Who do you want as the next manager? New poll option.

[Dante Lavelli]

In summer Martinez looked a bad option now I think he would get people hanging around Villa Park celebrating his arrival..or just sheer jubilation to rid the club of Mcliesh and Grant !!

In many ways, it is that simple.  The next manger is a very lucky man as he will get support from 90% of the fans regardless of who he is.  Add the youngsters and the improving wages issue and ultimately I think the job should be appealing for an up and coming manager.

[Risso]

Maybe it's all a cunning ploy.  Give the job to McLeish, a manager so pant-wettingly awful that any decision they make after that will seem brilliant.  Just as any future striker will do compared to Emile Heskey.

[Steve67]

Maybe it's all a cunning ploy.  Give the job to McLeish, a manager so pant-wettingly awful that any decision they make after that will seem brilliant.  Just as any future striker will do compared to Emile Heskey.

Even Curbishley? I agree with you though, it's almost, the enemy of my enemy is my friend kind of thing.  Pant wettingly is also very good BTW.  If you don't mind, I'm going to use it.

[David_Nab]

The only option more unpopular than the current mob would be Heskey player manager ...and even then i'd be willing to give him a go

[James]

I'm not suggesting this, but I just read a VERY interesting article on [the success] of one Paulo DiCanio.
(that'll put the cat among the pigeons - I've lit the blue touch - paper - now stand back !!) 

You're a day late mate, scroll back a few pages!

[KevinGage]

I repeat it's the approach of the manager towards a passing and entertaining game, more than who that man is. We desperately need a manager in touch with the modern possesion based game.

Somebody who can teach how to pass and move and who doesn't make players stay rigidly within their set zones.

If that's the criteria then Martinez is a good option.

You can make a case against all of the recurring names:

Martinez:  No stranger to the bottom of the table
Rodgers:   Still relatively inexperienced, got the boot from Reading not so long back
Lambert:  Something very MON about him.  Has come up through the divisions, but his sides still play functional football.  And his success seems to rely on ordinary (and often older) players punching above their weight, rather than any focus on technical ability

If we widen it out to European coaches/ managers, realistically we'd have to look at those who have a blip or two on their CV's.  That still leaves some very good candidates, like Van Basten, Rijkaard, Laudrup and co.  But the issue with an appointment of that ilk is they might get itchy feet very quickly.  Go through the record of most of those and it's by no means unusual to see managerial stints that last less than a year. 

We need someone who is on board with the concept of building something here, who doesn't view VP as merely the latest stop off, a chance to experience the top flight in England and then move swiftly on.

So for me, I'd have a slight preference for Martinez.  He's already illustrated his loyalty to Wigwam, when he could have easily bailed at the first offer of bigger money/ better resources elsewhere.   He was also the one who set the ball rolling at Swansea-  a fair chunk of the players there are still his signings. Rodgers is merely reaping the benefits of the groundwork already put in. Though with his background learning under Mourinho and co at Chelsea, it would be unfair to suggest that he brings nowt to the table there.

We don't expect/ demand top 6 anymore, nevermind top 4, so a manager trying to do the right things will be given time IMO.  I can accept a few seasons of mid table football, if our games start to become even vaguely entertaining sometimes, and don't make me want to spoon my own eyeballs out.

[PaulWinch again]

I repeat it's the approach of the manager towards a passing and entertaining game, more than who that man is. We desperately need a manager in touch with the modern possesion based game.

Somebody who can teach how to pass and move and who doesn't make players stay rigidly within their set zones.

If that's the criteria then Martinez is a good option.

You can make a case against all of the recurring names:

Martinez:  No stranger to the bottom of the table
Rodgers:   Still relatively inexperienced, got the boot from Reading not so long back
Lambert:  Something very MON about him.  Has come up through the divisions, but his sides still play functional football.  And his success seems to rely on ordinary (and often older) players punching above their weight, rather than any focus on technical ability

If we widen it out to European coaches/ managers, realistically we'd have to look at those who have a blip or two on their CV's.  That still leaves some very good candidates, like Van Basten, Rijkaard, Laudrup and co.  But the issue with an appointment of that ilk is they might get itchy feet very quickly.  Go through the record of most of those and it's by no means unusual to see managerial stints that last less than a year. 

We need someone who is on board with the concept of building something here, who doesn't view VP as merely the latest stop off, a chance to experience the top flight in England and then move swiftly on.

So for me, I'd have a slight preference for Martinez.  He's already illustrated his loyalty to Wigwam, when he could have easily bailed at the first offer of bigger money/ better resources elsewhere.   He was also the one who set the ball rolling at Swansea-  a fair chunk of the players there are still his signings. Rodgers is merely reaping the benefits of the groundwork already put in. Though with his background learning under Mourinho and co at Chelsea, it would be unfair to suggest that he brings nowt to the table there.

We don't expect/ demand top 6 anymore, nevermind top 4, so a manager trying to do the right things will be given time IMO.  I can accept a few seasons of mid table football, if our games start to become even vaguely entertaining sometimes, and don't make me want to spoon my own eyeballs out.

I think that's essentially my view too. Plus it will lead to better things in the long run. Under Mcleish we are going nowhere but down.

[KevinGage]

That's pretty much it Paul.

I'm not under any illusions that brining in Martinez (or similar)  will suddenly issue in an era of unprecedented success.  But it might be the start, of learning good habits. Things that appear basic, like passing and players moving off the ball, but things we have struggled with for over a decade.

[Ian.]

I was very happy about going for Martinez last summer although I knew it would be a gamble, I'd be happy still if we went for him again.

[john e]

That's pretty much it Paul.

I'm not under any illusions that brining in Martinez (or similar)  will suddenly issue in an era of unprecedented success.  But it might be the start, of learning good habits. Things that appear basic, like passing and players moving off the ball, but things we have struggled with for over a decade.

there is also a massive dollop of luck which goes any appointment,  i've said before its not an exact science, some managers just suit certain clubs at certain times,
we just got to hope we make as good a chioce as possible, then pray for a bigger dollop than most

[TimTheVillain]

That's pretty much it Paul.

I'm not under any illusions that brining in Martinez (or similar)  will suddenly issue in an era of unprecedented success.  But it might be the start, of learning good habits. Things that appear basic, like passing and players moving off the ball, but things we have struggled with for over a decade.

I agree, I do wonder about the Coaching at the club.

Brendan Rodgers spent time watching Barcelona training and working on matters football, not a bad an idea.

'Root and branch surgery' has been used so many times while I've been a Villa fan, and it needs to be used again.

[john e]

That's pretty much it Paul.

I'm not under any illusions that brining in Martinez (or similar)  will suddenly issue in an era of unprecedented success.  But it might be the start, of learning good habits. Things that appear basic, like passing and players moving off the ball, but things we have struggled with for over a decade.

I agree, I do wonder about the Coaching at the club.

Brendan Rodgers spent time watching Barcelona training and working on matters football, not that an idea.

'Root and branch surgery' has been used so many times while I've been a Villa fan, and it needs to be used again.

root and branch suggests we have got it wrong top to bottom, and thats not the case, we have a great youth set up and academy, playing football the way we wish the first team to play.
we just need a manager who can marry the two together

[pauliewalnuts]

After the negativity that has swamped the support with the current encumbent, the next manager will start from a pretty good position - all that "he's not McLeish" stuff is going to guarantee a certain amount of goodwill.

If we're going to operate on a limited budget for a while longer, then we're going to have to do it, there's no getting away from that, so if it is lowered expectations, lets have some fun at least, and appoint a manager who'll try to get us playing a bit of football.

Ultimately, it is a hobby, it is meant to be fun. For too long (and not just under AM) it has been like a chore going to the matches.

I think that's the main objection to McLeish from many of us - not that he doesn't get us results or play good football, but that he's not really very interested in the latter.

[KevinGage]

That's pretty much it Paul.

I'm not under any illusions that brining in Martinez (or similar)  will suddenly issue in an era of unprecedented success.  But it might be the start, of learning good habits. Things that appear basic, like passing and players moving off the ball, but things we have struggled with for over a decade.

I agree, I do wonder about the Coaching at the club.

Brendan Rodgers spent time watching Barcelona training and working on matters football, not that an idea.

'Root and branch surgery' has been used so many times while I've been a Villa fan, and it needs to be used again.

root and branch suggests we have got it wrong top to bottom, and thats not the case, we have a great youth set up and academy, playing football the way we wish the first team to play.
we just need a manager who can marry the two together

Well quite.

It would surely be desirable to have a manager who can play to the strengths of our young players.  If we had a rake of limited centre half cloggers and defensive midfielders all coming through, a McLeish type (though preferable still NOT McLeish)  would make a degree of sense.  But the likes of Bannan, Albrighton and co are ballplayers, so -with resources tight-  we need a guy who is more likely to get the best out of what we already possess on the books.

[inside right]

Gus Poyet for me has the hunger played at top level, When Brighton came to VP in the cup a few years back he had them well set up and they kept their shape also caused us a few problems.Has the South American passing and movement experience and will come with no pre conceived problems of managing Villa.Like Martinez he has plied his managerial trade at the lower leagues and now is the time to step up to the plate.Be bold Villa and take a chance Rodgers is an exciting young manager but his stint at Watford was nothing to shout about.