Roy Keane - new assistant manager (CONFIRMED)

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I bet as we post Joe Bennett is getting his poncey hair shaved off.

I wonder what odds you'd get for a team of skinheads running out at Villa Park for the first game of the season?

[silhillvilla]

Shame he's pulled out of the World Cup. I enjoy his punditry just because you know he won't toe the itv party line and one day he's bound to give either Dixon or chiles a slap.

[Rolta]

This is all part of the bigger picture, I am convinced.  Every man and his dog (including Keane's) knows he won't play second fiddle to anyone...especially Lambert.  He's coming here to be number 1...whether that is before of after the season starts, but he'll be the manager by Christmas one way or the other.

So Lambert gets his friend to be his assistant in an effort to line up his own replacement? Genius! In general (not really singling out you Des), I think there is a very high level of conspiracy theories on football messageboards – across a spectrum – and it's funny, because everyone seems so adamant their one is right.

I've got my own:

Lambert is going to stay on as manager, because at least Randy, as he should, is aware of the financial restraint Lambert's been under. I don't think Lerner is in any position to say Lambert's not been good enough when Lambert's fixed the finances and got rid of such a lot of expensive dead wood who were making (some still) our finances critical. I also believe he has done a good job on the most part (nothing is ever perfect, eh). As is clear, I am in the "He's done a good job under the circumstances" camp. I'll say no more 

I also don't think we know the half of what's going on. There was some comment on villatalk – or was it HowardHodgson on twitter? I don't know – anyway, someone said Keane was seen at Villa Park with Lambert and the prospective new owners, or something. That was apparently before there was any realistic suggestion of Keane being the assistant manager, so as for the prospective new owners who knows? No smoke without fire? Well, with football rumours it seems to be all smoke and very rarely fire.

I think there are bigger plans being implemented for the new season with Lambert as manager and with Roy Keane as his assistant, and it wouldn't surprise me if the potential new owners are involved in some way. After all, I believe Lerner had a bit of influence at the end of Doug's reign.

But that's my conspiracy theory anyway.

[hilts_coolerking]

As is clear, I am in the "He's done a good job under the circumstances" camp. I'll say no more 

It's not so much a camp as a single, abandoned, wind-blown tent, full of snow, halfway up Everest.

[Brend'Watkins]

Maybe you're right.  I don't particularly like Roy Keane but if he sorts out the footballing mess that we are then I could warm to him.

I think we'd all warm to him if he sorted out the on-pitch mess. That's not in doubt, it's just about whether or not we think he's likely to do it.

This is it. It's all well and good saying "he'll know how to sort out our midfield". If that were the case we'd just get Laursen and McGrath in as defensive coaches, add Keane to Cowans to coach the midfield and get Shearer and Yorke in as attacking coaches and sit back while we win the league next year.

Very little that he's done so far suggests that he has any idea how to sort out a midfield, in spite of the fact that he was a really good midfielder. And a horrible c*nt.

McGrath hasn't got the personality to instill his defensive nous on under performing players.  Laursen I don't know about. Even so, by you're reckoning Bryan Robson, a fantastic player, should have been a brilliant manager, he was anything but and was about as dull a personality as you could get.  Yes, Keane can come across as a horrible c*nt.  We might actually need a horrible c*nt to sort out our midfield or at least improve on it.

[ChicagoLion]

This is all part of the bigger picture, I am convinced.  Every man and his dog (including Keane's) knows he won't play second fiddle to anyone...especially Lambert.  He's coming here to be number 1...whether that is before of after the season starts, but he'll be the manager by Christmas one way or the other.

So Lambert gets his friend to be his assistant in an effort to line up his own replacement? Genius! In general (not really singling out you Des), I think there is a very high level of conspiracy theories on football messageboards – across a spectrum – and it's funny, because everyone seems so adamant their one is right.

I've got my own:

Lambert is going to stay on as manager, because at least Randy, as he should, is aware of the financial restraint Lambert's been under. I don't think Lerner is in any position to say Lambert's not been good enough when Lambert's fixed the finances and got rid of such a lot of expensive dead wood who were making (some still) our finances critical. I also believe he has done a good job on the most part (nothing is ever perfect, eh). As is clear, I am in the "He's done a good job under the circumstances" camp. I'll say no more 

I also don't think we know the half of what's going on. There was some comment on villatalk – or was it HowardHodgson on twitter? I don't know – anyway, someone said Keane was seen at Villa Park with Lambert and the prospective new owners, or something. That was apparently before there was any realistic suggestion of Keane being the assistant manager, so as for the prospective new owners who knows? No smoke without fire? Well, with football rumours it seems to be all smoke and very rarely fire.

I think there are bigger plans being implemented for the new season with Lambert as manager and with Roy Keane as his assistant, and it wouldn't surprise me if the potential new owners are involved in some way. After all, I believe Lerner had a bit of influence at the end of Doug's reign.

But that's my conspiracy theory anyway.

I thought you had given up on this Lambert has done a good job that no one except you seems to understand.

[Dave]

Even so, by you're reckoning Bryan Robson, a fantastic player, should have been a brilliant manager, he was anything but and was about as dull a personality as you could get.

Eh?

That's the exact opposite of what I'm saying. Keane being a good midfielder has no bearing on how good he would be at coaching our midfield. It's two completely different skills.

That's the point.

[Rolta]

This is all part of the bigger picture, I am convinced.  Every man and his dog (including Keane's) knows he won't play second fiddle to anyone...especially Lambert.  He's coming here to be number 1...whether that is before of after the season starts, but he'll be the manager by Christmas one way or the other.

So Lambert gets his friend to be his assistant in an effort to line up his own replacement? Genius! In general (not really singling out you Des), I think there is a very high level of conspiracy theories on football messageboards – across a spectrum – and it's funny, because everyone seems so adamant their one is right.

I've got my own:

Lambert is going to stay on as manager, because at least Randy, as he should, is aware of the financial restraint Lambert's been under. I don't think Lerner is in any position to say Lambert's not been good enough when Lambert's fixed the finances and got rid of such a lot of expensive dead wood who were making (some still) our finances critical. I also believe he has done a good job on the most part (nothing is ever perfect, eh). As is clear, I am in the "He's done a good job under the circumstances" camp. I'll say no more 

I also don't think we know the half of what's going on. There was some comment on villatalk – or was it HowardHodgson on twitter? I don't know – anyway, someone said Keane was seen at Villa Park with Lambert and the prospective new owners, or something. That was apparently before there was any realistic suggestion of Keane being the assistant manager, so as for the prospective new owners who knows? No smoke without fire? Well, with football rumours it seems to be all smoke and very rarely fire.

I think there are bigger plans being implemented for the new season with Lambert as manager and with Roy Keane as his assistant, and it wouldn't surprise me if the potential new owners are involved in some way. After all, I believe Lerner had a bit of influence at the end of Doug's reign.

But that's my conspiracy theory anyway.

I thought you had given up on this Lambert has done a good job that no one except you seems to understand.

Well I've definitely decided there's not much point in arguing about it on here!

[Brend'Watkins]

Even so, by you're reckoning Bryan Robson, a fantastic player, should have been a brilliant manager, he was anything but and was about as dull a personality as you could get.

Eh?

That's the exact opposite of what I'm saying. Keane being a good midfielder has no bearing on how good he would be at coaching our midfield. It's two completely different skills.

That's the point.

You threw McGrath and Laursen into the mix to sort out our Defence.  One of which certainly couldn't do the job.  I'm throwing in Robson as a manager in the same way.  What I'm trying to get across is that I think Keane could sort out our midfield not just because of the way he played but also because of the way he talks and explains the game.  He'd at least do a much better job of it than the last two. 

[Phil from the upper holte]

Nicked off twitter, but it made me laugh.

Roy Keane watches Nathan Baker in training for the first time:

Someone on twitter posted this saying this is Keane after Weimann says 'flamey' to him during training

Ha ha ha, that is absolutely brilliant. Am actually in tears of laughter at that.

What a great summer this is shaping up to be. We're a bit of a broken mess, but it's at least interesting and very funny at times.

Yes made me laugh as well

[Phil from the upper holte]

Apparently Sky are saying he'll be Lambert's assistant from the start of the season, that's the bit that worries me the most

[PaulWinch again]

This is all part of the bigger picture, I am convinced.  Every man and his dog (including Keane's) knows he won't play second fiddle to anyone...especially Lambert.  He's coming here to be number 1...whether that is before of after the season starts, but he'll be the manager by Christmas one way or the other.

I bloody hope not, I'd hope the brave new dawn would involve a more successful manager than Roy Keane.

[Toronto Villa]

Maybe Keane should have intimidated Fletcher and O'Shea a bit more because they both emerged well from their experience decidedly average footballers. Another year or so and maybe they'd have become decent.

Just the 5 premier league titles for O'Shea. And a Champs League and 3 League cups and and FA cup 

Yes, you're right. It had nothing to do with the rest of the team of superstars they had playing at the time. Wes Brown was superb too.

Man United must be a truly great side if they won all those trophies with only 9 players on the pitch

Fletcher and O'Shea have won more trophies than Villa. Pains me to say it

not at all what I am saying, but I think many people would agree that it is possible to have players who individually are good, not great in a team of great players. Not saying that O'Shea didn't play his small part in their success, but nobody will convince me he was of the level of some of the world class players in those sides. Sometimes players are lucky to be a part of a really top side. They don't have to shine as individuals but do their part, limiting mistakes. Fletcher and O'Shea are good PL/solid standard players that just happened to be in the side at the right time.

[sirlordbaltimore]

This is all part of the bigger picture, I am convinced.  Every man and his dog (including Keane's) knows he won't play second fiddle to anyone...especially Lambert.  He's coming here to be number 1...whether that is before of after the season starts, but he'll be the manager by Christmas one way or the other.

I bloody hope not, I'd hope the brave new dawn would involve a more successful manager than Roy Keane.

seconded, after the god awful McLeish/Lambert eras the thought of a Keane one makes me want tor each for the medicine cabinet

[KevinGage]

Maybe you're right.  I don't particularly like Roy Keane but if he sorts out the footballing mess that we are then I could warm to him.

I think we'd all warm to him if he sorted out the on-pitch mess. That's not in doubt, it's just about whether or not we think he's likely to do it.

This is it. It's all well and good saying "he'll know how to sort out our midfield". If that were the case we'd just get Laursen and McGrath in as defensive coaches, add Keane to Cowans to coach the midfield and get Shearer and Yorke in as attacking coaches and sit back while we win the league next year.

Very little that he's done so far suggests that he has any idea how to sort out a midfield, in spite of the fact that he was a really good midfielder. And a horrible c*nt.

This.

Lambert was a top class midfielder too.

But he can't seem to organise one, or even spot one in the transfer market.

As an earlier poster said, if this is one of a number of appointments and we bring in another coach it might make more sense.

Keane was a hands off manager at Slumberland and Ipswich, in the MON/ Lambert mould. That is, lettiing the coaching staff do the hard yards and just roaring at the players (and kicking tactics boards to pieces) twice a week.

He's MON' s foil in his current role for Ireland, he sees the training ground a wee bit more than pubehead, but the main bulk of the coaching is left to Steve Walford.

So asking him to do more on the training ground than he's ever showed aptitude for previously might be an odd one.