TheNorwegianWay

Hello guys,congratulations on appointing Lambert! I know I was excited about OGS (being Norwegian myself) but when the cold light of day hit I have to say Lambert is a very good choice.This is a man who knows what it takes,and he can do it without ruining a club.

I don't have Sky,who is the named replacement? Agreed,but if he has indeed quit I would expect some form of confirmation soon...would seem natural with a statement he hasn't quit too,if that's the case.

Very strange situation,four PL clubs need a new manager and nothing seems to be going on except twatter gossip and ITKs shooting from the hip...

Villa is still considered one of the,let's say,top 8 jobs in the Premier League. However,the situation is fragile now and finding the right man who can work with limited funds is everything atm. In my opinion Martinez would be the best choice now,considering Villa's current state.Pretty sure he would obtain 8th-10th in 2 seasons.

It depends why he has pulled out. He may not have recieved certain assurances that he would get with us. Martinez wants full control - FSG wants a DoF above him. Martinez wants full control - Villa does not want a DoF above him. It seems this is a very important issue for Martinez.

Moyes are doing wonders at Everton with practically no money,there really is no denying that,agree 100%.

Wouldn't that just be a 1-year contract though? Not sure if a rolling contract always has 12 months left but surely it would never approach an expiry date? A re-negotiation date probably once a year though,wages up or down etc.

So do I,but that's the only "twist and turn" thingie I can see.

That would have to include Solskjær somehow since he's the only name we know. Some temporary appointment then Solskjær comes in january or next season?

Exactly. Speaking from the Norwegian point of view nobody would even raise an eyebrow here if it was Villa saying no to Ole. But let me tell you when the headline "Solskjær withdraws from Villa talks" or something like that I (and most football fans here) were in "shock". And the "mainly family reasons" doesn't quite stack up,I see Ole as quite intelligent and the move/not move must have entered his thoughts when other teams came a-calling earlier in the winter/spring.It would be sensible to have the conversation "this is way too early,maybe in a year" long before Villa came in. On another note,Molde FK has done quite well lately and go into the EURO break with 8-1-3 on the books.After a bit of a shaky start they've racked up 5-1-0 in the last 6 games. Ole won't be in less demand in the future for sure. :arrow:

Yes I do think they've talked about it,probably alot because they've already made a major move once from England to Norway. I think Ole never in a million years expected a team like Villa to approach him so soon,and I think it was a total surprise and he got carried away. I think you're also right about the kids wanting to stay while the parents probably would be swayed to move again had the offer come. I don't quite get why this would be any different in say a year,it would make alot more sense to me if he said "I moved my family to my home country and I want my children to get to know Norway and we'll be staying for at least 5 years before moving back to England". Cheers.

That's the least likely scenario in my opinion. The most likely scenario in my opinion,he was convinced by the owners to take another year and it's very likely he felt after talking to Villa he would be in over his head so early in his career. I don't believe Villa offered him the job,but the family reason doesn't sound right to me at all.

Why do you say that? I mean I believe you, would just like to know why. Why unfortunately? Because I think Villa/Ole would be brilliant. Why impossible to leave? You can't play the family card and leave the next week,he would lose all credibility.

It ends Monday,unfortunately Ole Gunnar has made it impossible for himself to leave now. I'm surprised Ole didn't know about not wanting to move when Villa called.I mean,Pompey,Wolves and a couple of other clubs had already tried so the ready to move thing should be on the radar no?

Let it go old chap, we are all cut up but this ain't happening. I must admit I don't think its 100% dead. I think he (OGS) would have to make the call though. I just keep thinking big Ron in the early 90's Exactly! Strange things happen in football!!! Well you could offer the job to Solskjær's wife,pretty sure Ole would tag along as assistant manager... 8)

I can't help but wonder had Røkke said:"Bless you my friend,you gave us the league title and although it's a bit sooner than we hoped I will not stand in your way". Would he be sitting in Molde citing family reasons today? It's strange how the calm, thoughtful comments from our Norwegian friends seem far more plausible than the rants of UK based wolves who decide what was said in private meetings and try to present it as fact. Ole has modified his "family reasons" to "family was the main reason" which leads me to think pressure from Molde/Røkke was heavy and when the adrenalin from Friday wore off he caved in. And I'm almost always calm. 8)

I can't help but wonder had Røkke said:"Bless you my friend,you gave us the league title and although it's a bit sooner than we hoped I will not stand in your way". Would he be sitting in Molde citing family reasons today?

I suspect the situation is delicate (more so than most years) with Liverpool,Villa,WBA and possibly Chelsea looking for a manager,everyone holding their cards close to their chest it seems.

Looks pretty impressive to me,apart from the Heerenveen and Al-Ahli stint 2008-10. Promotion and then 2nd and 3rd places + winning the cup with Bodø/G. Winning the league with Rosenborg (no biggie obviously). Won the League in Belgium (twice,Club Brugge) and Greece (the double with Olympiakos). Three stints at AA Gent,came 3rd this year in front of Standard Liege and Racing Genk. Came in january and saved Lierse from relegation in 2011.

They did really well against Man United but can't base him entirely on that The 75% win ratio is pretty good though. Althou it will be interesting to see if he can do it without Xhaka and Shaqiri He takes them along with him and they play for Aston Villa next season, obvious They're both gone,to Mønchengladbach and Bayern. How about Trond Sollied?

OGS:Lerner took it well and understood the reasoning when Ole told him he withdrew from the process. Other than that the whole PC was about bettering communications and alot of BS.

There is actually a Norwegian manager out there who is very successful: Trond Sollied,53 yrs. Look him up on wiki,I don't know how to hyperlink here... He always gets his teams to punch above their weight and by the looks of it always instant success.

Approached yes,had an informal chat/preliminary interview yes. However,him being one of many/a few candidates to be considered and not a front runner makes sense in hindsight,and also explains much of what's happening since yesterday...on the Molde side of things.

Only thing that makes sense,Ole was simply just one of many candidates and at no point a front runner at all,then the situation took on a life of its own. Then everything got blown out of proportions with the jet,but that was actually explained as the best way to give Ole the most time possible to prepare for Molde's next game.

Everything is just weird,turned on its head and I don't buy it,but I have no idea what is really going on. Why would (the equivalent of) £1m to buy a player change his mind? If the Villa debacle hadn't happened these money would have already been available to him so not really an OMG moment for OGS at all. I get that Ole will not manage Villa,but everything leading up to that is so unclear I hope the thread stays open until tonight at least,after the PC... I still have a feeling there's something important we don't know or think we know,I hope that will be uncovered later today. Cheers.