Manager for next season

[N'ZMAV]

Some of those signings did well for WBA.
Dawson is first choice. Odemwinge did well, as did Reid, Scharner, Myhill. Good signings for where they were at the time.

[Hookeysmith]

I know we are the famous Aston Villa and I know it probably has not sunk in yet, it is only just dawning on me when listening to media discussing the new Premiership campaign that we are not in it  ,  but we are not going to get much better options than RDM or Pearson

I am glad Moyes is out of it as I saw in him same old same old - at least we will have something different

Could we not now have a poll to represent what we are up against

RDM
Pearson
Any other

It would have a better indication on how we all feel

[Bottom Right 89]

So Tony Barton must have just been lucky then..

Luckier than a Lucky Leprechaun in Luckyland.

[Musicmaan]

I know we are the famous Aston Villa and I know it probably has not sunk in yet, it is only just dawning on me when listening to media discussing the new Premiership campaign that we are not in it  ,  but we are not going to get much better options than RDM or Pearson

Agreed. Let's not forget that it wasn't long ago there was some pretty serious chat about struggling in the championship, and possibly dropping straight through.

There is an opportunity to make this club great again, but we have to accept that we've fallen a long long way.

Di Matteo works for me.

[DeKuip]

There is no ideal (realistic) candidate. Not one.

I think there was, until Moyes dropped out the running.
I've nothing against Di Matteo but I worry that he seems to be the personal choice of Dr X, who is not a man with inside knowledge of the game.
The football brains we've had around the club in recent months (Bernstein & Little) had, we're led to believe, identified Person as the right man. Pearson is not someone I initially wanted, mainly because his trusted assistants are still at Leicester, but as time has gone on I've warmed to the idea because he is a team builder and a natural leader himself. Two things we have lacked more than ability have been team spirit and leadership. Even when they were struggling last season Leicester played as a team, and then it really started to click when the brought Huth in January, another strong leader and character alongside Wes Morgan.
Di Matteo hasn't really stuck around anywhere long enough to make me think he's right for us. i'm nervous about both him and Xia.
My concern is that Pearson ends up making a possible rival in Derby stronger and we end up regretting another wrong decision.

[Marlon From Bearwood]

There is no ideal (realistic) candidate. Not one.

I think there was, until Moyes dropped out the running.
I've nothing against Di Matteo but I worry that he seems to be the personal choice of Dr X, who is not a man with inside knowledge of the game.
The football brains we've had around the club in recent months (Bernstein & Little) had, we're led to believe, identified Person as the right man. Pearson is not someone I initially wanted, mainly because his trusted assistants are still at Leicester, but as time has gone on I've warmed to the idea because he is a team builder and a natural leader himself. Two things we have lacked more than ability have been team spirit and leadership. Even when they were struggling last season Leicester played as a team, and then it really started to click when the brought Huth in January, another strong leader and character alongside Wes Morgan.
Di Matteo hasn't really stuck around anywhere long enough to make me think he's right for us. i'm nervous about both him and Xia.
My concern is that Pearson ends up making a possible rival in Derby stronger and we end up regretting another wrong decision.

This pretty much sums up my thoughts too.

[AVH87]

I've voted RDM as it seems to be a two-horse race now. If he can shift some of the wasters, Gabby et. al and bring in several new players and a new spine to the team I see no reason he can't have us challenging. His summer business at WBA posted on the last page was pretty impressive, a lot of those players were good at Championship level (hence them coming 2nd), and a couple are still on the books now and regular starters in the Prem, 6 years on (Dawson, Myhill).

[Walmley_Villa]

As long as Sir Alex has't sent the Dr a recommendation letter....

[N'ZMAV]

We're a championship club now, so we need to be looking at a candidate who can operate in that league, and has the ability to manage in the Premier League if we get promoted. Also, a man who can manage with a high turnover of players. Pearson could be that man, as could RDM.

[paul_e]

I think I must've missed some of the seasons where Pearson had a team playing like gods because the reputation he has on here (with some) can't be based on the seasons I know about.  The other big worry I have about Pearson is that he's been at a few clubs and the only one where he's done anything decent is Leicester, and that's before you get on to the fact that he's a knob.

[paul_e]

We're a championship club now, so we need to be looking at a candidate who can operate in that league, and has the ability to manage in the Premier League if we get promoted. Also, a man who can manage with a high turnover of players. Pearson could be that man, as could RDM.

Sorry but I'm utterly fed up of the "operate in that league" nonsense that gets thrown around so often.  Are you suggesting that if we had an option of getting Loew or Guardiola or Mourinho we should turn it down because they "don't know the championship"?  The myth that you need some special formula that is completely different to any other football anywhere in the world is the biggest pile of bullshit going.  We need a good manager and good palyers, if we get both we'll be propmoted, if we don't we won't be, the desperate calls for someone who's been there and done it in that league are just bizarre.

[PaulWinch again]

We're a championship club now, so we need to be looking at a candidate who can operate in that league, and has the ability to manage in the Premier League if we get promoted. Also, a man who can manage with a high turnover of players. Pearson could be that man, as could RDM.

Sorry but I'm utterly fed up of the "operate in that league" nonsense that gets thrown around so often.  Are you suggesting that if we had an option of getting Loew or Guardiola or Mourinho we should turn it down because they "don't know the championship"?  The myth that you need some special formula that is completely different to any other football anywhere in the world is the biggest pile of bullshit going.  We need a good manager and good palyers, if we get both we'll be propmoted, if we don't we won't be, the desperate calls for someone who's been there and done it in that league are just bizarre.

Exactly what I always bang on about .

[Tony Erdington]

I think I must've missed some of the seasons where Pearson had a team playing like gods because the reputation he has on here (with some) can't be based on the seasons I know about.  The other big worry I have about Pearson is that he's been at a few clubs and the only one where he's done anything decent is Leicester, and that's before you get on to the fact that he's a knob.

this gets a yep from me

[sirlordbaltimore]

If, as a Championship club we can attract a manager that's took a team to Champ Div 1 play offs in his first job, a team straight back up from Championship to the Prem in his second job, and won the FA Cup and Champions League in his third job i honestly don't know what the feck anyone's moaning about

He wasn't my first choice, but you can't knock his managerial record thus far surely ?

[Bottom Right 89]

We're a championship club now, so we need to be looking at a candidate who can operate in that league, and has the ability to manage in the Premier League if we get promoted. Also, a man who can manage with a high turnover of players. Pearson could be that man, as could RDM.

Sorry but I'm utterly fed up of the "operate in that league" nonsense that gets thrown around so often.  Are you suggesting that if we had an option of getting Loew or Guardiola or Mourinho we should turn it down because they "don't know the championship"?  The myth that you need some special formula that is completely different to any other football anywhere in the world is the biggest pile of bullshit going.  We need a good manager and good palyers, if we get both we'll be propmoted, if we don't we won't be, the desperate calls for someone who's been there and done it in that league are just bizarre.

Exactly what I always bang on about .

If you listen to the media and the local rags they keep going on about how tough the Championship is and how we'll struggle. Nonsense, I've watched loads of Championship games since Christmas to get me used to watching this rubbish next season. All you need is a 25+ goals a season striker, a dead ball specialist, someone who can deliver a decent cross and someone who can throw the ball further than Guzan kicks it plus squad fit enough to play twice a week. This myth that we need an expert coach with specialist Championship skills is rubbish to keep average coaches like Warnock employable. If you can manage a Premier League team this should be a walk in the park in fact you could do it part time if we wanted Roy Hodgson or Martin O'Neill back.