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

[alan_clarke]

Would still prefer Lambert but I'd certainly be appeased by the Baby Faced Assassin.

[PeterWithesShin]

Whelan is such a grade a twat. I really hope Racist FC don't offer the job to Martinez. And that the only other club who come knocking on his door and offer a contract for his precious manager are Blackburn.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Anyway, I don't know why but I find the prospect of appointing OGS strangely exciting.

It's a bit like finding out there's a new Swedish girl about to join your class at school.

and that she has big tits and plays decent attacking football.

[charlie]

If Martinez goes to Pool and does his usual crap start and 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' are 17th in November..................................................... hohoho

[Chipsticks]

Whelan is such a grade a twat. I really hope Racist FC don't offer the job to Martinez. And that the only other club who come knocking on his door and offer a contract for his precious manager are Blackburn.

In a way I hope that Martinez goes to Liverpool so that we get to see Whelan's Wigan become the new whipping boys of the league and go down without a whimper.

[john e]

Whelan is such a grade a twat. I really hope Racist FC don't offer the job to Martinez. And that the only other club who come knocking on his door and offer a contract for his precious manager are Blackburn.

i like him, and Stan Collymore     

[silhillvilla]

I concur OGS would be an exciting appointment, in the sense he's a bit of an unknown quantity.
I'd see it as a really bold positive move as opposed to going down the Martinez, lambert, Rodgers route.
& yes, we may get first dibs on Utds cast offs

[cdbearsfan]

I would rather have Lambert or Rodgers who have proven themselves in the Premier League. Both would also be a show of intent as we would have to get them off a club that was pretty unwilling to let them go. Like we did with Atkinson and Little who both turned out to be good appointments.

If the Board think they can't get the above, then I appreciate their willingness to look abroad. It's about time we ditched the "Premier League experience" nonsense, rather than settling for any idiot who can find Birmingham on a map, like we did last year.

That said, there are far better managers abroad we could approach. While the likes of Villas-Boas are probably unlikely, McLeish was the twentieth best-paid manager in the World last year. I fail to see how we can't get a bigger-name who would help fill Villa Park again. Such a manager would hopefully have an extensive list of contacts to help us try to get some of the most promising players in Europe. I certainly prefer that option to a guy who may be tempted to phone some grumpy git in Manchester and say "Dad, sorry... Sir Alex, can we loan Jonny Evans please?".

If Martinez goes to Liverpool or Lambert or Rodgers go to Villa then I think Solsjkaer would make an ideal appointment at the likes of Wigan, Norwich or Swansea. If he proved himself at a club like that I'd have no problem with us appointing him in the future. I don't think he's ready for it now though.

The news that we are (probably) in for him, coupled with the news that we are not appointing a Director of Football says to me we are looking to do things on the cheap. Even if Solsjkaer turns out to be a managerial genius, he'll struggle to achieve anything at Villa if that's the case.

Sorry to be a misery-arse when many of you seem excited at the prospect, but I've had a season of trying to be cheerful in the face of adversity so now it's my turn!

[KRS]

Id be hoping ogs can see gabby isnt good enough and brings in better players - most of the current lot are just not good enough and a big overhaul would be welcome.

You're right and wholesale changes to the squad are a massive issue for any new manager that comes in.

If I was Randy and couldnt afford to push for CL by competing financially, then my approach would be to invest in young talent at reasonable prices with a young manager who has a good footballing ethos. We may have to settle for mid-table for a few seasons, but at the very least it would be exciting and entertaining.

[silhillvilla]

Martinez to Liverpool has all the hallmarks of a disaster
Marvellous

[PaulWinch again]

Also another benefit, he can turn around to any of our disruptive players and say 'what the fuck have you won?'

[Pete3206]

Not another Fergie recommendation. He's basically saying "thanks for another 6 points lads, ha ha mugs!"

[Phil from the upper holte]

Bloody hell a manager link and were all excited for once, get it done Randy, thinking outside the box.

[Legion]

[Clampy]

OGS is going to be gutted if and when he leaves Molde, it looks a stunning place to live.

My choice would still be Lambert personally but Solskjaer is a nice idea.