probably true yes, but the circumstances at the time allowed us to believe we needed a manager to get us in the top 4, not one too stop the drastic fall from top 6 too bottom 6 we have suffered.
I think Lerner gave up on our chances for the Top Four when it became apparent MON was leaving. Hughes would have been good enough to keep us in contention for the Europa League. He has a decent record in the transfer market too, and has also worked and flourished under a restricted budget at Fulham and Blackburn respectively. We missed an opportunity for real stability at the top end of the league.
Loved his quote about us too - "Aston Villa is a good job for any manager, I would suggest."
I may be mistaken but didn't we not go for Hughes because Lerner wasn't impressed by the way he had left Fulham?