Playing Devil's Advocate...

[Matt C]

Hodgson would have been ideal for us when O'Neill bailed - he would have stabalised the club. Now? I'd take a punt on a younger manager I think - Lambert, Rogers et al.

[tomd2103]

I too would like Lambert and I do think the Villa would still be an attractive proposition for someone like him.  Failing that, there is one manager that I can think of who is currently out of work, but I am sure his name would divide opinion amongst most fans.  I anticipate some stick for this, but I think Sven Goran Eriksson could be a good appointment.  He would definitely be interested in the job (he recently showed interest in the Leeds job) and has experience at all levels of the game.  He has coached all over the world so would have knowledge of global transfer markets and different systems and ways of playing.  I know the last few years have not been too clever for him (though I was really impressed with his Leicester side last season) but this would give him the opportunity to get back into top level football, an opportunity which I'm sure he would relish.  Despite the last few seasons (which again haven't been that bad), he has an excellent record at club level and although not everyone would welcome him, I'm sure he would bring a buzz back to Villa Park.     

[Mazrim]

Thank you for the letter of recommendation Tord. We'll be in touch.

[Boz]

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.... }

He's had a lot less money to spend than at B6 and his buys have in the main been better value for money than at Villa Park.

He wont come anyway, and I wouldn't pick either Hodgson or Curbishley either. Time to be taking a calculated risk with a less experienced manager who has an ethos of playing football and has cut his early teeth at a club elsewhere.

Don't see either Rodgers or Lambert leaving their current jobs, but there must be younger managers who would fit our requirements, rather than people like Hodgson or Curbishley.

[Mazrim]

I find it curious that so many think Rodgers and Lambert are so immovable from jobs at Swansea and Norwich. No disrespect to those clubs but whilst their names are valued (and football is so cruel and fickle) they will want to progress. It will probably not get any better for them with notoriously difficult second seasons coming up.

[eastie]

I find it curious that so many think Rodgers and Lambert are so immovable from jobs at Swansea and Norwich. No disrespect to those clubs but whilst their names are valued (and football is so cruel and fickle) they will want to progress. It will probably not get any better for them with notoriously difficult second seasons coming up.

Rodgers will end up in a much better job than villa but i believe lambert might be tempted,brian mcdermott seems a decent up and coming manager too.

[Mazrim]

Really? Rodgers will go from Swansea to one of the top jobs in the country will he? I doubt it.
Lambert and McDermott are good alternatives though, yes. And probably deserve equal billing at the moment. Especially Lambert.

[Rick_avfc]

Really? Rodgers will go from Swansea to one of the top jobs in the country will he? I doubt it.
Lambert and McDermott are good alternatives though, yes. And probably deserve equal billing at the moment. Especially Lambert.

Having thought about it, I think both Rodgers and Lambert are risks.  Let them experience a 2nd season in this division first before they can be judged.  from what I heard, Rodgers has flopped at the other clubs he was at but seems to have got it right at swansea.  He can be properly judged next season as will lambert.
McDermott seems like a good manager but again, needs to be tested in the PL or the top divisions in europe.  Also, Reading look like getting taken over by some russian billionnaire so I doubt he would leave them to come to us where the purse strings have been tightened.

[N'ZMAV]

Second season syndrome...

[Rick_avfc]

Second season syndrome...

exactly!

[Risso]

Second season syndrome...

exactly!

I reckon both Swansea and Norwich will stay up next season.  They're well run clubs with a plan and good managers, like Stoke, as opposed to chancers like Blackpool or Hull.  If we retain McLeish we'll be amongst the favourites for relegation I'm sure.

[N'ZMAV]

Second season syndrome...

exactly!

I reckon both Swansea and Norwich will stay up next season.  They're well run clubs with a plan and good managers, like Stoke, as opposed to chancers like Blackpool or Hull.  If we retain McLeish we'll be amongst the favourites for relegation I'm sure.

I tend to agree with all of this.

[PaulWinch again]

We'll definitely be candidates for relegation if Mcleish remains in charge next season. Randy needs to have a long hard think about what he's doing.

[Concrete John]

Having thought about it, I think both Rodgers and Lambert are risks.  Let them experience a 2nd season in this division first before they can be judged.  from what I heard, Rodgers has flopped at the other clubs he was at but seems to have got it right at swansea.  He can be properly judged next season as will lambert.

With Rodgers, Swansea had been building the footballing philosophy that's now bearing fruit for quite some time, so I'm not totally convinced by him yet.

Of the two, I'd be looking at Lambert as a much more valid candidate if McLeish does go.

[Concrete John]

We'll definitely be candidates for relegation if Mcleish remains in charge next season. Randy needs to have a long hard think about what he's doing.

I think whoever is in charge, Randy firstly needs to back them in the transfer market.