Welcome Roberto Di Matteo and Steve Clarke

[aj2k77]

It's interesting that one of things that put people off Nigel Pearson coming was the fact he'd most likely have to come without his tried and trusted backroom staff, whereas Di Matteo and Steve Clarke have never worked together before.

Have to be honest aside from Eddie Newton (surprised he hasn't been tempted to come for now) I have no idea who RDM's actual backroom staff are. Who did  he work with at WBA and Schalke for example.

Kevin Bond seems more of a strange choice but again vastly experienced at least.

At Schalke he had Atillo Lombardo and Battara, he's brought the later to Villa with him.

[KevinGage]

It's interesting that one of things that put people off Nigel Pearson coming was the fact he'd most likely have to come without his tried and trusted backroom staff, whereas Di Matteo and Steve Clarke have never worked together before.

It doesn't sound like Nigel Pearson turned us down.

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

It's interesting that one of things that put people off Nigel Pearson coming was the fact he'd most likely have to come without his tried and trusted backroom staff, whereas Di Matteo and Steve Clarke have never worked together before.

That might be because Pearson's tried and trusted backroom staff appear to be absolutely critical to any chance he has of success.  All the evidence points to them being the ones with the talent - they've hardly struggled without him.  Personally I was put off more by him being a git than who his backroom staff would be.     

[Steve67]

It's early days but I would much rather have Steve Clarke on board than Attillio Lombardo.

[Gregorys Boy]

It's interesting that one of things that put people off Nigel Pearson coming was the fact he'd most likely have to come without his tried and trusted backroom staff, whereas Di Matteo and Steve Clarke have never worked together before.

That might be because Pearson's tried and trusted backroom staff appear to be absolutely critical to any chance he has of success.  All the evidence points to them being the ones with the talent - they've hardly struggled without him.  Personally I was put off more by him being a git than who his backroom staff would be.     

I do think that its imporant to have a backroom stuff that you are used to working with and have a good understanding. But there are ways around that.  For me we should have gone for Pearson. Its not even a debate about who the better manager is out of him and Di Matteo.  Its more a case of who suits the club at the moment and who ticks the most boxes for what we need, and that is Pearson.  But this is not the time for that conversation, because we need to be postive and support the new coaching team and hope that the club move forward.  If things don't go to plan, and Derby get promotion, then people like me can be smart then, but for now I will support the new manager, the team (whatever it looks like in August) and hope for the best.

[mike]

Very happy with Clarke joining us. His experience should be invaluable.

People said the same about Ray Wilkins.

I thought Wilkins would be a fantastic signing. I seem to remember Chelsea had a big wobble when he left. I am quite good at being wrong but that was a mistake of significant proportions.

On the subject of getting excited about backroom staff, I also seem to remember Norwich fans telling us how crucial Culverhouse and Karsa were to Lambert and how excited people were when they joined. Notice I didn't say 'we' because one thing I did get right was never thinking Lambert was any good. Mind, I wanted Rodgers at that point.

[Ian.]

I'm not sure we hired the same Wilkins than the one who assisted at Chelsea.
His mind is very clouded of his time here and his judgment is very questionable.
Wilkins disappeared up Tim's backside, in fact I think he's still up there.

[Dave]

On the subject of getting excited about backroom staff, I also seem to remember Norwich fans telling us how crucial Culverhouse and Karsa were to Lambert and how excited people were when they joined. Notice I didn't say 'we' because one thing I did get right was never thinking Lambert was any good. Mind, I wanted Rodgers at that point.

That's also what I was referring to mike, as well as Wilkins.

Lambert / Culverhouse / Karsa was (at the time) the same proof that we were finally doing things properly.

[peter w]

But Clarke had a big reputation as a number at more than one club including the league champions. Culverhouse and Karsa didn't bring the same CV and Willins had been arguably a failure at most places he went to although I may be thinking errently there. Still, for what we thought we would end up with a proven number 2 and a decent backroom set up feels like we've done a Leicester considering what we had to endure last season.

[Chris Smith]

There have been so many let downs that I think it pays to be cautious with anything Villa related. That said considered in isolation this has the appearance of a good move; experienced, solid appointments. Time will tell.

[brian green]

I am as guilty as anybody on here of misjudging those coming to the club.  I was one of those at Carrow Rd singing Paul Lambert's claret and blue army.  However, the Paul Lambert we got became a horse of a very different colour and I now regard him, after Lerner, as the principal architect of our downfall.

What we have done, as fans and as a club, in my opinion, is turned a blind eye to glaring shortcomings of newcomers.  We somehow hope that by being Aston Villa the problems will go away.  O'Neill's volatility, Houllier's heart, McLeish's track record, Sherwood's perfidiousness, Garde's lack of bite and that is just managers.  Add Culverhouse, Karsa, Keane,  Wilkins, KMac and Black to that list and it becomes very clear that we have placed our trust in a string of individuals who have not been improved by being with us.

In conclusion the overlooking of Pearson's personality could well have added to the theme.

[Dave]

But Clarke had a big reputation as a number at more than one club including the league champions. Culverhouse and Karsa didn't bring the same CV and Willins had been arguably a failure at most places he went to although I may be thinking errently there. Still, for what we thought we would end up with a proven number 2 and a decent backroom set up feels like we've done a Leicester considering what we had to endure last season.

Chelsea were successful while Wilkins was at the club with Ancelotti, like they were successful when Clarke was at the club with Mourinho.

Take the Chelsea stint out though for Clarke and he has:

Left West Ham after Zola was sacked
Sacked from Liverpool along with Kenny Dalglish
Sacked from West Brom
Sacked from Reading

None of those things by themselves (or even combined) mean that Clarke is a bad coach, just like being at Chelsea when they won things didn't make Wilkins a good coach. Good teams can have bad coaches and vice versa.

But take away his time with Mourinho a decade ago and there isn't a whole lot of evidence to fall back on apart from the "big reputation" that you mention.

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

I am as guilty as anybody on here of misjudging those coming to the club.  I was one of those at Carrow Rd singing Paul Lambert's claret and blue army.  However, the Paul Lambert we got became a horse of a very different colour and I now regard him, after Lerner, as the principal architect of our downfall.

What we have done, as fans and as a club, in my opinion, is turned a blind eye to glaring shortcomings of newcomers.  We somehow hope that by being Aston Villa the problems will go away.  O'Neill's volatility, Houllier's heart, McLeish's track record, Sherwood's perfidiousness, Garde's lack of bite and that is just managers.  Add Culverhouse, Karsa, Keane,  Wilkins, KMac and Black to that list and it becomes very clear that we have placed our trust in a string of individuals who have not been improved by being with us.

In conclusion the overlooking of Pearson's personality could well have added to the theme.

What we can look at, is that all the failures may be down to Lerner. Because, reading between the lines, he seems to have interfered with the decisions of any-one who has tried to enforce some discipline into the set-up.
He has also dumbed down the quality of players brought in.
In my eyes, nobody had  a chance to succeed but were unable to highlight the problems.

[brian green]

I see your point Gordon but some of the appointments like Keane were just a joke.  I agree that the fundamental cause of our demise has been Randy Lerner but there have been, in my opinion, plenty at Villa Park willing to fill their pockets courtesy of his ineptitude.

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

Like I said, Unable to instil any discipline or highlight problems so yes, sit back and take the cash.
In the long run though it has done nothing for their reputation or credibility.