How would you feel if we appointed Steve McClaren?

[Stu]

It was a comedy Dutch accent.

It probably sounds nothing like an authentic Amsterdam brogue with all it's subtle nuances, true. That's why it's a comedy Dutch accent.  In the same way that Rene out of Allo Allo doesn't really sound like a French native.

Precisely, and he's a moron for even attempting it. There's nothing wrong with modulating your voice to make it easier to understand, but that was completely mental.

[gervilla]

I have lived in Holland.
It was a terrible attempt at a comedy Dutch accent.
Cringe-worthy in the extreme.

[jonc73]

I have lived in Holland.
It was a terrible attempt at a comedy Dutch accent.
Cringe-worthy in the extreme.

Agree to differ then-I've watched it again and still think it's an easy way to have a dig at him.Why would anyone imitate an accent-especially a comedy one? Was the interviewer even Dutch? There's no benefit that I can see, but anyway he's still more likely to be the next Villa manager than David Moyes in my view.

[Ian.]

To be perfectly honest I would be gutted if we did appoint him. Saying that the are in charge and we have to trust their judgement and whoever takes the job needs the support from everyone, fans, playesr, backroom etc.

You never know (what do we know ) they might just turn out to be damn good?

[Drummond]

I'm not sure I'd want him but he learned his trade from the best manager this country has seen and followed it up by taking a small club to silverwear and the UEFA cup final.

He then won the league in another country with an unfashionable team.

It's a good record that was blighted by the England job, ring any bells?

[Sir Paul Merson]

when i heard, i didn't want him but then again i was a numpty that wanted MON to leave so be careful what you wish for, ok his brolly and his double dutch have been mistakes, but thats nothing new for us what about our last three managers all have screwed up sometime, and if he turns out useless we can always turn on learner

[Dribbler]

On the back of the General's recent comments i can see it being McClaren. Putting aside the image thing, i don't think he would be a bad manager, just not one of my first choices. Possibly the club's philosophy too.

[TopDeck113]

As I posted yesterday on the Who Should Be...? thread, I've actually come round to thinking that if you look past the prejudice engendered by his time as England manager (and the Dutch accent thing is part of the hangover from that), you actually have a very strong candidate who in many ways would be a good fit.

I think we can do far worse - and that isn't meant to be damning him with faint praise.

[Risso]

No, it was a terrible Dutch accent. MacLaren's a Yorkshireman and sounds absolutely nothing like that normally. That's why he has the piss ripped out of him over here - probably just as much

It really wasn't. If you speak to people who are non native speakers of English, you have to speak slowly and clearly-that is what he did.  It also sounds nothing like a Dutch accent - I hear both nearly every working day.  This doesn't make such a good story though, Graham Taylor wasn't actually a Turnip either. It's just great fun to knock the guy-he is a good manager. Boro in the UEFA cup final?? I wish I could have seen Villa get there.

The Dutch journalist he was speaking to spoke perfect English though.  He wasn't just speaking slowly, he was saying stuff like, "it is, how do you say, "important""!  Watch it again.

[not3bad]

The fact is that if Steve Mclaren started doing a reasonable job the jibes would fade.  If we got as high as say, MON got us in February 2009 and 2010 then the talk would be "would Villa choke again" but Mclaren would by now be taken seriously as perhaps the guy who could take Villa that extra mile that MON could not. 

I think the problem is we're tired of supporting the side that signs Marlon Harewood, Emile Heskey et al.  We don't want another episode of this with Mclaren.   

[jonc73]

The Dutch journalist he was speaking to spoke perfect English though.  He wasn't just speaking slowly, he was saying stuff like, "it is, how do you say, "important""!  Watch it again.

I did-I still think it's the effect of talking to people who aren't native speakers.I had three months in Thailand once, I came back a bit the same-didn't last long.

He has a lot of baggage from being in the England job. I have a feeling he'd do a decent job at Villa, but a bit like Houllier he'd never be a popular appointment. The Wolfsburg period casts the biggest doubt for me, but I seem to remember he tried to change the whole style of play and it didn't go down well (also sounds familiar).

The Generals comments give me the impression that he is at least a serious contender.

[citizenDJ]

It's a shame, but McClaren is, unfortunately, a bit of a laughing stock. Strangely, though, the events (imagined or otherwise) of this week may well have done him a favour. Given the apparent outrage amongst the press people that us mean old Villa fans mocked him, he may well find that they go easier on him in that regard.

From a fans point of view, the trouble is that as soon as we hit a bad patch the same old 'wally' comments would no doubt come back from a portion of the support.

Personally, I'd be reasonably happy if he took over. I couldn't really give a shit if he did a comedy accent or whatever, if he does a good job for us and gets us winning then he can talk like Kermit the Frog and have an umbrella up each sleeve which both open each time we score a goal for all I care.

[Witton Warrior]

An Arsenal fan I work with made a very good point about employing McLaren - he reckons Villa fans are simply scared that they will have a wave of micky-taking from rivals they cannot respond to until he achieves something.

The majority of comments here are about the accent and umbrella thing - his footballing record seems secondary to the argument so maybe the Gooner has something?

[Sir Paul Merson]

i agree, the plonkers last week on talksport had a go at Villa fans for not wanting him, then started to take the piss out of him for his antics !!!!!!!!!!!!

[john2710]

If you exclude the England episode, his record is reasonable. He's a good coach & will come with a point to prove. He would need to get off to a good start otherwise the pressure from the press & fans would be on.

His attempt at a ridiculous Dutch accent or his brolly episode obviously have no bearing on whether or not he's a good manager. I would hope that those at VP pulling the strings would only judge him on his record and any possible interview and not on the media's perception. If not then we have the wrong people pulling the strings.

Would put him way ahead of McLeish, Coyle et al... I have thought since May that McClaren would end up as our manager.