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

[russon]

here's Paul Mcgrath's latest tweet -

Strange result but the Deal is done, so all we can do as villa supports is get behind Alex & wish him well and hope for a better season UTV!

not a ringing endorsement but agree with his sentiments

[brian green]

I am glad this thread has returned to the real world of breathtaking disbelief that so much could be ballsed up by so few.

If there was ever to be a degree course in football administration (perhaps there is for all I know) the best practice handbook of manager appointment would be called Aston Villa August 2010 - June 2011.

1.   Always be prepared for the possibility that your manager/coach will leave immediately before the start of the season in order to inflict the maximum damage to your football club.
2.   If you have good temporary management cover give him time to steady the ship and do not panic if some heavy defeats happen as the temporary management settles in.

3.   Do not build up the hopes of the temporary manager that a permanent post may be offered then dump him.   A good club servant will be humiliated.

4.   Do not appoint an old manager.

5.   Do not appoint a manager with health problems.

6.   Do not appoint a manager who enjoys the adulation of a rival club.   It will create conflict of loyalties.

7.   If you appoint a manager who is old and/or has health problems have a detailed plan of action locked away in a drawer somewhere for instant reference if your manager cannot manage any more.

8.   When choosing the new manager to replace the sick one choose the one you want, make sure you have enough money to buy him then go out and get him quickly like picking an apple off a tree.   Do not be like a kid chucking sticks up a conker tree hoping what you want will drop in your lap.

9.   Do not tap up other clubs managers or even give reason to be accused of doing so.

10.   Do not treat your club's fans with contempt, the day you need them will come sooner than you think.   Be as open and up front as is consistent with what you have to do but under no circumstances use a front man to insult the intelligence of the club fans with puerile remarks about getting a new manager is not like getting a balti pie from Marks and Spencer.   Respect the fans' intelligence and goodwill.

You have two hours.   Write on both sides of the paper.

[villadom]

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I decided to support Aston Villa - they were innocent times when a club promoted from the 2nd division could win the league and then become champions of Europe.

At the start of every season, I thought my team might win the League. Once they actually did.

Those times are long gone.

The (not really but top four) Champions League changed all that, the power shifted to the players, who could leave at a whim for the chance of playing the Icelandic runners-up in front of a multibillion TV audience.

Then the obscenely rich owners arrived, using a working class game to garner prestige.

The "Champions League" became a self fulfilling prophesy and the fair financing initiative will only go to cement the teams currently involved in it.

Football is entertainment, it is about possibility - when that possibility becomes at best finishing 7th it is devalued.

With this appointment we have abandoned any hope of success and any hope of entertainment.

There seems little point in even supporting the club.

[old man villa fan]

I am glad this thread has returned to the real world of breathtaking disbelief that so much could be ballsed up by so few.

If there was ever to be a degree course in football administration (perhaps there is for all I know) the best practice handbook of manager appointment would be called Aston Villa August 2010 - June 2011.

1.   Always be prepared for the possibility that your manager/coach will leave immediately before the start of the season in order to inflict the maximum damage to your football club.
2.   If you have good temporary management cover give him time to steady the ship and do not panic if some heavy defeats happen as the temporary management settles in.

3.   Do not build up the hopes of the temporary manager that a permanent post may be offered then dump him.   A good club servant will be humiliated.

4.   Do not appoint an old manager.

5.   Do not appoint a manager with health problems.

6.   Do not appoint a manager who enjoys the adulation of a rival club.   It will create conflict of loyalties.

7.   If you appoint a manager who is old and/or has health problems have a detailed plan of action locked away in a drawer somewhere for instant reference if your manager cannot manage any more.

8.   When choosing the new manager to replace the sick one choose the one you want, make sure you have enough money to buy him then go out and get him quickly like picking an apple off a tree.   Do not be like a kid chucking sticks up a conker tree hoping what you want will drop in your lap.

9.   Do not tap up other clubs managers or even give reason to be accused of doing so.

10.   Do not treat your club's fans with contempt, the day you need them will come sooner than you think.   Be as open and up front as is consistent with what you have to do but under no circumstances use a front man to insult the intelligence of the club fans with puerile remarks about getting a new manager is not like getting a balti pie from Marks and Spencer.   Respect the fans' intelligence and goodwill.

You have two hours.   Write on both sides of the paper.

It is No. 10 that has done for me.

To be told that I do not understand football and how football administration works is an insult that will take me a long time to get over.

As a long time fan of the club I feel belittled and betrayed.

[Macho Man Randy Savage]

If appointed, as expected, we need to get behind McLeish. He might not be the right man for the job but booing isn't going to help. I'm hoping he proves people wrong. At the very least he seems like a decent enough guy which couldn't be said about Bruce.

[Rigadon]

Still a lot of hand-wringing going down I see. 

Does anybody else feel like all this 'protest' is as a result of the penny dropping that we won't be doing a Manchester City?  I mean, people say that "we can't do a City" but secretly thought Randy would pay for a 'meltdown' inducing appointment as manager and then buy some outrageously expensive manager for a few years.  Is the fact that we're apparently appointing AM another reason to believe that Randy has been duping us all along or something? Fucking bollocks.

The reality is that AM is a good manager who has most recently been managing a small club at Blues.  He won them a cup.  He got relegated.  He has managed Scotland.  Managed the latter stages of Champions League.  Take away the Blues thing and he's the perfect candidate for where Villa are right now.  Ambitious.  Hard enough to get our lacklustre 'stars' to roll their fucking socks up as is proven by him stepping up to the plate of crossing the city and riding the two footed tackles from both sets of fans. 

IMO McLeish is going to surprise a lot of people if he is given the chance.  If he's big enough to step up, we should be too.  Or you could go on moaning about it I suppose.

[Villanation]

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I decided to support Aston Villa - they were innocent times when a club promoted from the 2nd division could win the league and then become champions of Europe.

At the start of every season, I thought my team might win the League. Once they actually did.

Those times are long gone.

The (not really but top four) Champions League changed all that, the power shifted to the players, who could leave at a whim for the chance of playing the Icelandic runners-up in front of a multibillion TV audience.

Then the obscenely rich owners arrived, using a working class game to garner prestige.

The "Champions League" became a self fulfilling prophesy and the fair financing initiative will only go to cement the teams currently involved in it.

Football is entertainment, it is about possibility - when that possibility becomes at best finishing 7th it is devalued.

With this appointment we have abandoned any hope of success and any hope of entertainment.

There seems little point in even supporting the club.

Well, have to say I switched of Villa after the Newcastle game early in the season, kept an eye on them through the usual sources throughout the season, but not fixated by any means.

I have been a fan of Villa all my life from the first game I went to on a cold frosty Wednesday night in a Cup semi final v Man Utd in the early 70's, I watched a Villa team playing a team full to the brim with stars, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Paddy Crerand, Alex Stepney, Willie Morgan, a team bristling with so much skill and talent it was just scintilating to look at, and yet the Villa boys where magnificent, they never gave up, the fight in them was incredible.

Villa park was so full, way way more than is allowed today, everybody on there feet, because it was possible for people to surge forward virtually to the front i was picked up and held aloft, there was never a problem, that was it for me, hooked.

I never thought Houllier was the man, and that was born out, and although i respect anybody that wants to blindly follow and get behind the club come what may, thats not my point of view, I feel in the same way a fan has to repsond in loyalty to a club, when that club is doing the right thing, good or bad, IMO the club has to earn that loyalty, and when you are looking at a great club with great history being run crap, sorry, it don't do it for me because I have enough memories to know just how good Villa can be and what its like to be at Villa when the club is doing well, even being promoted from the lower leagues, great days also.

I will keep an eye on the team, not the same buzz though.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

here's Paul Mcgrath's latest tweet -

Strange result but the Deal is done, so all we can do as villa supports is get behind Alex & wish him well and hope for a better season UTV!

not a ringing endorsement but agree with his sentiments

Sorry. Just can't do it!
I love my club and want us to be as good as we can and I'll be there for every game next season.
I cannot condone this truly crap appointment or "get behind" him. He's just not good enough!
I really hope he proves me wrong but I really very much doubt it!

[TonyD]

So is the fat lady singing tonight or will it be over breakfast?

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Still a lot of hand-wringing going down I see. 

Does anybody else feel like all this 'protest' is as a result of the penny dropping that we won't be doing a Manchester City?  I mean, people say that "we can't do a City" but secretly thought Randy would pay for a 'meltdown' inducing appointment as manager and then buy some outrageously expensive manager for a few years.  Is the fact that we're apparently appointing AM another reason to believe that Randy has been duping us all along or something? Fucking bollocks.

The reality is that AM is a good manager who has most recently been managing a small club at Blues.  He won them a cup.  He got relegated.  He has managed Scotland.  Managed the latter stages of Champions League.  Take away the Blues thing and he's the perfect candidate for where Villa are right now.  Ambitious.  Hard enough to get our lacklustre 'stars' to roll their fucking socks up as is proven by him stepping up to the plate of crossing the city and riding the two footed tackles from both sets of fans. 

IMO McLeish is going to surprise a lot of people if he is given the chance.  If he's big enough to step up, we should be too.  Or you could go on moaning about it I suppose.

With you in spirit Rigadon, just finding the reality fukin hard to take.

[Percy McCarthy]

Bloody hell it was said to be imminent hours ago and we are still waiting- what chance has the vicar got of Faulkner turning up on time at the altar , those poor press at bodymoor have homes to go to, that sky blokes been standing around 12 hours waiting now and it's pissing with rain- shame on you Paul!

I've just took the lid of a can of emulsion, I 'd hope they get on and announce it soon so I can go and graffitti VP before Corrie starts.

Get down there son, you can watch the omnibus.

[MalcolmP]

There seems little point in even supporting the club.

Then go and support someone else - A true Villa fan will support the club whoever the manager and owner. They come and go we don't. I was a Villa fan long before Lerner and McCleish and I will be a Villa fan long after both have gone. I personally think McCleish will do a great job for us and anybody who spends £300m on a club is entitled to make the decision who runs his team. Lerner is the one whose investment stands or falls on this decision.

[villa1]

here's Paul Mcgrath's latest tweet -

Strange result but the Deal is done, so all we can do as villa supports is get behind Alex & wish him well and hope for a better season UTV!

not a ringing endorsement but agree with his sentiments

The Lord has spoken.

[Bottom Right 89]

Trophies remember them?

[gervilla]

here's Paul Mcgrath's latest tweet -

Strange result but the Deal is done, so all we can do as villa supports is get behind Alex & wish him well and hope for a better season UTV!

not a ringing endorsement but agree with his sentiments

The Lord has spoken.

Amen.