Marka Ragnos

Just checked the US national team fixtures till the end of the season. Could easily combine both roles. He'd have a Crack at winning FA Cup and being a Villa legend.

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/12/09/15/26/141209-mnt-2015-sched-first-half-rel

Whether he would want to ?? Can't see it but let's hope.

I think the Brits on the board will dissuade Lerner from picking an American manager. They are too conservative, too afraid of a big change -- just like Lerner!

(I think I may have just alienated ... like ... half of Villa Talk with this arguably stupid statement. I hope I am wrong!)

Why do people want Neil Lennon??? He is one of the most awful human beings in the game.

For real? I think you need to dial down the hyperbole just a mile or so? 

Was a city trader who jacked it in to train as a manager at his own expense. Travelled to clubs around Europe to learn before he got the Brentford job.

 

 

 

 

Love the story, but would rather see him get more seasoned.

 

 

Maybe he's in talks with Bruce Arena

America's answer to Jose Mourinho

 

Would love to see Arena. Would be shocked it it happens tho. Too insightful a move for Lerner.

Klinsmann, Bradley or Arena I presume if it is true that Fox is in the U.S. at the moment?

Nope, not at all. I think you're forgetting the other chap in the US who has a little bit of a say in this matter.

 

I think I'd plump for Curbishley. When he took over West Ham they were in a relegation fight and won 7 of their last 9 games to stay up, plus he overachieved for years with Charlton. Former Villa player, I think his football was fairly decent, he's available and may be willing to do it on a short-term basis. Problem is how long he's been out of management. I just can't see any long-term options available at the moment.

Yeah this would be safe and dull appointment- but is realistic and he could keep us up.

 

I'd take a dull 17th over an exhilarating drop.

The new Crushed Beaks album. Love it!

1. Neil Lennon

2. Rafael Benitez

3. Roy Keane's Beard

4. Bruce Arena

5. Jurgen Klinsmann

It's been a rough week or two or 20. But here are 10 reasons for an AVFC supporter to have hope:

1. You're not a Nose.

2. We're not relegated YET. That's a fact.

3. Gil.

4. The feelings of supporters are more united than I can recall.

5. We have a run of winnable fixtures ahead of us.

6. We can now say we're legitimate "underdogs." Yay!

7. There's some great dark wit and gallows humour on Villa Talk.

8. No matter how bad things get, there will always be some sad fool Villan who will see the bright side.

9. It's not YOUR millions of ££££££ that will be lost if we get the drop.

10. If we go down, cheap replica kits!!!! 

Well we've been down before and come back stronger. I agree that relegation could be the catalyst for something good. Anything is better than this malaise.

Don't agree. Relegation as a kind of club therapy is too big of a gamble. We could be down for years -- decades. We could slip down and down. It must not happen!

And here's the good news ...

And that complete's the good news.

A match, a manager, and group of players not worth even weeping over. The only thing I feel sorry for is the Aston Villa tradition. It's been tarnished tonight.

It's days like today when I guess should also expect my wife to leave me, the doctor to give me a scary diagnosis, and my tea milk to be sour.

First win over Villa since 1987.

 

This season just can't get any better, can it? Records broken everywhere!

It's very disappointing. Hard to stomach. I blame Lerner.

2 wins in 21 games.

 

Will Lerner sack him though?

Will Lerner sack himself?

Come on Villa! 

One important quality about managers -- and it's not one I've seen discussed with Lambert -- is THEIR ability to put pressure on an owner. Yes, a manager serves at the owner's behest, but that's doesn't mean it's a simple master-servant relationship. A good manager has to be able to squeeze milk from a stone and rebuff stupid tactical intrusions, etc. This kind of thing takes charisma, cunning, and experience. When all is said and one, would it be accurate to say that Paul Lambert has been able to handle Randy Lerner?

I, for one, doubt it.

My guess is that they do not say much at ALL substantive to one another, but rather exist in a kind of mutually beneficial ignorance of one another. My guess is that their relationship is like those of two clams sitting on the bottom of the ocean. 

Lack of goals, OK? That is the only problem. That is the entire problem. There are no other issues this year. Dress it up, spin it, sniff if, tie it in a bow, smack it with a hammer -- but no matter, it always comes back the same -- lack of goals. And did I mention, lack of goals? Would love to see how, under the current owner, the Post-Lambert Savior changes this.

Not gonna happen.

Not  bad performance, but im a realist. Lambert should have brought a striker in. Should have been number one priority after Gil.

You mean in the game, or the transfer window, or both? 

I like Lambert and want him to be Villa manager for a bit longer. I enjoyed watching Villa today. I like the Villa team he has put together, and I don't want a Tim Sherwood or any of his peers to come in and start throwing their weight around. I think Lambert is going to get it right.

 

There I said it.

Well, at least you're honest lol. And I agree, no Sherwood, please.

Shows how bad we are when a 2-1 defeat feels like a positive.

 

The Hull game is a huge game for us

Yep. Huge. For us -- and for them!

Something "off" there with the young lad. I feel bad for him but we can't risk him again. He's a liability and too big a risk. Should be moved in next transfer window.

I was just wondering as it sounded as though we played ok but Waddle makes out we weren't in the game. 

Honestly don't understand this whole "belief" thing. We're outclassed in terms of resources. I was actually really impressed with our spirit apart from Benteke.

 you'd hope a dropped Benteke would come on looking fired up with a point to prove, but he was just as anonymous as previous games & kept just doing pointless one-twos rather than driving forwards. 

Yeah, that should be it for him. Time to prepare for summer transfer. He's worse than useless. He actually hurt us. I don't have any thing against him personally, but something is just off there. Seems almost bewildered. I actually feel bad for him -- but I feel worse for us.

 

Chris Waddle's view. Fair?

 

"

Former England winger Chris Waddle

BBC Radio 5 live at Villa Park

Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea

Posted at

"Chelsea have been in total control in this second half. Aston Villa could not do anything going forward, they really lacked belief and quality in the final third but they tried their best. Chelsea have done a special job here today. They are seven points clear but they were nine points earlier in the season, so it's not all over yet."

 

No. Totally disagree. Villa didn't lack belief. We lacked a clinical striker.

If this manager does'nt go we are doomed .

I am no Lambertian but Lerner's left him with no options. I think he was right to give Benteke a last chance but that should be it. It's just too bad PL didn't have many choices. Look at Chelsea. They bring on a player as a discretionary sub whom they just paid almost five times above what we failed to pay for a slightly over the hill striker. It's just obvious what the issue is, and it goes way deeper than Lambert. Chelsea could have left Willian on, too. Very hard to compete against this mismatch in resources.

Somehow this one really hurts especially bad. Was just beginning to get carried away with hope. Real let-down. I feel mad at Benteke. 

Benteke just seems awful.