Graham Taylor: Randy Lerner should slash asking price to save club

[dave.woodhall]

I honestly think he's the greatest British manager, ever.

I don't care that others won more, look what he did with an absolute nothing club like Nottingham Forest back then.

Having said that, as a person, he probably did leave a lot to be desired.

Agreed, with the addition of what he did at Derby as well.

[West Derby Villan]

Mr Shaw went to Great Barr Comp I believe and supported the Villa

[robbo1874]

Some of my favourite times watching Villa under Taylor first time around. Who knows what might have happened had England not come calling. I think we might have won the league if he had turned england down. Don't blame him at all though for taking on the challenge.

[Risso]

I honestly think he's the greatest British manager, ever.

I don't care that others won more, look what he did with an absolute nothing club like Nottingham Forest back then.

Having said that, as a person, he probably did leave a lot to be desired.

Look at what Ferguson did with a nothing club like Man U!

[Monty]

Certainly the greatest English manager. A few Scots have some good claims.

[peter w]

I honestly think he's the greatest British manager, ever.

I don't care that others won more, look what he did with an absolute nothing club like Nottingham Forest back then.

Having said that, as a person, he probably did leave a lot to be desired.

Look at what Ferguson did with a nothing club like Man U!

Ferguson was brilliant no doubt but he did have the added luck and advantage of probably the best group of kids to come thorugh any youth system at the same time together. Any manager would have had success with those players at their disposal. Given Man U's size, the money then flooding into the game, their success it would have been harder for Ferguson to fail.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

I'd vote for Herbert Chapman. Quite apart from the Huddersfield achievements, until he got there Arsenal had won precisely nothing.

[Toronto Villa]

Clough is no doubt outstanding, but I'd put Ferguson above him. Not like Man U were dominating everything when he came in and he took over the finished product, like maybe Pep at Bayern. He came in, and in real terms, not very long corrected things and started winning. Not only did he win things but it was his ability to constantly reinvent the side through various players, styles and systems. Yes, he is at Man U and that affords him immense resources but he took advantage of those resources. The most impressive thing for me wasn't winning the league with great players it's that he also won at a canter with pretty average ones too. It's also the culture he created which we all saw and everyone despised. The culture of intimidation and fear which many great teams or managers have had. That they can find ways to influence the game or officials, be it during or game or in the days before or after. They were a big team before but they are what they are today because of him. And taking it running with it isn't as easy as it looks when you consider they money spent by Moyes and LVG since.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Great manager, Clough, but he was corrupt - he was the original "brown envelope in a motorway service station"  and transfer backhander merchant. Crook. And Ronnie Fenton

[joe_c]

I honestly think he's the greatest British manager, ever.

I don't care that others won more, look what he did with an absolute nothing club like Nottingham Forest back then.

Having said that, as a person, he probably did leave a lot to be desired.

Agreed, with the addition of what he did at Derby as well.

And I think everyone enjoyed his time at Leeds too.

[montague]

I honestly think he's the greatest British manager, ever.

I don't care that others won more, look what he did with an absolute nothing club like Nottingham Forest back then.

Having said that, as a person, he probably did leave a lot to be desired.

Look at what Ferguson did with a nothing club like Man U!

Ferguson was brilliant no doubt but he did have the added luck and advantage of probably the best group of kids to come thorugh any youth system at the same time together. Any manager would have had success with those players at their disposal. Given Man U's size, the money then flooding into the game, their success it would have been harder for Ferguson to fail.

he also won the Scottish league with Aberdeen and beat Real Madrid in a European final with them

[dave.woodhall]

And Ferguson also had every possible assistance from every outside source. I'm not one for conspiracy theories but I do truly believe that outside influences played a part in 1992-93.

[PeterWithesShin]

What Clough did at provincial clubs like Forest and Derby was an amazing achievement.
What Don Revie did at Leeds was no small achievement either. The '92 title is the only thing they've win without him as manager, '96 is the only cup final they've been to without him. Before he arrived, Leeds were less successful than small heath. One FA Cup QF and one top 7 finish (5th).

[eamonn]

And Ferguson also had every possible assistance from every outside source. I'm not one for conspiracy theories but I do truly believe that outside influences played a part in 1992-93.

What sort of outside influences? The Cantona signing?

[PeterWithesShin]

The media were willing Manure to win it. I have a sneaky feeling that Sky, the FA etc also preferred them to win the inaugural title than Villa. Much more marketable.