tylerreznik

I agree with all except the bold..... I think both Lambert and Sherwood will at some point manage in the premier league again because I can understand the media fixation. I think both have been given a free pass by most over their results at the villa due to the medias fixation with our lack of spending, the ongoing sale and internal sagas. Plus it has and always has been about, not what you know but who you know, not in just football but in life. Also taking into consideration both are linked with jobs like Fulham, QPR and Blackburn I would not be surprised in the slightest if either ended up back in it at some point. Lambert I could see managing in PL again either by bringing a team up or somebody like the Baggies taking a punt on him again. Sherwood I'd honestly be surprised if he managed another club again at any level. He deadset aged 10 years in barely 10 months with us, as arrogant and deluded as he is, have to think he's starting to understand his limitations / abilities as a manger. Also not many clubs that would realistically would take a punt on him, yet to last a full season in charge, his tactical limitations have been well exposed and he learnt nothing from his short spell at Spurs. I have a feeling the media will warm to Remy very quickly if we get a few results go our way early. With Wenger getting older, the 'Arsenal Apprenticeship' story is an obvious one, cut his teeth at the Villa, get his 'Premier League' experience etc...

In my experience of hiring people from French companies (even when outside France), there is a 3 month notice period. Applies even for even for junior or grad level staff, believe this is part of the french labour law and is enforced ... My guess is they could quite easily just resign, but Lyon would almost certainly make them work the 3 months out, unless Villa come to the party and pay some form of compensation.

Saddest thing is pretty much everywhere expected this result, however no-one expected Swansea to this average.... Surely has to stumps for Sherwood, not only are results woeful but he is draining the moral for our best players. New manager bounce could be huge for this group of players, somebody who can pick a team, define a tactical approach, and make decisive subs. Let hope the future starts TOMORROW, bye bye Tim.

Team selection indicates two things. he is absolutely f**king clueless he is actively trying to get sacked i cannot recall seeing a less balanced lineup in my life, just insane, just when you think it can't get any worse it does. Imagine Swansea midfielders are laughing hard...

Wow wow wow So he wants to take and accept responsibility one minute, then next blames blames everything on Benteke leaving. You couldn't make up some of the nonsense that comes out of his mouth. Firstly, yes Bentekes goals towards the end of season were absolutely crucial to our survival. However no single player makes a team, teams built around a single are destined to fail long term. You could clearly see that with us when either Benteke had an off day or was marked out of the goal by a well drilled defence. I think many fans were actually highlighting this last year and wanting to see more variation in our attack. Secondly, with or without the release fee Benteke would have left in the summer, as sad as it is to admit he'd outgrown the club, and I dare say had had enough of annual relegation battles. Without the release we probably wouldn't have got the 32mil. Worse case we made him stay and honour his contract, pretty much guarantee he'd be a different player and just go through the motions. Yes we lost a fantastic player, a proven goal scorer at that, time to move on, he was never going to stick around. We also gained some exciting talents, focus on them rather than trying to make excuses and bend the truth to deflect attention. Anyone with half a brain can see straight through his pathetic statements.

excellent write up.

Yep totally agree, 'transfer committees' are nothing new in reality, maybe a new way of wording it, and for sure the scouting / recruitment team have a much greater say on which players are actually signed. However I think the biggest change recently to this system is that these people now work somewhat independently of the manger, gone are the days of a manager bring in a few of his old playing mates to his 'scouts'. Which in my eyes in entirely prudent and sensible and can only benefit the club. Anyway Sherwood certainly seemed happy enough to work with Reilly 'before' he signed, so really he can just get f**ked with the pathetic leaks....

Wow that Telegraph article is one of the worse pieces of writing I've seen in a long time. Full of contradictions, it's nothing more than an angry rant that conveniently ignores the truth. Lennon... please, he's done absolutely f**k all at everton, in fact he's done f**k all for the past few seasons, anyone that seriously would rather have Lennon than Traore should check themselves into the nearest asylum. Same goes for Townsend, hasn't been able to get a game at Spurs for some time, hardly a huge queue of PL clubs looking to buy him in the summer was there. Cambia's turned us down, Begovic turned us down and signed Chelsea, Cleverly turned us down and signed for Everton, we put bids in for them all, THEY TURNED US DOWN for personal reasons, not much the club can do there, short of going back and offering insane $$, but then we're back to MON days and put the club financially at risk etc etc. Yes the club has been burned buying overpaid average players that add little, saddle the club financially and drain resources, so it's great that we've realised that and moved on to a more progressive transfer policy. Bent or Benteke - which transfer policy worked out best there? Yes we all look at Cole, Senderos, and Nzogbia in despair, and wonder why we signed these blokes and what they are doing at the club. Simple fact is no 'Manager' is going to be given absolute arte blanche to make his own signings in the modern game, Wenger is probably the only guy that has close to absolute control over transfers. Pulls is of the old school way of thinking, and had his wings well and truly clipped when he signed up with West Brom, yet he's managed to adapt well enough. While I've never seen the inner workings of a 'transfer committee', from what i've read the committee and manager meet to discuss area's of weakness to address, specific qualities new players should bring to the team, budget etc. If a manager has a player in mind surely they can make a 'pitch' to other members of the committee. Personally I think having serval people involved in the scouting and recruitment decision making process is excellent (for the good of the club). Ultimately Sherwood is really showing his nativity with these pathetic childish leaks. For one the arguments really don't stack up. This is life in modern game we are not doing anything other clubs aren't already doing, and every time his friends leak this nonsense another chairman thinks geez I'm not going to touch that Sherwood bloke. Secondly it's plain for all to see the issue has nothing to do with the players we signed, they've played some great football in patches, managed to score goals, even had the audacity of taking the lead in a few matches.... If you read all these pathetic leaks having not watching any of our games or looked at the table, you'd deadset think we'd been flogged 3-0 every week and have been sending out a bunch of 21 year olds that can't speak english and look totally out of place in the PL. The reality could't be further from the truth. Simple fact is Sherwood is NOT a manager and has been out foxed by his opponents time and time again, costing us points. Players can read (most of them), and reading this sort of tripe in the press must be a great motivational tool, I wonder if he ever considered that... I just want this despicable clown removed immediately, I can't stand to look at his face any longer. He's dragging the club through the gutter with these comical leaks, he is just causing damage to the club, there are no longer any positives, no redeeming factors, he adds NOTHING. We would be far far better off with Cowans taking temporary charges for a few weeks, no two game to save his job, we could win the next two by cricket scores, nothing will change or undue what he has done, i want this fool out now.

Bit late to the Lambert v Sherwood party, but... Lambert managed to guide Norwich to back to back promotions from L1 to the Prem, and then secured a mid table finish for them, not many managers will come close to matching that sort of record. It's a record to be proud off and regardless of how badly his reign at Villa Park finished. Sherwood won't come close to matching that sort of record, of that I'm sure. Sadly Lambert joined us at the worse possible time, working under a poor ceo, with the club seemingly having a mandate to slash playing staff costs and unwind the excess of the MON era. Whereas Sherwood has joined right as we start to get some structure back in place, working under a capable ceo, and with most of the overpaid average players washed out of the club, vastly different circumstances. I agree Lambert would have got us relegated last year, of that I have absolutely no doubt, however that does't mean he a is 'worse' manager than Sherwood. The pressure and weight of expectation simply got too much for him, I think he'll resurface somewhere in the not too distant future and do an ok job.

Haha, I doubt Tim has the authority to hand out rich tea biscuits anymore, let alone new contracts! Shame Kozak isn't being afforded the same opportunities, given most of our issues have been conceding goals, seems very odd that Charles is back in the picture. No doubt it'll be Gil that has to make way for Nzogbia, drop your best player for your worst...

Yep good point well made, totally agree, also would have been nice for him to shoulder some the blame or at least say I'll learn from that. That may have been the game where he realised there is a bit more to beng a manager than just telling the lads to go out there, play with freedom and have a good go at 'um.... I just remember it was good old Arry Redknapp that gave Sherwood his start by bringing him in as a coach at Spurs way back, everything sort of makes sense when you think who mentored him all those years ago. God help us all. His latest comments in the press about wanting the players to attack and play with freedom against Chelsea are priceless. So essentially champ you have no ideas on how to instruct them to play, and just hope and pray the players can work it out for themselves. If they don't perform or get a result you can blame them by saying well I told um all to express themselves out there and play with freedom, but you know they just aren't good enough, they're not my blokes, i didn't sign um. Now if we had Lennon and Townsend, oh my it'd be a totally different story....

I think the crux of the issue with Tactics Tim, he doesn't know his best team, he doesn't know what formation we should play, he doesn't know which tactics to employ. He's just throwing darts and hoping that telling the boys to go there and play 'attacking' football is enough.... It's not that easy champ.... Sadly the game has become way more 'professional' in recent years, other managers spend time actually analysing opponents, come clubs have teams of analysts devoted to the task, other managers have a very clear idea of how to set up a team formation wise, yet maintain a fairly consistent style of play, other managers are able to watch a match and make changes on the run. Some managers are even good enough to work with players they didn't sign, or don't really rate and yet still produce a team capable of playing football and winning matches. Tim Sherwood is not a football manager, never was and clearly is never going to be. For gods sake, i know the best 15 as do most fans, i'm also smart enough to understand and appreciate the best (or most suited) 11 for Sunderland at home is going to be different to best 11 that you'd line up against Chelsea away, Tactics Tim hasn't worked this out yet, that why we have a squad of players and substitutes bench buddy. If you translate what this clown is saying in his statements, he has basically publicly come out and said I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know how to pick a team, I don't know how to conduct pre season training (doesn't know who his best players are, players not fit enough), I don't know how to conduct day to day training (players not fit enough), I don't know how to research opponents, I don't know how I can communicate tactical changes to my team during a match. This baffoon is not going to turn anything around, that has become very very obvious, at best he is going to jag a few wins here and there through blind luck, and to be honest we really need to rely on opponents in that regard.

I get the feeling the two game deadline is simply Fox giving a Sherwod a nudge and asserting his authority over him after Sherwoods leak earlier in the week. Either walk or you're going to be fired, ie here's a chance to leave with a tiny piece of dignity. Also sends a very strong and public signal to possible replacement managers and the market that the villa manager role could be opening up very soon. Good on him, smart move from Fox. totally agree he could fluke a win against Swansea then lose the next four (very likely in fact), by then the damage could be terminal, even deadly if Sunderland pick up few results with the new manager bounce. nohing is going to change in two games, damage is done with his poorly conceived 'leaks', and last few games he has just looked utterly lost and is showing the signs of somebody that has either given up or is in way way over their head. Very different to his first few matches jumping around of the touch line, smiling and joking in press conferences etc, he's given it his best shot, just not up it plain and simple.

You honestly couldn't make up some of this sh*t that comes out of his mouth. The players signed have more than enough quality to play in the league, Ayew is the only one that hasn't really settled yet. Our performances or to be more precise our poor results are down purely to the tactics / formations he has sent the team out with, and the ridiculous subs he has or hasn't made mid match, to either combat opponents changes or to see out matches. It's very very simple and clear for all to see, he is the root cause of our problems, he has manufactured losses / draw from almost certain victories with his ineptitude / lack of footballing intelligence. Our biggest problem has been defensive lapses, but the two centre backs he signed are both ENGLISH players with many years PL experience..... Sure Amavi has made a few poor mistakes, one ultimately leading to a goal being conceded, but i'd argue he'd brings so much more to the left back position I'd think that mistake has been evened out. With the exception of lacking a really top class proven goal scorer this is the best most balanced quad we've had in a many a year, for the first time in a long time we are blessed with some really talented attacking players. Right back and keeper are the only real weak points remaining (along with a goal scorer). There is no doubt in my mind a manager with half a brain and basic footballing intelligence will come in a do great things with this team, we are two or three players away from having a really solid team. Blaming the players is just such a piss weak excuse it just illustrates how clueless he is. Isn't it strange how foreign imports at other clubs have settled, even stranger that we had to compete with other PL clubs for most of the foreign players that we signed over the summer, so clearly other managers / scouts think they have the quality to make it in the PL, just Tim the Almighty that sees it differently....

If true, just wonderful news, and doesn't it just seem like poetic justice. First Sherwood 'leaks' his displeasure at not getting his own guy in, and boarderline blames the current players for our current plight. He thinks he's being clever, savvy media operator etc. A day later the club 'leaks' news that he's got two game to save his job, borderline blames Sherwood for the mess we're in, giving the Clown absolutely nowhere to hide. Priceless, and really good on Fox and co. Have to think this is a very clear signal that we are looking at / talking to managers. Somehow doubt all the new players Sherwood 'didn't want' to sign this summer are going to rally around him and go to war against Chelsea in the name Tim the Almighty.....

Does seem somewhat ironic and almost comical that most people gave some credit for player recruitment over the summer, and that was one area that he actually had some positive to offer the club, now he's trying to say he didn't want some of them (though I'm sure he'll take credit for any that come good...). You almost could't make this up, starting to become a circus act now. Heartbreaking. Even if he really didn't want some of the summer signings and was over ruled by Reily / Almstadt (which i question in anycase), certainly no need to leak this sort of info to the press, gutless and shows an absolute lack of dignity, purely trying to protect himself without caring how damaging those sort of comments are to the players and club. That sit's great news if it really is true, shows the club have put a solid recruitment platform in place, all we need is a decent coach / manager to get them playing to their full potential. Absolute last thing we need is an egotistical manager that wants to bring in 'his own players'. Martin O'Neill debacle should be enough to convince anyone that this just a medieval operating model. Just look at Swansea and Southampton, they have a very clear direction and player recruitment strategy, any coach that comes in has to fit in with the clubs approach, not the other way around. Low and behold both clubs have thrived even though they've changed managers and lost top players year after after year.

What a class act, this 'leak' cuts even closer to the bone. Keep um coming buddy, this is a sure fire way to save your job.... can't work out if he is just trying save his reputation or really this stupid. Does he think by coming out in the press and firstly contradicting himself on the transfers made over the summer, and secondly by publicly shaming the new signings, they'll suddenly settle and start playing to their abilities?!?! This disgrace of a human being is breaking my heart, becoming too painful to watch this clown ruin our club, what did we do to deserve this moron.

I think Fox is smarter than sticking with a losing bet just to protect his ego because he was the one that brought Sherwood in. Really hope so anyway, if not we really have no hope whatsoever. 1. Stick with Sherwood till the end of season, relegated likely with lowest points tally ever, he looks a fool unlikely to get a CEO gig in football again 2. Stick with Sherwood till Jan, damage likely done by then and still be relegated, could be argued he gave Sherwood every possible chance and was let down by the Cockney Clown 3. Make a bold call and get rid of Sherwood this month, find a manager with half a brain, admit it didn't work out with Sherwood, save the club from relegation and make name for himself as an Exec who's not afraid to make big decisive call and nor pander to his own ego Also pretty sure he brought in Almstadt as Director as Football for a reason, and right about now will be far more interested in what Almstadt has to say than Sherwood.

I daresay as soon as Sherwood is removed the players will improve imeadiately, you can see in their performances there is no leadership or direction from the coaching staff, add the weekly formation changes and lack of real tactical planning it's no wonder they are struggling to find form. His latest comments about missing out on his top transfer targets this summer has just pushed me over the edge, just so disrespectful to the squad and really the last thing a manager should be saying given our current plight. First they aren't fit enough, now they aren't good enough because they weren't the guys I really wanted.... Get real buddy... What little respect he had left in the dressing room has surely evaporated now. Comments like this are really a true measure of Sherwood. Sadly I think it will only get worse before action is taken. as somebody else said every day this clown remains at the club relegation becomes all the more likely. As purverse and shameful as it sounds, I actually kind of hope Chelsea flog us by a cricket score because Fox and co would have act and it would give the press reason to jump all over Sherwood, he's clearly already looking for an out and making excuses. Maybe a departure by mutual agreement so he can save some face.

Bit like saying I really like Kim Joun-un, really impressed the set-up he's put in place since being elected Dear Leader of North Korea, and given time I think he's really going to turn the country around and archive great things

50 million quid? We spent that on about 11 players, it would have been £50 minimum to replace the quality of just Benteke, Delph and Cleverley like for like. Thats my point Benteke - 7mil, Delph - 5m, Clevery - 7m / free if he wanted to be at the club. Gomis - Free, A Ayew - Free, Sigurdsson - 7-10m, Bojan - 3m N'Zogbia - 9.5m, Ireland 8m (p/e), Curtis Davis - 8m, Bent 18-22m The old quality costs money excuse is just nonsense punted but the press and Sky, and now is sadly believed by everyone, just a perfect illustration of how sick the game has become and how agents / players / media rule the modern game. Sure world class players cost big money, once you drop down a grade or two i think on average you'd be lucky to class more than 50% of 10m+ signings as a success at most clubs. Yes you need to invest in the team, but just to blindly say oh it costs 15m+, 25m+ to replace Delph / Benteke, clearly it does't and clearly spending that sort of money does't guarantee anything. Sherwood had 50m to spend, that's a big amount of money however you want to slice it.

Probably close to 50% of fans didn't want him in the first place so not a huge surprise that the tide has turned so quickly for me. Not only is he making mistakes week after week, the bigger worry for me is he is really starting to look like he knows he's well out of his depth in both body language and his by comments. Pre season he was all laughs and smiles, massive club, move the useless losers on, get some 'winners' in, it's all good, no worries, nothing to it guys type attitude. It's like over the past few weeks it's suddenly starting to dawn on him that actually being a manager is a bit more involved, not quite as easy as just picking a team and sending them out with some basic instructions. Some opposition manager have the audacity to change formations mid match, WTF?!? Some opposition manager do research and are prepared and able to nullify our strengths. His latest comment about players not being fit enough really takes the cake. If they aren't fit enough there is only person blame champ, and that's you... It really wouldn't surprise me if he walks before he pushed, I reckon one or big loses (aka another 6-0 loss to the Saints...) may well tip him over the edge, he already looks lost.

I'm keen to see what impact Almstadt has in the decisions making process as 'Sporting Director'. Surely he has half a brain and is advising Fox. Don't see the value in waiting till Dec or even Nov to be honest, rather cut the loses get the clown out in the next week or two, which should lift the players immediately and then allow us to give a new manager at least 2 months to see what he has and what is needed in Jan.

Really kind of sums him up well, clueless and now just desperately throwing darts at a board hoping something works. For me the Leicester game really proved how limited he is as a manager. Started with the right team and tactics, got the upper hand and got infront, then failed to deal with changes from the opposition, worse still he failed to take ownership for the loss.

Honestly people still willing to give him a chance and hoping he'll turn things around are deadset living in a dream world. I think the writing was on the wall late last year, as soon as his new manager bounce expired (frankly we'd have improved regardless of who came in as manager) he proved just how out of his depth he was as a manager in this league. I've always said he is almost certainly a great U21 coach, but manager / first team coach, no way. Given the games we have coming up, we could well go into November with 4 or 5 points, frightening. Everything Sherwood has done so far this season proves beyond a shadow of a doubt he is not fit to manage this club and will take us down if not removed in the next week or two. We are getting worse and worse with each game, he refuses to take any ownership whatsoever, tactically he has proven beyond a doubt he is naive at best, absolutely clueless at worst. He seems he has stacked the coaching ranks with mates who are either equally as clueless or simply beholden to him and not able to get their opinions across to him. Time is not going to help him, that much is very very obvious. Things will only get worse as the deeper we get into the mire the more of his depth he becomes, and from recent comments he'll just start blaming players, who will then just stop playing for him altogether. Sadly the promoted teams have started well, Sunderland will make a change soon, I think we'll be down before the club acts. Levy was smart enough to cut him lose at Spurs before he caused any real damage there, I just hope Fox is smart / brave enough to act quickly.