Gary McAllister

[eamonn]

How much did we pay-out to the last four managers in terminating their contracts?

[Matt C]

Too much.

[Damo70]

Tend to agree with SoccerHQ, I think McAllister brief tenure as temporary manager is in danger of being made to be a greater success than it actually was.  I remember having an argument on here at the time with those who took an exception to my comment that the final table never lies, except on the occasion when a couple of decent results meant we were mathematical safe from relegation with three (?) games to go and actually pushed us up to mid-table "respectability". 

I also agree with the idea that a better option would be someone like Steve Clarke. A coach with a proven record.

His record looked better due to the other results that shot us up the table. He did a decent job as caretaker, but not enough to get the job full time in my opinion.

[dave.woodhall]

Tend to agree with SoccerHQ, I think McAllister brief tenure as temporary manager is in danger of being made to be a greater success than it actually was.  I remember having an argument on here at the time with those who took an exception to my comment that the final table never lies, except on the occasion when a couple of decent results meant we were mathematical safe from relegation with three (?) games to go and actually pushed us up to mid-table "respectability". 

I also agree with the idea that a better option would be someone like Steve Clarke. A coach with a proven record.

His record looked better due to the other results that shot us up the table. He did a decent job as caretaker, but not enough to get the job full time in my opinion.

I do love the idea that this was the only season in history when the team with the ninth best record somehow should have been demoted a few places because they didn't deserve to finish ninth.

[Damo70]

Tend to agree with SoccerHQ, I think McAllister brief tenure as temporary manager is in danger of being made to be a greater success than it actually was.  I remember having an argument on here at the time with those who took an exception to my comment that the final table never lies, except on the occasion when a couple of decent results meant we were mathematical safe from relegation with three (?) games to go and actually pushed us up to mid-table "respectability". 

I also agree with the idea that a better option would be someone like Steve Clarke. A coach with a proven record.

His record looked better due to the other results that shot us up the table. He did a decent job as caretaker, but not enough to get the job full time in my opinion.

I do love the idea that this was the only season in history when the team with the ninth best record somehow should have been demoted a few places because they didn't deserve to finish ninth.

You finish where you deserve to finish, I agree. But taking everything into account I would not have given him the job based on his time as caretaker along with his previous managerial record.

[dave.woodhall]

Tend to agree with SoccerHQ, I think McAllister brief tenure as temporary manager is in danger of being made to be a greater success than it actually was.  I remember having an argument on here at the time with those who took an exception to my comment that the final table never lies, except on the occasion when a couple of decent results meant we were mathematical safe from relegation with three (?) games to go and actually pushed us up to mid-table "respectability". 

I also agree with the idea that a better option would be someone like Steve Clarke. A coach with a proven record.

His record looked better due to the other results that shot us up the table. He did a decent job as caretaker, but not enough to get the job full time in my opinion.

I do love the idea that this was the only season in history when the team with the ninth best record somehow should have been demoted a few places because they didn't deserve to finish ninth.

You finish where you deserve to finish, I agree. But taking everything into account I would not have given him the job based on his time as caretaker along with his previous managerial record.

Neither would I. Indeed, I've said before that I wonder if history might have been different had Houllier been able to appoint his first choice as assistant.

[Damo70]

You will have to remind me who his first choice was, I have totally forgotten.

[PeterWithesShin]

Wasn't it Phil Thompson?

[dave.woodhall]

He turned it down but there was someone else as well. A quick google search turns up Robert Duverne lined up as a coach so maybe that's who I was thinking of.

EDIT: Patrice Bergues.

[Matt C]

Very odd we've not appointed anyone yet - particularly as they went on record after Keane left and said finding a replacement was a priority.

[Damo70]

Very odd we've not appointed anyone yet - particularly as they went on record after Keane left and said finding a replacement was a priority.

I honestly read that post quickly with one eye on the telly and thought it said Keane was in The Priory.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Very odd we've not appointed anyone yet - particularly as they went on record after Keane left and said finding a replacement was a priority.

We are on the 3rd manager who has had 'getting this club back up to where it belongs' as a 'priority'. I am not convinced the high ups at Villa think in the same timescales that we do.

[pauliewalnuts]

Very odd we've not appointed anyone yet - particularly as they went on record after Keane left and said finding a replacement was a priority.

We are on the 3rd manager who has had 'getting this club back up to where it belongs' as a 'priority'. I am not convinced the high ups at Villa think in the same timescales that we do.

Didn't Tom Fox say, all of two weeks ago, that we would be back in Europe in a 3-5 year timeframe?

Maybe he was confused and meant 35 year timeframe.

[Villa in Denmark]

Very odd we've not appointed anyone yet - particularly as they went on record after Keane left and said finding a replacement was a priority.

We are on the 3rd manager who has had 'getting this club back up to where it belongs' as a 'priority'. I am not convinced the high ups at Villa think in the same timescales that we do.

Didn't Tom Fox say, all of two weeks ago, that we would be back in Europe in a 3-5 year timeframe?

Maybe he was confused and meant 35 year timeframe.

Close.  He said a 3 2 5 year timeframe.

Which by coincidence was Lambert's favourite chasing the game formation before he started betting on zero goals scored.

[Rudy65]

From what I know from a friend who had dinner with McAllister a couple of weeks ago, he left with a sour tast in his mouth (although very well compensated). Apparantly.

...and hasnt worked again if my memory serves me right

His reign is totally over hyped IMHO

However, I do think if Houllier had stayed we would be doing a lot better now