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

[CJ]

If we somehow managed to get Moyes in, I reckon he'd take us to Champions League within four years. He's a better manager than MON, he would inherit a decent, young squad with a top four goalkeeper and a 20 goal a season striker. He'd also presumably get say £30m to spend on sorting out our defence. He seems to find good, cheap players with the right attitude so the first season would likely take us to top ten. The players would not mess with somebody like Moyes. He is a winner and has a reputation. Moreover, he's in his prime unlike Houllier who was probably just past his. Having stabilised and hopefully having increased revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, and improved League placing we'd be then well poised to push for the top six.

If only it was all that easy! Lambert, Martinez and Rogers remain the most likely and most realistic.

Spot on, Irish. I'd love Moyes as our manager but I think he's holding out for SRAlex's retirement do. Moyes would do even better at Everton but for some reason they always seem to get off to a slow start.

[Mazrim]

Can we get avb in the poll please. May not be as unrealistic as some people think

I dont think he's unrealistic at all. I dont know why anybody would think that either.

[Greg N'Ash]

think we'll know if the clubs changed direction by whom comes in. I doubt any 'rated' manager will come in with a pittance transfer budget. If a Curbishley or Coyle turns up we'll know they were after another yes-man willing to work under any conditions as per AM.

[Risso]

Dave Whelan has said there has been no approach from Villa for Martinez

I hope it's a case of learning our lesson.  I truly hope that we go completely behind Whelan's back, and that the first he finds out about Martinez jumping ship is when he turns Sky Sports News on and sees Martinez sat next to Lerner at a press conference.  Serve the old turd right.

[mr woo]

Can I be the first to say how disappointed I am with the appointment of the new manager?

I'm underwhelmed.

He's got to go.

That's the spirit.
He's had long enough to turn this club around.

See you in the car park. Bring a banner.

Too right. It's not where he's taking us, so much as where he hasn't come from yet.

[mikeb1982]

I'm not sure if Moyes is so unrealistic, he's not going to do any more with Everton, and the top jobs are all sewn up for the forseeable future.  We might be a "fresh challenge", as they say

[ozzjim]

Dave Whelan has said there has been no approach from Villa for Martinez

I hope it's a case of learning our lesson.  I truly hope that we go completely behind Whelan's back, and that the first he finds out about Martinez jumping ship is when he turns Sky Sports News on and sees Martinez sat next to Lerner at a press conference.  Serve the old turd right.

One of the bonuses on getting Martinez would be annoying Whelan, he was a twat last summer.

[VillaAlways]

think we'll know if the clubs changed direction by whom comes in. I doubt any 'rated' manager will come in with a pittance transfer budget. If a Curbishley or Coyle turns up we'll know they were after another yes-man willing to work under any conditions as per AM.

I may be being wildly optimistic but I just don't think this will be the case I'm hoping Lerner us going to speculate to accumulate He's lost too much money trying to do it this way

[Concrete John]

As I said yesterday, I'd rather we sat tight and waited for Martinez, or his agent, to approach us.  Then, we politely say 'no thanks' before having Faulkner appear on Skysports saying how Roberto contacted us, but we felt we wanted to go another way this time.

Paybacks a bitch.
 

[paul_e]

think we'll know if the clubs changed direction by whom comes in. I doubt any 'rated' manager will come in with a pittance transfer budget. If a Curbishley or Coyle turns up we'll know they were after another yes-man willing to work under any conditions as per AM.

I may be being wildly optimistic but I just don't think this will be the case I'm hoping Lerner us going to speculate to accumulate He's lost too much money trying to do it this way

I think he's probably willing to put money in to transfers but not to keep the club running, so transfer fees will be available but wages will only be allowed up to what the club can cover from revenue.  This seems to have been the message from the board for the last 2 years and I don't see them not living up to it this summer for the new guy.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Can we get avb in the poll please. May not be as unrealistic as some people think

I dont think he's unrealistic at all. I dont know why anybody would think that either.

Add Alex Ferguson whilst you're doing it.

Why on earth would AVB want to come to Villa. I doubt he'd even heard of us before he actually managed a team against us.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

think we'll know if the clubs changed direction by whom comes in. I doubt any 'rated' manager will come in with a pittance transfer budget. If a Curbishley or Coyle turns up we'll know they were after another yes-man willing to work under any conditions as per AM.

A bit like Alan Pardew then?

[KRS]

Dave Whelan has said there has been no approach from Villa for Martinez

I hope it's a case of learning our lesson.  I truly hope that we go completely behind Whelan's back, and that the first he finds out about Martinez jumping ship is when he turns Sky Sports News on and sees Martinez sat next to Lerner at a press conference.  Serve the old turd right.

In todays interview on SSN, DW did insinuate that he didnt think "Roberto" was ready last season to step up to a "big club" and didnt speak badly of Villa at all. You cant blame DW for wanting to keep hold of the manager that has kept his small Wigan team in the Premier League. Perhaps the one thing I do like about Martinez is that he is very loyal and would be a long term appointment, however I wouldnt be confident that he is the right man for the job or capable of turning things around on or off the pitch...but the same could easily be said of Lambert, Rodgers or AVB.

Make no mistake, the new manager has a lot of work to do at Villa Park...the squad is not strong, he will need time to assess who to get rid of/bring in, and so whoever is appointed will need to view it as a long term project. For me, someone who can work with young players and identify young talent on a budget is essential for the club as a success in the long term. 

[Irish villain]

I'm not sure if Moyes is so unrealistic, he's not going to do any more with Everton, and the top jobs are all sewn up for the forseeable future.  We might be a "fresh challenge", as they say

I'd love to believe this. As I said in my post, he would probably bring us further than MON could. Our players, under both Houllier and MON, have shown that they will quickly 'stop playing' for somebody whom they don't respect. That's my one fear about Lambert, Martinez and Rodgers. With Moyes, they'd have to bloody well listen given what he has achieved at Goodison Park. I think we have more potential than Everton, but think he'd see it as a sideways move (at best) unless he was given something to really entice him. 

[ozzjim]

I think people hankering after AVB are kidding themselves I really do. I think he is a decent manager, but will be looking way higher up the food chain than us. IF he comes, then we are obviously willing to put a bit of money up for fees. I would think Lerner could well say to whoever comes there is x this summer, x next, and x the season after for fees within this wage budget, and then we want to be in a higher position and able to generate more cash.