Steve Clarke. New Assistant Manager this week?

[Gregorys Boy]

If this is true I would be happy with Clarke as he has a very good track record as a number two.  I just don't see any truth to it because now that he has had a taste at being a number one and was quite good at it I don't think he would want to go back to being a number two.

[Dave]

Coaching and managing are two distinct jobs and being adept at one has nothing to do with who you're working with but how you can do your job.

I agree entirely. I just don't think that there is enough evidence available to definitively say that he is adept at one and inept at the other.

Taking West Brom to eighth and then being sacked halfway through the following season doesn't mean that he is a good manager, but I certainly don't think it's enough evidence to say that he is a bad one.

Just like coaching Terry, Robben and Drogba to the title doesn't necessarily mean he's a great coach. Particularly when his other experience of the role are coaching West Ham to relegation and coaching that eighth placed Andy Carroll/Kenny Dalglish Liverpool team.

I just don't see what evidence people can point at to say that he is good at one and bad at the other.

[Dave Cooper please]

I have not seen anything at all in the news about it, so I would guess speculation.

Daily Mirror had it, but then again they could have just picked it up of Twatter.

[not3bad]

I have not seen anything at all in the news about it, so I would guess speculation.

Daily Mirror had it, but then again they could have just picked it up of Twatter.

That would be my guess. It's just one endlessly repeated line "Steve Clarke in the frame to become new assistant manager at Aston Villa".  No quotes from anyone, no news of any contact, in fact no detail whatsoever, just that.  This whole thread could have fitted into one or two posts in "Transfer Rumours".

[Dante Lavelli]

If this is true I would be happy with Clarke as he has a very good track record as a number two.  I just don't see any truth to it because now that he has had a taste at being a number one and was quite good at it I don't think he would want to go back to being a number two.

At the end of the day they're just job titles.  It's how the roles are divvied up between the manager and coach which should matter to any candidate.
It might be that Lambert sees himself as more of a DoF and is happy to give his assistant more power than the traditional roles.  The fact that he/we previously attracted Keane suggests that the assistant manager role might be more than normal.

I hope so, as it would partially explain/excuse the void of footballing style on the pitch and somewhat justify the half decent scouting and the odd fact that there is no footballing know-how higher than the manager.

[ciggiesnbeer]

He has a good reputation as a coach, and was harshly sacked by Albion when the bullet came. Would be a very interesting one, and much more of a threat to Lambert than Keane ever was I reckon.

He wasn't harshly sacked at all - he had won something like 7 of his last 41 and performances were getting worse each week.

Apart from the opening three months which were really enjoyable the rest of his tenure was bloody awful.

He then did himself no favour when he questioned the board (which I agreed with).

Thanks for the insight. A West Brom friend of mine was also very quick to correct me when I said it was a huge mistake to fire him and then pointed out his actual record. I was shocked.

For us I would rather a more modern coach. However He and Lambert do get along together (according to Lambert anyway) so we may end up with him. Not my first choice for sure.

[peter w]

Coaching and managing are two distinct jobs and being adept at one has nothing to do with who you're working with but how you can do your job.

I agree entirely. I just don't think that there is enough evidence available to definitively say that he is adept at one and inept at the other.

Taking West Brom to eighth and then being sacked halfway through the following season doesn't mean that he is a good manager, but I certainly don't think it's enough evidence to say that he is a bad one.

Just like coaching Terry, Robben and Drogba to the title doesn't necessarily mean he's a great coach. Particularly when his other experience of the role are coaching West Ham to relegation and coaching that eighth placed Andy Carroll/Kenny Dalglish Liverpool team.

I just don't see what evidence people can point at to say that he is good at one and bad at the other.

I'm just going on the opinion of others. you don't get to be a coach at the top clubs and get glowing recommendations from managers if you're not good enough to do what you're doing. you earn your place you're not jettisoned into it with the top teams/clubs. And to be fair he made his name as an assistant manager at a few clubs. newcastle, Chelsea, liverpool so it's probably closer to the point to compare him with a Peter Taylor.

Also, from the outside looking in it looked like a terrible decision to sack him from the Albion but reading on here, and the Albion fan's I know, not many seemed to be shedding tears at his dismissal.

As an assistant I think I'd be inclined to have a punt on him - certainly seems a better fit than Roy Keane in any case and has a better coaching/assist.managing CV than the irishman.

[Gregorys Boy]

I would say Clarke was unfairly sacked at WBA.  No matter how bad the run was at the time he had a very good first season, and was bearly half way into his second so deserved longer to turn it around.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Admit to being surprised at his being kicked out - thought he was their best long term bet at making progress.
But it's the Boggies - with the greatest of respect, I only wish the worst for them.
They know what they are you know.

[Dr Butler]

looks like he is taking over at Reading...

UTV
The Doc

[Walmley_Villa]

Shame - just what we could have done with imo

[ozzjim]

Looks like he is off the list then.

Who else is there? Given our new style of play, I do hope a fairly progressive coach is being sough.

[DrGonzo]

  As usual this appears to be dragging on.  The list must be Santa length.

[Richard E]

How long do we give it before someone posts on here about "how far we have fallen that we can't even compete with Reading now"?

[dave.woodhall]

How long do we give it before someone posts on here about "how far we have fallen that we can't even compete with Reading now"?

To be far, it is yet another humiliation for this once great club as a club ffs.