Lambert's replacement

[montague]

People will laugh at what I'm about to say next, but the only available-ish guy I can think of who ticks all the boxes you highlight is Rafa Benitez.  It would take a major shift in Lerner's ambitions to get him on board but he has the reputation, profile and winning mentality to get Villa moving forward again.  If Fox wants to  attract bigger sponsorships etc. this kind of appointment would be a serious signal of intent.  I believe Benitez's contract at Napoli ends in the Summer, which would mean a relatively low pay-off, I assume.
[/quote]

No laughing here, would be a great appointment. The class of Manager we should be looking at - although if we cant supply sufficient finances are unlikely to attract.

[cdbearsfan]

I'd be delighted with Benitez but he's already turned us down once, hasn't he?

[montague]

Tim Sherwood does sound like an unimaginative appointment: great on motivation, not so great on tactics. Depressingly, he seems to be the favourite.

Couple of names not mentioned so far: how about Nigel Adkins or Steve Clarke?

I'd like Adkins.

You have to be kidding, yes? Failure at Reading.

[Dr Butler]

Gareth Southgate ? 

just thought I would chuck that in with my Ferguson shout...

UTV
the Doc

[PaulWinch again]

Pat Murphy on 5 live
     
"The new Aston Villa manager will be recommended by the chief executive Tom Fox, with the owner Randy Lerner prepared to rubberstamp his decision. Lerner will not be part of the interview process.
     
"Lerner operates out of New York and is hardly ever in Birmingham, as he comes to rely more and more on the advice of his fellow-American whom he appointed as CEO last September. It was Fox who recommended Lambert should be sacked after Tuesday night's defeat at Hull.
     
"Fox will take soundings from Villa's director of recruitment Paddy Reilly and an inner circle of trusted colleagues before moving in on a target. Coaching expertise will be essential - Villa were short in that area during Lambert's tenure - and they won't be put off if their preferred candidate is with another club.
     
"Although time is on Villa's side in that their next Premier League game is not until a week on Saturday when they are at home to Stoke City, Fox will want a swift appointment."

Promising.

Very promising that they realise that coaching is a major issue.

[passport1]

Pat Murphy on 5 live
     
"The new Aston Villa manager will be recommended by the chief executive Tom Fox, with the owner Randy Lerner prepared to rubberstamp his decision. Lerner will not be part of the interview process.
     
"Lerner operates out of New York and is hardly ever in Birmingham, as he comes to rely more and more on the advice of his fellow-American whom he appointed as CEO last September. It was Fox who recommended Lambert should be sacked after Tuesday night's defeat at Hull.
     
"Fox will take soundings from Villa's director of recruitment Paddy Reilly and an inner circle of trusted colleagues before moving in on a target. Coaching expertise will be essential - Villa were short in that area during Lambert's tenure - and they won't be put off if their preferred candidate is with another club.


     
"Although time is on Villa's side in that their next Premier League game is not until a week on Saturday when they are at home to Stoke City, Fox will want a swift appointment."

Promising.

That'll be the same crack recruitment team that has been scouring the world for an assistant managersince Keane flounced out.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Remi Garde is available and Fox will have known him from his Arsenal days. I think he was interviewed earlier this year for the Newcastle job but wanted to bring his coaching staff with him which would have involved compensation at they're still employed by Lyon.

[Des Little]

Pat Murphy on 5 live
     
"The new Aston Villa manager will be recommended by the chief executive Tom Fox, with the owner Randy Lerner prepared to rubberstamp his decision. Lerner will not be part of the interview process.
     
"Lerner operates out of New York and is hardly ever in Birmingham, as he comes to rely more and more on the advice of his fellow-American whom he appointed as CEO last September. It was Fox who recommended Lambert should be sacked after Tuesday night's defeat at Hull.
     
"Fox will take soundings from Villa's director of recruitment Paddy Reilly and an inner circle of trusted colleagues before moving in on a target. Coaching expertise will be essential - Villa were short in that area during Lambert's tenure - and they won't be put off if their preferred candidate is with another club.
     
"Although time is on Villa's side in that their next Premier League game is not until a week on Saturday when they are at home to Stoke City, Fox will want a swift appointment."

Promising.

Very promising that they realise that coaching is a major issue.

Which we've all been saying for months.  Just a shame they've left it this long to do something about it.  Clowns.

[Monty]

Let's hope the coaching expertise thing rules Sherwood out.

[usav]

Sir Alex on a short 3 month contract for the following reasons:

 - he always spoke very highly of us
 - he for sure would get the players 'motivated'
 - he owes us for the McLeish recommendation
 - most importantly of all, it would piss the Mancs off no end and go somewhat to making up for 92-93.

[bob]

Tim Sherwood does sound like an unimaginative appointment: great on motivation, not so great on tactics. Depressingly, he seems to be the favourite.

I would hope Tom Fox reads this before thinking about Sherwood:
http://www.umaxit.com/index.php/columns/desperate-times-call-for-tim-sherwood

That's really terrifying.

Nasty, isn't it.

Doesn't really say anything and what it does say isn't backed up with any real evidence. Irony is lost on the author when he accuses Sherwood of hyperbole.

Sherwood probably refused to give him his autograph or something.

[Lucky Eddie]

Gareth Southgate ? 

just thought I would chuck that in with my Ferguson shout...

UTV
the Doc

Do you honestly think Gareth's got the personality to lead a side out in 13 'cup finals' Doc?

[cdbearsfan]

Gareth Southgate ? 

just thought I would chuck that in with my Ferguson shout...

UTV
the Doc

He has a 100% record of relegating clubs he's managed. Why would anyone think he was the answer?

It's entirely possible he could improve but if he wants to rebuild his reputation he should start far lower than Aston Villa.

I'll say again. Everyone went mad when we appointed a relegated manager who won the League Cup. Why would anyone be in favour of a relegated manager who didn't win the League Cup?

[Holte L2]

People will laugh at what I'm about to say next, but the only available-ish guy I can think of who ticks all the boxes you highlight is Rafa Benitez.  It would take a major shift in Lerner's ambitions to get him on board but he has the reputation, profile and winning mentality to get Villa moving forward again.  If Fox wants to  attract bigger sponsorships etc. this kind of appointment would be a serious signal of intent.  I believe Benitez's contract at Napoli ends in the Summer, which would mean a relatively low pay-off, I assume.

No laughing here, would be a great appointment. The class of Manager we should be looking at - although if we cant supply sufficient finances are unlikely to attract.
[/quote]

I would absolutely love Rafa. He'd be perfect.

[CJ]

Please,please not Sherwood or Hoddle. Sherwood has next to no experience and seems a bit of an arrogant knob. Hoddle spent the last World Cup talking in cliches, and his last managerial job wasn't exactly a roaring success. And, as I've said elsewhere, I would have huge problems with him at Villa because of his views on disabled people. Don't think Benitez would come given the transfer budget limitations. Apart from Klinsmann  - who I would love to see here - I must admit I don't know a fat lot about overseas managers but would love to know how Southampton found Pochettino and followed that up with Koeman. If they're going to poach a current manager - Dyche seems to be doing well on limited resources and plays a decent brand of football but he may be a one season wonder, and besides him the only other fit may be Hughes. But the question remains - who would want to take us on now that we've dropped into the bottom 3? Basically by leaving it so late to sack Lambert, they're running out of time, games and options