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

[Monty]

Another point: just checked the stats, and Norwich finished top of the long-balls per game league, and twelfth in the short-passes league. They scored the seventh highest number of goals from open play, which sounds impressive, except that they came seventh in crosses per game and sixteenth in number of through balls. They came fifth in breakaway goals, but fourth in set piece goals, scoring more set pieces at home and more counter attacks away, though generally scoring fewer at home. Is this starting to sound familiar?

Incidentally, we finished fifth-bottom of the long-balls league, but third-bottom of the short-passes league as well, which shows how much of the ball we had. Shower of shit.

[tomd2103]

Another point: just checked the stats, and Norwich finished top of the long-balls per game league, and twelfth in the short-passes league. They scored the seventh highest number of goals from open play, which sounds impressive, except that they came seventh in crosses per game and sixteenth in number of through balls. They came fifth in breakaway goals, but fourth in set piece goals, scoring more set pieces at home and more counter attacks away, though generally scoring fewer at home. Is this starting to sound familiar?

Incidentally, we finished fifth-bottom of the long-balls league, but third-bottom of the short-passes league as well, which shows how much of the ball we had. Shower of shit.

Where did we finish in the "play balls straight in to touch" league?

[Monty]

Another point: just checked the stats, and Norwich finished top of the long-balls per game league, and twelfth in the short-passes league. They scored the seventh highest number of goals from open play, which sounds impressive, except that they came seventh in crosses per game and sixteenth in number of through balls. They came fifth in breakaway goals, but fourth in set piece goals, scoring more set pieces at home and more counter attacks away, though generally scoring fewer at home. Is this starting to sound familiar?

Incidentally, we finished fifth-bottom of the long-balls league, but third-bottom of the short-passes league as well, which shows how much of the ball we had. Shower of shit.

Where did we finish in the "play balls straight in to touch" league?

I imagine we stormed to the title.

[tomd2103]

Another point: just checked the stats, and Norwich finished top of the long-balls per game league, and twelfth in the short-passes league. They scored the seventh highest number of goals from open play, which sounds impressive, except that they came seventh in crosses per game and sixteenth in number of through balls. They came fifth in breakaway goals, but fourth in set piece goals, scoring more set pieces at home and more counter attacks away, though generally scoring fewer at home. Is this starting to sound familiar?

Incidentally, we finished fifth-bottom of the long-balls league, but third-bottom of the short-passes league as well, which shows how much of the ball we had. Shower of shit.

Where did we finish in the "play balls straight in to touch" league?

I imagine we stormed to the title.

With Hutton and Warnock sharing the Player of the Year honour.

[Monty]

In all seriousness, don't discount the role of N'Zogbia in our minimal passes rate. His blind alley running was crucial in our quests to give the ball away.

[Ad@m]

Well OGS is still the odds-on favourite with all the bookies, and his odds are generally shortening whilst Lamberts are drifting.

[sonlyme]

The numbers don't lie.

Lambert's Norwich thrived on a pragmatic hustle and bustle direct form of football.  He is a safer choice without doubt - but comparisons with O'Neill are anything but facile.  He is another form of Allardyce - which some of you may not think a bad thing.  But it is a philosophy of football that relies on 'buying' performers - not developing them.



OGS has one clear advantage to my mind - he worked as a youth and reserve coach first - and was a winner at it.  He is a better fit with what the Villa are trying to do in these Financial Fair Play times.  He coaches fast passing and movement and encourages his team to mix it up and not be afraid to shoot.  Some of the stuff Molde are playing puts me in mind of Swansea - who - let us not forget - made McLeish's Villa look like a pub team at Villa Park.

Norwich cut their cloth according to their pocket - but Villa have a much better pool of quality than Norwich - and we have been down the direct and physical route before - and we achieved nothing except league respectability.  In a season that saw four managers in charge - we managed 9th in the league - Norwich's wonder season sees them 12th. 

Here is an excerpt from an article about their long ball game...


Whilst they don’t enjoy anywhere near the same levels of possession as Swansea, who are also adapting to life in the Premier League with great success, Norwich have proven to be a potent attacking force this season. It should be noted that of the sides 32 goals 12 have come from set-pieces, more than any other side. But they still have 17 from open play, which ranks them as 8th, higher than Liverpool.

Lambert’s tactics

Much of Norwich’s success is as noted down to tactics, specifically the fact that they employ a direct style of play that has surprisingly  seen them play more long balls than any other side in the Premier League. Their emphasis on long balls plays to their strengths as Grant Holt and Morrison are able to hold the ball up upfront and bring midfield players such as Pilkington into play, which has seen the two forwards contribute 6 assists between them as well as 15 goals.

This direct style of play, whilst not appreciated by all, is clearly playing dividends for Norwich.

Source: http://thinkfootball.co.uk/norwichs-direct-style-of-play-is-paying-dividends/


Here is the philosophy from the mouth of one of their players.

“Sometimes it doesn’t matter how far someone runs or how many passes they complete, it’s about getting the result,” bragged Canaries centre-back Elliott Ward.

“Yes, Swansea pass the ball well, but we pressed them that high they did not know what to do. I don’t think they’ve come up against that or our physical game too many times before.

“We got stuck in, we pressed them and we were physical.”

It may not have always been pretty, but Norwich were pretty effective.

Source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2012/02/13/analysis-norwich-city-shut-down-swansea-city-s-pass-masters-again-91466-30317096/

I want to see a manager at Villa who is

1 - A winner.
2 - Has a clear footballing philosophy.
3 - Has experience of working with youth and developing players.
4 - Commands the respect of the people within the game.

For me - OGS - RM - and BR could fit better with our excellent Academy and Reserve set ups.

Lambert might fit - or he might not.  And I am not saying he is a poor manager.  But I am saying that there could be a better fit out there with who and what we are. 

[AV82EC]

The numbers don't lie.

Lambert's Norwich thrived on a pragmatic hustle and bustle direct form of football.  He is a safer choice without doubt - but comparisons with O'Neill are anything but facile.  He is another form of Allardyce - which some of you may not think a bad thing.  But it is a philosophy of football that relies on 'buying' performers - not developing them.



OGS has one clear advantage to my mind - he worked as a youth and reserve coach first - and was a winner at it.  He is a better fit with what the Villa are trying to do in these Financial Fair Play times.  He coaches fast passing and movement and encourages his team to mix it up and not be afraid to shoot.  Some of the stuff Molde are playing puts me in mind of Swansea - who - let us not forget - made McLeish's Villa look like a pub team at Villa Park.

Norwich cut their cloth according to their pocket - but Villa have a much better pool of quality than Norwich - and we have been down the direct and physical route before - and we achieved nothing except league respectability.  In a season that saw four managers in charge - we managed 9th in the league - Norwich's wonder season sees them 12th. 

Here is an excerpt from an article about their long ball game...


Whilst they don’t enjoy anywhere near the same levels of possession as Swansea, who are also adapting to life in the Premier League with great success, Norwich have proven to be a potent attacking force this season. It should be noted that of the sides 32 goals 12 have come from set-pieces, more than any other side. But they still have 17 from open play, which ranks them as 8th, higher than Liverpool.

Lambert’s tactics

Much of Norwich’s success is as noted down to tactics, specifically the fact that they employ a direct style of play that has surprisingly  seen them play more long balls than any other side in the Premier League. Their emphasis on long balls plays to their strengths as Grant Holt and Morrison are able to hold the ball up upfront and bring midfield players such as Pilkington into play, which has seen the two forwards contribute 6 assists between them as well as 15 goals.

This direct style of play, whilst not appreciated by all, is clearly playing dividends for Norwich.

Source: http://thinkfootball.co.uk/norwichs-direct-style-of-play-is-paying-dividends/


Here is the philosophy from the mouth of one of their players.

“Sometimes it doesn’t matter how far someone runs or how many passes they complete, it’s about getting the result,” bragged Canaries centre-back Elliott Ward.

“Yes, Swansea pass the ball well, but we pressed them that high they did not know what to do. I don’t think they’ve come up against that or our physical game too many times before.

“We got stuck in, we pressed them and we were physical.”

It may not have always been pretty, but Norwich were pretty effective.

Source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2012/02/13/analysis-norwich-city-shut-down-swansea-city-s-pass-masters-again-91466-30317096/

I want to see a manager at Villa who is

1 - A winner.
2 - Has a clear footballing philosophy.
3 - Has experience of working with youth and developing players.
4 - Commands the respect of the people within the game.

For me - OGS - RM - and BR could fit better with our excellent Academy and Reserve set ups.

Lambert might fit - or he might not.  And I am not saying he is a poor manager.  But I am saying that there could be a better fit out there with who and what we are. 

This.  I've been umming and ahhing about Lambert and I'm now convinced he's not for us.  Not that I'm that certain on who we should have?!

[Percy McCarthy]

If the article was posted to prove Swansea's football is better than Norwich's, it begs the question: who won?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

OGS has one clear advantage to my mind - he worked as a youth and reserve coach first - and was a winner at it.

So Kevin MacDonald it is.

[sonlyme]

If the article was posted to prove Swansea's football is better than Norwich's, it begs the question: who won?

I think the selected quotes make it clear that Norwich won - but well done you.  Using the logic of results - Sam Allardyce is the man we really want - cos his team beat Blackpool - how and why is beyond me - but they did and if results is results - why aren't we talking to him?

Or what about Roberto Di Matteo? His team have just lifted old big ears and studiously avoided playing football throughout - a wins a win?

We all want results. 

But wouldn't it be nice to also want football - and let the results come after?

[Monty]

I completely agree Sonlyme. It's about the right man for the job. I actually think Lambert would be a good appointment for Liverpool, Everton, Spurs or even Arsenal, for various reasons relating to either maximising what they have there, or taking players used to possession football and working more rounded elements into their game. What we have is a group of players, especially the youngsters, who would be good at possession football but have barely been taught it at a senior level. OGS offers that, Rodgers offers that, even Martinez offers that, but Lambert doesn't.

[Percy McCarthy]

Don't get me wrong, I want OGS too. Just seemed a funny way of stating the case, bringing up a game where the manager you were seeking to deride was the winner.

And sonlyme, please don't talk to me like I'm a ******

[Phil from the upper holte]

Not only that lambert and Mon look like they were separated at birth

[silhillvilla]

FWIW here's my realistic top 3
1. Klinsmann
2. OGS
3. Tbc