Playing Devil's Advocate...

[Risso]

I'm pretty tired of reading that we couldn't attract a manager from a much smaller club simply because we're struggling this season. I think even football managers have more imagination than some of our supporters.

Randy will provide funds this summer, I just hope there is somebody worthy to spend it.
We will still be in this division, we will still be a big club and we will be able to attract the kind of managers we should be going for if the intent is there from the board. There is plenty to work with at Aston Villa for the right man/men.

There aren't any funds to provide, and any money spent will be a smaller proportion of that incoming from player sales.  I don't think you realise just how bleak our financial state is.  We'll have less money to spend than the likes of Norwich, and if McLeish stays, crowds of a similar level.  How does that make us a "bigger club" than them?

With respect, you have no idea what Randy is willing to provide this summer or what other plans are in place and I do realise the situation with the finances, more than you think. But the club is owned by Lerner and the Lerner trusts and they can take any action necessary to protect their investment. This isnt a plc.

Not that I'm expecting grand investment or that I have all of a sudden found new faith in a board I think are making a bollocks of things in the main. But I do believe we will spend decent money again this summer and that's also backed up from conversations I've had with somebody who should know. I was very skeptical too but time and only time will tell.

Apart from that, I dont know where you're getting the likelihood we'll spend less than Norwich from and I'm not even going to discuss how or why we're a bigger club than the likes of Norwich no more than I'd discuss why the sun rises. We agree on McLeish, that's why I'm suggesting going after Lambert so McLeish wouldn't be a factor. He'd be gone.

I'm sure you still owe me for a bet on the latest set of accounts.  There is no chance on this earth that we'll spend big this summer, none whatsoever.

[john e]

Johne, Martinez had his chance to manage us, let's not humiliate ourselves by asking a second time.

i reckon if we sacked AM and went straight in for RM, he would come,
i dont think we know the full story about what happened with RM last time,as our board seemed to go about things in an unorthadox sort of complicated way

[Mazrim]

I'm sure you still owe me for a bet on the latest set of accounts.

I do? You'll have to remind me of that one.

There is a chance we will spend decent (subjective) money. Firstly because the financial situation should start to improve now after player sales and two record (for us) commercial deals plus further revisions to the wage issue and secondly because it needs to happen to protect the investment the Lerner trust (a multi billion dollar organisation) has made in the club. Otherwise we will be relegated and the financial situation will be guaranteed to worsen.

For what its worth, I would have agreed with you a week or two ago. But after speaking to a man about a dog, I am better informed. No guarantees but we'll see what happens.

In any case the initial point was that we could go after the likes of Lambert and Rodgers with confidence and present them with a project they would be interested in. I am absolutely certain that is realistic.
Unfortuantely I dont think this will happen and they will give McLeish the backing instead.
It's not even that I dont trust McLeish to do some decent dealing. Just that I dont trust him to make best use of whatever dealings he did.

[JJ-AV]

I dont want Woy "Frank Spencer" Hodgson either.

Really? I think he's a great coach.

Infact I'd rate him as fourth best in the country at the minute.

[Mazrim]

I dont want Woy "Frank Spencer" Hodgson either.

Really? I think he's a great coach.

Infact I'd rate him as fourth best in the country at the minute.

Christ, really?

Fergie
Wenger
Lambert
Rodgers
Moyes
Redknapp
Pardew
Jol

All comfortably ahead of him I think and thats just PL based.
Dont get me wrong, I'd have him over McLeish any day of the week but we could do better.

[darren woolley]

Moyes who wont come to us would be my first choice other than that Rodgers or Lambert.

[Doorbell]

I'd like to see a long term solution implemented next time, one that complements our excellent youth system.  So a DoF accompanied by one of the younger up and coming managers mentioned in previous posts...

If we're going to stay with the current system then I think hodgson would be a good choice, he did wonders at fulham with limited resources, got shafted by Liverpool and has done well with the baggies so far...

[Risso]

For what its worth, I would have agreed with you a week or two ago. But after speaking to a man about a dog, I am better informed. No guarantees but we'll see what happens.

That sounds like the usual basesless in-the-know bollocks that means precisely nowt.  You were saying that you'd heard Lerner was selling earlier in the season, now he's only not selling, he's going to spend money he doesn't have.  Chinny reckon.

[montague]

If we are playing devils advocate can i suggest Rodgers and Lambert need more time to prove themselves in the PL than one season. Remember George Burley??

Re Martinez if your criteria is working miracles on a shoestring then why not Alan Curbishley?

[Greg N'Ash]

Personally i'm not so worried about what style of football we play under a new guy. The main thing is we have someone with a forceful personality who will pull the club up from the scruff of its neck - like GT Mk1. Thats half the problem IMO, the malaise and sense of drift thats permenated downwards from the board. A new guy HAS to be able to go into the dressing room and say "buck yer idea's up or you're gone". ATM under Mcleish he can't do that because we can't sell them and can't bring in replacements. Houllier could have done it and would of, but again i reckon the cost of doing that was a factor as much as his illness in the club letting him go.. Bottom line is we need investment and if Randy can't afford it, then he shouldn't have bought us and opted for a Wigan or a Bolton instead. If you want economy don't buy a rolls royce.

[Mazrim]

For what its worth, I would have agreed with you a week or two ago. But after speaking to a man about a dog, I am better informed. No guarantees but we'll see what happens.

That sounds like the usual basesless in-the-know bollocks that means precisely nowt.  You were saying that you'd heard Lerner was selling earlier in the season, now he's only not selling, he's going to spend money he doesn't have.  Chinny reckon.

Re: takeover. I'd heard some rumours that I passed on as did others. So what? I haven't said he isn't selling by the way. I hope he is.
I'm not in the know nor have I claimed to be and as I said, before this last week would have agreed with you.
But I spoke to somebody fairly close to matters that has made me think twice at least, that is all.

Please stop pretending you know Lerner's financial state or the state of financial reports that dont exist yet when you don't. I dont know what's going to happen in the summer and neither do you.
I know I dont want McLeish spending any money that will be availble, that's for sure.

Now, what's this about a bet?

[cdward]

Paolo DiCanio is doing a great job at Swindon, sitting at the top of the table, playing some good football with confidence. He is a real character who wears his heart on his sleeve and tells it like it is. I would love to see someone like him in charge at VP. It won't happen as it would be a massive gamble, plus I believe we won't get relegated, so Randy will stick with McLeish, but I reckon DiCanio has the drive and determination to be a great manager. 

[SoccerHQ]

I'd have been happy with Martinez.

The football would've been better for a start and he would've got more out of N'zogbia.

[Villanation]

Said it before I would like to see Flores, based on the fact he said he wanted the Villa job

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/7310/4/atletico-madrid-manager-flores-aston-villas-shortlist

I think what the board would go for is bread and butter stuff.

[scoobydoobydont]

Said it before I would like to see Flores, based on the fact he said he wanted the Villa job

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/7310/4/atletico-madrid-manager-flores-aston-villas-shortlist

I think what the board would go for is bread and butter stuff.

I'd question his mental health for that comment..... JK

He'd be a breath of fresh air, and WANT{ed} the job, Athletico play decent football, have a good strong squad, and are always pushing for silverware in the spanish version of the SPL... don't see the love in for Moyes though. Everton are similar sized club to us, similar fan base and income etc., and he's done jack all up there.... they stagnate between 6th and 9th for the last millenia or so.....   {I said similar, not exact or close.... }