It's not Sherwood!

[ciggiesnbeer]

I thought it was the single blandest press conference I've ever seen. Not that that's a bad thing, but he couldn't have said anything more obvious or non-committal. In fact, maybe it's a good thing given his previous for airing dirty laundry.

Odd, what else could he have said without making some outlandish claim?  Were you expecting, a St Crispin's Day Speech?

I was more reacting to the general praise for it. It was an incredibly normal press conference in which he said practically nothing, which I happen to like by and large. It's just a little strange, some things people are finding in him to praise him for. I don't really understand it, and I suppose I don't have to. I hope I'm wrong.

Monty , completely fair. You are right of course. I suppose I am just happy to see our manager dismissing concerns about working under limitations and noting they are not very different from anyone else's and very honestly just laying out what he needs to do.

There were quite a few ways he could have messed up his first interviews and he avoided them. Thats a positive in my eyes.

[SoccerHQ]

This made me laugh.. especially the last line.

Was an English chancer really the best Villa could do?

There is a school of thought among some English ex-footballers, pundits and managers that English managers don't get treated with the same respect that foreigners do: the Sam Allardici argument.

This has always flown in the face of all the evidence, and the career of Tim Sherwood is the clincher.

If a foreigner had Sherwood's record, there is no way on earth that he would be getting the job at Aston Villa. Sherwood was manager of Spurs - in itself a position he would never, ever have got if he came from Buenos Aires rather than Borehamwood - for just 28 matches. And then he got sacked. Now he's the best man to save one of England's greatest (and most screwed-up) clubs from relegation? Seven League Titles, seven FA Cups, a European Cup… and this is the best they could do?

Sherwood's job will be made the harder because the Villa chief executive Tom Fox is also inexperienced; and the club are currently advertising for a director of football operations. Will that person be working above or below Sherwood? If it's below, what sort of experienced operator would choose to be under Sherwood? He is also, at time of writing, looking for an assistant.

At the absolute minimum, it's a big gamble. So why have Villa taken it? What does Tim Sherwood bring?

Sherwood has become something of a totem for ex-players in England. What he has, in spades, is a bunch of noisy and high profile mates in the media. Alan Shearer, Paul Merson and Jamie Redknapp are just three who have been touting him.

The press are keen for him to get the job because he's permanently peeved and angry; and likely to do and say things he shouldn't. That wins every time over a sensible technocrat. He also gets how to talk to the media, in a way that the man he replaced at Tottenham, Andre Villas Boas, never did.

Shearer was stating Sherwood's claims on the BBC yesterday. "We saw at Spurs that he is not afraid to ruffle feathers and upset people," said the England great. Translation: he shouted at the fancy foreign types and kicked them in five-a-side matches where possible.

Football has made vast leaps in terms of conditioning and preparation over the last few years, but for English players and indeed fans of a certain vintage, there's just nothing better than yelling at some Portuguese glove-wearing poseur in the Queen's English. They don't like it up 'em.

The boys in the studio will be hailing him for England manager within a year

This is not to say that getting in people's faces is Sherwood's only skill. Far from it. Professor Merson had also done his homework on the debate, commenting: "Tim doesn't mind throwing younger players into the team, as we saw during his time at Spurs."

"Selecting slightly younger players" might seem like a bit of a thin basis for a professional reputation, but if it's good enough for Merse, then who can argue with that? If only the likes of Ancelotti, Van Gaal and Mourinho would cotton on to the idea of picking young players, they could really go places. Come off it, Merse,

In addition to having a sizeable cheerleading squad in the world of punditry, Sherwood is a determined and disciplined self-publicist. His method so far has largely involved staring at the camera as if he is about to chin it, and telling everyone who will listen how good he is at managing. Sunday's game with Leicester was a case in point, when a few half-time pearls of wisdom in an advisory, popping-in capacity apparently won them the game.

If you're a chancer, you need a good bedrock of support, which Sherwood has. You need a gimmick, like the gillet. You need a bit of charm and a knack for the grand gesture, which he showed he definitely has, with the Adebayor salute. You also need a message that is simple and alluring and anyone can grasp. In Sherwood's case, that's a back-to-basics get stuck in, hit the big man and don't take any prisoners. The boys in the studio will be hailing him for England manager within a year, I guarantee you.

Did Marcotti write that? It has his tone from line one.

[Brend'Watkins]

I thought it was the single blandest press conference I've ever seen. Not that that's a bad thing, but he couldn't have said anything more obvious or non-committal. In fact, maybe it's a good thing given his previous for airing dirty laundry.

Odd, what else could he have said without making some outlandish claim?  Were you expecting, a St Crispin's Day Speech?

I was more reacting to the general praise for it. It was an incredibly normal press conference in which he said practically nothing.

I can't speak for anybody else, but I'm delighted that it was as bland as it was. Considering his propensity for making himself look like a prick when being interviewed while at Spurs, maybe it means he's learning. And if he can learn about that, maybe he can also learn about other more important stuff as well.

And as you know, I am as underwhelmed as it is possible to be by this appointment.

To be fair, whether at  Spurs as manager, coach, player, owner or fan looking like a prick comes with the territory.

[Drummond]

He didn't get anything wrong. He said good things about the club and seems no nonsense. I like him. I hope, for his sake, that he's up to it. I really do.

[Toronto Villa]

I thought it was the single blandest press conference I've ever seen. Not that that's a bad thing, but he couldn't have said anything more obvious or non-committal. In fact, maybe it's a good thing given his previous for airing dirty laundry.

Odd, what else could he have said without making some outlandish claim?  Were you expecting, a St Crispin's Day Speech?

I was more reacting to the general praise for it. It was an incredibly normal press conference in which he said practically nothing, which I happen to like by and large. It's just a little strange, some things people are finding in him to praise him for. I don't really understand it, and I suppose I don't have to. I hope I'm wrong.

And if he came out with anything more than what he did you'd be calling him out to be bullshitter or that he's just saying stuff so that it sounds good in the papers tomorrow. Monty, clearly you are the most upset about the appointment. You couldn't have made your position any more clear than you have. But frankly as much as I didn't want him I am at least encouraged by the general direction this has gone so far.

Sherwood can only speak in broad terms right now because he hasn't even met the players properly bar a 15 minute pep talk. I don't what else he was meant to say and he even mentioned that he doesn't really know them, so he really couldn't be specific. Frankly, I didn't want anything more than that in his first conference, and for a lot of people on here we are just happy never to be hearing from Lambert again. A couple more weeks of that not only would have been as good as relegated but many of our parish would have slashed their wrists from the sheer misery of it all. I'm really happy to see long time posters like Richard Moore or Risso who have been critical in recent seasons at least have bit more positivity in their posts.

Even if this "experiment" of sorts doesn't pan out at the very least let it evolve and enjoy him not being McLeish or Lambert. I like you was just completely exhausted by it all, and this might be a bit more fun even if it is fleeting.

I am hoping above all else he proves you, me and every other doubter of his ability completely and utterly wrong and turns out to be an inspired managerial hire. Because God do we need it or at least something to get us interested again in our club after so many seasons of misery and ruined weekends.

[mr underhill]

exactly. He couldn't do any more than 'win' his 'first' game. Let's give him a chance and as you say, one massive plus is that he's not TSM or TSM2.

[Mister E]

This made me laugh.. especially the last line.

Was an English chancer really the best Villa could do?

There is a school of thought among some English ex-footballers, pundits and managers that English managers don't get treated with the same respect that foreigners do: the Sam Allardici argument.

This has always flown in the face of all the evidence, and the career of Tim Sherwood is the clincher.

If a foreigner had Sherwood's record, there is no way on earth that he would be getting the job at Aston Villa. Sherwood was manager of Spurs - in itself a position he would never, ever have got if he came from Buenos Aires rather than Borehamwood - for just 28 matches. And then he got sacked. Now he's the best man to save one of England's greatest (and most screwed-up) clubs from relegation? Seven League Titles, seven FA Cups, a European Cup… and this is the best they could do?

Sherwood's job will be made the harder because the Villa chief executive Tom Fox is also inexperienced; and the club are currently advertising for a director of football operations. Will that person be working above or below Sherwood? If it's below, what sort of experienced operator would choose to be under Sherwood? He is also, at time of writing, looking for an assistant.

At the absolute minimum, it's a big gamble. So why have Villa taken it? What does Tim Sherwood bring?

Sherwood has become something of a totem for ex-players in England. What he has, in spades, is a bunch of noisy and high profile mates in the media. Alan Shearer, Paul Merson and Jamie Redknapp are just three who have been touting him.

The press are keen for him to get the job because he's permanently peeved and angry; and likely to do and say things he shouldn't. That wins every time over a sensible technocrat. He also gets how to talk to the media, in a way that the man he replaced at Tottenham, Andre Villas Boas, never did.

Shearer was stating Sherwood's claims on the BBC yesterday. "We saw at Spurs that he is not afraid to ruffle feathers and upset people," said the England great. Translation: he shouted at the fancy foreign types and kicked them in five-a-side matches where possible.

Football has made vast leaps in terms of conditioning and preparation over the last few years, but for English players and indeed fans of a certain vintage, there's just nothing better than yelling at some Portuguese glove-wearing poseur in the Queen's English. They don't like it up 'em.

The boys in the studio will be hailing him for England manager within a year

This is not to say that getting in people's faces is Sherwood's only skill. Far from it. Professor Merson had also done his homework on the debate, commenting: "Tim doesn't mind throwing younger players into the team, as we saw during his time at Spurs."

"Selecting slightly younger players" might seem like a bit of a thin basis for a professional reputation, but if it's good enough for Merse, then who can argue with that? If only the likes of Ancelotti, Van Gaal and Mourinho would cotton on to the idea of picking young players, they could really go places. Come off it, Merse,

In addition to having a sizeable cheerleading squad in the world of punditry, Sherwood is a determined and disciplined self-publicist. His method so far has largely involved staring at the camera as if he is about to chin it, and telling everyone who will listen how good he is at managing. Sunday's game with Leicester was a case in point, when a few half-time pearls of wisdom in an advisory, popping-in capacity apparently won them the game.

If you're a chancer, you need a good bedrock of support, which Sherwood has. You need a gimmick, like the gillet. You need a bit of charm and a knack for the grand gesture, which he showed he definitely has, with the Adebayor salute. You also need a message that is simple and alluring and anyone can grasp. In Sherwood's case, that's a back-to-basics get stuck in, hit the big man and don't take any prisoners. The boys in the studio will be hailing him for England manager within a year, I guarantee you.

What is the source of this?
It's useful, for balance. However, as ever, the people chosen to lampoon - Shearer, Merson and Redknapp - do tend to lead with their chin somewhat. Timmy has had acclamation from a broader church than that.

Let's see who comes into the coaching staff before completely writing him off.

[pbavfckuwait]

This time last week all we wanted was rid of Lambert, tick the box for job done, we then get a Manager in who appears (only time will tell) to have an up beat and positive approach not only to the club, but also to how he wants to progress, whilst not sugar coating the fact we are in the bottom 3, how do we get out of that position, Win games, something Lambert had forgot how to do, to me at present that is an advancement.
Had a lot of time on my hands, and went back through the Delph press conference and also obviously Sherwood's and something that comes across from both and as stated by both as long as we remain a prem club, that the way we have been operating is due to change next season, this to my conspiracy mind, means one of two things
(a) Lerner has a buyer lined up as long as we stay up or
(b) Someone maybe coming on board who is willing to invest some readies
just a theory, but words within their interviews do not seem to be based on, we aint going nowhere fast attitude.

[brian green]

Well said TV, very balanced and fair. Realism rules. It is all very well to theorize about managerial possibilities but we are third from the bottom of the Premiership, we are up for sale with no evidence of a buyer, we are owned by a man who gives all the signs of having lost interest in the sport and the club, what manager of any repute or genuine promise would come to us?  Fox made the call and I respect his judgement. If Sherwood falls into McLeish/Lambert mode - and I believe that is most unlikely - Fox has shown his mettle and Sherwood will go.
Two things stick in my mind from last Sunday's game. First was the totally empty upper tier of the Trinity. That told you what damage McLeish and Lambert had done to the club better than a million angry internet messages and the second was the turn of speed Cleverley showed at one point in the second half. Something happened to that boy at half time make no mistake.
As I said the day of the Hull game, when you have a burst pipe in your loft the first thing you do is call for a plumber. The interior decorator and the carpet fitter come later.

[QBVILLA]

Haven't been on the site for a while and gotta say i'm surprised by the reaction to Sherwood's appointment, ableit I have only read the first five pages. For me, i'm more than happy. He is ambitious and I admire the fact he pulls no punches. I've seen some comments about not liking him as a man. So what? He's managing our club not moving in next door. Last week I thought it was inevitable that we'd get relegated, now i feel more positive that we'll get out of it.

[LTA]

I thought he spoke well and he had an infectious enthusiasm, which hopefully will rub off on the players (given that Lambert's defeatist and defensive demeanour in his press conferences seemed to rub off on the playing staff).

Ian Taylor was saying on the radio last night that he was sitting behind Sherwood on Sunday and that it didn't take him long to spot what we were doing wrong (not that this was difficult).

[john e]

I thought he spoke well and he had an infectious enthusiasm, which hopefully will rub off on the players (given that Lambert's defeatist and defensive demeanour in his press conferences seemed to rub off on the playing staff).

Ian Taylor was saying on the radio last night that he was sitting behind Sherwood on Sunday and that it didn't take him long to spot what we were doing wrong (not that this was difficult).

Sherwood was sitting on the back row, there was a great wall behind him,
 unless Taylor is one of the fantastic 4 he would have heard nothing from behind

[passport1]

I wondered how long it would be before Taylor got in on the act.

[not3bad]

I thought he spoke well and he had an infectious enthusiasm, which hopefully will rub off on the players (given that Lambert's defeatist and defensive demeanour in his press conferences seemed to rub off on the playing staff).

Ian Taylor was saying on the radio last night that he was sitting behind Sherwood on Sunday and that it didn't take him long to spot what we were doing wrong (not that this was difficult).

Sherwood was sitting on the back row, there was a great wall behind him,
 unless Taylor is one of the fantastic 4 he would have heard nothing from behind

Hmm. Maybe Taylor got this information by speaking to Fox or Paddy Reilly and turned it into "I was sitting behind him" because he thought it sounded better.

[Neil Hawkes]

I wondered how long it would be before Taylor got in on the act.

Strange that you have a problem with a committed ambassador to our club speaking his mind.