Welcome Roberto Di Matteo and Steve Clarke

[Brend'Watkins]

Well, there's nothing about him gone yet so maybe he will be our director of football.  It would be madness to throw away all that knowledge and experience.

[ozzjim]

All 37 years of it. Eric knows best.

[murgsy]

Very happy - the backroom staff is even more important than the manager (looking at our last few years). These guys have good experience and come with a pretty good pedigree. Now to get rid of the dross on the field.

[onje_villa]

Surely as it now costs to have a bag its a fair question !?

It's not so much asking if I want a bag, I'm all in favour of the charging for bags, it's the annoying little "today" on the end. Same with restaurants "Are you having a pudding with us today?". Hard to explain but it's forced and artificial sounding.

[thegreatdane]

Finally!

Any news on a press conference as of yet?

Got to be soon?

[Toronto Villa]

That's as solid as set up as we have hoped for. A professional coaching staff and a proper fitness coach. We now just need the ownership change formalised and give Di Matteo the freedom to make the changes he needs. We are Aston Villa and with a change in atmosphere, direction and purpose we can get the ship turned around.

[Hookeysmith]

How can anyone put a line up like that together without the club being sold being as good as done. Also adding to that (speculation I know) but you would think that they would have all heard first hand about the "project" and what funds would be available.

This has to be a positive sign  - doesn't it 

[dave shelley]

He's a fool if he doesn't want to use Eric Black's experience.

35 years experience wasted FFS!

Welcome gentlemen, you are truly privileged that you have been afforded the opportunity to manage this great club.

[Dante Lavelli]

The Team Sky chap, Brailsford, identified that they were better off investing their money in coaches rather than one hero riders, as the small improvement was spread across the whole team rather than having one star player to carry the team.  It makes sense too, an extra £1m/season on coaches should make a tiny improvement to 20-30 players whereas an extra squad player (i.e. a 20k/week player) may not even play.

Hopefully, these appointments are an indication that villa will be following the same approach.  The fitness guy in particular has an impressive CV.

[Percy McCarthy]

He's a fool if he doesn't want to use Eric Black's experience.

Surely Black's going to replace Pep in Munich?

[JUAN PABLO]

im happy with that set up . looking forward to the coming season .

[Steve67]

That's the management team in place, now start buying and selling!! Positive management team.

[Toronto Villa]

He's a fool if he doesn't want to use Eric Black's experience.

Surely Black's going to replace Pep in Munich?

It's entirely possible. I imagine Black to be a like a kid who is turning 4 and has one of those I am 4 badges on. Black proudly wears his 37 years badge like a fucking Olympic gong. I have no doubt he will be able to sell himself and his record at Villa by flashing that thing a few times.

[ROBBO]

None of those would have come if there was any doubt about finances.

[LeeB]

None of those would have come if there was any doubt about finances.

As far as I can tell they were all out of work, so I wouldn't be so sure.