Manager for next season

[Des Little]

i'll take any manager that doesn't come in telling us that he's going to get a tune out of Agbonlahor, because he won't.

[onje_villa]

Is it wrong that I quite like Pearson? He's clearly gone too far on occasion and would be a risky appointment so on balance probably best to look elsewhere but wouldn't be dull (mind you, I remember saying that about Sherwood).

I've alway had a bit of a soft spot for Steve Bruce actually and for a former Blues boss think he's held in pretty decent esteem by most on here.

All told, Moyes would be a great appointment though if we could convince him. Our new board gives me confidence that we have a future and a vision to present to potential candidates so who knows?

[dave shelley]

File under ´April Fool ´...surely?! :

http://leagueofireland.ie/index.php/2016/04/01/dundalk-fc-manager-stephen-kenny-flying-to-england-to-interview-with-aston-villa-about-managers-job/?

Current Dundalk FC manager Stephen Kenny is flying to England on Saturday morning to meet with Aston Villa and their board about the vacant management role at the Birmingham based club.

The Dubliner who has won the SSE Airtricity League twice in two years, along with the FAI Cup with Dundalk has been approached by the Villa board about the possibility of taking over the club on a short term deal until the end of the season.

Kenny has previous experience of management in the UK as the manager of Scottish club Dunfermline Athletic (2006-2007) and guided the Pars to a Scottish Cup Final only to lose out narrowly to Celtic on the day.

Aston Villa will be hoping Kenny can emulate his reign in Dundalk across the pond, as he inherited a team that was kept in the Premier Division on the last day in a relegation play-off in 2012 but since then has guided them to second in the league the following season and as stated above has won the league every year since then with the Louth club.

Kenny is looking to bring in the experience of former Villa legend and Dundalk man Steve Staunton as his assistant for the short period.

If all goes well this weekend then an announcement will be expected early next week from the Aston Villa board.

No doubt someone on a wind-up but, I've seen evidence of how Stephen Kenny operates.  He took Longford Town from near extinction to become a team that gained promotion to the FAI Premier League.  He oversaw the building of a new stadium and achieved European football for Longford, a dream come true for the locals.

He moved on to other things and, has been successful wherever he has gone.  Whilst not a serious candidate for the Villa job, it would be a foolish man that underestimated his ability.

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

Is it wrong that I quite like Pearson? He's clearly gone too far on occasion and would be a risky appointment so on balance probably best to look elsewhere but wouldn't be dull (mind you, I remember saying that about Sherwood).

I've alway had a bit of a soft spot for Steve Bruce actually and for a former Blues boss think he's held in pretty decent esteem by most on here.

All told, Moyes would be a great appointment though if we could convince him. Our new board gives me confidence that we have a future and a vision to present to potential candidates so who knows?

I think Pearson is a decent manager, but he is a dickhead. Same goes for Pardew.

And if he started cracking under the pressure at Leicester, how long will he last here!!!

[Billy Walker]

File under ´April Fool ´...surely?! :

http://leagueofireland.ie/index.php/2016/04/01/dundalk-fc-manager-stephen-kenny-flying-to-england-to-interview-with-aston-villa-about-managers-job/?

Current Dundalk FC manager Stephen Kenny is flying to England on Saturday morning to meet with Aston Villa and their board about the vacant management role at the Birmingham based club.

The Dubliner who has won the SSE Airtricity League twice in two years, along with the FAI Cup with Dundalk has been approached by the Villa board about the possibility of taking over the club on a short term deal until the end of the season.

Kenny has previous experience of management in the UK as the manager of Scottish club Dunfermline Athletic (2006-2007) and guided the Pars to a Scottish Cup Final only to lose out narrowly to Celtic on the day.

Aston Villa will be hoping Kenny can emulate his reign in Dundalk across the pond, as he inherited a team that was kept in the Premier Division on the last day in a relegation play-off in 2012 but since then has guided them to second in the league the following season and as stated above has won the league every year since then with the Louth club.

Kenny is looking to bring in the experience of former Villa legend and Dundalk man Steve Staunton as his assistant for the short period.

If all goes well this weekend then an announcement will be expected early next week from the Aston Villa board.

No doubt someone on a wind-up but, I've seen evidence of how Stephen Kenny operates.  He took Longford Town from near extinction to become a team that gained promotion to the FAI Premier League.  He oversaw the building of a new stadium and achieved European football for Longford, a dream come true for the locals.

He moved on to other things and, has been successful wherever he has gone.  Whilst not a serious candidate for the Villa job, it would be a foolish man that underestimated his ability.

I met Stephen Kenny by chance in a pub in Donegal a good four years ago.  I ended up chatting to him at the bar and what struck me about him - apart from his being an absolute gentleman -  was that he knew everything about Villa.  I think we were in the thick of the McLeish season and I was venting my woes whilst he nodded sagely, hot whiskey in hand.  After I'd finished, he started reeling off the whole Villa squad, those whom he rated, those whom he didn't rate, formations he'd use etc., etc.  I was just astounded by his knowledge and grasp of the situation Villa were in.

I would file this under "April Fool" but that is not to demean Kenny, his track record suggests he is a very talented manager.

[robbo1874]

Didn't Gray give Little a hard time in the papers when Little was boss? There's something I hold against him but can't pinpoint it. He did speak well here though.

was it anything to do with a no-show at the official opening of a supermarket in the Black Country area in the late 1970's by any chance ?

[ez]

So we've had 2 managers and a caretaker manager this season. I wonder if that's happened before. In the Houllier season it was 1 manager and 2 caretakers.

[stuart r]

So we've had 2 managers and a caretaker manager this season. I wonder if that's happened before. In the Houllier season it was 1 manager and 2 caretakers.

2 managers and 2 caretakers (although Macdonald didn't do the 'care' bit very well)

[Ormy Droid]

So we've had 2 managers and a caretaker manager this season. I wonder if that's happened before. In the Houllier season it was 1 manager and 2 caretakers.

2 managers and 2 caretakers (although Macdonald didn't do the 'care' bit very well)

MacDonald was more a pisstaker if anything

[Nelly]

He seemingly chose to make a show of either solidarity with Sherwood or defiance at the board with his choice of players - 'no frenchies'! That he would sacrifice a game of football at a fairly pivotal point in the season to make a point jarred greatly.

[lovejoy]

Anyone who has the ability to kick the following out of the club permanently - preferably head first:

Gabby
CNZ
Richards
Richardson
Lescott
Bacuna
Guzan
Hutton
Clark
Wesrwood

Agree with some of those. Hutton, Clark and Westwood is about not having Premier League quality, not bad attitudes. Thing the attitudes need to go first, then look to remove those three later.

If we have a turnaround of 15 players out/up (assuming we lose the likes of Ayew, Veretout, Gana, Adama and someone like Gil, Sanchez or Amavi) we won't go up. Fulham did that a couple of years ago and it just doesn't work.

Key is getting rid of the toxic (Agree with top 5/6 of that list) and then working to improve the quality. The three of those could be okay squad players in that league. Even if they would need replacing were we to come up.

Agreed, Clark, Hutton and Westwoods lack of ability won't be such a problem in the second tier, they are also tryers and that's all I ask for at this point.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Just heard John Carver on 5Live saying he's applied...

[The Left Side]

Just heard John Carver on 5Live saying he's applied...

Please say that is an April Fool?

[SteveN]

I am underwhelmed by all of those listed and being linked with in the press. Surprised Gary Megson hasn't had a mention.

I guess it would be impossible  to pay up the contracts Agbonlahor, Richards, Lescott, Guans et and kept Garde. I don't go along with the idea that the manager must have Championship experience and I'm not sure that any candidates mentioned to date are better than .Garde. Given the probable lack of spend we need someone who can bring the youngsters through, something Garde has had success with.
.j
I have seen several Championship games, it's not all hoof ball to a big man.

[Toronto Villa]

If John Carver has applied it's only so he can relegate us again. The bitter fuckring.