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

[James]

Okay, so let's pose this question then:

Who do you want as DoF at Villa?

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I hadn't even considered Solskjaer.  He doesn't tick the Premiership managerial experience box so maybe Randy should ask Lord Ferg what he thinks.

Martinez now makes the most sense.  He's ready for a change, a bigger club and has plenty of experience.  He's what we need right now.

Does he want to come though? When Houllier tried to change our style to passing the ball, some players kicked up a fuss and fans got on the players back when they passed it 3 or 4 times without really getting anywhere. Martinez is happy for players to take as many passes as possible before an opening happens, as would I, but, based on 5 years as a season ticket holder, the majority of fans at the game are not.

Why would Martinez want the hassle of not only convincing a set of players how to play, but the additional task of convinving fans that it will take a while to change the style before it comes good.

[Concrete John]

I hadn't even considered Solskjaer.  He doesn't tick the Premiership managerial experience box so maybe Randy should ask Lord Ferg what he thinks.

Martinez now makes the most sense.  He's ready for a change, a bigger club and has plenty of experience.  He's what we need right now.

Does he want to come though? When Houllier tried to change our style to passing the ball, some players kicked up a fuss and fans got on the players back when they passed it 3 or 4 times without really getting anywhere. Martinez is happy for players to take as many passes as possible before an opening happens, as would I, but, based on 5 years as a season ticket holder, the majority of fans at the game are not.

Why would Martinez want the hassle of not only convincing a set of players how to play, but the additional task of convinving fans that it will take a while to change the style before it comes good.

There is a clear out needed at the club, along with an influx of new players, regardless of who the manager is, so you'd hope part of that would be addressed anyway.  As to the fans reaction when we don't get it forward, I share your frustration.  Possession football can be dull at times, with lots of square and backward passes, until an opening appears.

[KevinGage]

I hadn't even considered Solskjaer.  He doesn't tick the Premiership managerial experience box so maybe Randy should ask Lord Ferg what he thinks.

Martinez now makes the most sense.  He's ready for a change, a bigger club and has plenty of experience.  He's what we need right now.

Does he want to come though? When Houllier tried to change our style to passing the ball, some players kicked up a fuss and fans got on the players back when they passed it 3 or 4 times without really getting anywhere. Martinez is happy for players to take as many passes as possible before an opening happens, as would I, but, based on 5 years as a season ticket holder, the majority of fans at the game are not.

Why would Martinez want the hassle of not only convincing a set of players how to play, but the additional task of convinving fans that it will take a while to change the style before it comes good.

That's a bit of a myth, TBH.

It only took one pre season for Martinez to fundamentally change Wigan's style of play and approach in 2009- and that was after inheriting a team still largely made up of Steve Bruce signings.

I don't recall too many howls of derision when we played good stuff under BFR and between 1995-97 under Sir Brian either.  So I'm pretty certain Villa fans as a whole will be able to appreciate good football -when they finally see it.

[dave.woodhall]

A new manager will have one massive advantage - he's not the old manager.

[Risso]

A new manager will have one massive advantage - he's not the old manager.

True, and that will buy him some time, but unless Lerner backs whoever he is the transer market, it's going to be another difficult season.

[Concrete John]

I don't recall too many howls of derision when we played good stuff under BFR and between 1995-97 under Sir Brian either.  So I'm pretty certain Villa fans as a whole will be able to appreciate good football -when they finally see it.

That was a very attacking style aswell as good passing.

Anytime we see a back or square pass when we're not winning you can feel a section of fans get frustrated.

[pauliewalnuts]

Why on earth do we need a DIrector of Football? Has any club in the PL ever prospered with a DoF? Does it work?

What we need is a chairman who pays more attention to things (the one we've got will be fine, if we get the keen chairman of two years ago back, rather than this year's absentee landlord), and a CEO who isn't demonstratively way out of his depth.

As it happens, I've very little faith in their ability to pick the right man. We'll probably end up with Mick McCarthy. I certainly wouldn't be remotely surprised to hear they're making the "must have PL experience" mistake all over again.

[Ger Regan]

Why on earth do we need a DIrector of Football?

Because the board have proven themselves to be utterly clueless up to now? Maybe not a traditional DoF role, but certainly someone on the board with a football background is needed. It's been suggested often enough, but someone of Steve Stride's ilk would have been useful these last few years.

[Concrete John]

A new manager will have one massive advantage - he's not the old manager.

True, and that will buy him some time, but unless Lerner backs whoever he is the transer market, it's going to be another difficult season.

I agree.

But he'll alsok be expecting whoever is in charge to get more from the likes of N'Zogbia & Gabby and continue to utilise the youth.

[KevinGage]

Why on earth do we need a DIrector of Football? Has any club in the PL ever prospered with a DoF? Does it work?

Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottingham and even the Olybiun have (or have had) DoF's, with varying degrees of success.

They are a contemptible club in so many ways, but the managerial upheaval at Chelsea doesn't seem to alter their transfer business or overall strategy.   The manager of the time fits in with the strategy, rather than sets the whole agenda. This can have it's drawbacks -and I wouldn't advocate the musical chairs approach they have to the top job there.    But there is a degree of continuity at least. In direct contrast to us, when first MON, then GH and now (more likely that not)  McLeish departs. The whole things gets ripped up and needs to start again.

[Mazrim]

Why on earth do we need a DIrector of Football?

Because the board have proven themselves to be utterly clueless up to now? Maybe not a traditional DoF role, but certainly someone on the board with a football background is needed. It's been suggested often enough, but someone of Steve Stride's ilk would have been useful these last few years.

Precisely.

And I agree with Kevin's post above too.

[shipscat]

I think we should be making severe overtures  to Dan Ashworth,the boing boingers technical director .

He's been basically responsible for the likes of odenwingle,Olsson,Mulumbu.All decent premiership players,all found cheaply,which I feel is going to be extremely important in the next 24 months whilst we continue on a austerity plan and wait for the youngsters to mature.

[pauliewalnuts]

Why on earth do we need a DIrector of Football?

Because the board have proven themselves to be utterly clueless up to now? Maybe not a traditional DoF role, but certainly someone on the board with a football background is needed. It's been suggested often enough, but someone of Steve Stride's ilk would have been useful these last few years.

Precisely.

And I agree with Kevin's post above too.

Yes, but someone with football knowledge - which I'd agree on - doesn't necessarily mean a director of football.

There are many managers who'll be put off with that idea from the start. I appreciate it works at Chelsea, but the Chelsea manager job is a different proposition to the Villa job.

[Concrete John]

Again, it's a a symptom of the club having no real direction that we can't agree on a DOF being appropriate or not. 

It would never have worked with MON, as he's much more a traditional British club manager.  With Houllier I think he was almost trying to do that job himself as well as manage the first team.  Martinez was the sort of guy who would suit a DOF, but McLeish is not. 

A DOF working is largely based on the overall structure and direction of the club.  We don't have one.