Manager for next season

[brian green]

Agree Mr U.  I should have added that it is a rarer combination to have an Alex Ferguson who commanded obedience without the character defects that frequently go with being able to dominate rebellious players.  We need a good manager with a ruthless side to his nature, not a compulsive bully.

[mattjpa]

Just been told by a forest fan who was there last night she saw Pearson in the directors box. Could be nothing but looks ominous

[chrisw1]

Just been told by a forest fan who was there last night she saw Pearson in the directors box. Could be nothing but looks ominous

I didn't want him.  However, if the Board did then not getting him would be very poor indeed.  We've had several weeks to think about this and really should be in a position to sign up anyone currently out of work or at the very least have very strong indications from agents of anyone in work.

[DeKuip]

Just been told by a forest fan who was there last night she saw Pearson in the directors box. Could be nothing but looks ominous

Ominous? If he's lined up for the Forest then that's fine by me, but if he's coming here at least here's out there looking at players and checking on Gary Gardner at Championship level.

[Risso]

Or he could just be doing what most out of work managers do, and go to games to keep their eye in.

[Stinkin_Thinkin]

The new manager needs to come in asap and roll up his sleeves to get busy.
I'm sick of the way Villa dither. For example when Garde was appointed in November was about 4 games too late. There was an international break which would have been perfect for squad assessment, however we again messed it up. Didn't get his preferred assistants either (which may have been crucial. with people who had his back he might have been able to impose himself over the players who knows?)
Similar flap to the Houlier debarcle. As if anyone is going to associate the relegation to someone who starts now? Garde will probably say the same. "I went there but they were already down. In their minds"

[Malandro]

After speaking to a couple of Preston fans and watching a few of their games last year, I wouldn't be too disappointed with Grayson.

Low profile perhaps and I remember him as a rather unremarkable footballer but could be a good fit.
A risk but most of the names mentioned are.

[wozwebs]

Grayson would be a very underwhelming appointment. Everton fans were abusing Martinez at an U21 game last night, they really hate him so I'm wondering if Moyes is waiting for that one to come up. I haven't been paying any attention to Everton but they are similar to us last season in that if they didn't have a prolific striker in Lukaku then they would be down there with us.

[chrisw1]

Grayson would be a very underwhelming appointment. Everton fans were abusing Martinez at an U21 game last night, they really hate him so I'm wondering if Moyes is waiting for that one to come up. I haven't been paying any attention to Everton but they are similar to us last season in that if they didn't have a prolific striker in Lukaku then they would be down there with us.

Moyes to Everton.  Martinez to WBA.  Pulis to.. oh wait...

[godzvilla]

Could be Everton are already lining up a new Boss :
´Everton rumours: Marcelo Bielsa 'sounded out to be next manager'
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-rumours-marcelo-bielsa-sounded-11165905
Tbh...I wouldn´t have minded this guy,.........Godzvilla!

[Dave P]

After speaking to a couple of Preston fans and watching a few of their games last year, I wouldn't be too disappointed with Grayson.

Low profile perhaps and I remember him as a rather unremarkable footballer but could be a good fit.
A risk but most of the names mentioned are.

Grayson ticks lots of boxes.

Experience at Championship level - check
Experience (and success) at big club - check
Promotions at every club he has been at - check
Currently working so 'match fit' - check
Gets on with Brian Little - check
Ex Villa (for what that is worth) - check

He only really lacks top flight experience but we wont have to worry about that for at least 12 months.  Moyes is my first choice but he is my realistic choice.

[SheffieldVillain]

After speaking to a couple of Preston fans and watching a few of their games last year, I wouldn't be too disappointed with Grayson.

Low profile perhaps and I remember him as a rather unremarkable footballer but could be a good fit.
A risk but most of the names mentioned are.

Grayson ticks lots of boxes.

Experience at Championship level - check
Experience (and success) at big club - check
Promotions at every club he has been at - check
Currently working so 'match fit' - check
Gets on with Brian Little - check
Ex Villa (for what that is worth) - check

He only really lacks top flight experience but we wont have to worry about that for at least 12 months.  Moyes is my first choice but he is my realistic choice.

Well, even the experienced managers supposedly in the mix have question marks against them, so if we're going down the 'next Eddie Howe' route, why not?

It'd be good news for Callum Robinson at least, he obviously rates him after taking him on loan twice.

[Ads]

"Scored a screamer against the Stripey Filth" - check

[LeeB]

"Scored a screamer against the Stripey Filth" - check

Took his top off and twirled it round his head too, Duncan Ferguson stylee.

I liked Larry as a player, he was limited but gave it his all. He'd be our best player in this team.

[gpbarr]

I don't think they'll be bricking it at all. A lot of them will be relishing the prospect of playing us.

I bet they all wanted Newcastle too a few seasons back and most teams just got blown away. Everyone wants to play us now and I don't doubt we'd struggle against a League 2 side. It won't be like that next season and certainly not if we prepared ourselves correctly.

The last bit of your final sentence is the all important part. There's a lot of work to do, and comparisons with Newcastle of a few years ago don't really hold up.

They were abysmal like us. Had a comedy manager in charge, overpaid players who wanted nothing to do with the club, and a board just as useless and chaotic. There are plenty of parallels.

Didn't they keep most of their squad together though ?  If we do that we wont be returning at the first attempt.

They did. My point being Newcastle fans were probably saying exactly the same thing at the time. That they needed wholesale changes. And I bet they were hardly tickled pink by Hughton becoming their manager tasked with bringing them back up. Yet somehow he galvanized them to piss the division. I'm not so naive to think we would do the same but we need to get out of this season get a good manager in who won't divide and alienate these players. We are not getting rid of all of them, so whoever comes in will need to make this group play as a unit. It's not an impossible task.

Maybe not impossible but certainly beyond any manager we have had since MON.