It's not Sherwood!

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

The main thing that strikes me so far is that he seems to have a very clear philosophy/vision of how the game, and players, should be played.
It may not be "right" or suit everyone, but at least he has a clear idea of how he wants to go about things and what he wants this "massive club", and its players, to be achieving.
Being a manager of anything must start with a vision imho.
Sherwood has one, and one that most of share or can at least recognise.

There'll be good times and bad, but at the moment I'm enjoying his brashness and honesty.
Breath of fresh something, anyway.
UTV!

[Toronto Villa]

While a lot of it probably is for show, I would much rather we finally have a manager willing to talk up the size of the club. It has been so exhausting the last few years being the PL whipping boys and successive managers talking about all of the restrictions at the club. From Houllier to Lambert I have felt we have had managers who at various times never truly believing Villa should be at the top of the table. That we were lucky to be in the PL at all and that finishing 16th was somehow acceptable. I like the fact that at least on the surface he will puff out his chest and try and present Villa as not being scared of anyone. That we will go out to win every game whoever the opposition. We are a big club and it's been a good while that we have acted that in all areas of the club, and especially on the pitch.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Agree with that, Frank.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I keep hearing small details about what Sherwood's doing and they're so shockingly obvious that it really puts Lambert in a bad light. Not a large enough coaching staff, U21's not playing near the first team and now a picture from a league game. It makes me think Lambert might have a hard time getting another job.

The office that he has been in for two weeks, he suddenly realises that an offending picture from the Sunderland game is on the wall just as he sits down to talk with a journalist from the Daily Mail?

It's good stage management, certainly.

Possibly but it could also have just occurred to him as he sat down to this first photo shoot in his office. "Oh yeah I have been needing to take that down".

But you know what? Even if staged then I am glad he is smart enough to stage it.

[robbo1874]

Just win us the fucking FA cup and stick a framed photo of that on your wall Tim.

[Locko]

I like the cut of his jib. It seems so long since we've had a manager who actively talks us up as a club, and makes us feel relevant. If he can work this on the players, they may start to feel ten feet tall. Hopefully it can filter upwards  and reignite some ambition at board level. He reminds me very much of JG and that's  no bad thing as long as the football doesn't become as stale eventually, but for now lets enjoy a great escape, a cup win and then see where we go. Go to it Timbo! Make us all believe again!

[Ads]

He size of the club was a burden for the last two managers, but Sherwood seems to be embracing it.

[andyh]

He size of the club was a burden for the last two managers, but Sherwood seems to be embracing it.

That's a very good point.
A big club needs a big ego.

[Clampy]

and the constant references to Spurs make me wonder why people don't react to that, but went mental at Gerard Houllier for a couple of things he said about Liverpool.

There's a bit of a difference between Houllier and Sherwood. Spurs was Sherwood's one and only other job, where he cut his managerial teeth. It's not surprising that he mentions his time there. I'm not sure how many other jobs Houiller had before Liverpool but he had enough experience not to keep bringing them up.

[silhillvilla]

I doubt Sherwood will be waxing lyrical if spurs beat us like Houllier was that night at anfield . That was absolutely nauseating .

Anyway if Sherwood keeps us up and gets us to Wembley at least once then he's done a superb job and I won't care what comes out of his mouth.

[SamTheMouse]

I find myself liking him, in spite of myself.

[Godfrey Brian]

Great office- nothing in any in-tray and remote controls at hand. The great thing for me is that he's our first manager for a time who is clearly loving managing the Villa and that's shining through. Recently its all been about how hard it is and that has to ingrain itself into every employee. Yep it could all end in disaster but sooner get there fighting our way than a slow accepting trudge.

[Ozzjim]

I keep hearing small details about what Sherwood's doing and they're so shockingly obvious that it really puts Lambert in a bad light. Not a large enough coaching staff, U21's not playing near the first team and now a picture from a league game. It makes me think Lambert might have a hard time getting another job.

The office that he has been in for two weeks, he suddenly realises that an offending picture from the Sunderland game is on the wall just as he sits down to talk with a journalist from the Daily Mail?

It's good stage management, certainly.

Or he does not want his picture in front of the previous managers best night. Either way, it is a bit convenient that it is taken down just as he starts the interview.

[KevinGage]

Is it not also possible that Lambert kept that picture around to remind the players of how well they can play? I mean, I agree with taking it down, but the idea that it was there for no reason other than small-time pride seems a bit unfair.

There are many things which people say they 'like' about Sherwood, and I don't happen to like many of them. The gobbing off to the press is pretty embarrassing and undignified, the jumping around like a maniac is, at best, unimportant (and possibly hypocritical, as he talks about them playing with freedom one minute then is shouting and swearing at them all through the game like John Beck the next), and the constant references to Spurs make me wonder why people don't react to that, but went mental at Gerard Houllier for a couple of things he said about Liverpool.

Aye.  I'm bored of the "When I was at Tottenham" reminiscences already.  It seems to come out in every bastard interview.

And unless he is planning to sign Townsend and Bentaleb (in fact, even if he is)  he should probably keep quiet about them.

Not sure how I feel about our players being told to not worry about giving the ball away either. Maybe for a few of the more creative types, the whole risk/reward thing comes into play.  But in general -particularly in todays game- you need to keep hold of the thing.   I admired NRC's workrate and effort, but winning the ball back only to give it away again is absolutely futile.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I really enjoyed the article, comes across well in my opinion