VillaForever1970

Has anyone considered he might not want to up sticks his family?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is surprise contender to be Aston Villa manager | Football | The Guardian

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is on the shortlist for the managerial vacancy at Aston Villa. The former Manchester United striker, who is in charge of the Norwegian club Molde, has emerged as a surprise contender to replace Alex McLeish.

Solskjaer's odds tumbled on the betting markets on Thursday and although no talks are yet planned to take place between Randy Lerner, the Villa owner, and the 39-year-old, he is known to be one of the names under consideration, along with Wigan's Roberto Martínez, Norwich's Paul Lambert and the Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers.

There are, however, doubts in Norway as to whether Solskjaer would be receptive to an approach from Villa at this stage of his managerial career and at a time when he is enjoying seeing his three children grow up in his hometown of Kristiansund. Solskjaer has two years remaining on his contract with Molde, whom he led to the Norwegian title for the first time in their history last October in his first year as a manager, and there is a sense that he would prefer to see out the remainder of that deal before taking a job overseas.

There is also the prospect of leading Molde, where he made his name as an exciting young striker in Norway before moving to Old Trafford in 1996, into the Champions League this summer. Molde will come into the competition at the second qualifying round stage and it could be difficult for Solskjaer to turn his back on that opportunity.

For the moment, Villa are weighing up their options, which could include considering the merits of Kevin MacDonald, the first-team coach under McLeish and the caretaker manager when Martin O'Neill walked out on the eve of the 2010-11 season. MacDonald is understood to be interested in the post. "I think Kevin would be a good candidate," Gabriel Agbonlahor said. "He's very good with the younger players and has won the reserves' title I don't know how many times. Obviously, it's the chairman's decision. But I don't think the fans should discount him because he's not a big name."

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OGS would literally be eaten for breakfast by Collins Dunne & Warnock

Thanks but no thanks

How do you know this, even if its just your opinion its based on nothing?

Villa need a manager that is going to build, going to be around for a long time.

The likes of Rafa, Hiddink etc are big money managers, that want big money and cost big money a long with not being around for very long when its not as exciting or going well.

Your barking up the wrong tree if you think thats what Villa are after.

They want someone like a OGS a, Lambert a Martinez, someone who will come in and build their team from the ground up over many years.

This will produce solid foundations for the future, whilst getting a high profile manager in and giving them shit loads to spend will only be a short term fix.

Thats how i see Randy wanting to do it.

I hope whoever it is, is given time even if your personally are not impressed.

Up the Villa.

I do hope we actually sort it quickly like indicated.

Get him in, get the summer/pre-season organised lets get cracking.

One thing I do want is a strong personality to sort the likes of Dunne, Collins etc.

Far too many players doing the bare minimum at our club and they need sorting!

MM, any idea how quick things are moving? Next couple of days? Next couple of weeks?

I don't but they know there is a hell of a lot of deadwood to be sorted out SO SOONER RATHER THAN LATER !

When I was berated earlier in the season with you have ' nothing to back it up ' about the wrong uns they had to simply go with it both privately and publicly to get us over the line . In hindsight that was a mistake they knew the culprits last summer but decided to give them another chance under AM which was wrong and almost a complete disaster .

Logic tells me go for Number 1 target this week he says yes then we get him in before he goes on holiday or they turn next week to the other options ( Yes they have other options ) . So logically max 3 weeks !

After your "inside info" on McLeish last year, I'm amazed you have the sheer brass neck to show your face round here.

To be fair things could change from day to day.

Rhetorical example... I was told today its not Mick, come tomorrow all other candidates have been excused, Mick it is..

Back the club support the manager move the club forward...

I don't get what we are meant to do if Lerner cannot afford it though, just borrow more and more money?

Surely that's not good either?

Fingers crossed he will be leaving, it will be a massive kick in the balls if not.

Please leave Villa Alex.

Knowing our luck we'll play a blinder, win & he keeps his job

Jesus what if he doesn't go?

It would take one phone call from a certain ex manager to ensure Lambert is never our manager.

I'm a little concerned he's not off.

Lerner will bang on about continuity etc.

The stupid newspaper advert only helped in keeping him here I think as well.

**** sake, please leave.

For everyone's sake.

Both as bad as each other, disappointing advert.

I'm very worried that if we stay up Eck will being going nowhere

Oh

I fear QPR will get something today

Thanks you GarethRDR and Chindie.

I thought that and only filmed in 3D interests me.

I might go and see avengers tonight, not bothered about 3D so will go to the 2D worth seeing?

Even at 10pm?

Distraction tactics from our board me thinks.

Anyone know the state of relegation release clauses in the player contracts?

Villa might benefit from a spell out of the Premier League

Aston Villa are a sad sight these days – tired, directionless, timid, miserably shambling through another season of nothingness. What enjoyment is to be had on the Villa Park terraces these days? They are a club that seem overworked, huffing and puffing just to tread water in the Premier League, running to stand still. They need to recharge their batteries, to find some momentum, to stop constantly fire-fighting and find a way to move forward as a club.

What better way to do that than with a year or two (or more) in the Championship? Plenty of clubs have found relegation to have a restorative effect. Norwich are probably the best example. Between 2005 and 2009 the Canaries were going nowhere fast, scratching around in the bottom half of the Championship, good enough to stay up but only just. It took relegation to League One in 2009 and the appointment of Paul Lambert after a disastrous start to that season in the third tier to turn the club around.

Instead of grubbing around for points – the club won only 56 league games in four seasons from 2004-05 – they were able to strip things down, start again and build momentum, momentum that stays with them today. If the Canaries had somehow cobbled together enough points to stay up over the final few weeks of the 2008-09 season they would not be in the position they are today. Newcastle are another who have bounced back from the drop in style.

Alex McLeish – who would almost certainly be replaced in the event of relegation, another bonus for Villa fans – has a very young squad at his disposal, a talented one that is not yet in full maturity. Ciaran Clark, Nathan Baker, Chris Herd, Gary Gardner, Samir Carruthers and even Andreas Weimann, Barry Bannan and Marc Albrighton could benefit from finding their feet in the professional game at the lower level, rather than learning the hard way in the top flight. Indeed the suspicion is that the only reason several of those players are not on loan outside the Premier League is the paucity of McLeish's squad.

One step back to take two steps forward? It can be painful but it might just be fun. And Villa fans have not had much of that this season. JA

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/apr/16/five-things-football-this-weekend

Unfortunately I feel there is more chance of the sun not setting than us actually winning....