Next Manager Speculation and wishful thinking thread

[Mister E]

A lot of posts questioning our ambition. Is not fair to say that them not sacking Dean Smith, and thereby suggesting that 18 defeats in 35 games was acceptable, would be an even more worrying sign with us averaging less than a point per game?

Don't think it is that simple.

I understand the logic to sacking Smith - he had to go, in my opinion.

However, that's an opinion formed on an assumption that he'll be replaced with someone better qualified to move us to where we want to get, and i don't see how Gerrard addresses that.

SG is not my first pick by any stretch. But he comes with a similar background to a Gregory or a Little (three years in a league a level below).

You're right but they had the forgiveness of being 'one of us'.

[Monty]

Can I ask what all this optimism about Gary MacAllister is based on? I like him and all, but is it just about him being OK for 8 games a decade ago?

As for whether another manager might have done what Gerrard's done at Rangers...I mean look, sure, maybe Rangers would have found a way to finish below that Celtic implosion, but they'd have to have been seriously, immensely incompetent to do so. Which doesn't mean Gerrard's done a bad job - just it remains hard to judge.

[cdbearsfan]

Oh he gets it, that game is moved to be on sky

I don't think it can be now.

I think YOUR right

That was deliberate  😉

I now owe work a grand for the laptop I've just smashed. ☹

[paul_e]

If we didn't find this regime in 2018 we might not have an Aston Villa to support right now, yet alone one back in the  top flight. Some of the comments are ridiculous.

I think I've praised pretty much everything about this ownership, from hiring Dean to letting him go at the right time. I'm mightily underwhelmed by the Gerrard appointment however. He seems to want to play the right football and he has a good coaching staff so I'm not entirely pessimistic; the trouble is, take the same record, style and coaching team and remove the name 'Steven Gerrard' and I don't think we'd be looking at the Rangers manager, and therein lies my problem.

The flip side could be that another manager might not have got them to where they are now and being just a top half team rather than a league winners team
After watching that interview with their coach and knowing McAlister is on the coaching staff, too, seems that Gerrard has a decent team with him.

but as monty says in the bold bit if someone call Steven McGerrard with a playing career of middling along with Dundee had done the exact same would his name come up in this conversation?

[Villan82]

If we didn't find this regime in 2018 we might not have an Aston Villa to support right now, yet alone one back in the  top flight. Some of the comments are ridiculous.

I think I've praised pretty much everything about this ownership, from hiring Dean to letting him go at the right time. I'm mightily underwhelmed by the Gerrard appointment however. He seems to want to play the right football and he has a good coaching staff so I'm not entirely pessimistic; the trouble is, take the same record, style and coaching team and remove the name 'Steven Gerrard' and I don't think we'd be looking at the Rangers manager, and therein lies my problem.

The flip side could be that another manager might not have got them to where they are now and being just a top half team rather than a league winners team
After watching that interview with their coach and knowing McAlister is on the coaching staff, too, seems that Gerrard has a decent team with him.

In the past we have appointed the Celtic manager, the Leicester manager, the Wycombe Manager and the Brentford manager and they all did quite well.

[Monty]

I meant the current Rangers manager based on how they're doing. Obviously a great manager can come from anywhere.

[Villan82]

I meant the current Rangers manager based on how they're doing. Obviously a great manager can come from anywhere.

As I say, I had hoped for better. I have voted No in the poll! I am not trying to pick an argument, I am just trying to look at the positives now that it looks inevitable.

[DBTW]

While there are questions regarding the quality of the Standard of opposition in Scotland, the same questions cant be asked about the teams in Europe in which Rangers have done well under Gerrard.

Especially for a third rate team according to many.

[cdbearsfan]

While there are questions regarding the quality of the Standard of opposition in Scotland, the same questions cant be asked about the teams in Europe in which Rangers have done well under Gerrard.

Especially for a third rate team according to many.

They haven't done that well. He's been past the Group Stage twice, and never got past the last sixteen. This year they qualified for the Europa League Group Stage by default having lost home and away in the Champions League qualifiers to the might of Malmo.

It isn't a bad record but not anything to get too excited about, either.

[nigel]

Can I ask what all this optimism about Gary MacAllister is based on? I like him and all, but is it just about him being OK for 8 games a decade ago?

As for whether another manager might have done what Gerrard's done at Rangers...I mean look, sure, maybe Rangers would have found a way to finish below that Celtic implosion, but they'd have to have been seriously, immensely incompetent to do so. Which doesn't mean Gerrard's done a bad job - just it remains hard to judge.

Just flipping the ‘Anyone could do what Gerrard’s done’ mindset.
I certainly agree with your final sentence.

The McAlister thing is he was part of the last coaching team which made us look good pre Dean Smith.
In fairness I think he was a bit better than ‘Ok’, but maybe my memory is a bit foggy

[nigel]

If we didn't find this regime in 2018 we might not have an Aston Villa to support right now, yet alone one back in the  top flight. Some of the comments are ridiculous.

I think I've praised pretty much everything about this ownership, from hiring Dean to letting him go at the right time. I'm mightily underwhelmed by the Gerrard appointment however. He seems to want to play the right football and he has a good coaching staff so I'm not entirely pessimistic; the trouble is, take the same record, style and coaching team and remove the name 'Steven Gerrard' and I don't think we'd be looking at the Rangers manager, and therein lies my problem.

The flip side could be that another manager might not have got them to where they are now and being just a top half team rather than a league winners team
After watching that interview with their coach and knowing McAlister is on the coaching staff, too, seems that Gerrard has a decent team with him.

but as monty says in the bold bit if someone call Steven McGerrard with a playing career of middling along with Dundee had done the exact same would his name come up in this conversation?

Flippin heck, Paul, if a manager got Dundee to win the SPL I’d be all for it 😂

[chrisw1]

I don't think it shows a lack of ambition at all.  It may show a lack judgment, but I'm pretty sure the owners and Purslow will think it's a bit of a coup and an ambitious appointment.

Potter may have been more of a sure bet to at least not implode, but would it have been any more ambitious?  Not for me.

Assuming Rodgers and Ten Hag would not have jumped ship (and I'm 100% convinced they wouldn't), it seems the short list was probably Gerrard, Martinez, Hasenhuttl and possible Favre or Fonseca (but these two were more fan talk than genuine links).  I'm not convinced Gerrard is demonstrably less ambitious than any of the others.  We all have our opinions on who we would have preferred and Gerrard wouldn't have been my choice.  But I think it's a bit of a leap to say it shows a massive lack of ambition.

Hopefully Gerrard will put us in a position where we can realistically attract the likes of Ten Hag, but we're miles off that at the moment.

[Villan82]

McAllister got us wins against Arsenal away and Liverpool at home and decent results in the other games after Houllier's heart troubles. He probably should have got the job. Couldn't have been any worse than what followed him.

[Rigadon]

I will approach the Gerrard era with an open mind and optimism, as I've done with most other newly installed Villa managers. I actually think he'll be a good manager one day.  But, it's not an appointment that immediately does anything to ease the doubts that we are settling for being in the league we're in and hoping for the best thereafter. 

If he gets off to a good start, who knows...

[Grumpy]

I wanted better than Gerard. A lot better.

BUT he won’t want to come to us and fail. He won’t want to look bad and ruin the reputation he needs to get the Liverpool job.

So I will give him a chance and hope that he does so well he never wants to leave.

If not then Mr Purslow will need to fall on his sword.