board to take this decision they must have seen or have found something very special in him to justify making an appointment that they know is going to alienate them from the majority of fans, I'd love them to share that with us.

Thinking about things, I think the real problem for me is that if/when results don't go well and McLeish comes under even more fire from the fans (let's face it, it won't take much!), will the board take action and relieve him of his duties, or will they be even more inclined to dig their heels in and back him through thick and thin?  I think that their overwhelming instinct is going to be to protect him and back him.

We are going to have the whole scenario of 'sack the board' 'sack McLeish' and that is only going to be detrimental for the football team.  Teams NEVER succeed when there is off field disharmony and dispute, and this for me is the only thing that I care about, the success and welfare of Aston Villa Football Club.  That is why I think it is a crazy, suicidal appointment.  Unless Mcleish can get off to a flyer and challenge at the top 6 of the table, he is going to cop some flak, and that is going to make an uncomfortable playing environment for the players, especially the young players that we will be relying on.

I hope that Alex can be successful for us, I really do, on a personal note I feel a bit sorry for the guy, on a professional note not so as he is punching above his weight here. 

[Merv]

Monty, Juan Pablo, Tremzvillain.... absolutely. It's a 'treading water' appointment. McLeish won't take us anywhere. The only reason I can see for hiring McLeish is that he'll accept a smaller transfer budget, accept the need to sell star players, be content to rebuild and work with limited resources.

I feel impending doom, I really do.

[tremzvillain]

You can say that about all but four or five clubs in the Premier League.

Correct. At least we had a small outside chance over the last few years...it appears we've given up on this altogether.

[Mr Diggles]

You can say that about all but four or five clubs in the Premier League.

Correct. At least we had a small outside chance over the last few years...it appears we've given up on this altogether.

The top 4 isn't the be all end all though is it? There are other things to play for; the FA Cup, the League Cup, hell, just the joy of playing and watching football. 'Oh if we're not going to go for the top what's the point?' - pathetic.

[The Laughing Policeman]

If it is a done deal, then AM's first press conference has got to be of Churchillian proportions.
The Blood And Sweat bit would be fine but we don't want to be offered tears.

[Claret trim]

Problem is, there's no real alternative out there, at least with Premier League experience.

That just isn't true. Hughes is the obvious alternative.

[tremzvillain]

You can say that about all but four or five clubs in the Premier League.

Correct. At least we had a small outside chance over the last few years...it appears we've given up on this altogether.

The top 4 isn't the be all end all though is it? There are other things to play for; the FA Cup, the League Cup, hell, just the joy of playing and watching football. 'Oh if we're not going to go for the top what's the point?' - pathetic.

How is that pathetic? No, it's not the be all and end all, but are you happy for us to go from having an outside chance of qualifying for Champions League football and attracting top class players, to having an outside chance of winning the league cup and doing nothing else? We may as well be lumped in with Bolton, Stoke, Newcastle etc.

[Cjamesk]

Any one else read the article in The Mirror? ( I know I know)

I don't know how to do short links but it's about Flores and how keen he is for the Villa job.

Always nice to dream.......

[willywombat]

You can say that about all but four or five clubs in the Premier League.

Correct. At least we had a small outside chance over the last few years...it appears we've given up on this altogether.

The top 4 isn't the be all end all though is it? There are other things to play for; the FA Cup, the League Cup, hell, just the joy of playing and watching football. 'Oh if we're not going to go for the top what's the point?' - pathetic.

Absolutely correct in my view. We've all been brainwashed into believing that CL is the Holy Grail. To be perfectly honest I dont really care, some of the best times I've had supporting the Villa have been in the old 3rd/2nd division promotion seasons

[pedro25]

Ranieri, Benitez, McLaren, Jol, Ancellotti, Scolari, Moyes, Coyle and Hughes all fell within the Prem experience criteria but appear not to have been considered.  Martinez and McLeish read the hit list, unless we have ended up with Randy's 6th choice?

[Monty]

Problem is, there's no real alternative out there, at least with Premier League experience.

That just isn't true. Hughes is the obvious alternative.

To which the answer should be 'to hell with Premier League experience'. Really, what does is it matter? I really fail to see the relevance, I really do. Maybe it's desirable in a perfect world, but it certainly should not be one of the most important criteria for the appointment, and if Randy really thinks it should be then he's in the wrong sport.