It's not Sherwood!

[Monty]

Pellagrini was the thinking mans tactical genius
With all the treasure in heaven he spoofs the league title then in his follow up year struggles to make top 4
So ends up not being all that as a tactical maestro with zero motivational skills

Hel be out of a job come summer
 

He's a nice man, but he's looked quite old-fashioned and  outdated over the last couple of years. He also doesn't quite seem to be able to drop players he likes in favour of those who might make a difference (like Milner's intermittent presence in the team). It happens - the top level of the game is very unforgiving.

I don't know how Sherwood would do as manager of Man City, but looking at their team you can't help but feel a diamond 4-4-2 would probably be better than what they generally play. But they also look aimless and without a plan B, and I have no idea how Sherwood would deal with those problems.

[tomd2103]

I don't think Sherwood is purely about gusto either. The whole "tactics Tim" moniker is a bit disrespectful. I think he's shown in the West Brom games, and Sunderland and Spurs, that he can put together an effective game plan. I think we showed a bit of nous yesterday, and also in the first West Brom game in particular. He's also brave enough to admit when he gets it wrong, as he did against Utd.

I don't think Timmy is purely a light the taper and run sort of a manager. He's got a little bit more too him than that. I don't see him being the full on tactician that some managers are, and he never will be. But he does have more a brain than people give him credit for. You can't get by in this league on motivation alone.

I think he will add to his coaching staff in the summer to address some of those points.  If he is moved on at QPR, I can definitely see Chris Ramsey being part of the set up come the start of next season. 

[ozzjim]

It's not like Sherwood is a newly retired ex-pro who's been fast tracked into his first management job.  He was first team coach under Redknapp at Spurs for a few years, and whatever we all think of Redknapp, he did a good job there and had some very good players. 

And played some outstanding football at times, much to the joy of the Spurs media, and much to my distaste, but begrudgingly they did play some great football.

There is a lot to be said for sending out a team that knows their role, knows the system and knows what is expected of them. At the moment we seem to be displaying consistent traits of that for the first time in about 2 years, since the end of TSM2' first season in charge. The fact we have done that with a patchwork side at times is all the more impressive, and also, in defence of the dearly departed depressing one, shows he did at least have an eye for a decent player.

[PeterWithesShin]

Tim Sherwood is confident Villa now have "all the ingredients" to stay in the Barclays Premier League.

Villa defeated Tottenham 1-0 at White Hart Lane to lift the team to 15th in the table on 32 points.

Sherwood knows there's a lot of hard work still to be done to keep the claret and blues on the right side of the drop line.

But he thinks "desire, heart, spirit, quality and guidance" gives them a cracking chance.

He said: "Unless people have been down this end of the table they don't realise what it's like.

"You're fighting for every point.

"As a manager you've got the expectations of the whole club and it's not a little club, is it? We're talking about a massive football club.

"I'm trying to keep them in this Premier League and those three points against Tottenham have given us a great chance.

"That desire, heart and spirit has never been questioned.

"It was a little bit of quality and guidance that was needed in a pressure cooker situation. I think we've found that.

"You saw that at White Hart Lane.

"I think they really do believe that we've got the quality. They look around the dressing room and they see they've got their mate who is willing to put his body on the line for himself and the other lads.

"We've got all the ingredients but there's still a lot of hard work to be done."

Sherwood says Villa will now enjoy the last four of the FA Cup on Sunday as they throw off the shackles of Barclays Premier League pressure.

Villa take on Liverpool at Wembley for a place in the showpiece of the world's most celebrated domestic cup competition.

He added: "We're going to enjoy the semi-final next week and then crack on with the Premier League.

"I wouldn't have enjoyed it to be honest if we hadn't won at Tottenham.

"I show a lot of respect to that FA Cup.

"I can certainly focus one million per cent on it now."

[Chico Hamilton III]

I can certainly focus one million per cent on it now

I just hope that's enough focus

[Dante Lavelli]

That quote from Sherwood is a polite way of saying "what the f**k did lambert do to these players?"
[if all that was required was guidance - he's not been here long enough to affect the player's quality].

[Toronto Villa]

Call me a simpleton, but the fact that Sherwood speaks in a language that I understand as a fan of Aston Villa makes me like him all the more. I don't need to be patronized as a fan. I don't need to have someone try and teach me the game I have been watching for over 30 years and make me feel as though I'm not seeing the big picture. Or that I simply don't understand. He makes me relate to him because he relates to us. I feel like he sees what I see. There are things that we all saw were missing under Lambert. We all said Lambert for the most part bought really well, especially when he spent a bit of money. We are now seeing those players perform to a standard we all knew they are capable of.

Sherwood has not only given them belief but in doing so has brought out the qualities they have as players. Long may it continue.

[brian green]

Well put TV. Nicely said. My perspective is that TS is prepared to take risks to win games. His players'self confidence is boosted by the trust he places in them.

[PeterWithesShin]

Young Charlie Pye was left gobsmacked this week when he received a letter from Tim Sherwood informing him he'd been narrowly "pipped at the post" for the Villa manager's job.

Six-year-old Charlie, from Leamington Spa, wrote to chief executive Tom Fox offering his services for the vacant role in February - and thought nothing more of it.

But the JV-Life member couldn't believe his eyes as he opened his piece of post one morning and saw it was from the new boss - congratulating him on his credentials and wishing him all the best for the future.

In the initial letter, Charlie said: "I think my team talks would be very good and my tactics would be excellent.

"We need to stop the goals by getting in the way. We need to score more by shooting on target. This is a winning formula, so my dad says.

"As for payment on taking the job, all I ask is for a signed claret and blue football, a WWE wrestling figure and some sweets. As a win bonus each week, I would want a Twix.

"I would appoint my mum and dad as assistant managers so they can drive me to the training ground each day. My mum is also very good at making bacon sandwiches for the players if that helps.

"If I am successful, I would also need you to tell my school that I don't need to attend anymore as I have a job."

In his response, Tim said: "From your letter it is clear to see that you would indeed be an ideal candidate for the job due to your knowledge of the game - and your very capable backroom staff, of course!

"Hopefully you're not too disappointed at missing out and I'm informed that I just managed to pip you to the post so you were very close to being offered the job.

"Our chief executive Tom Fox has informed me that the club would like your permission to keep the letter on file 'just in case' - although I'm hoping I will be successful at this great football club.

"I will certainly be aiming to make you and all the other supporters happy.

"In terms of your football career, I want to wish Norton Lindsey every success this season. Well done on being appointed captain. I was a captain during my own playing career - it's a special honour."

Charlie was overwhelmed when he read the response.

He told us: "I never expected a letter from the manager but I was absolutely delighted to get one.

"What he wrote was brilliant - it meant a lot to me. Even the stuff about congratulating me on being a captain was really special.

"I was really happy when he got the job because of his passion and I love him even more now. I think he will do brilliantly for the Villa. He already is!"

[richard moore]

Pellagrini was the thinking mans tactical genius
With all the treasure in heaven he spoofs the league title then in his follow up year struggles to make top 4
So ends up not being all that as a tactical maestro with zero motivational skills

Hel be out of a job come summer
 

I remember one of these 'European-based knows it all about world football' types coming on Talkshite at the start of the season saying Pellegrini would win everything at Man City and although their fans had had it good to date, they had not seen anything yet and how he would take them to previously unseen levels of greatness etc.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Aw bless him,  nice touch that the little lad will never forget

[LeeB]

Call me a simpleton, but the fact that Sherwood speaks in a language that I understand as a fan of Aston Villa makes me like him all the more. I don't need to be patronized as a fan. I don't need to have someone try and teach me the game I have been watching for over 30 years and make me feel as though I'm not seeing the big picture. He makes me relate because he relates to us. Or that I simply don't understand. I feel like he sees what I see. There are things that we all saw were missing under Lambert. We all said Lambert for the most part bought really well, especially when he spent a bit of money. We are now seeing those players perform to a standard we all knew they are capable of.

Sherwood has not only given them belief but in doing so has brought out the qualities they have as players. Long may it continue.

Simpleton.

[Matt Collins]

Has anyone said Manuel "442" pellegrini is a tactical genius?

I've had to eat my words a bit about sherwood but I still think he'd benefit from being joined by your man at QPR over the summer

[Toronto Villa]

Call me a simpleton, but the fact that Sherwood speaks in a language that I understand as a fan of Aston Villa makes me like him all the more. I don't need to be patronized as a fan. I don't need to have someone try and teach me the game I have been watching for over 30 years and make me feel as though I'm not seeing the big picture. He makes me relate because he relates to us. Or that I simply don't understand. I feel like he sees what I see. There are things that we all saw were missing under Lambert. We all said Lambert for the most part bought really well, especially when he spent a bit of money. We are now seeing those players perform to a standard we all knew they are capable of.

Sherwood has not only given them belief but in doing so has brought out the qualities they have as players. Long may it continue.

Simpleton.

Hands up...I admit it.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Call me a simpleton, but the fact that Sherwood speaks in a language that I understand as a fan of Aston Villa makes me like him all the more. I don't need to be patronized as a fan. I don't need to have someone try and teach me the game I have been watching for over 30 years and make me feel as though I'm not seeing the big picture. Or that I simply don't understand. He makes me relate to him because he relates to us. I feel like he sees what I see. There are things that we all saw were missing under Lambert. We all said Lambert for the most part bought really well, especially when he spent a bit of money. We are now seeing those players perform to a standard we all knew they are capable of.

Sherwood has not only given them belief but in doing so has brought out the qualities they have as players. Long may it continue.

You're not a simpleton, TV, you're simply in love.

Speaking of love, I get the idea Sherwood absolutely loves his job, the intensity, the club, the raw passion of the Albion game made him realise what we're all about and wants to make it his own. My favourite Sherwood quote from the weekend sums all this up;

“I have nothing but respect for Levy and the Spurs board, without them, I wouldn’t be Aston Villa manager.”

I gather Sherwood's full time celebrations didn't go down too well with the Spurs fans - Houllier he ain't.