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

[Greg N'Ash]

Unlikely. We know the sort of people they're looking for from the aborted OGS fiasco. Family reasons or not, if Lerner had gone in there with the sort of spending budget he gave MON or even Houllier then he'd have been here now.

Sorry, but how exactly was it a 'fiasco'??

the fact that we did it in the full glare of the press rather than OTR. That's not particulary the clubs fault  but it would be nice if we started tapping up people like the other 99% of clubs so we know their answer before we approach their club.

So what should they have done differently? Camouflaged his plane? Shut down Villa message-boards?

the phone? Sound him out to see if he's interested first then approach his club if you decide he's the guy rather than doing it the other way round.

And its not just us who save face. Say you're lambert for instance. you don't know if Villa are interested, so he's faced with applying for the job, Villa approaching Norwich for permission to interview him and then after all the hassle that will cause, he doesn't get the job anyway because we prefer someone else! Not really an attractive proposition for a potential candidate.

[Greg N'Ash]

Unlikely. We know the sort of people they're looking for from the aborted OGS fiasco. Family reasons or not, if Lerner had gone in there with the sort of spending budget he gave MON or even Houllier then he'd have been here now.

He gave Houllier the money we got from Milner in fairness, not significantly more than that. McLeish still got 20 million last summer. Swansea spent less on their entire squad. The transfer budget argument is only valid if the manager coming in only has eyes on these shores.

As i've before Ozzjim, Mcleish was funded entirely by the sales of young and Downing. Who do we sell this year to give the new guy 20m?

I think there will be some money after the season just gone. They have cost cut, but they are not suicidal.

I hope you're right, but looking at the Candidates up top most of them seem to be known for doing things very much on the cheap which doesn't auger well for major funds. Providing of course those names are accurate.

[ozzjim]

Unlikely. We know the sort of people they're looking for from the aborted OGS fiasco. Family reasons or not, if Lerner had gone in there with the sort of spending budget he gave MON or even Houllier then he'd have been here now.

He gave Houllier the money we got from Milner in fairness, not significantly more than that. McLeish still got 20 million last summer. Swansea spent less on their entire squad. The transfer budget argument is only valid if the manager coming in only has eyes on these shores.

As i've before Ozzjim, Mcleish was funded entirely by the sales of young and Downing. Who do we sell this year to give the new guy 20m?

I think there will be some money after the season just gone. They have cost cut, but they are not suicidal.

I hope you're right, but looking at the Candidates up top most of them seem to be known for doing things very much on the cheap which doesn't auger well for major funds. Providing of course those names are accurate.

I think they will have to be creative certainly, but I don't think for a second there will be nothing. I reckon somewhere between 20 and 25 million, and then it is down to how creative a manager can be, and what he can get out of the likes of Delph, Makoun, Ireland, Gardner, Bent, Gabby, N'Zogbia and Albrighton, who lets be honest, are not complete rubbish.

[Dave]

Unlikely. We know the sort of people they're looking for from the aborted OGS fiasco. Family reasons or not, if Lerner had gone in there with the sort of spending budget he gave MON or even Houllier then he'd have been here now.

Sorry, but how exactly was it a 'fiasco'??

the fact that we did it in the full glare of the press rather than OTR. That's not particulary the clubs fault  but it would be nice if we started tapping up people like the other 99% of clubs so we know their answer before we approach their club.

So what should they have done differently? Camouflaged his plane? Shut down Villa message-boards?

the phone? Sound him out to see if he's interested first then approach his club if you decide he's the guy rather than doing it the other way round.

Yes Greg, I'm sure that Lerner just rocked up, unannounced in Kristiansund and they'd not bothered to discuss anything beforehand.

I don't recall the club announcing anything. Or commenting. Or really doing anything but quietly getting on with things.

Obviously I know that you love complaining for the sake of complaining, but this is a bit rich even for you.

[Greg N'Ash]

Unlikely. We know the sort of people they're looking for from the aborted OGS fiasco. Family reasons or not, if Lerner had gone in there with the sort of spending budget he gave MON or even Houllier then he'd have been here now.

Sorry, but how exactly was it a 'fiasco'??

the fact that we did it in the full glare of the press rather than OTR. That's not particulary the clubs fault  but it would be nice if we started tapping up people like the other 99% of clubs so we know their answer before we approach their club.

So what should they have done differently? Camouflaged his plane? Shut down Villa message-boards?

the phone? Sound him out to see if he's interested first then approach his club if you decide he's the guy rather than doing it the other way round.

Yes Greg, I'm sure that Lerner just rocked up, unannounced in Kristiansund and they'd not bothered to discuss anything beforehand.

I don't recall the club announcing anything. Or commenting. Or really doing anything but quietly getting on with things.

Obviously I know that you love complaining for the sake of complaining, but this is a bit rich even for you.

they contacted his club, like they did with Martinez. You speak to the manager first OTR

As for this complaining tag thats being trotted out about me, its  funny the people who keep mentioning it spent all last season complaining about every aspect of the club, AND the season before, whilst I, erm....didn't.

Obviously they have very little self-awareness or just strict rules who you can complain about or when!

[Clampy]

As far as i can make out, Villa have'nt conducted anything in full glare of the press. Randy's plane was spotted going to Norway by someone on VT who's self importance made him want to announce it on the internet.

In these days of the internet, 24 hour sports channels, twitter, mobile phones etc, we've done well to keep things as quiet as we have to the point where national newspapers are plucking names out of the air in an attempt that they might be right.

[Percy McCarthy]

Greg's right. He didn't complain when we were shit. Then again he had a good four years of moaning like Victor Meldrew on mogadon when we were quite good.

[Dave]

they contacted his club, like they did with Martinez. You speak to the manager first OTR

So when you said we shouldn't do it "in full glare of the press" what you actually meant was "we shouldn't have bothered getting permission from his club". You should try to be a bit clearer.

[old man villa fan]

At Chelsea he did what was needed to be done at the time to get the right results, I think even I could stand negative football if we won something.

We will not win anything playing negative football.  We are not good enough at it.

The make up of the squad over the last 5 years has been suited to playing on the front foot.  That is why TSM got it so wrong.

[old man villa fan]

Unlikely. We know the sort of people they're looking for from the aborted OGS fiasco. Family reasons or not, if Lerner had gone in there with the sort of spending budget he gave MON or even Houllier then he'd have been here now.

Sorry, but how exactly was it a 'fiasco'??

the fact that we did it in the full glare of the press rather than OTR. That's not particulary the clubs fault  but it would be nice if we started tapping up people like the other 99% of clubs so we know their answer before we approach their club.

Is that a bit of a 'U' turn?  Seems the first comment was having a go at the club.

[Greg N'Ash]

they contacted his club, like they did with Martinez. You speak to the manager first OTR

So when you said we shouldn't do it "in full glare of the press" what you actually meant was "we shouldn't have bothered getting permission from his club". You should try to be a bit clearer.

well the fact i mentioned tapping up should have been clear to most people i would have thought

[Monty]

they contacted his club, like they did with Martinez. You speak to the manager first OTR

So when you said we shouldn't do it "in full glare of the press" what you actually meant was "we shouldn't have bothered getting permission from his club". You should try to be a bit clearer.

well the fact i mentioned tapping up should have been clear to most people i would have thought

Clear as a Beijing summer's day, I'm afraid Greg.

[mr underhill]

1st June. That's my prediction for an announcement

[Greg N'Ash]

Unlikely. We know the sort of people they're looking for from the aborted OGS fiasco. Family reasons or not, if Lerner had gone in there with the sort of spending budget he gave MON or even Houllier then he'd have been here now.

Sorry, but how exactly was it a 'fiasco'??

the fact that we did it in the full glare of the press rather than OTR. That's not particulary the clubs fault  but it would be nice if we started tapping up people like the other 99% of clubs so we know their answer before we approach their club.

Is that a bit of a 'U' turn?  Seems the first comment was having a go at the club.

not sure a fiasco has to be anyone's fault really. Just think it was bit naive, as was last year with Martinez. Speak to them first is all i'm saying because once the other club knows, its out of your hands and lets face it, most clubs aren't exactly well disposed to you trying to nick their manager however honourably you behave.

[brian green]

So you behave dishonourably and excuse yourself on grounds of either pragmatism or "everybody else does it".