Time to Rebuild?

[kippaxvilla2]

I’d say Monks future was already decided though given that they won and he still got true bullet.  All speculation of course.

[Nelly]

We should have been braver as a club as soon as we were relegated, it was the perfect opportunity to begin fixing the club root and branch. We've gone for the 'get up at any cost' method and it doesn't seem to have worked. Rebuilding everything now could see us stop in this division for a while now I think, which is criminally bad for Aston Villa.

I hate to sound so pessimistic but even if we did make the playoffs and somehow win them, this squad wouldn't fare well in the top flight. It's old, slow, barely any ideas or ingenuity. Painful stuff.

[VinnieChase84]

Exactly this!! Been raving about this approach for far too long. We need to think bigger than just today.
Jokanovic and Smith would work great with our squad and tighter budgets

[passitsideways]

I think it's much easier to say in hindsight that we should've rebuilt from the foundations when we went down, although I suppose a big part of it comes down to the manner in which that happens. Remember, there was some serious skepticism about Dr Tony at the time of the sale, so just imagine if there had been some hitches in executing the first few steps of an overhaul - say, for example, we cleared out the majority of the squad (which did end up happening, eventually), but didn't quite sign as many players as would've been preferable/planned. In that scenario, I'm certain there would've been a lot of people freaking out about the new owner being a conman and the like, which wouldn't have helped things at all.

[OCD]

Given the downward momentum that was around at the time of relegation, we could have gone down another division if we had taken the time to do things properly. Sadly I think we did what was necessary. The club seems to be in much better shape now, it's just FFP that's making things difficult. If we don't get promoted this season, and it seems we're going to be depending on a run at the play-offs, I think Bruce will be gone and then it will be interesting to see what approach the club goes for. If it comes to that, I hope we're more imaginative.

[Nelly]

I think you're right that it's easy to say in hindsight but I seem to remember a quiet air of optimism amongst fans that we could take the opportunity to really rebuild Villa. I certainly was hoping for this, at least. In fairness to Villa, I think the whole club was at sixes and sevens with the takeover so it must have been crazy to get even the basics done.

[Toronto Villa]

I agree with the last three posts. It’s briliant in hindsight to say we should have done this or that. We were a basket case when we came down. 7 years of misery ending in a disastrous campaign and relegation. Throw in a new owner, new board etc it’s hard to truly appreciate what they walked in on. The players were piss takers or disillusioned. They brought in a manager who had played at a very high level, manager in the PL, won the CL (for what it’s worth) but also brought a dysfunctional Albion team back up at the first attempt. I get why they might have picked him over long term options.

It’s easy to say we should have got an up and coming manager and told him he’s got 5 years to fix it. But as fans after that much misery none of us would have stood for that. The last thing we would have wanted to accept at that time was that we could be in the division for 2 or 3 years rebuilding. Ironically it’s now what we might need to do.

[avfcdale]

What’s the latest on the ‘Villa Engine'?

It’s took December off

it's like me after xmas pissed and broke

[Rudy65]

For too many years now we have employed managers for short term fix aims.  Whether it be to simply survive in the PL or employing the latest cliched experienced at this level so called promotion specialist. 

I’m coming to the view that we should look at the long term now.  Bring someone in that can create a proper footballing philosophy and only bring in players that will fit round that not the other way round.  This also means that we should be using these players alongside the young talent at our disposal.  I’m not saying ditch promotion if that comes as part of this quickly then great. 

Step forward Dean Smith.  Give the bloke proper time if not the same monetary resources and allow him to build something.  Last time we did this it worked with a certain Saunders bloke.

Comparisons with Saunders and Smith!  Saunders  had managed in the top division for a few seasons and had got two teams to the league cup finals. He was an established name and proven manager. Lovely bloke and Villa fan that he is, Smith has now track record of any sort, apart from against us

I agree about the rebuild but I'd rather go foreign. For example Christianson at Leeds who is building a decent side and plays attractive football. We shouldnt be put off by the Remi Garde debacle

[Mister E]

As has been said on other threads, we need a builder-craftsman, not a journeyman. The job descrpitioon should include:
- experience of working in clubs where the academy is taken seriously and seen as a genuine feeder for the first-team squad
- 'serious' candidates, with experience of building teams and winning with teams
- able to see beyond the narrow confines of the English game
- bring some gravitas to the role and able to develop their own personal credibility within the club
- acknowledge our past but recognise what it takes to develop a credible and successful future

If you apply this specc to the long list of possible candidates, I think either Koeman and de Boer would make a good fit.

[paul_e]

As has been said on other threads, we need a builder-craftsman, not a journeyman. The job descrpitioon should include:
- experience of working in clubs where the academy is taken seriously and seen as a genuine feeder for the first-team squad
- 'serious' candidates, with experience of building teams and winning with teams
- able to see beyond the narrow confines of the English game
- bring some gravitas to the role and able to develop their own personal credibility within the club
- acknowledge our past but recognise what it takes to develop a credible and successful future

If you apply this specc to the long list of possible candidates, I think either Koeman and de Boer would make a good fit.

From the list on the managers suggestions I think you could add Bielsa and Sanchez Flores as well.  Whilst neither of them have had long stints at a club they both come from the same 'technique first' school of thought which would really help us.  Bielsa is pie in the sky though, the only chance we have is if he sees English football as the one he has yet to crack and he sees the potential in restoring us.

[nigel]

I said my piece on 'Bruce Out' but totally agree.  I still believe a foreign coach is the best option as building a style of play is their bread and butter.

I actually think Reme Garde would have been a pretty good fit now. He did exactly this at Lyon.
When he was stitched up by Lerner and co he inherited a team of wasters. I believe this team, at the moment, has the talent, they just need direction.

[nigel]

For too many years now we have employed managers for short term fix aims.  Whether it be to simply survive in the PL or employing the latest cliched experienced at this level so called promotion specialist. 

I’m coming to the view that we should look at the long term now.  Bring someone in that can create a proper footballing philosophy and only bring in players that will fit round that not the other way round.  This also means that we should be using these players alongside the young talent at our disposal.  I’m not saying ditch promotion if that comes as part of this quickly then great. 

Step forward Dean Smith.  Give the bloke proper time if not the same monetary resources and allow him to build something.  Last time we did this it worked with a certain Saunders bloke.

Would be my choice.
Fact he's a Villa fan is a bonus.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I'd happily see Dean Smith replace Bruce.

I'd happily see Chris Smith replace Bruce.

[tomd2103]

We should have been braver as a club as soon as we were relegated, it was the perfect opportunity to begin fixing the club root and branch. We've gone for the 'get up at any cost' method and it doesn't seem to have worked. Rebuilding everything now could see us stop in this division for a while now I think, which is criminally bad for Aston Villa.

I hate to sound so pessimistic but even if we did make the playoffs and somehow win them, this squad wouldn't fare well in the top flight. It's old, slow, barely any ideas or ingenuity. Painful stuff.

I think the idea was to try and get up first time, hence signing the appointments of RDM and Bruce, and the some of the signings we made.  Hindsight is always 20/20 vision, but I remember being quite optimistic before the start of the season.  Although some of the signings have worked, in other cases all we've done is add to the list of players we need to get out of the club.