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

[Claret trim]

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.

It has been reported this morning that we have turned down the chance of appointing Sanchez Flores eventho he is keen to come and we have discounted Mark Hughes. It would appear to me that they are managers who have the ambition to chase the honey pot of the champions league and would expect the financial backing to have a realistic chance. By appointing McLeish, Randy has got himself a manager who is liable to stick around for a while and won't rock the boat.

Depressing If true

The Club said as much in its recent statement - it couldn't have been more clear.

[Mr Diggles]

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.

Happy? No, but 2 things spring to mind.

Firstly we don't know if ambitions have been scaled down by the club. There might be long-term plans in place, or it could be that what we perceive to be a poor appointment, is one that Lerner absolutely thinks is the right one. Whether he's right or wrong can be debated, but I doubt that his ambition has lessened.

Secondly, it takes more than ambition and top class players to achieve success (such a flimsy definition anyway for finishing fourth!). There is an amount of luck too - luck in that this is the year that one of the more successful teams in the league has an off season, luck that we have no injuries, luck that results go the right way etc.

Personally I'm far from happy, but I'm more content now (after 2 days to get used to the idea of McLeish) to wait and see what happens to a degree.

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

I would be interested to know who the boards advisors are, my guess is that it is Deadly 

[Iago]

I cannot believe people think Randy's ambition has ceased because of this appointment. The majority of Villa fans were unhappy with most of the people linked with the job. And GH's departure was the correct decision considering his health.

We have to accept that McCleish is the candidate they have chosen, and I am sure there is a good reason to this appointment that we are unaware of. I still believe they are going to back AM with the best funds has ever received in his managerial career.

Be patient, success will come eventually.

[maidstonevillain]

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.

 some of the best times I've had supporting the Villa have been in the old 3rd/2nd division promotion seasons

What do you mean some of the best. They were the best.

[eastie]

seems like mcleish has a 3 yr contract and is bringing his own staff with him , i wonder where that will leave the likes of sid and kmac?

[tremzvillain]

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.

Happy? No, but 2 things spring to mind.

Firstly we don't know if ambitions have been scaled down by the club. There might be long-term plans in place, or it could be that what we perceive to be a poor appointment, is one that Lerner absolutely thinks is the right one. Whether he's right or wrong can be debated, but I doubt that his ambition has lessened.

Secondly, it takes more than ambition and top class players to achieve success (such a flimsy definition anyway for finishing fourth!). There is an amount of luck too - luck in that this is the year that one of the more successful teams in the league has an off season, luck that we have no injuries, luck that results go the right way etc.

Personally I'm far from happy, but I'm more content now (after 2 days to get used to the idea of McLeish) to wait and see what happens to a degree.

That's perfectly fair. I actually don't think that much of the Champions League as a competition, just the players it could bring to Villa, and the chance of building a team capable of winning the title again. I guess I'm just disappointed after the great few seasons and the buzz about the club that we had when Randy first arrived. For me, to go to McLeish screams mid-table...I can't see us competing for much with him. I'm not sure we'll be able to just enjoy the football with his style of play, either.

[eastie]

my expectations will be to be challenging for 6th to 8th position along with the likes of everton- it would take huge spending to get near the top 4 and is unrealistic ,would love to win a wembley final though as its been a long time.

[Jon Crofts]

I go away on business to a backward country 6 days ago & I come back to this shit.  Tell me it's the jet lag & it's all a fucked up dream someone.

[JUAN PABLO]

seems like mcleish has a 3 yr contract and is bringing his own staff with him , i wonder where that will leave the likes of sid and kmac?

Just hope my friend keeps his job , i get alot of info from him ....    Ill phone him later

[eastie]

I go away on business to a backward country 6 days ago & I come back to this shit.  Tell me it's the jet lag & it's all a fucked up dream someone.

serves you right for going to wales.

[mr-villa]

Just been watching SSN and Rob Dorsett reporting that "sources" are telling him that AVFC will unveil AM as new manager in next 24hrs. 

Whilst he may not have been who we expected to replace GH we must take a realistic look at the appointment.  I think there are a couple of things to be admired about the man. 

When MON left AVFC in what subsequently turned out to be exactly the same circumstances given by AM as his reason for leaving BCFC i.e. constructive dismissal, he chose to pursue a claim for compo and hence not work for a year.  At least Alex has decided to go full tilt for a new challenge and what a challenge.

By joining Villa he knows that he gives up any right to compo from BCFC when the verdict from his inevitable employment tribunal with BCFC is announced. 

Randy knows that he is on safe ground as regards compensation to BCFC, there won't be a penny paid by AVFC to BCFC over this appointment, Randy knows that and Pannu knows that.  Based on what Bevan said the other day its obvious that AM's position at BCFC had become untenable from his perspective and he had full right to resign with immediate effect.

BCFC will not win any tribunal they wish to bring over this appointment therefore we won't be required to pay any compo, the fact is at this moment AM is a free agent and Randy has chosen to appoint him.

We need a manager in place for the beginning of July, let's sew this up and get AM behind the desk on Monday morning starting work on our new future.  Give the guy a chance please.  My one desire would be that we don't chuck away all the ground work that has been done over the last 12 months to cleanse the club of the MON cobwebs.  I would really love to see AM working with GMAC and Sid on the plans that have been developed over the last 12 months.  Maybe Randy has been insistent that this work has to be carried forward as part of AM's coming to work for us.  The fixtures come out tomorrow lets look forward to them and what lies ahead.

[Merv]

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.

Premier League experience would be on your managerial tick list, sure, but if it's the wrong kind of experience, then I agree, what's the point? AM has had three seasons in the PL, two have ended in relegation. Yes, he came in halfway through the first relegation campaign but Blues were hardly adrift at the bottom when he arrived, and last season he took a decent squad down. Whichever way it's spun, the majority of his PL experience amounts to failure.

[Iago]

my expectations will be to be challenging for 6th to 8th position along with the likes of everton- it would take huge spending to get near the top 4 and is unrealistic ,would love to win a wembley final though as its been a long time.

Even though Randy has spent a lot in the past seasons and it has brought no Silverware/Top Four to the club.

I want us to be competiting with the likes of Tottenham and Everton, which I believe is possible and exciting.

[NeilH]

The worst worst possible thing he could do would be to bring in his own staff and get rid of the likes of Sid and KMac. There is no way in a million years that he or indeed Randy would be stupid enough to get rid of Sid and KMac. They would simply be fanning the flames of an already smouldering fire.... They wouldn’t would they?