Dean Smith - Confirmed

[SoccerHQ]

We should win on boxing day - lose and he'll go I think. I'd like to see 2 up front Boxing day. If we stuff it up and they win I've no idea who'll replace him.

I can see two points at most from the next two games, then we've got Burnley away and Man City at home.  Looking nailed on for relegation I reckon.

If nothing changes, then yes. It's hard to fathom dominating Man United for large periods and the last 3 performances. Outclassed by Chelsea we may have been, but we were stubborn and dogged at least and but for a brilliant save, may have got a point.

Time to change, Smith  or it will be time to change Smith.

Think the Leicester defeat has messed with the heads of the players. Even in that game the first 10 minutes of that we were decent and should've gone 1 up.

Losing Mings, then the goal being scored and then Leicester completely outclassing us was the first time we've looked a championship side playing in premier league all season imo (maybe Wolves away is arguably). Since then the two performances have been abysmal in all aspects.

We're still very fragile as a club. You can see it when we're leading v a top team and don't believe we'll win. Loads of other teams around us all season have shown it's actually not that difficult.

Hard to believe aswell Southampton two months ago lost a game 9-0. They've only lost two league games since I think. We seem to go into mourning for a three month period after getting thrashed in a game, a real hangover of the Lambert seasons.

If we don't snap out of it very soon we'll look back at this period in May as the time we were relegated. Not changing the manager quickly enough could also play a part.

[SoccerHQ]

If we lose on Boxing Day then they'll sack him.

Which might be, if not too late exactly, then at least pointlessly after a huge missed opportunity.

It's not too late at all. We sacked Lambert mid Feb in 2015 and stayed up comfortably in the end. I can remember Sunderland sacking managers in March and doing their great escapes three seasons running.

A new manager potentially has 20 games and a transfer window to get 5-6 wins and a few draws which will give us a decent chance. If Tim Sherwood could do it this new board clearly wouldn't be setting their sights very high if they appointed someone who wouldn't be capable of that.

[hilts_coolerking]

Maybe just maybe Aston Villa as a club is just so much bigger than Norwich, Lyon and Brentford. These fellas come in and the size of the task just consumes them.

I don't think it's the size of the club but I think you're spot on about it being the size of the task.  We appointed a succession of poor managers under, at times, erratic ownership and that went on for so long that the scale of the rebuilding job at Villa just kept getting bigger and bigger.  It's hard to believe that anyone seriously thought the likes of Sherwood, Garde, and Di Matteo were going to turn us around.

[themossman]

Agree with that. Leicester game, especially considering the occasion, felt like a massive kick in the nuts. Manner of the defeat more than the result. We were absolutely schooled all over the pitch, no fight at all, and were made to look hapless. I think a lot of fans felt shell shocked, expect it’s similar for the players.

[SoccerHQ]

I'd like to see Dean bring James Chester in for Norwich. We are screaming out for some experience back there, plus it would take the weight of the captaincy off Jacks shoulders.

I can see that happening actually. Big issue is if he comes in and plays well then I really can't see him then starting at Watford, two games in 48 hours would be too much.

[Rudy65]

Benitez for me.
High profile manager who's been there, done that. He even got Newcastle promoted with Ashley as his chairman?!

Got them relegated as well. Bruce has performed better this season than Rafa last year

[SoccerHQ]

Rafa would get us very well organised.

That's what we need, grind out a couple of 1-0s or 0-0s to get some points on the board. We're too easily to score against now and it's hurting us badly.

[VinnieChase84]

Rafa would get us very well organised.

That's what we need, grind out a couple of 1-0s or 0-0s to get some points on the board. We're too easily to score against now and it's hurting us badly.

Rafa and purslow hate each other. Unless their relationship has been worked on then this won’t happen in a million years

[brian green]

Villa bigger than Lyon?  I wish.  New stadium capacity 60,000.  Squad value £344 million.

[DB]

Benitez for me.
High profile manager who's been there, done that. He even got Newcastle promoted with Ashley as his chairman?!

Got them relegated as well. Bruce has performed better this season than Rafa last year

Didn’t he join then quite late on the season they went down? Also, he would have a window with some cash rather than tight financial restraints under Ashley. But let’s hope it doesn't’ come to that and Smith can turn it around starting Boxing Day.

[SoccerHQ]

Rafa would get us very well organised.

That's what we need, grind out a couple of 1-0s or 0-0s to get some points on the board. We're too easily to score against now and it's hurting us badly.

Rafa and purslow hate each other. Unless their relationship has been worked on then this won’t happen in a million years

Yes that is a problem and probably rules him out.

Still I'd feel very confident of staying up with a manager of his calibre at the helm so up to the club to be able to attract a manager like that who isn't years past his best like Houllier.

Something like that will tell me if these owners have more nous than Lerner as his managerial appointments were incredibly underwhelming.

[Toronto Villa]

Rafa would get us very well organised.

That's what we need, grind out a couple of 1-0s or 0-0s to get some points on the board. We're too easily to score against now and it's hurting us badly.

Rafa and purslow hate each other. Unless their relationship has been worked on then this won’t happen in a million years

I don't know if it's hate but there is no love lost.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jun/25/rafael-benitez-christain-purslow-liverpool-exit

[hilts_coolerking]

Rafa would get us very well organised.

That's what we need, grind out a couple of 1-0s or 0-0s to get some points on the board. We're too easily to score against now and it's hurting us badly.

Rafa and purslow hate each other. Unless their relationship has been worked on then this won’t happen in a million years

I don't know if it's hate but there is no love lost.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jun/25/rafael-benitez-christain-purslow-liverpool-exit

So Purslow appointed Hodgson?  Wow.

[Ian.]

Maybe just maybe Aston Villa as a club is just so much bigger than Norwich, Lyon and Brentford. These fellas come in and the size of the task just consumes them.

I don't think it's the size of the club but I think you're spot on about it being the size of the task.  We appointed a succession of poor managers under, at times, erratic ownership and that went on for so long that the scale of the rebuilding job at Villa just kept getting bigger and bigger.  It's hard to believe that anyone seriously thought the likes of Sherwood, Garde, and Di Matteo were going to turn us around.

Ok that’s probably more likely, not so much the size of the club but the size of the task. Saying that though I’ve heard interviews with players and managers who have not quite grasped the size of the club and history until signed.

As regards people believing in people turning us around with me it’s been a blinkered or blind hope that they will do it!

[Nii Lamptey]

Rafa would get us very well organised.

That's what we need, grind out a couple of 1-0s or 0-0s to get some points on the board. We're too easily to score against now and it's hurting us badly.

Rafa and purslow hate each other. Unless their relationship has been worked on then this won’t happen in a million years

I don't know if it's hate but there is no love lost.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jun/25/rafael-benitez-christain-purslow-liverpool-exit

So Purslow appointed Hodgson?  Wow.

Wow on both counts.... Didn't realise it was Purslow who gave Benitez the boot, and secondly, that it was Purslow who appointed Hodgson! That doesn't exactly fill me with confidence for our next manager!  :S