Next Villa manager

[Toronto Villa]

I think I've lost interest in this subject so comprehensively these last few years that I'd be quite happy to take Rowett purely on the basis it'd piss the knuckle draggers off.

That's what I never got with the "it's just because he managed Blues" thing about McLeish. It wasn't that. It was that he was a proven failure who played godawful football. If he'd been a decent manager, the fact we'd taken him from Small Heath would have been a BONUS.

It was also that the then management high fived each other over securing the services of a man that got his previous club relegated. That it was the noses was funny until it became apparent he was actually our new manager.

[SoccerHQ]

I change my mind hourly.  Closer it gets despite all logic I am struggling with the idea of Bruce and his people in the dugout.  I know it makes all the sense in the world. Just fear it's going to create tension we don't need.  On the flip side Dean Smith might galvanise everything and actually have the potential to have longevity.  He tweaked his side to be the better side by far second half at VP and they looked a decent side compared to us.  With our resources he might kick on.  Tough.

Aye, but Leyton Orient, Notts County and other titans of that ilk have looked good against us in recent years.

Slippery slope if we're using that criteria.

It is tough.
At first I thought - okay it's Bruce let's get on with it and it'll be fine when we start climbing the table - but the more I reflect on it the more of a risk it is for the reasons you highlight about his men in our dugout and also the way he left Sunderland as was highlighted earlier.
Dean Smith has a lot of potential and I would love to see him as our manager one day but I wonder how much the second half v us was dictated by McCormack going off and being replaced by Amavi rather than anything he did ? Seems thin evidence on which to appoint him right now.
Also Wagner looks to have serious potential but 9 months in the relatively low-key role of Huddersfield manager may not be sufficient preparation for our job and some serious diligence would need to be done on his character etc.
I just hope Sir Brian and messrs Wyness and Round advise Dr Tony well.

Dean Smith.....saw a lot of his team at Walsall.

He plays good football although it can be passing it for passing it sake at times and Walsall could lack end product although have to remember they have a next to nothing budget so he did a lot of good work creating an identity there and changing them from just fighting relegation to actually challenging for promotion (and they'd be now playing us if he'd stayed).

He had a difficult start at Brentford but they're doing well now...a few worries though. He can go on long winless runs which is not an option for us currently as he sticks to his tactics and lacks a plan B.

He also loves signing players he's worked with before...used to regularly bring back old Walsall players on loan after they've left the club and already signed Rico Henry and Sawyers for Brentford.

[sickbeggar]

I think I've lost interest in this subject so comprehensively these last few years that I'd be quite happy to take Rowett purely on the basis it'd piss the knuckle draggers off.

That's what I never got with the "it's just because he managed Blues" thing about McLeish. It wasn't that. It was that he was a proven failure who played godawful football. If he'd been a decent manager, the fact we'd taken him from Small Heath would have been a BONUS.

It was also that the then management high fived each other over securing the services of a man that got his previous club relegated. That it was the noses was funny until it became apparent he was actually our new manager.

I don't remember anyone finding it funny at any time, more utter bemusement. I still have a lot of respect for the guy as a person but jesus that was an insane appointment

[sickbeggar]

What that list of clubs fails to account for is that every time he's spent any money he's made teams worse.  So whilst he might improve us over the next few months I'd be cautious about January and if that went ok and he got us promoted I'd be terrified about the job he'd do in the summer.  That's why I don't like the idea of "appoint him as a stop gap to get us promoted and then replace him".  We don't need that, we've been shit for years because we've flailed around without an identity for years.  Adding another 12-18months on to that transition period because we need a championship manager is just asking to extend the misery.  Find a good manager who is confident in his ability, tactically sound, will instill some discipline (which despite the comments on here isn't a trait that only exists in English managers who've been floating around the championship for years) and who will play the style of football that the club wants to follow.  If that manager can't get us playing his style consistently enough to get back up this season then I'll be gutted but so be it, the teams who've been promoted and stuck are the ones that followed a plan and stuck to it, the ones who just employ a manager and hope for the best all end up relegated again within a season or 2.

yep. he kept wigan steady so that's about his peak. sunderland he was awful. He doesn't strike me as someone who can get us up and keep us up. Maybe that's not the idea for a lot of people, but it would be nice if for once we thought further ahead than a season

[tomd2103]

Am warming to Wagner and this smacks of desperation http://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/football/news/5-reasons-david-wagner-would-11984754
Go get him Doc

Wow, those are pretty unconvincing arguments right there!

[Toronto Villa]

I think I've lost interest in this subject so comprehensively these last few years that I'd be quite happy to take Rowett purely on the basis it'd piss the knuckle draggers off.

That's what I never got with the "it's just because he managed Blues" thing about McLeish. It wasn't that. It was that he was a proven failure who played godawful football. If he'd been a decent manager, the fact we'd taken him from Small Heath would have been a BONUS.

It was also that the then management high fived each other over securing the services of a man that got his previous club relegated. That it was the noses was funny until it became apparent he was actually our new manager.

I don't remember anyone finding it funny at any time, more utter bemusement. I still have a lot of respect for the guy as a person but jesus that was an insane appointment

You've read my post incorrectly. It was funny that it was Birmingham being relegated and not so much when the bloke who oversaw it was becoming our manager.

[sickbeggar]

Only proven  record Bruce has is of bouncing between divisions and playing awful football


shefiield united = didn't get promotion
huddersfield = didn't get promotion
Palace = didn't get promotion
blose - promoted, relegated, promoted
wigan - premier
Sunderland - premier
Hull - promoted/relegated/promoted

Sheffield United- First job in management.

Huddersfield- No real idea of how he did there tbh.

Palace- Did brilliantly, were leading the division when he left them in December to go to...

SHA- Well yes a relegation but he got them up after what 20 years and kept them up for 4 seasons before he signed too many egos.

Wigan- They finished 8th I think and he signed some pretty good players that Wigan made profits on.

Sunderland- His one poor job in management I think. Even then Sunderland actually had a very good first half of the season in 10/11 but it all fell apart when they sold Bent to us and also lost Welbeck and Gyan shortly afterwards and his striker recruitment was very poor.

Hull- Two promotions and a relegation.

Any manager who's been in the game for a while will have stuff like that on their CV. I think in the state we're in people are criticising him for the sake of it as he's Guardiola level in the championship.

Criticising him in the prem is more arguable although let's get back there first.

thats fair comment i guess. I just don't think getting promoted is the point, so he may be guardiola of the championship but thats not what we're looking for. By that measure SGT would never had been considered. Let him get us promoted and then fuck him off is all very well, but if he gets us promoted he won't be P45'd. He'll stay and if he does crap, then..well lets hope Big Sam has a job by then

[sickbeggar]

I think I've lost interest in this subject so comprehensively these last few years that I'd be quite happy to take Rowett purely on the basis it'd piss the knuckle draggers off.

That's what I never got with the "it's just because he managed Blues" thing about McLeish. It wasn't that. It was that he was a proven failure who played godawful football. If he'd been a decent manager, the fact we'd taken him from Small Heath would have been a BONUS.

It was also that the then management high fived each other over securing the services of a man that got his previous club relegated. That it was the noses was funny until it became apparent he was actually our new manager.

I don't remember anyone finding it funny at any time, more utter bemusement. I still have a lot of respect for the guy as a person but jesus that was an insane appointment

You've read my post incorrectly. It was funny that it was Birmingham being relegated and not so much when the bloke who oversaw it was becoming our manager.

fair enough

[Louzie0]

This isn't as much fun as Ole Gunnar Solsjaer

[tomd2103]

This isn't as much fun as Ole Gunnar Solsjaer

And look how he turned out!

[Louzie0]

This isn't as much fun as Ole Gunnar Solsjaer

And look how he turned out!

I know. Not looking promising, is it?

[Damo70]

I have been practising the best rendition I can come up with of 'We  love you potato head'.

[Louzie0]

I have been practising the best rendition I can come up with of 'We  love you potato head'.

That'll do for everybody on the shortlist. 

[ozzjim]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3824135/David-Wagner-Jurgen-Klopp-clone-bizarre-bonding-sessions-Huddersfield-dreaming-big-time.html

I know we are not going to get him, but this sort of article makes me very envious we can't find a manager with that level of commitment and forward thinking. We will get Bruce.

[ozzjim]

Marcelino was apparently in for the Swansea job. Top 6 for 3 straight seasons with Villareal. Must be worth considering him.