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

[NiiLamptey]

What about Hulk Hogan? I want to see some passion on the sidelines and him ripping his shirt off and giving the ref the death eyes and point would be just the ticket. And if he had to kick Kenny Dalglish in the back then that's a bonus.
I'm sure the Holte would love to see him cup his ear to them.

LOL!!!

I like the idea of him reffering to the villa failthful as "Hulkamaniacs"  in the press interviews

[Risso]

What about Hulk Hogan? I want to see some passion on the sidelines and him ripping his shirt off and giving the ref the death eyes and point would be just the ticket. And if he had to kick Kenny Dalglish in the back then that's a bonus.
I'm sure the Holte would love to see him cup his ear to them.

I'd love to see him take a folding chair and run up the steps while Lerner's back is turned, and wrap it round his head.*



*In a totally fake American wrestling not-actually-violent way, of course.

[Reuben]

Will.i.am?

Our performances would be 'dope' and 'fly'

Problem is he don't got tactics...

He got tictacs cos he fresh!  Holler!

[PeterWithesShin]

Will.i.am?

Our performances would be 'dope' and 'fly'

How would we get the big chair in the dug out?

Not for me as he faces away from the action until it sounds interesting. Actually, that could be a plan for us all next season.

[john e]

Martinez is favourite at the moment in the odds isn't he, by a distance? Not that it means anything!

Randy & Co let so little slip out that they probably haven't a clue and Martinez is favourite based purely on our prior interest in him.

And I share Clampy's concerns about why his Wigan side needs to be up sheet creak before they reach for the paddle!

Normally I'd agree, but at least his team tries to play football and also since it's replacing Mcleish I'd risk it.

Lets be honest - very few managers we could name would not be seen as any improvement from AM right now.  So, do we just settle for that or look for the best available candidate?

To me, taking a manager like Martinez, who has a question mark over him, would mean the potential to be in a similar position in 12 months time and end up looking for a new man AGAIN.  Now that is of course a possibility whoever we appoint, but I'd be dismayed if they had a similar mentality of "Doesn't matter who we get and they'll just be glad Alex has gone."

you could probably say that about any manager though,
 whoever we bring in there will be an element of risk,
appointing a manager is the biggest decision a chairman has to do, most get it wrong on many occasions, look at Chelsea and they have piles of money.

timing is usually the most important thing, ie Lambert and Rogers are high in the wish list right now, whereas Coyle was a little while ago, you can bet that if Rogers has a season like Bolton next year no one will be talking about him.

thats why a managers football philosophy is key, its what he beleives in no matter what,
when Martinez went on a 8 game losing streak, they asked him if he would change his style, he said no way, he beleived in the way he sets his teams up, they went on to beat, Man Utd, Arsenal, liverpool etc

its that belief in a style and system that we need to build at Villa, i'm not saying it has to be Martinez there are others, including Owen Coyle as it happens,
 but there is definitely a sea change in the way football is played in the prem, old school managera like Allardyce, hughes, Moyes, Mcleish, Bruce, Mcarthy, Pullis etc are being and will be replaced by more modern thinking managers like lambert, Rogers, Martinez, Coyle, it is good to see,

 thats why i will be rooting for Bolton to stay up and QPR to go down, i want the new style managers to have success as it will breed a better and more exciting prem league

[ozzjim]

I agree John, although I reckon some of the ones you mention are/ will adapt to play good football, Everton especially I have seen play some super stuff at times under Moyes. The others, I give you are very formulaic in the way they approach a system and style of play, but Coyle and Lambert are not adverse to a good game of hoof and hope from what I have seen. I think the key to being a good manager is to be adaptable system wise while being willing to play a different way if need be. Ferguson has been brilliant at it over the years.

[KevinGage]

I think Hughes' sides can often vary it between playing the game the right way and having a bit of a nasty streak. 

I don't think Coyle is any sort of puritan when it comes to good football either, and in a game and a half against his lot, they were easily the worst side we faced this season.  When a team looks bad against us they must be shite.

[nigel]

I'm not defending AMcL, but, given the hand he was dealt do you think another manager would have faired any better with the players available and no money to strengthen the squad?
There's no way a top drawer coach would have touched us, Benitez & Ancelotti, without money to spend and i'm not altogether sure the likes of Martinez, Coyle or Hughes would have faired any better than AMcL.
I still think the senior players have trouble changing from MO'Ns style.

[curiousorange]

I think Hughes' sides can often vary it between playing the game the right way and having a bit of a nasty streak. 

I don't think Coyle is any sort of puritan when it comes to good football either, and in a game and a half against his lot, they were easily the worst side we faced this season.  When a team looks bad against us they must be shite.

I was told the other day that Owen Coyle was a 'nasty piece of work'. And no, it wasn't by a Burnley fan.

[Dave]

I'm not defending AMcL, but, given the hand he was dealt do you think another manager would have faired any better with the players available and no money to strengthen the squad?

Yes.

McLeish spent more in the summer than Norwich or Swansea have spent in the last decade. They have seemed to cope.

[nigel]

I'm not defending AMcL, but, given the hand he was dealt do you think another manager would have faired any better with the players available and no money to strengthen the squad?

Yes.

McLeish spent more in the summer than Norwich or Swansea have spent in the last decade. They have seemed to cope.

He also had our 2 best players (and with it Bent's supply line) and our midfield anchor sold before he even started.
The money he spent wasn't strengthening the squad!

[Dave]

I'm not defending AMcL, but, given the hand he was dealt do you think another manager would have faired any better with the players available and no money to strengthen the squad?

Yes.

McLeish spent more in the summer than Norwich or Swansea have spent in the last decade. They have seemed to cope.

He also had our 2 best players (and with it Bent's supply line) and our midfield anchor sold before he even started.
The money he spent wasn't strengthening the squad!

I didn't say it was. I was pointing out the fallacy of saying that he had no money to spend.

He spent £20m. He just didn't spend it particularly wisely.

[MONCABA]

Would anybody fancy Hughton?

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Would anybody fancy Hughton?

Yes.
For two reasons:
1. he's a good tactician

2. just to show those who know nothing that our attitude to AM is nothing to do with where he came from

[Legion]

Yes.