Lambert's replacement

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Pat Murphy is on 5live at 7 discussing the possibilities apparently.

Does he ever really know anything?

He seems to "understand" quite a lot.

Whenever he talks about Villa, he usually gets to include a moan about how Randy Lerner won't grant him an audience, so often appears to have a sour tone about us generally.

[dicedlam]

If we are going to start properly competing in the division from next summer forward, I think Rafa Benitez will be interested.

Of the decent candidates currently employed, he is the only one I can see jumping ship now.

He has stalled on his new contract at Napoli as have some of his top players, so less compo for us to pay.

They are on a great run at the moment but too far behind Juve really to get back in the title race.

It wasnt too long ago that Benitez was in trouble with their early CL exit.

In terms of timing, Benitez stock is a good bit higher now than maybe it deserves to be and he definitely wants to come back nearer his family in Liverpool.

The only other gig that seems to be available next summer is Newcastle where he wont get the control or money he craves.

I think he will be interested in Villa and if so is worth getting in now.

I think people are off there rocker if they think Benitez would come here under our budget.

And please no more managers from North of the border unless old whisky face fancy's taking pity on us for the next six months.


Personally, I would like to see Cesare Prandelli.

[lovejoy]

So you think Benitez is unrealistic so plump for Prandelli?!!

[Monty]

Sherwood had a 59% win ratio down Spurs? He can be the biggest tw+t of them all if he manages to get that ratio here.

Some bright spark on VT pointed out that, given how few games he actually managed, if you turn just three wins into draws that win percentage goes down by 12% or something (someone mathematically literate check this, as I have no idea). His loss percentage was also high, at 37%.

[Tom_Mc9?]

So you think Benitez is unrealistic so plump for Prandelli?!!

Could be argued that one is in work and the other isn't.

[cdbearsfan]

Interesting what Laursen said about us having too many young defenders at this level. Makes sense to me so let's get Vlaar and Senderos back in now please (in the unlikely event they are ever both fit at the same time).

The defence isn't the problem, and they never are fit at the same time. Better to have a settled pairing at the back than keep chopping and changing every time Ron fancies a game.

[clash city rocker]

Should try and tempt slaven bilic.

[dicedlam]

So you think Benitez is unrealistic so plump for Prandelli?!!

He's out of work, so why not?

[walsall villain]

Interesting what Laursen said about us having too many young defenders at this level. Makes sense to me so let's get Vlaar and Senderos back in now please (in the unlikely event they are ever both fit at the same time).

The defence isn't the problem, and they never are fit at the same time. Better to have a settled pairing at the back than keep chopping and changing every time Ron fancies a game.

We all know where the clear problem is, that's obvious but in games when we have the majority of possession and never look like scoring we do seem to let the opposition score too easily. We are crap all over the pitch tbh!

[Ian.]

I quite like Pat Murphy, he always seems to know more than most of the goings on at Villa Park. Not like some reporters who report what they have read elsewhere.

To be honest, he seems more enthusiastic when covering cricket these days.

To be really honest I'd be more enthusiastic about cricket than commentating at our football matches. I hate cricket too.

[peter w]

Sir Brian was on R5 Live today and without throwing his hat in the ring, said he would do anything to help the club if asked.

Villa are in my blood he said. A true legend.

Not quite. he said he would be interested if the club were to call him and ask for any advice but that no-one had. He didn't say he wanted, or expected to be asked, to manage in any capacity.

[Dazvillain]

Interesting what Laursen said about us having too many young defenders at this level. Makes sense to me so let's get Vlaar and Senderos back in now please (in the unlikely event they are ever both fit at the same time).

The defence isn't the problem, and they never are fit at the same time. Better to have a settled pairing at the back than keep chopping and changing every time Ron fancies a game.

A guy at the last game sat next to me said he had been on a stadium tour a few days before and the guide told and showed them about 2 fitness bikes in the villa shower areas as 2current players had to arrive 30 mins before rest of squad to warm up as they were so unfit !! Wonder who they were ?

[Toronto Villa]

One of Randy's biggest failings is ignoring the wider Villa family. There are a lot of prominent ex-players and managers who love the club and are hurting right now because of recent events. Fox, if not Randy would be well served to have some conversations with some of them about his next, very critical steps.

[silhillvilla]

Sir Brian has a nice life with his roles in Jersey and Eire plus his media work. I doubt he's going to want to swap all that to take the villa job now . Maybe he could act as a consultant type though.
I really have no idea who the club will go for .

[N'ZMAV]

No thanks to Sir Brian. I feel people like Brian have been out of the game for too long now. As much as I respect him and loved the first couple of years of his management I feel any move like that wouldn't be a good one, similar to Graham Taylor mk II.