The Centre Cannot Hold

[Holtenderinthesky]

. Houllier inherited a bit of a mess from MON that needed cleaning up

Sorry but what exactly do you mean?  I'm tired of hearing that argument.  Houllier inherited a top 6 squad that had been to Wembley twice just months earlier.  The way some make it out is as if we were bottom of the Championship when GH arrived.

[pauliewalnuts]

. Houllier inherited a bit of a mess from MON that needed cleaning up

Sorry but what exactly do you mean?  I'm tired of hearing that argument.  Houllier inherited a top 6 squad that had been to Wembley twice just months earlier.  The way some make it out is as if we were bottom of the Championship when GH arrived.

True but he also inherited a lot of players on big money who had contributed nothing for a long while, and were pretty much entirely alienated from the club.

It's not all MON's fault, but it's also not all GH's fault. He inherited some good things, he inherited some pressing problems which had been "hidden" for a while.

[TheSandman]

God you're all so bloody cynical, is this what football does to its supporters? What's the bloody point if you can't admire any of them?

Regardless of what any of you say I think Nigel is a top guy, a good player, and I think over the course of his career at Villa he was shafted one too many times and deserved a new deal. If you disagree, fine, but for the love of God try not to be so witheringly cynical about it.

It's being practical, not cynical.  Yes, he deserved a new contract, and was offered one, but his wage demands were excessive so wouldn't sign it.

We move on.

This. By the start of the season Nigel will be happily looking forward to a season with Newcastle or Stoke or some other average club. He'll probably get more football and money from them than he would with us so I'm pretty sure he won't be too cut up.

As for the state of the club at present. It's still pretty early to be worried. Yet. If we're well into July without a manager and big name players leaving I'll worry. I reckon we won't be waiting much more than a fortnight.

As for next season: There are no guarantees it will be better (though last season is not the highest baseline) than last season and certainly none that it will be a return to where we are but it could be. I'm going to save my verdict on that until we got a gaffer and some players in.

[Ian.]

Some people see problems, others see opportunities.

I like this, it will look good as my signature you know, if you don't mind?

[adrenachrome]

Some people see problems, others see opportunities.

I like this, it will look good as my signature you know, if you don't mind?

Don't do it, man.

It is cynical management speak designed to exploit the masses.

[hilts_coolerking]

Some people see problems, others see opportunities.

I like this, it will look good as my signature you know, if you don't mind?

Don't do it, man.

It is cynical management speak designed to exploit the masses.

I think it would be improved if you add "... and some see dead people - all the time."

[russon]

God you're all so bloody cynical, is this what football does to its supporters? What's the bloody point if you can't admire any of them?

Regardless of what any of you say I think Nigel is a top guy, a good player, and I think over the course of his career at Villa he was shafted one too many times and deserved a new deal. If you disagree, fine, but for the love of God try not to be so witheringly cynical about it.

I reckon the sun's got to you today ATAL, you've started a negative thread about next season before the player's have had chance to finish showering following the Liverpool final whistle, and then got in a lather about everyone else being cynical! My glass is always half empty yet even I feel positive about next season, Houlier's been despatched alongside some other deadwood and we have the chance to employ a quality manager whether that's Ancelloti, Hughes or (hopefully) Moyes. Cool the beans my friend, in the words of Danny Baker " nothing could possibly go wrong now..."

[Dribbler]

As Chris Smith said above, some people see problems, others see opportunities.

I for one see opportunities and think it is exciting to see what our squad will look like next season and how it will line up. Personally i also think any potential manager will see opportunities and be very excited by the situation they could inherit at the club.

Presuming we get a manager in quickly and that we have relatively significant funds to spend, we will have a manager that can come in to a club that has already cleared significant dead wood from it's books, that has a very good core of youth and senior players, yet who will still be able to clear a few existing players out of the club and be able to buy players to put their own mark on the club. They will also have a whole pre season to implement their style and tactics on the players.

I also think we have a very good owner and club structure. We are arguably then one of the best clubs in the premiership that a manger could manage and in the current situation the best opportunity outside of Chelsea. Even then the Chelsea job comes with a lot of pressure and uncertainty and many managers might prefer the opportunity to come to a club like Villa where there would be more stability and they would be given time to build something. I think we will have a lot of managers chomping at the bit to come and manage Villa, from both home and abroad.

Lets just hope then that the club gets the right manager in and a manager that will inspire both the players and the fans.

[Percy McCarthy]

As Chris Smith said above, some people see problems, others see opportunities.

I for one see opportunities and think it is exciting to see what our squad will look like next season and how it will line up. Personally i also think any potential manager will see opportunities and be very excited by the situation they could inherit at the club.

Presuming we get a manager in quickly and that we have relatively significant funds to spend, we will have a manager that can come in to a club that has already cleared significant dead wood from it's books, that has a very good core of youth and senior players, yet who will still be able to clear a few existing players out of the club and be able to buy players to put their own mark on the club. They will also have a whole pre season to implement their style and tactics on the players.

I also think we have a very good owner and club structure. We are arguably then one of the best clubs in the premiership that a manger could manage and in the current situation the best opportunity outside of Chelsea. Even then the Chelsea job comes with a lot of pressure and uncertainty and many managers might prefer the opportunity to come to a club like Villa where there would be more stability and they would be given time to build something. I think we will have a lot of managers chomping at the bit to come and manage Villa, from both home and abroad.

Lets just hope then that the club gets the right manager in and a manager that will inspire both the players and the fans.

Spot on.

[brian green]

What is all this about we will be crying into our cereal again at the end of the season?

The season just gone ended in two of the most memorable Villa games I have ever attended.   The Arsenal experience was magical and the Liverpool game atmosphere was electric.

When being a Villa fan can lift you as high as we were lifted at those two games I do not give a monkey's if Young and Downing go or if we get Kevin Keegan as our new manager.

[Matt Collins]

I'm firmly in the pretty worried camp. Need to recruit:
- new management team
- one or two fullbacks
- 2 keepers
- ideally centre back
- defensive mid
- replace young

Not going to be easy at all

[hilts_coolerking]

It's an opportunity for us to really move forward, if we make the right appointment.  But it's also an opportunity for the board to make the wrong appointment and condemn us to several years as also-rans.

I'm sure the board are aware of this and are looking pull off a great coup by signing someone top drawer.

[RogerS]

Some people see problems, others see opportunities.

Indeedy. The old 'glass half empty/glass half full' scenario.

[gervilla]

It's an opportunity for us to really move forward, if we make the right appointment.  But it's also an opportunity for the board to make the wrong appointment and condemn us to several years as also-rans.

I'm sure the board are aware of this and are looking pull off a great coup by signing someone top drawer.

[/color]

I hope you are right.

[hilts_coolerking]

I hope you are right.

I'm always right, as Percy will attest.

(just kidding Perce)