TrentVilla

2 minutes ago, VillaFaninLondon said:

I really hope the shortlist is media lies because no one on that list screams ambition and I don't think they'll push us to that next level. 

Simon Jordan thinks we should go all out for Ten Hag, I agree with him. We need a big appointment if we are serious about competing at the highest level. 

I agree. We have to make an appointment in line with our aims, if we sacked Smith through fear of relegation we need to appoint someone appropriate to deal with that. If we sacked him because they believe he can’t get them to where they want the club to be they need to appoint someone of that calibre or capable of getting to that level.

5 minutes ago, IrishVilla10 said:

Impossible ask, if spurs didn’t get him in the summer (I’m assuming they would have tried) there’s no chance he comes here. He’d be in for a shout for the United job 

I don’t accept impossible. Lots of things in football have seemed impossible until they happened, improbable certainly. You don’t know unless you try, I’d like us to try. 

5 minutes ago, lexicon said:

I'm sure you would, Trent  

Way out of our reach, though. 

Possibly, probably.

I would still like to see us try. If the owners are serious about their ambitions then they need to be trying to land a coach that matches them.

6 hours ago, KentVillan said:

Yeah but who is doing it? Aren't you getting worked up about something that isn't really happening beyond a handful of speculative posts that didn't go anywhere?

Getting worked up? No not in the slightest.

1 minute ago, KentVillan said:

I think I floated the bad apple thing because of the Leicester story, and then backtracked. Besides that, I haven't seen loads of people pinning the blame on Shakespeare tbh. Agree with @a m ole, all our opinions of non-playing staff involve a lot of guesswork, and being vehemently Smith out while excusing other figures in the setup is a difficult position to defend.

Press conferences are exercises in diplomacy and PR, not a seminar where a coach walks us through his thought processes.

Ultimately all we really know is that something has gone wrong. The exact apportioning of blame to Purslow, Suso, Lange, Smith, JT, ROK, Shakespeare, MacPhee, etc. is an almost impossible task for anyone outside the club.

There was a noticeable change in our style when Shakespeare joined, but equally that coincided with Watkins joining, who is a brilliant striker at hitting the channels and bringing down long balls under pressure. Was it Shakespeare who brought in the long ball football, or was it just us playing to a perceived strength of a new signing? God knows.

I'd love to read a few tell-all books about the last 3 years at Villa, because there are so many unanswered questions...

Who is excusing other people in the set up? I’m certainly not.

I just think the way all of a sudden Shakespear is being blamed by some is a little ridiculous and frankly comes across a little like just another excuse in favour of Smith.

37 minutes ago, MaVilla said:

Who would you like to see in the job Mr Trenty Trent?

If I could choose, Brendan Rogers would be top of my list but I've been saying that since his Reading days. 

I don't really watch other leagues so I've very little clue about foreign coaches, I'm the MON of scouting managers! I like Potter, I think he really has something about him and Ten Hag is clearly talented.

I really don't want someone of the managerial merry go round and I don't want Terry or Lampard, I'm not keen on Fonseca not because I know anything about his management but it would represent a huge gamble.

With Gerrard I have a number of reservations but do feel he will probably be a success as a manager above and beyond Scottish football so think he is a very serious contender.

It is a shame Pochettino isn't back on the market yet.

Oh and I think AVB is worth considering.

26 minutes ago, hippo said:

Might not be that quick if we are talking of interviews.

We'll see I guess, I think it will be done quickly

Pretty slow off the mark from Tyrone and no real sense of sorrow at his departure, doesn’t feel entirely sincere to me.

3 minutes ago, foreveryoung said:

Hearing Paulo Fonseca, but don't quote me. Unsure how my source would know no one is ITK these days, as we know Villa are very tight on keeping things quiet

Really don’t think it will be.

Just now, a m ole said:

It is the same, but I really can’t be arsed to get into the same shit over and over again.

No. It really isn’t.

7 minutes ago, a m ole said:

Maybe one or two are. The bit that’s the same is the “seem so knowledgable about his coaching ability and personality” part, which ‘some’ seem to have expert level insight on Smith.

I see a very unfortunate situation we found ourselves in and the club deemed that change needed to happen to arrest the slip - all of them should fall if that’s the case as continuity is not what is needed. Sacking Smith and keeping the rest is just about the worst thing we could have done.

No, not the same.

We see week in week out the decisions Smith makes in matches, we hear what he has to say in press conferences. So unless you’ve been hanging out down BMH they aren’t remotely the same.

I’ve not said Shakespear should stay or anything remotely close, I just think this notion he was the rotten apple or cause of Smith’s demise is just a bit silly and totally unfounded.

4 minutes ago, a m ole said:

The same goes for absolving him of any responsibility and putting it all on smith and recruitment.

No, not the same. I’m not absolving him of blame for our season but according to some he and other coaches are responsible for coming in and wrecking it all which is just a bit daft.

I find it amazing that so many seem so knowledgeable about Shakespear’s coaching ability and personality and how we are only now hearing they were problematic.

By pretty much all reputable opinions he is a very good coach. His arrival at Villa was last summer not this and he was part of the dramatic improvement in our performances in the first part of last season.

I find it baffling that some seek to point the finger at him now, perhaps it makes accepting the news on Smith easier I don’t know. It is though ridiculous and totally unwarranted.

This season is down to poor recruitment and ultimately Smith’s shortcomings. Shakespear isn’t the cause and neither is he a different coach to he was last season.

1 minute ago, villa89 said:

I think if we could have got smith Rowe or JWP we would have. The summer profit was more down to not being able to get the higher level of player we are after. Hopefully a foreign coach can get us a few gems in from the continent. 

Yes I know but the point still remains. 

2 minutes ago, Paul33 said:

Are the recent Steve Bruce rumours that far off the mark ?!!!

I’m fetching my banning trousers!

Just now, maqroll said:

Could the target be someone not currently in management?

I don’t think so

This isn’t a criticism of our owners but you cannot be serious about wanting to challenge for Europe and make a profit in a summer window. You also cannot have a middle of the road manager if you are serious about wanting to compete at the top.

The owners have done incredible things for the club but I think it is time for some honesty, with themselves as much as anything.

If they want us to compete as a top club we have to be run as a top club, currently we aren’t run as a top club.