HolteExile

I can't imagine Villarreal will be in a rush to deal with us after we've swiped their manager. It generally doesn't occur in the modern game anymore, a coach departing and taking a whole raft of players with him from his former club. But he will know Villareal's intended transfer targets and the Spanish market (where there's usually a lot more value in terms of fees and wages). So there is that.

Don't think too many have rated Dyche, in fairness. More just using as an extreme version of how the Villa can let you down. As an aside: For a mad moment yesterday I wondered if the massive upturn in form was because the players were threatened with Dyche or similar. I'd run through brick walls as well, to avoid that possibility.

If we do go all in for Amorim it won't be a total punt/ flavour of the month move. NSWE were looking at a Portuguese club to invest in, ultimately opting for Vitoria Guimaraes. If they've been following the game there, they'll know one of the more charismatic managers in the league. And what he has achieved for a (usually) underperforming big club in a relatively short space of time. Amorim seems to take a more academic approach to the game as well, qualifications in psychomotor therapy, which is supposedly based on a 'holistic view of human beings that considers each individual as a unity of physical, emotional and cognitive actualities.' Of course. So he's closer to a Potter-type, rather than Stevie G's 'look me in the eye' nonsense. In short, he values the individual. And will try and get the best out of them, rather than trying to play real life Championship Manager and burn through a whole raft of new signings. An intriguing option. FWIW, I'd still hope for a Mancini or similar. But I could get behind this.

Re Beale's comments: If the manager has been hamstrung by a weak squad, or a heap of big name players all over 30 and on the way down = blame recruitment. If he inherited a good squad and has been given substantial resources to push that on further = manager is to blame. The signings that were clearly Gerrard's have been our biggest letdown, in fairness. Phil has faded badly after a promising start. And Digne hasn't looked up to covering both facets of the role he was meant to occupy. In fairness, it would prob take one of the best left backs in the world to cover two positions, in that weird set up. But with signing a French international we did for the fee and wages we did, you'd hope for a standard closer to that level than what we've seen so far.

One upside to Dyche is we wouldn't need to worry about expanding the stadium. Or if we did, we might as well turn the new North Stand seats away from the pitch and towards Witton island. There will be no waiting lists for that muck.

People like Roberto Martinez at Wigan and Brenda when he was managing Swansea in the Championship had teams playing good football on a shoestring budget, so it's not about the resources Dyche had at Burnley. It's a choice, to play that way. He believes in it. Give him more money and he'd just have more expensive players playing that system. And it's a style that never evolved (unlike Moyes in his latter years at Everton).

Gus Hiddink retired from management after a stint as Curaçao boss last year. Managing Leandro Bacuna will do that to you. But he likes money. Him and JT on a short term basis? Would look at it, if our top choices are out for whatever reason. Talk of Sean Dyche is just too depressing for words.

Aye, but 'biggest club in the Midlands' is tallest dwarf territory. Look at the dreck we are surrounded by. Aston Villa are one of the biggest clubs in British football and should have a manager to match.

A manager like Gallardo (or of that ilk) would be better coming in during the summer and having a full pre season to get across his ideas. Any manager coming in now will be firefighting to an extent, so it's best if they know the division and can hit the ground running. Previous PL experience shouldn't be the main factor in any decision. But it is a pretty important one.

Indeed. Shades of O'Leary,

It's a poor start, carrying on from a poor end to last season from Soton at home early March onwards. You can't get away with four > five months of duff form and performances in the top flight now - if you ever could.

He's had ample excuse already, if he wanted to go that route.

I don't think it would be a disaster (unlike some). But it messes with the natural order of things to get sacked at Leicester (or as good as) and walk into the Villa job.

Yes, yes. I see the Potter love smeared over various threads. I'm sure there was similar for Lambert as well back in 2012 when his unfancied Norwich team finished above us. That when well. Unlike that era, we are actually investing in player recruitment at the upper end of the market now. The next choice of manager should reflect that.

Thought I was clear in the opening line when I referenced the 2-0 at their place. They looked bollocks that day and had done for a while. You can go ten games without a win and still stay in a job at Brighton. Not at the bigger clubs now. And Potter too big for Villa based on this season? (because it's based on little else). Spectacular. Maybe if we win the next three Steve Gerrard gets the Inter Milan job.

A year ago Rodgers was being linked with the Tottingham and Man United jobs. A few months back, anyone touting Potter as an upgrade on Gerrard would have been seen as loco - particularly after we beat them comfortably at their place. He was getting booed by his own fans at various stages last season. Football seems all about short termism, and the dopamine hit of the chasing the next big thing. He might be shit hot, and go on to have a stellar career. More power to him. We can do better - and should be thinking bigger - if we make a change in the next few weeks.

I'm not on board with Potter at all. Don't think he's done enough (yet) at the top level for a job as big and demanding as the Villa one. It is impressive how he's got them flying out the blocks this season, mind. Particularly with the loss of Bissouma, Cucurella and Maupay. That's the sort of thing directors of football and the money men in charge like. Rodgers has much more pedigree at this level. But probably needs a bit of a break after the last few months there. A chance to top up the tan, polish the false teeth and come back revived.

We haven't looked on it since Bournemouth away on the opening game of the season. That's mostly on Gerrard, but Critchley et al bear some responsibility as well.

Bailey might be away, possibly. Looked bright in pre season but our tactics since the real stuff started would kill the enthusiasm of most players. He still has a decent rep in Europe even if he hasn't done a whole lot in a Villa shirt.

Could always keep Bert, not sign Sarr and send Gerrard out on loan.

From the bit I've seen of him Tielemans is a more polished version of Jacob Ramsey. A fine player, but we need something a bit different in there. Someone who can set the tempo, rather than someone looking to bomb forward.

Wolves hoping to tempt Ruben Neves into staying with a £100k a week offer. Surprised a player with his sort of international profile isn't already on that, TBH. Tenuous links with Yanited at the end of last season, but more likely to run his contract down with one year left. If there was any sort of chance of doing that kind of deal we should look at it, we need that sort of tactically switched on player in the middle of the park.

He sounded a bit flat and disillusioned about the club's lack of incoming deals this summer. Saying he hopes they will be in the hunt for European qualification, but that expecting progress from previous seasons is unrealistic. If the club decide to cash in on Fofana and/or Tielemans the time might be right for a parting of the ways.

Rodgers singed Coutinho for the Redscouse n'all. Probably played the best football of his career under him. So might get more of a tune out of him than the current incumbent.

We won't get Poch. We might get Rodgers. The club will have to give SG at least the next 5-6 matches so we don't look like reactionary clarts. But I'm struggling to see where the progress will come from. We had a bit of success in his honeymoon period playing a tight, combative midfield with Nakamba deep. Since Marvellous got injured it has largely been a shitshow. His go to guy Phil C is largely anonymous away from home and we're not the sort of side who can cope with passengers. He's now created a rod for his own back with the Tyrone situation. A mess.