Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Behind Bluenose Lines]

Smith would probably go like the rest of our great hopes over the years. All excited we will be about this great free flowing football we will be served up.  Only for within weeks of our first few batterings, he takes on the mantel of a vagrant, unwashed and unshaven and asking for more time as he’s still working on a formula.

Like Paul Lambert at the end!

It's weird how we seem to "break" our managers. Is it just Villa that does it?

[Steve67]

Smith would probably go like the rest of our great hopes over the years. All excited we will be about this great free flowing football we will be served up.  Only for within weeks of our first few batterings, he takes on the mantel of a vagrant, unwashed and unshaven and asking for more time as he’s still working on a formula.

Like Paul Lambert at the end!

It's weird how we seem to "break" our managers. Is it just Villa that does it?

Other than Graham Taylor, I cannot think of any other Manager who has gone on to better themselves post Villa.  Managing the ROI or Scotland, is not a bigger or better role either!

[Sexual Ealing]

It'd be difficult to argue that Sir Graham enhanced his professional reputation post-Villa.

[Lastfootstamper]

Mercer, gone on and won stuff, is that it? Anyone else? Ever?

We are a managerial pinnacle. We should look to recruit accordingly.

[curiousorange]

We're choosing managers for whom the job is either beneath them or above them. We could very much do with going for a replacement who will see us as a challenge but hasn't got a lot of time for that "we're a big club because we say we're a big club" mentality.

Every part of the fan in me screams that Dean Smith is ideal. Decent football, absolutely gets what we want to see the club achieve, and could be the kind of fit that Eddie Howe is for Bournemouth, for example. I'd just be concerned that it's too much too soon.

[Steve67]

It'd be difficult to argue that Sir Graham enhanced his professional reputation post-Villa.

Fair point.  I guess I was talking about prestige of role rather than reputation.  Did Tommy Docherty go on to manage Man Utd after he managed Villa?  If so, that might be the only other one that I can think of in my lifetime.  Even the Doc wasn't great at United from what I recall.

[Sexual Ealing]

Billy McNeill won the double with Celtic after he relegated us I think. Not that I want to open a debate on the comparative merits of that achievement!

[wittonwarrior]

It'd be difficult to argue that Sir Graham enhanced his professional reputation post-Villa.

Fair point.  I guess I was talking about prestige of role rather than reputation.  Did Tommy Docherty go on to manage Man Utd after he managed Villa?  If so, that might be the only other one that I can think of in my lifetime.  Even the Doc wasn't great at United from what I recall.

Doherty although relegated with Man Ure saw there reassurgence.  2 FA Cup final appearances plus promotiion.  I think any manager would take that.  Mercer oversaw Man City to become perhaps the best English team late 60's - League Championship, FA Cup (semi was at Villa Park), a good run in Europe and kept it going early 70's until for whatever reason he decided to send himself to Coventry. 

[Lastfootstamper]

How did I manage to forget The Doc?!! Yeah, one FA Cup I think, but he was also in charge the year manu went down. And there was a fair bit of jobbing around between leaving us and getting that gig.

[DB]

Smith would probably go like the rest of our great hopes over the years. All excited we will be about this great free flowing football we will be served up.  Only for within weeks of our first few batterings, he takes on the mantel of a vagrant, unwashed and unshaven and asking for more time as he’s still working on a formula.

Like Paul Lambert at the end!

It's weird how we seem to "break" our managers. Is it just Villa that does it?

Other than Graham Taylor, I cannot think of any other Manager who has gone on to better themselves post Villa.  Managing the ROI or Scotland, is not a bigger or better role either!

How can you better yourself after leaving Villa. It's the best and greatest job in football.

[Tayls_7]

Smith would probably go like the rest of our great hopes over the years. All excited we will be about this great free flowing football we will be served up.  Only for within weeks of our first few batterings, he takes on the mantel of a vagrant, unwashed and unshaven and asking for more time as he’s still working on a formula.

Like Paul Lambert at the end!

It's weird how we seem to "break" our managers. Is it just Villa that does it?

Other than Graham Taylor, I cannot think of any other Manager who has gone on to better themselves post Villa.  Managing the ROI or Scotland, is not a bigger or better role either!

How can you better yourself after leaving Villa. It's the best and greatest job in football.

I thought that would be spongeman for the Swedish Ladies Football team.

[paul_e]

For me a big part of the problem is that we act like the biggest small club (if that makes sense) rather than a big club.  All the talk of making do with Allerdyce for the season or going for Smith comes back to that. The first few managers we approach should be ones that are too good for the championship, we've done it with players, getting people like Terry, Snodgrass and Bolasie and the boardroom is looking far too impressive for where we are, but we need to do the same with the management and coaching. The current mob are a lead weight that's dragging us down.

[Sexual Ealing]

Mourinho?!

[VillaAlways]

Smith would probably go like the rest of our great hopes over the years. All excited we will be about this great free flowing football we will be served up.  Only for within weeks of our first few batterings, he takes on the mantel of a vagrant, unwashed and unshaven and asking for more time as he’s still working on a formula. 

https://twitter.com/gortavfc/status/1046388845632258048?s=21

[brian green]

I sort of agree with the foregoing but you have to ask yourself do you want a manager who has done it all and wants to rest on his reputation or one who wants to make a name for himself?  I am not talking about young and hungry I am talking about young and unstoppable.