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

[Risso]

I wonder if the Faulkner comment about a "vibrant manager" was made with Solskjaer in mind?  Might have made it a bitter harder for themselves with that, because if it isn't somebody like Martinez, Lambert, Rodgers or AVB etc, they're going to look a bit daft.

[Mazrim]

True. But then again I think it will be somebody exactly like that.

[ozzjim]

Rubin Dutt looks as vibrant as Avram Grant. So they could well be looking daft he got the job.

[James]

I think Martinez would be perfect. I mean he's got a rubbish team playing above themselves, has a decent record with developing players (Moses) and is not afraid to have a go against the 'elite' clubs. He's put himself into a position where he's ready for step up. I'd be more than happy given the other candidates out there and seems to fit the bill set out by the board, is passionate and has a very positive attitude.

On the other hand, he avoided relegation this time by an impressive end of season run of 9 games, prior to which he couldn't buy a win. Last season he stayed up purely on the freak results of others on the last day. He organised a minute's applause to celebrate staying in the league. Is that really enough to be in contention for jobs like Villa and Liverpool? If he has another season at Wigwam where they finish nicely mid-table then progress will have been made but everyone is jumping on the last nine games of his three years there and proclaiming him to be a genius,  whereas the vast majority of those years his team has been dire! Two sides to every coin I suppose, three if you look carefully!

EDIT: And a £3m 'transfer' fee and £2m/year wages, very expensive too. Is he really worth that?

On the other hand, Wigan with their squad and resources should be nowhere near the Premiership. To keep them there, no matter how it's done, is a decent achievement. He deserves a crack at a bigger club and I hope it's us. Certainly don't think there are too many better options unless you can offer some?

I wasn't picking a fight, just posing the opposite opinion. He's had three years there and barely moved them on! There are plenty of options and we all have different opinions and that doesn't make any of them wrong or right. I'd be happier with Lambert bearing in mind the type of players he'll inherit as I think he'll get far more from them far more quickly. Ultimately, nobody on here will be making the decision, so our opinions don't really count anyway! Let's hope we get some news this week, hopefully of the good variety.

[Greg N'Ash]

just marketing men speak init. I'm surprised he didn't want a manager who's capable of "blue-sky-thinking". God knows how he got the gig at Villa

[cdbearsfan]

Rubin Dutt looks as vibrant as Avram Grant. So they could well be looking daft he got the job.

In fairness, it was only one bookie suggesting Dutt as a possibility when I checked. It would only have needed one decent-sized bet to get him in the market. He may even have used some of his redundancy money betting on himself to try to get himself in the running!

[ozzjim]

I agree that the current squad as it is are probably going to perform better for Lambert than Martinez, but I would be more intrigued by what Martinez could build over time with a bigger club. I think Lambert would hit a wall, but I hope to be proved very wrong. I would walk to Norwich to have him over some of the current ones linked.


Re Dutt CD, hope you are right. Anyone who makes me think of Avram Grant when I see them should not be allowed near the Villa job!

[The Situation]

I think Martinez would be perfect. I mean he's got a rubbish team playing above themselves, has a decent record with developing players (Moses) and is not afraid to have a go against the 'elite' clubs. He's put himself into a position where he's ready for step up. I'd be more than happy given the other candidates out there and seems to fit the bill set out by the board, is passionate and has a very positive attitude.

On the other hand, he avoided relegation this time by an impressive end of season run of 9 games, prior to which he couldn't buy a win. Last season he stayed up purely on the freak results of others on the last day. He organised a minute's applause to celebrate staying in the league. Is that really enough to be in contention for jobs like Villa and Liverpool? If he has another season at Wigwam where they finish nicely mid-table then progress will have been made but everyone is jumping on the last nine games of his three years there and proclaiming him to be a genius,  whereas the vast majority of those years his team has been dire! Two sides to every coin I suppose, three if you look carefully!

EDIT: And a £3m 'transfer' fee and £2m/year wages, very expensive too. Is he really worth that?

Yawn.

Yeah we get it you don't like Martinez lol. Why is it when anyone has anything positive to say about Martinez or just merely say he's one of the managers they would like the anti-Martinez brigade (they know who they are) feel the need to jump down the throat of anyone who mentions him in a positive light will then start to drone on and on about the same "but his team fight relegation every season!!!" "his team was lucky to win 7 of their last 9 games!!" over and over. It's literally the only thing they mention. What Martinez might do at Wigan does not necessarily mean he will do the same here. No disrespect to Wigan but Villa are a much bigger club with bigger ambitions - I'm sure Martinez will realize this. You've got to think outside the box and see what he could potentially bring. He's still young, still learning and I'm sure he will learn from experience.

David Moyes was managing a championship team before he went and joined Everton. Just some perspective.

[JJ-AV]

I really think the only candidates who would come without a feeling of deflation after the Solskjaer thing now would be AVB or Martinez. Both are going to be extremely difficult for differing reasons.

It's a difficult one. OGS seemed to be the proper mix of what we were looking for - young, enthusiastic, left-field yet familiar with our supporters.

[James]

I think Martinez would be perfect. I mean he's got a rubbish team playing above themselves, has a decent record with developing players (Moses) and is not afraid to have a go against the 'elite' clubs. He's put himself into a position where he's ready for step up. I'd be more than happy given the other candidates out there and seems to fit the bill set out by the board, is passionate and has a very positive attitude.

On the other hand, he avoided relegation this time by an impressive end of season run of 9 games, prior to which he couldn't buy a win. Last season he stayed up purely on the freak results of others on the last day. He organised a minute's applause to celebrate staying in the league. Is that really enough to be in contention for jobs like Villa and Liverpool? If he has another season at Wigwam where they finish nicely mid-table then progress will have been made but everyone is jumping on the last nine games of his three years there and proclaiming him to be a genius,  whereas the vast majority of those years his team has been dire! Two sides to every coin I suppose, three if you look carefully!

EDIT: And a £3m 'transfer' fee and £2m/year wages, very expensive too. Is he really worth that?

Yawn.

Yeah we get it you don't like Martinez lol. Why is it when anyone has anything positive to say about Martinez or just merely say he's one of the managers I would like the anti-Martinez brigade (they know who they are) feel the need to jump down the throat of anyone who mentions him in a positive light will then start to drone on and on about the same "but his team fight relegation every season!!!" "his team was lucky to win 7 of their last 9 games!!" over and over. It's literally the only thing they mention. What Martinez might do at Wigan does not necessarily mean he will do the same here. No disrespect to Wigan but Villa are a much bigger club with bigger ambitions - I'm sure Martinez will realize this. You've got to think outside the box and see what he could potentially bring. He's still young, still learning and I'm sure he will learn from experience.

David Moyes was managing a championship team before he went and joined Everton. Just some perspective.

Yawn!

[Villain1874]

Hello all....

For me it has to be AVB, he fits the bill, not sure if we could get him though...
Just want positive attacking football back at Villa Park...
Who ever is the Manager is, is going to have to spend wisely and rebuild the team, just hope that Mr Learner decides to splash a little cash this summer..
I'm praying to the footballs Gods that Mr Learner gets it right this time...

[The Situation]

I think Martinez would be perfect. I mean he's got a rubbish team playing above themselves, has a decent record with developing players (Moses) and is not afraid to have a go against the 'elite' clubs. He's put himself into a position where he's ready for step up. I'd be more than happy given the other candidates out there and seems to fit the bill set out by the board, is passionate and has a very positive attitude.

On the other hand, he avoided relegation this time by an impressive end of season run of 9 games, prior to which he couldn't buy a win. Last season he stayed up purely on the freak results of others on the last day. He organised a minute's applause to celebrate staying in the league. Is that really enough to be in contention for jobs like Villa and Liverpool? If he has another season at Wigwam where they finish nicely mid-table then progress will have been made but everyone is jumping on the last nine games of his three years there and proclaiming him to be a genius,  whereas the vast majority of those years his team has been dire! Two sides to every coin I suppose, three if you look carefully!

EDIT: And a £3m 'transfer' fee and £2m/year wages, very expensive too. Is he really worth that?

Yawn.

Yeah we get it you don't like Martinez lol. Why is it when anyone has anything positive to say about Martinez or just merely say he's one of the managers I would like the anti-Martinez brigade (they know who they are) feel the need to jump down the throat of anyone who mentions him in a positive light will then start to drone on and on about the same "but his team fight relegation every season!!!" "his team was lucky to win 7 of their last 9 games!!" over and over. It's literally the only thing they mention. What Martinez might do at Wigan does not necessarily mean he will do the same here. No disrespect to Wigan but Villa are a much bigger club with bigger ambitions - I'm sure Martinez will realize this. You've got to think outside the box and see what he could potentially bring. He's still young, still learning and I'm sure he will learn from experience.

David Moyes was managing a championship team before he went and joined Everton. Just some perspective.

Yawn!

Were you in favour of Solskjaer being our manager last week?

[SoccerHQ]

Oh the drama. 2 weeks since the last game, 13 days since the manager was sacked, and 10 weeks from the first game. I doubt it.


Rubin Dutt on oddschecker is right down the bottom but has odds of only 9/1. Who the hell is Rubin Dutt!?

Did a good job at Frieburg, got them 6th or 7th, moved onto Leverkusen, started off well there, beat Chelsea in the champions league but Barca annihilated them 10-1 on aggregate and it fell apart in the Bundesliga thereafter.

Actually in the Bundesliga is probably my favourite foreign coach is lucien Favre. Took Hertha Berlin to 3rd a couple of seasons ago and was then unfairly sacked (they've been relegated twice since).

Took over Monchengladbach when they were dead and buried at the bottom, kept them up somehow and they finished 4th this season so are in the qualifiers for champions league.

Great coach.

[Greg N'Ash]

as Woodhall mentioned, its difficult because you don't know what brief they're working under. If its like Mcleish with free transfers and sell to buy then frankly none of the names fill me with joy but you look at the ones used to that in a better light.  AVB at least probably wouldn't come unless he was promised major funds which unfortuntely is a major plus mark for me.

[James]

I think Martinez would be perfect. I mean he's got a rubbish team playing above themselves, has a decent record with developing players (Moses) and is not afraid to have a go against the 'elite' clubs. He's put himself into a position where he's ready for step up. I'd be more than happy given the other candidates out there and seems to fit the bill set out by the board, is passionate and has a very positive attitude.

On the other hand, he avoided relegation this time by an impressive end of season run of 9 games, prior to which he couldn't buy a win. Last season he stayed up purely on the freak results of others on the last day. He organised a minute's applause to celebrate staying in the league. Is that really enough to be in contention for jobs like Villa and Liverpool? If he has another season at Wigwam where they finish nicely mid-table then progress will have been made but everyone is jumping on the last nine games of his three years there and proclaiming him to be a genius,  whereas the vast majority of those years his team has been dire! Two sides to every coin I suppose, three if you look carefully!

EDIT: And a £3m 'transfer' fee and £2m/year wages, very expensive too. Is he really worth that?

Yawn.

Yeah we get it you don't like Martinez lol. Why is it when anyone has anything positive to say about Martinez or just merely say he's one of the managers I would like the anti-Martinez brigade (they know who they are) feel the need to jump down the throat of anyone who mentions him in a positive light will then start to drone on and on about the same "but his team fight relegation every season!!!" "his team was lucky to win 7 of their last 9 games!!" over and over. It's literally the only thing they mention. What Martinez might do at Wigan does not necessarily mean he will do the same here. No disrespect to Wigan but Villa are a much bigger club with bigger ambitions - I'm sure Martinez will realize this. You've got to think outside the box and see what he could potentially bring. He's still young, still learning and I'm sure he will learn from experience.

David Moyes was managing a championship team before he went and joined Everton. Just some perspective.

Yawn!

Were you in favour of Solskjær being our manager last week?

Go and pick a fight with somebody else, I'm not interested!