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

[UK Redsox]

Glenn Hoddle should be seriously considered for me. Knows the European game inside out, plays good football, good experience and a progressive thinker about the game.

Not many managers would make me re-consider my decision to renew but Hoddle is one of them.

[Mazrim]

Its a strange situation that I find myself in. I hear one argument and I think, "yes thats a good point, he'd be a good choice", then I hear a good counter-argument and I have my doubts again.
I honestly have no idea who it should be but I know we have to build something lasting this time and have to get the appointment as right as prophecy allows.

They have to have some character on and off the pitch, have tactical flexibility, a knowledge of the transfer market, vision, know how to build or shape an attacking team, be able to work with and develop young players and be able to build and maintain confidence. Most of this our last manager lacked to say the least.

[dicedlam]

I also want someone who is positive in front of the media and does not belittle my club.

[brontebilly]

Is Hughton nailed on for West Brom?

To be honest I'm not keen on Di Matteo. Avram Grant had Chelsea within a heroic JT penalty miss of winning the Champions League. Not sure if he is that bad but between Lambert, Hughton and Rodgers for me. In that order too.

[PaulWinch again]

Joaquin Low would be a great choice, but can't see it myself.

[Brend'Watkins]

I also want someone who is positive in front of the media and does not belittle my club.

Yes, this should be part of the criteria.  The last two clearly didn't get it.  Comments such as "No shame in losing to a team like Tottenham" or such like should never again come from the mouth of any Villa manager.

[nick harper]

Glenn Hoddle should be seriously considered for me. Knows the European game inside out, plays good football, good experience and a progressive thinker about the game.

Not many managers would make me re-consider my decision to renew but Hoddle is one of them.

Respect your opinion, but given that we are in for yet another season of transition, the most we can hope for is some stability, decent football, and thedevelopment of the young players which will be essential for the club.

I genuinely believe Hoddle can bring all that. No messy compensation either. It may be that a DOF is a better role for him if the club go with that structure but he has excellent experience that is going to waste it seems to me.

I accept there are others who are qualified for the role but we get blinkered by choosing from a small pool who happen to have had decent seasons with their clubs - in Martinez case, the last 3 months.

[john robsons sideburns]

Quite why anyone would want Chris Hughton is beyond me......what's he done for the past year.......oh yeah, failed to get Bormingham promoted.......just what Villa need

Move on

[john e]

Isn't the choice about the following ? :-
1. Take a risk on an up and coming manager who has never won anything but who MAY step up and eventually achieve something at the club over time, but is as yet, unproven. This would include Lambert, Rodgers and possibly Martinez.
So a gamble that may pay off, but could just as easily mean that we continue to coast along without ever really pushing on.
2. Go for someone older, wiser who has already won things in the game, but may come with their own agenda or baggage. This would include Ranieri, Benitez, maybe AVB ?.

Is there a 3rd choice/group, of managers who are neither, but could be a possibility, to include Moyes and suchlike

For me, i think I'd prefer someone from option 2 but I really don't know. it's a tough decision the board has to make and they HAVE to get it right this time.

That said, at the moment, I' m still just enjoying getting rid of the Scottish one.

i can see where you get the 3 choice boxes from,
 i would take the risk in box 1 but understand that the word 'risk' is something a lot of Villa fans will be afraid of because of the last 2 seasons.

the 3rd option is for me the boring one, safe hands and all that, a new BFR would be great, if there was one

[PaulTheVillan]

Its a strange situation that I find myself in. I hear one argument and I think, "yes thats a good point, he'd be a good choice", then I hear a good counter-argument and I have my doubts again.
I honestly have no idea who it should be but I know we have to build something lasting this time and have to get the appointment as right as prophecy allows.

They have to have some character on and off the pitch, have tactical flexibility, a knowledge of the transfer market, vision, know how to build or shape an attacking team, be able to work with and develop young players and be able to build and maintain confidence. Most of this our last manager lacked to say the least.

I'm feeling that, Maz.

[sonlyme]

Reading some of the suggestions here makes me realise why we have a reputation as 'fickle' - jesus mary and joseph would make a better fist of it than some of these suggestions - I mean - Glenn Hoddle?  Sami Hyppia?  I can hear the tins of paint being opened right now in preparation for another season of banner waving discontent.

There should only be three candidates for the VP job - all youngish - all playing varying degrees of successful football - and all with some form of current Premiership success working with a limited budget.

1 Roberto Martinez.


The Wizard of Wigan - and architect of Swansea

Has managed to keep Wigan in the Premiership yet again despite having to regularly sell his best players.  Wigan were unpredictable and inconsistent and struggled to counter direct long ball attacks - but that was down to personnel.  Look at their results against the top teams in the division - and then try to recall the style with which they acheived those results.  It is true - most of the season they lost to long ball humpers like Bolton, Wolves, and dare I say, Villa.  But towards the end they beat Liverpool, Stoke, Man Utd, Arsenal, and Newcastle (4 - 0).  And they did it playing flowing football.

He is also a man with honour.  He did not turn Villa down because he doesn't like the Villa (as I've seen written elsewhere) - he felt he had made a pledge to his chairman and wanted to honour that pledge.  That is the kind of man I want at my club.

He is also seen as a major part of what has been achieved by my 2nd suggestion - laying the foundations for success.

2 Brendan Rodgers.


The Pass Master

Did anyone else watch his Swansea team of no names utterly confuse and destroy our boys.  They never panic - never hoof it forward just to get rid of it - the philosophy they follow is the Barca one - if the opposition can't get the ball - they can't score.  Rodgers has them playing like a prototype Arsenal - and an Arsenal at their best.  Imagine what he could do with our crop of players - plus some new additions?   Imagine him coaching our kids?  Remember how they played against Man U under GH?  They can do it again and do it better under Rodgers.

Win - Lose - or Draw - watching Villa under Rogers would be worth every penny.

3 Paul Lambert


Remind you of anyone?

This may be a bookies favourite - and he has done remarkably well at Norwich - but ask Colchester fans what they think of him - and they will tell you of a man in the Steve Bruce mould - ruthlessly ambitious for bigger and better things.  No crime in that - unless he leaves you just as you are starting to roll.

He is seen very much as a disciple of MON.  And still refers to the old dummy spitter as 'Gaffer'.  His teams are well organised, just like O'Neill's, and tend to play on the counter, with direct football very much part of their armoury.  It would be a return to the hustle and bustle and counter-strike we saw under O'Neill - good enough to earn you top half maybe - but good enough to challenge for trophies?


For myself - I just want to see football at VP - win lose or draw - I want our team to be 'in' every game - I want to see the beautiful game again - and that's why my fingers are crossed it will be Martinez or Rodgers.  Brilliant coaches who can do brilliant things at our brilliant club.

UTV

[john e]

Its a strange situation that I find myself in. I hear one argument and I think, "yes thats a good point, he'd be a good choice", then I hear a good counter-argument and I have my doubts again.
I honestly have no idea who it should be but I know we have to build something lasting this time and have to get the appointment as right as prophecy allows.

They have to have some character on and off the pitch, have tactical flexibility, a knowledge of the transfer market, vision, know how to build or shape an attacking team, be able to work with and develop young players and be able to build and maintain confidence. Most of this our last manager lacked to say the least.

i would agree with you there, i am also swayed by the arguments of other posters to and fro, i suppose thats what good debate is all about.
your last statement is also smack on, and also difficult to know who it might be, its a bit of a lotterey in the end, just hoping that once you have picked your numbers they come in,

for me the footballing style and the ability to build from the ground up is key, thats why the name of Rogers, Lambert and Martinez are quite exciting in there own way, i have some real hope that Randy will get it right this time, and give us something worth watching again

[Fergal]

I think Gary McAlister (sp) would be a good shout if we could get an experienced man to be his DoF.

[john robsons sideburns]

Isn't the choice about the following ? :-
1. Take a risk on an up and coming manager who has never won anything but who MAY step up and eventually achieve something at the club over time, but is as yet, unproven. This would include Lambert, Rodgers and possibly Martinez.
So a gamble that may pay off, but could just as easily mean that we continue to coast along without ever really pushing on.
2. Go for someone older, wiser who has already won things in the game, but may come with their own agenda or baggage. This would include Ranieri, Benitez, maybe AVB ?.

Is there a 3rd choice/group, of managers who are neither, but could be a possibility, to include Moyes and suchlike

For me, i think I'd prefer someone from option 2 but I really don't know. it's a tough decision the board has to make and they HAVE to get it right this time.

That said, at the moment, I' m still just enjoying getting rid of the Scottish one.

i can see where you get the 3 choice boxes from,
 i would take the risk in box 1 but understand that the word 'risk' is something a lot of Villa fans will be afraid of because of the last 2 seasons.

the 3rd option is for me the boring one, safe hands and all that, a new BFR would be great, if there was one

I's say the thirs option is for a true Villa through and through man.....totally unproven but has the Villa passion running through his veins and is popular on the terraces.....I guess in that category you'd put Gordon Cowans, Ian Taylor, David Platt, Andy Gray, Martin Laursen, Olof Mellberg, Stan Collymore, even Stan Petrov in time

There is something very appealing about this option, but it's way too risky to consider, would be nice if we could get some of these guys involved in the club...coaching, scouting, in some capacity.  It would be great to look at the Villa bench and see a hungry young manager flanked by Villa legends like Cowans, Taylor, Gray, Laursen & Mellberg animated and involved etc.....it would just look right.  Peter Grant most definitely did NOT look right

[Irish villain]

Having been a Lambert man, sonlyme's post has now tipped me to Rodgers. It's a tough call. Is there anybody we havent' thought of?