Who do you want the next Villa manager to be?

[Rudy65]

3 seasons as manager, sold a lot of good players and replaced them at a profit, won a cup, top 5 all 3 seasons and averaged 64 points per season.  I'm happy with his record and it honestly makes sense given our squad.  It might not work, all new managers are a risk, but I can see a clear thought process to this so I hope it happens now.

Win percentage of 51.28 isnt too shaby either

[pauliewalnuts]

New poster here. Seems a terrible stab in the dark to me if true. A guy who has done a so-so job in a crappish league? Come on now. We need someone with experience of fighting a relegation battle in the Premier league because that's what we're in. At the least someone a bit battle hardened. The whole "he'll get the best out of the french players" gambit is just that. You don't need to be the same nationality as players to get the best out of them. Think we're down if true.

He kept Lyon competitive despite having no transfer money, brought through young players and made them exciting to watch.

[Neil Hawkes]

Could be our Arsene Wenger but he'll most probably be our Pepe Mel.

The first to get a negative comment in, what is wrong with you people?

We're not that lucky though are we. Was tongue in cheek. Up to an hour ago did anyone say they wanted Garde?

Ah, tongue in cheek - apologies then. I made the same comment earlier that he has only just appeared on the radar, much the same as most of our summer signings.

[N'ZMAV]

I want Mark Hughes. He seems to be able to manage a side to win all types of games in a number of ways and styles. He'd do for me.

[walsall villain]

No really, who is he?

Apparently he's some French bloke who is a pundit on Canal+. A bit like Robbie Savage.

That made me laugh, I need cheering up.

[SamTheMouse]

...Definitely a step in the right direction in terms of the more cerebral approach, but I think there are some question marks over his ability. Given our precarious position, this is a big gamble.

So it could be out of the frying pan, into the fire then

Well let's put it this way, I would have been happer with the appointment if we were starting from a more solid base, because there's no doubt Garde is a step forward from your typical blood-and-guts British manager. If he is the target, then the board should be congratulated for casting their net a bit wider.

But we are up shit creek right now, and Garde has no experience whatsoever of relegation dogfights. He's going to be faced with a situation he's never been in before. And he's not hugely experienced in general.

I wouldn't say we are in a relegation dogfight. We are in the relegation zone but at this stage of the season so much will change. It's a scrap when it gets to March and everyone is desperate for points. But it only takes a couple off wins and things start to change quickly.

Yes, that's true.

What he will do, I think, is start the process of establishing an ethos at the club - a commitment to technical, attacking football. If we want to go down the Swansea route, he's a good place to start.

But I suspect it will take time, and I just hope he gets a decent honeymoon period, because he strikes me as the type to walk away if he starts getting too much opprobrium.

[levico]

Sounds like his career to date is taking him the the brink of greatness. Why would he take the poison chalice that is Villa? £££££?

[cdbearsfan]

Welcome to the site, disagree with you though. We've had plenty of Premier League experience managers. I'd welcome Garde, we need to try something different. Use Southampton as a model rather than perennial-relegation contenders like, well, us, since 2011.

Incidentally, given all the speculation about Garde now, I think the locked thread should be re-opened with a simple "Yes/No/Undecided" on Garde poll added.

[Yossarian]

3 seasons as manager, sold a lot of good players and replaced them at a profit, won a cup, top 5 all 3 seasons and averaged 64 points per season.  I'm happy with his record and it honestly makes sense given our squad.  It might not work, all new managers are a risk, but I can see a clear thought process to this so I hope it happens now.

This is all very good. So why did he leave Lyon?

[cdbearsfan]

Ah, must quote the person I'm replying to... it makes no sense now!

[Tayls_7]

I only have a basic grasp of French. How difficult is it to misinterpret "Aston Villa, the club not the rock band? You must be joking. I like a challenge but that's professional suicide with that Yank buffoon and his cronies pulling the strings" for "Yes, I'm on the next hovercraft".?

[PeterWithesShin]

Bromsgrove Sporting would finish in the French league it's so crap!

*Not really but I got Bromsgrove into a new manager convo and top 5 in the French League! La Boom!

[SoccerHQ]

Depends if you think we can collect 30 odd points by the middle of April or something. It will be some run with this squad.

[Stu]

3 seasons as manager, sold a lot of good players and replaced them at a profit, won a cup, top 5 all 3 seasons and averaged 64 points per season.  I'm happy with his record and it honestly makes sense given our squad.  It might not work, all new managers are a risk, but I can see a clear thought process to this so I hope it happens now.

This is all very good. So why did he leave Lyon?

"For personal and family reasons" apparently. Have a read of this: Why Arsene Wenger's protégé would be the perfect man to rejuvenate Newcastle

[enigma]

People always seem to want Klinsmann when we're casting round for a new manager. Can never understand why though. He's really not very good at all.

From the more realistic candidates (so no de Boer) I'd settle for any of Moyes, Rodgers or AVB. Not entirely sure about Remi Garde and how good he is to be honest.

Can see us ending up with Pearson though.