Best and worst managers in your life time

[Clark W Griswold]

Big Ron - Exciting signings, most worked. Best football, plus he had lots of charisma, we won a cup and were runners up in the league.
Close 2nd though of course GT. Got promoted, first div runners up and came up with great tactics that season. He also made the 3 best signings of the past 30 odd years, McGrath, Platt and Yorke.
Lots of choice for worst, I think it's a tie between Venglos, Lambert and McLeish.

[Andy1874]

Best for me: O'Neill (granted it went sour)

Worst: Mcleish, was close between him and Lamberk though

[rob_bridge]

I don't remember Vic Crowe, so my ranking is:

1.  Ron Saunders
2.  Tony Barton
3.  Ron Atkinson
4.  Brian Little
5.  Graham Taylor I
6.  Martin O'Neill
7.  John Gregory
8.  Gerard Houllier
9.  David O'Leary
10. Graham Taylor II
11. Tim Sherwood
12. Graham Turner
13. Jozef Venglos
14. Paul Lambert
15. Alex McLeish
16. Billy McNeill

Too early to rank Remi Garde. 

Once you get past O'Neill and Gregory, it gets grim fast.

Sherwood surprisingly high, but he ought to get credit for keeping us up last season, the FA Cup Final and at least making me love the Villa again for a month or so.

I'd have GT I and Barton swap places - rest is spot on. O'Neill and Gregory joint.

[The Left Side]

Saunders
McLeish - what were they thinking?

[aj2k77]

Best - Taylor
Worst - Lambert

[Phil from the upper holte]

In my lifetime Atkinson & Little

Worst Mcshit & Lambert

[AVH87]

Best - Big Ron

Worst - Paul Lambert

[ADVILLAFAN]

I think the best would be Ron Atkinson, don't really remember Graham Taylor from his first time at the club. Second in the league and a league cup too.

Worst was definitely O'Leary. Not only for the fact that we were rubbish under him, but the fact that he was always banging on about Leeds and trying to make out what a small club we were! Never hated any other manager that we've had, some have been crap but at least they seemed okay as people.

[Villan For Life]

The best in my lifetime is Ron Saunders, with GT Mk I second.

The worst is McNeill by a country mile.

[brentastonb6]

If my memory serves me correctly didn't McNeill have the dubious distinction of taking two clubs down in the same season in us and Man Citeh ?

[Lobsterboy]

Best - Saunders, Barton, Taylor, Atkinson, Little, O'Neill, Gregory

Worst - McNeill, Lambert, Turner, McLeish, O'Leary, Sherwood

[Chris Harte]

Been a regular since 1984. In that time the best was Sir Graham for his time at the club between 1987-1990.

The worst was David O'Deary for being shit, and having an incredible ability to put his foot in his mouth. He was worse than Billy McNeill for me, who despite taking us down at least knew not to slag the club/fans off every week.

[OzVilla]

Best - Ron Saunders, growing up having him as Villa manager almost felt like your Dad was in charge, the ultimate authority figure, his word was law, always right.

Worst - Billy McNeil, we've probably had worse managers but none that cared so little, treated the club like a 6 month cash point. Still disliked DOL more though as a person.

[Godfrey Brian]

Tommy Doc turned me from a 9 year old Villa cynic (I already held dour views about managers following Tommy Cummings!) into an absolute believer so I'll always have a soft spot for him. But Ron Saunders actually knew what he was doing and how to deliver it by sticking to his principles so he's best in my view.

McNeill was by far the worst

[castlefields_villan]

Best - Ron Saunders, growing up having him as Villa manager almost felt like your Dad was in charge, the ultimate authority figure, his word was law, always right.

Worst - Billy McNeil, we've probably had worse managers but none that cared so little, treated the club like a 6 month cash point. Still disliked DOL more though as a person.

That's so right - whatever Ron said, it was taken and there was not even a thought of disagreeing with him - a superb manager.

I remember all the big talk Billy McNeil brought with him ( and I'd always admired him as a player ) - however, it was in the main just that - talk.