Manager for next season

[Nastylee]

Can't remember, I was only about 10

[The_ads]

350+ pages ago no one gave RDM a second thought. European cup winning, FA Cup winning, promotion winning, entertaining football playing free agent Roberto Di Matteo didn't get a mention once. He wasn't part of the poll, no one cared. Now he's the only selection left he's an amazing manager

[The_ads]

I'll be backing him though, he'll be the manager of the club I love

[Stirchley Villain]

 What if he says no? It's a real possibility, particularly if he smells a Dr X sized rat...

[cdbearsfan]

350+ pages ago no one gave RDM a second thought. European cup winning, FA Cup winning, promotion winning, entertaining football playing free agent Roberto Di Matteo didn't get a mention once.

So?

How many Leicester fans thought they'd be appointing Ranieri when Pearson left? Was Wenger top of the fans' list of choices to replace Rioch?

Nobody really thought about him as he hadn't been speculated about in the press. It's only natural that, when awaiting a new manager, fans will read papers/online speculation about specific candidates and discuss the pros and cons.

Once Di Matteo seemed to become a serious contender many of us read up about his managerial career and were impressed. He's got a club that had just been relegated promoted, he's won the European Cup and FA Cup. It baffles me that your still turning your nose up at him because we were discussing Mick McCarthy in April.

[passitsideways]

I see we've hit page 400. Here's hoping we don't need to get to 500 before someone's appointed.

[The_ads]

Some good points mate, but remember this forum is all about opinion and debate. You're an advocate and I'm not, no big deal. You are right about the Wenger scenario though

[Taylor]

What if he says no? It's a real possibility, particularly if he smells a Dr X sized rat...

I would like to think we would have heard the "ruled himself out" line by now if that was the case. I dread to think who we would get if that happens. Warnock, John Carver. Jeeez.

[Nastylee]

I can't see why people are still not believing the Doc. It's obvious he's a serious player hence why the press have moved on or are still peddling the same crap from 10 days ago.

[Stirchley Villain]

I can't see why people are still not believing the Doc. It's obvious he's a serious player hence why the press have moved on or are still peddling the same crap from 10 days ago.

I don't disbelieve him...

[murgsy]

Glad Pearson is out of the running. Would be quite happy with RDM. Still, the backroom staff is essential. Could be the 'make or break' issue...

[Gregorys Boy]

Would have liked to have seen Pearson given a chance actually, out of the limited options think he was one of the best.  RDM has a decent record, but I would like someone with more Championship experience, and a stronger personality, think he's a bit passive.  We could do worse, but I'm not 100% sold on him.  But who ever we are getting we need to make the move fast, otherwise our planning for next season will be behind the others.

[Leicester_Villian]

Towards the end of the season everyone was agreed we needed a manager proven to bring stability to the dressing room which we all agree is a major problem ....for me Pearson would have done this without any issue

I am not sure why there are so many anti Pearson comments here ......... I would now back derby for automatic promotion

I am totally unsure about RDM - if he is appointed I hope he proves me wrong - as I doubt he will ever have dealt with such a mess as he will inherit here

Our planning is already way behind everybody else ....I have not even seen pre season games being planned or a retained list etc

We should be appointing a manager NOW otherwise our chances of making the play offs I fear will be NIL

Options for the manager are slim but we need to appoint and then move at great speed to start the squad etc etc

[Villa in Denmark]

Would have liked to have seen Pearson given a chance actually, out of the limited options think he was one of the best.  RDM has a decent record, but I would like someone with more Championship experience, and a stronger personality, think he's a bit passive.  We could do worse, but I'm not 100% sold on him.  But who ever we are getting we need to make the move fast, otherwise our planning for next season will be behind the others.

Depends on what you mean by stronger personality.

Compare him to some of his compatriots.

Ranieri
Maldini (sr)
Trapattoni
Ancelotti
Prandelli

None of them outwardly very demonstrative, but all successful in managing / massaging the biggest egos in the game, completely destroying the latin "passionate temperament" cliche exuded by losers like di Canio.

[old man villa fan]

Was Sir Graham's appointment greeted with such negativity at the time as I can't remember.

I'm willing to bet that if these boards had been around then the folk on here now would state:

1) Long ball merchant, don't want his anti-football tactics.
2) What has he ever won?
3) Has no track record - blah, blah, blah.

I was around at the time and I was very impressed with the appointment.  We had just been relegated and it looked as though we were not coming back quickly.  Taylor had taken Watford through the divisions to just below the top in the 1st Division.  To convince him to come to Villa was one of the best things Doug actually achieved.

I can remember being in my boss's office at the time and we were talking on the phone to a client who was well in at Watford.  He said that Taylor would be a great as manager but one of the most important things was bringing Steve Harrison along with him.  With any manager it's really important to have a good management/coaching team behind them.  It is probably even more important now than then to have the coaches as it is a much more technical game now.