Super-Villan

I am hoping that at least the anti-football stuff won't be as bad as expected as he's working with better players. I don't think he was accused of anti-football or being hugeley negative at Rangers, was he? It might not be tippy-tappy but I'll pray for something watchable.

I'd take 7th place and a cup all day long though. Without major investment, 7th is the best that most managers could get us to in the current Prem. Tough to see us finishing ahead of any of these with or without McLeish: Man U, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool.

If it's a diversionary tactic then the board are going about things all wrong. Do you really want to wind your own supporters up that much? And are we supposed to put up with a new manager rumour ever day or two until the 1st July or whatever? I'm just not convinced that's the smartest way for the club to be going about things, if that's what they're doing.

Supposedly echoes of the way he defended GH before he arrived. Though I appear to have wiped that one from my memory.

Has anyone posted up General Krulak's response to a fan on another board about McLeish yet?

"Richard, you know I am not going to tell you anything. I will say that the uproar over McLeish is absolutely uncalled for....he certainly has proved he can manage in the big leagues...just imagine what he could do if he was with an owner who supported him."

"First off, NO ONE is confirming a rumor...I am just stating a belief. You all cling to the fact that he has seen his lads relegated twice...well, the first time he was not with the Club long enough to make much of a difference. Secondly, ...look at the owners he has worked for and their support of him monetarily. Then look at Randy and what he provides to his Managers. Third, look at his record with other Clubs...as a Manager and player. Check with Sir Alex and ask him about the man...you will get an entirely different sense. All I am saying is that the fact that he managed BCFC should not be the driving factor. Those fans who X the man out because he managed our biggest rival just seem to miss the point. YES, Randy and the Board understand the feeliings of the Fans...we are neither deaf nor blind. At the same time, whether it would be this man or any other, we need to do what we think is right for the Club. NO action is taken without HUGE input from many knowledgeable people. Honest to goodness, if a single man can cause all the fans to abandon ship, that is a sad state of affairs. What you are basically saying is, "Randy, let us pick the Manager...we know more than you, those who are advising you, those who are in the game and know the individuals, those who make a living recommending managers and players, etc. etc" Sorry, that just doesn't seem right to me. Again, I am not confirming the rumor...just simply stating my feelings...as a FAN!!!!!!!!""Richard, you know I am not going to tell you anything. I will say that the uproar over McLeish is absolutely uncalled for....he certainly has proved he can manage in the big leagues...just imagine what he could do if he was with an owner who supported him."

"First off, NO ONE is confirming a rumor...I am just stating a belief. You all cling to the fact that he has seen his lads relegated twice...well, the first time he was not with the Club long enough to make much of a difference. Secondly, ...look at the owners he has worked for and their support of him monetarily. Then look at Randy and what he provides to his Managers. Third, look at his record with other Clubs...as a Manager and player. Check with Sir Alex and ask him about the man...you will get an entirely different sense. All I am saying is that the fact that he managed BCFC should not be the driving factor. Those fans who X the man out because he managed our biggest rival just seem to miss the point. YES, Randy and the Board understand the feeliings of the Fans...we are neither deaf nor blind. At the same time, whether it would be this man or any other, we need to do what we think is right for the Club. NO action is taken without HUGE input from many knowledgeable people. Honest to goodness, if a single man can cause all the fans to abandon ship, that is a sad state of affairs. What you are basically saying is, "Randy, let us pick the Manager...we know more than you, those who are advising you, those who are in the game and know the individuals, those who make a living recommending managers and players, etc. etc" Sorry, that just doesn't seem right to me. Again, I am not confirming the rumor...just simply stating my feelings...as a FAN!!!!!!!!"

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The one push factor for Moyes might be the uncertainty over whether they were going to be sold in the next year or two. But even then, he might be better off hanging on and seeing if the new owners had a load of cash for him to spend.

I'm warming to Martinez. A young, upcoming manager who plays good football, who won't see himself as bigger than the club right now. No doubt there's risk, and he wouldn't be my first choice still, but we could do a lot worse in my opinion.

Roberto Martinez with a director of football and a quality defensive coach could be quite a team to be fair. He is one the most exciting young managing prospects around. This would be his big chance.

Funnily enough I've been wondering if our big shock announcement wasn't so much going to be the candidate we appoint as the fact that we were moving to a DOF system.

The potential in Martinez is a bit like the potential in Kyle Walker. I'd expect that both will provide exciting football going forward, but hope that both could tighten up at the back as they gain some experience.

I'd rather Hughes or Moyes, and I think Martinez would be a gamble, but I think some of the arguments against him on here are pretty lame. He plays good football (less negative than GH certainly), is a young manager who could build a legacy, has done pretty well with limited resources at Wigan. It wouldn't be an amazing appointment, but it would be interesting, and I'd be happy to give him time to give it a go.

I don't like Benitez. I don't like the way his sides play football. I don't think he'd necessarily be a good fit for our club even if his star hadn't faded recently. But then if it hadn't he'd still be looking at Champion's League level positions rather than us. I'd much rather have McClaren, and I don't really want him either.

Has anyone thought it could be Rijkaard and McClaren as the assistant coach? With G'Mac getting the chop?

It could answer why McClaren is heavily involved and it would answer the worry of lack of Premiership experiance on Rijkaard's part?

I don't think there's a chance McClaren would take that step down again. If he was called manager with Rijkaard a DOF then maybe, but I'm not convinced that would necessarily be a great partnership.

I voted Hughes. I think he could do a good job and would be a good fit for us. There's something about Moyes I'm just not sure about and the rest of the field appeal even less.

I like MON. I thought he did some very good things for this club in the time he was here. I thought him leaving was a shame, and I certainly don't blame him entirely for it or think there was anything malicious in the timing of it.

But I still don't want him back as manager, thanks.

Yet again some itk nonsense has people writing stuff about Ancelotti's signings, etc. forgetting that there's not a chance that we'll attract such a big name.

He's not Jesus Christ. He was quoted a couple of weeks ago saying he would not rule out managing West Ham to stay in English football.

He may have said it, but that quote didn't turn out to be worth an awful lot, did it?

I think I'll feel let down if it's not Ancelotti, even though I'm not convinced he'd do the best job at Aston Villa.

I just have a feeling that Randy will be mindful of another Houllier situation with Rafa, and that would be the last thing he'd want. Unless he's dead set on him I think it's unlikely. Odds drop oddly all the time, you don't always find out the reason, any number of things could be going on behind the scenes.

DON'T PANIC!

I'd have McClaren over Rafa. I don't like Rafa, I think he'd be a poor match for our club and wouldn't do a good job. McClaren would be uninspiring, and he's way down my list, but I'd have more hope of him doing a job for us.

Personally not keen on Jol .

If it was Jol does that mean we would need a director of football as well?

Playing devils advocate here but ...Houllier as DOF?

Even the devil isn't that mean.

I voted Hughes, though the thought of Ancelotti is quite exciting, I have to admit. I still think Young will leave regardless of if Ancelotti joins us. His joining is not a guarantee of success, and if Man U are in for him I'd expect him to go there.

I don't get the love for Ancelotti. He's never managed a club like Villa and it would be a gamble to think that he could do it well. Just because a manager has had success doesn't mean they'd be a success at any club they go to. I'm also not convinced on his style of play. Chelsea were never exactly fun to watch in his reign, so I expect the style would pretty much be a continuation of what we saw under GH, which doesn't get me excited at all.

I think Hughes would be a good fit for us, and he's a young manager who has achieved above the expected level at every club he's been at, looking to make the step up to the next level.

every manager makes **** ups but when you can buy ANYONE in the world those signings havent been THAT good really.

Of course he couldn't sign anyone in the world. Did the Kaka attempt come under him? Doesn't really matter, that's pretty much the point. The best players in the world will not go to a newly very rich club like that and take a risk. And some of the players who will go will only do so for lots and lots of money. Man City are in a much more attractive position now than they were under Hughes.

Go out and appoint the manager now that will modernise us into a side that can compete in Europe.. Blimey, Man United are the best team in the Premiership yet were made to look like a division 2 side v Barca..AND THATS MAN UNITED!

Do you seriouslY think whilst the rest of Europe moves forward we have the time to watse arsing about with backward tactics? We need to make that move NOW!

But you're talking about Barca, an incredible one-off side there. There are plenty of European teams with passing games and decent managers who Man U could absolutely take apart. There's no reason at all why Hughes couldn't make us more competetive in europe than a manager like Deschamps or Ancelloti. It's not always a case of picking the 'best' manager, it's picking the best manager for the job and for the situation.

Yes, I want GH gone still, but I don't think that poll accurately reflects the way opinion has swayed on him here since the last two results of the season.

I suspect we will hear more tomorrow about the manager's position.

I suspect we're going to hear sod all for at least another week. And it will be incredibly frustrating.

To give the manager of a Premiership Club a reduced workload would be very amateurish. Especially one with aspirations of breaking in to the top 4 or at least to compete for the top half dozen places again.

To achieve the kind of success we all crave is going to require a manager who can give his all, work his bollocks off and take total responsibility. Some half baked structure of Houllier over seeing a head coach just wouldn't work for the simple reason who takes ultimate responsibility? I guess the most worrying thing is if this idea ever did come to fruition, which I highly doubt, then it may well be Gary Mac who would be the one given the head role below Houllier.

I just can't see Randy being that naive and still fully expect Houllier and G Mac to be out with in a few days of the season ending. If Houllier does stay with a reduced work load with Gary Mac given more responsibility then god help us and questions would certainly need to be asked of Randy and Faulkner.

Agree totally, especially the last line.

Agreed too. I thought that Houllier staying as manager as he was would be the worst case scenario, but this trumps it. Scary stuff.

Do like Merse always tries to be positive about the Villa.

That's the years of alcohol and drug abuse for you.