Welcome Roberto Di Matteo and Steve Clarke

[ciggiesnbeer]

RDM with Steve Clarke as assistant is a great start.
With the likes of Pearson, Monk, Bruce, Dyche and others being linked with us, this is a great appointment.
Is this on the advice of Brian Little, or someone else, if not Little then who?
Not sure how much Xia knows about managers, so I am guessing someone is advising him.

It may be as simple as he applied for the job. Xia asked for the list of potential candidates that had applied or been recruited for consideration and picked RDM as his preferred choice even if Brian Little & the current Villa board preferred Pearson or Moyes.

Just one extra bit of speculation, ManU is a big deal in China, it seems very plausible that Moyes is regarded as a bit of a joke figure over there in the same way he is by a lot of ManU fans so Xia immediatley tossed his name out causing a shocked Moyes to "withdraw" from the running to try and save face.

I know nothing about how managers jobs works but the above invented scenario doesnt seem all that crazy.

[Toronto Villa]

That's about as solid a management partnership as we could have hoped for. They need the backing from Dr X. Hopefully them joining is a clear indication that the ownership change isn't far from being confirmed.

[Toronto Villa]

Apparently also joining is Massimiliano Marchesi AKA The Sheikh of Muscles. Or something like that.

[PeterWithesShin]

Chubby Agbonlahor will be delighted with "Marchesi has made a living off pushing players to their physical limits."

[Hillbilly]

A coach! An actually bloody coach! Wonders never cease.

[passport1]

Does this mean we have a proper managerial team and are being run like a proffesional football club? Surely not this is the Villa there must be some mistake.

[Toronto Villa]

Chubby Agbonlahor will be delighted with "Marchesi has made a living off pushing players to their physical limits."

Chubby, Chubby, Chubby, Chubby, Chubby Agbonlahor...he's fat as fuck...

That bloke? Hope the Sheikh does a better job than Bobby Duverne. Of course I'm hoping that Gabby has nothing to do with the club come August and has fucked off somewhere else.

[Hillbilly]

Typical Villa that a headline "European Cup winners appoint European Cup winning manager" is under the current circumstances rather than at the pinnacle of the game.

[villabear]

Unless I'm missing something (I'm on hols) it's still not on the club website. Have the website designers gone the way of Jack Woodward?

Also just read quotes from Pearson regarding meeting Lerner and Hollis. Nice diplomacy from him.

Link (apologies if posted before mods)
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nigel-pearson-aston-villa-talks-11421601

[Toronto Villa]

Unless I'm missing something (I'm on hols) it's still not on the club website. Have the website designers gone the way of Jack Woodward?

Also just read quotes from Pearson regarding meeting Lerner and Hollis. Nice diplomacy from him.

Link (apologies if posted before mods)
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nigel-pearson-aston-villa-talks-11421601

it's not official official yet so that's why it's not on the OS. The Daily Mail are suggesting it hasn't been announced with Villa until they finalise the contract with Clarke, but should happen tomorrow.

And yes, Pearson is very respectful in how he handled the questions.

[olaftab]

Not sure about these appointments but welcome both and I hope you succeed.

[robbo1874]

Chubby Agbonlahor will be delighted with "Marchesi has made a living off pushing players to their physical limits."

Chubby, Chubby, Chubby, Chubby, Chubby Agbonlahor...he's fat as fuck...

That bloke? Hope the Sheikh does a better job than Bobby Duverne. Of course I'm hoping that Gabby has nothing to do with the club come August and has fucked off somewhere else.

'he's very broad' scans better. Ha! This reminds me of that Bowie scene in Extras where he composes that song about andy Millman (Gervais). Fatty fatty toad boy....

[rob_bridge]

Chubby Agbonlahor will be delighted with "Marchesi has made a living off pushing players to their physical limits."

Chubby, Chubby, Chubby, Chubby, Chubby Agbonlahor...he's fat as fuck...

That bloke? Hope the Sheikh does a better job than Bobby Duverne. Of course I'm hoping that Gabby has nothing to do with the club come August and has fucked off somewhere else.

'he's very broad' scans better. Ha! This reminds me of that Bowie scene in Extras where he composes that song about andy Millman (Gervais). Fatty fatty toad boy....

Toad Boy was what Gervais was called and then called Keith I'm The Office.

Bowie song was Pathetic Little Fatman

[sid1964]

If we get a new fitness coach in lets hope that the players, do what he says, and not go on strike for being trained too hard like last season

[andyh]

Chubby Agbonlahor will be delighted with "Marchesi has made a living off pushing players to their physical limits."

Chubby, Chubby, Chubby, Chubby, Chubby Agbonlahor...he's fat as fuck...

That bloke? Hope the Sheikh does a better job than Bobby Duverne. Of course I'm hoping that Gabby has nothing to do with the club come August and has fucked off somewhere else.

'he's very broad' scans better. Ha! This reminds me of that Bowie scene in Extras where he composes that song about andy Millman (Gervais). Fatty fatty toad boy....

Toad Boy was what Gervais was called and then called Keith I'm The Office.

Bowie song was Pathetic Little Fatman

just reading that has made me laugh