mikeyp102

Klinnsman as RL is in USA???

This is just me speculating not ITK

No thanks never seen the hype with him. Yes his team finished strongly but what about the beginng and middle of the season. Defensively poor. Not for me

for me a successful season starts with an absolute base line of staying up whilst being more entertaining than this last horror of a season.

From there, it's all bonuses. A decent cup run, beat some top half teams, make some game winning tactical changes or subs. Turn some defeats and draws into wins by out thinking and out playing opponents. Just generally clearly see a great big push of the reset button. End up in a position where next May we are clearly ready to push on rather than re group.

Spot on for me

My thinking is that this is still 75% happening. Just think it was definitely more than a casual informal chat.

Having said numerous times even before mc got the plug, ole seems to be a perfect fit for us. He wants us and vies versa. Think the board know this and are just ironing out the creases so to say. Unfortunately I think the uproar in Norway has hindered the process slightly which is why I'm saying 75%.

You never know it is the villa way for things to go belly up.

can we lock this :-

..it isn't that funny....

...loads of people will click and open - just to be tricked....

I disagree. On a day where Sky Sports have shown they really don't research any news story themselves unless it's one of their darling clubs, a cock up like that is quite amusing.

What else have Sky done today? Must have missed it

Didn't translate ogs press conference correctly and made out he turned us down. This photo was actually taken a few days ago, think bent must've been talking about the managers situation

someone posted this yesterday

i think gabby could take a couple of hints from this guy... SHOOT SHOOT **** SHOOT!

Lol I love it.

Is that genuine or dubbed? Just ask as he is speaking in English when thought it would be Norwegian to Norwegian players

I still think this is pretty much a done deal. Why else would Lerner leave the uk? Think it's just a matter of finalising contract, agreeing compensation with molde and ole discussing with his coaches. He has 2 englishmen over there with him who presumably will come over. As others have stated molde have 3 games prior to mid season break, think he'll be in charge for those and then officially join us. Know it's hard as it's the most excitement we've had all season but I think a little bit of patience is required.

Is it me or has the last week been more exciting than the entire season?

First it was, phew we're safe......now let's get our opinion on mc known.

Then it was will they sack or won't they..

Then phew he's gone...now who...

Hell even the last 36 hrs even seem more interesting....what with the trees inside info.....the jet over there, the people's review of ole....the video.....talks here confirmed...."it's only been a chat".... Lerner going back to states....pulling of molde backing...other options available.....I love all this, hope whoever we get (please be ole) keeps us this entertained like this throughout the season.

Be interesting to see who the others are but the more I hear of the OSG quotes and see videos etc the more I want him here. My mates and I always discussed him when we spoke about McLeish getting sacked, going back months (you'll see I suggested him in the suggestion managers thread way before mc was sacked). I just think he is the perfect fit for our club, he really could go on and build a successful team here, maybe not league wins or champions league, but definitely cup wins, higher league placings and Europa league. He seems a very level headed, driven individual who obviously loves football and knows a lot about the game. This man should manage AVFC.

Think if we get OGS, we will get alot of promising Norwegian wonderkids! happy days.

Don't think there are too many of those........

Wonderkids, depending on your definition, are not likely to be found in norwegian football.

There are a handful of decent players every generation though, and Solskjaer's insight should put Villa in pole position

- although as will Solbakken at Wolves.

At the moment there's a bit of a new generation coming through for Norway,

and most will be very cheap. A matter of spotting whether they are the real deal or not.

Valon Berisha (his brother Veton as well)

Even Hovland

Magnus Wolff Eikrem (Several years in the Man Utd academy)

Harmeet Singh

Markus Henriksen

Vegar Eggen Hedenstad

Thomas Drage

Tarik Elyounoussi (already flopped at young age in dutch football though)

Havard Nielsen

Already in the bundesliga you'll find former Arsenal youth Havard Nordtveit (Borussia Monchengladbach) who'll be the back bone for the national team the coming ten years at least - and he has talked about moving back to England, being followed by Liverpool among others.

Also Man Utd's academy player of the year is a short skillful norwegian named Mads Moller Daehli, who has the coaches in norway salivating.

Not more talent in Norway than other countries,

in fact very likely less,

but there are some and it's a bit untapped at the moment.

Thanks for the list....what about jo Inge Berget, heard his name somewhere....on a side note doesn't he play at molde?

What would peoples thoughts be on rl using the negotiations with milder to also set up a link with them ala man utd Antwerp? Could be useful to send youth over to get first team experience and also toughen them up living away. We would have first pickings on their best players etc.

wondering what this page is going to read at 11pm...

Clicky

nothing!!!

What would peoples thoughts be on rl using the negotiations with milder to also set up a link with them ala man utd Antwerp? Could be useful to send youth over to get first team experience and also toughen them up living away. We would have first pickings on their best players etc.

Bosnich

Laursen

McGrath

Southgate

Barry

Taylor

Townsend

Milner

Merson

Yorke

Saunders

Said before OGS could be a good move.

As a player was a great sub because of the way he read a game....there was a comment on here from someone from Norway who explained how he had done at Molde and that he had been given plenty of money.

Certainly a gamble, but one that could work for the best, its better than being linked to all the old names that pop up with every managerial dismissal.

Despite their delusions, Liverpool are now at the same level as us and Everton, a million miles away from CL qualification, and will be vying for the same kind of manager.

That said,they will always be the second biggest club in England and expectation is enormous there, so that could put off someone who may have the opportunity to choose between us and them.

Lambert to Villa. Martinez, O'Neill or Benitez to plop.

We are a million miles away from Liverpool. Even recent form aside they are one of the biggest clubs in world football. By saying we are the same level is saying that Wigan are a bigger club than us.

don't forget HK for the soccer sevens next weekend. academy (ish) team, but always good to see the young stars coming through

all 8 HK villa fans will be in their usual spot, being mistaken for Wet Spam fans....

I remember my lad age 4 a few years back, being asked if he wanted to mascot for wet spam by someone who couldn't tell the difference between good claret and blue and shite, and the look of utter dusgust from someone so little.... pure magic...

always a great weekend for anyone in the region who fancies coming over, although i haven't seen the squad for this year yet...

last year, by way of example, had, if i remember correctly, herd, lichaj, baker (although injured) siegrist, forrester, weimann, D johnson...

bazza bannan, sharky, ciaran, nathan delfouneso, gary g have all been out on numerous occasions, in recent years, and if you go back a few more, gabby and gary cahill played...

strong competition this year - chelski, newcastle, sunderland, wet spam, rangers, celtic, leicester...

although none of them have won it anywhere near as many times as we have...

It's a really young squad this yr...on OS (sorry havent time to post link).

Out of interest who is sharky?

Brilliant about your son.

I wouldn't mind giving Nigel Adkins a chance.

Worked wonders at Scunthorpe and Southampton and is 'young ad dynamic' plus gettable.

I know he's just got so'ton up but I don't think he'd turn us down, Scunthorpe to villa in three years? He'd jump for it

I've said him before....however, like lambert/Rodgers last yr think he would like one yr in the prem with the team he brought up. Even though we are bigger than Southampton

Read an article a few months back how Southampton have completely restructured since they went down the leagues, really interesting the youth set up they have. Already producing money from likes of bale, Walcott, ox chambs etc. They reckon in the next 5 they will be producing at least "starlet" a year...

With regards to Ole Gunnar Solskjær, I do not think he is ready for this challenge and I do not think he will leave Norway just yet.

He is very reflected and a total gentleman, but his path to FK Molde's first league trophy was somewhat given to him easily. Him coming home was a huge boost to the entire city, he is a legend after all. On top of that, they had the most money and the best players and squad available. When you think about the Norwegian league you automatically think about Rosenborg, but they were in a decline last season and struggled the whole year. Molde got off to a good start and just continued. The perfect blend between the old guard and new talent, as well as spending money to get that extra ability on top. It takes very little to compete in Norway, a few signings and every team is capable of winning if you ask me - and I am Norwegian. Molde were favs from day 1 last season and everyone predicted them on top, and they won in the end. Of course, you have to play the games and you have to control your players, but it was not like he took the 6th best team and turned them in to champions.

So what I mean is that Solskjær has not really been through tough times yet, and they will come this season as Rosenborg is back on its feet (it would seem). Very, very few Norwegian managers have gone from the Tippeliga to the bigger European leagues. Ståle Solbakken did immensely well in Denmark (again, with the best team, expected to win every season regardless) - then he flopped with Köln where he had a crap squad and European qual. aspirations. With Wolves he is in the second tier, and I think that will suit him well.

Solskjær's managerial capabilities is down to what he has learnt from Fergie and players like Scholes and Giggs. However, that was Manchester United in the most advanced setup and most consistent team the world has seen in the modern era. They always had money to challenge whatever team gave them a challenge so to speak, and that is not Aston Villa. Is he a motivator? Maybe, but all the reputation he has now is down to the fact that he did brilliantly as a sub, that never became disgruntled because he didn't start a match. As a tough manager making his demands vocal enough? Not for me, I think he is too soft for such a job, at least now.

Turn things around, ship Martinez to the Norwegian league and he would have been a legend in an instant. Solskjær has been given everything on a silver platter after his retirement, and deservedly so, but it is very hard to judge him now based on his achievements.

My theory now is that Lerner has reached a crossroad. Keep investing in Villa or sell up? I was certain it was the latter 6 months ago, but either he has struggled to find a buyer or he has gotten new motivation. He knows very well that a) we cannot compete for the Champions League right now and without some investment we are going to be a pain in the ass for him and eventually maybe relegate as we almost did this season. I think we will get an exciting manager this season, my bet is on Martinez, and I think that individual will be the one that spends the most money outside the top clubs. I think we will net something like 25-30M on players, if the manager finds the right players. It does not take much for us to challenge Everton and Newcastle if you think about it. It takes that vital bit of spending, but not 100M. I do not recall where people expected Newcastle to finish this season, but I guess I had them at around 10th to 12th like everyone else. I also expected us from 10th to 15th. A few gems and we are there - in football things change in a second...

Thanks for that, had no idea that molde were expected to win and that he had been given plenty of money.....not knowing anything about Norwegian football I just presumed he had just done a great job with a low placed team.

My reasoning for thinking that he would do a good job was based on his Norwegian performance and the way he played. He always seemed a very tactical player which is why he was such a great substitute, he seemed to watch where defenders went and did the opposite.

First thing would be to bring the coaches in and find out who the bad eggs are (yes we all assume its Dunne, warnock, collins), but you would need to know.

If the coaches are unwilling, or are very wishy washy, I would in all honestly call McLeish and ask him. I don't think that he would provide a dishonest answer. Even though his tactics were useless he is going to know who the bad people were who need shipping out.

Once these players are known, I would make every attempt to clear these players out.

Then I would set about finding new players.

I would look to expand the scouting network, throughout europe to begin with and then expand worldwide.

I would also look to the coaching staff and see how they perform. It may be that they are not coaching the players very well in movement and passing (even though I hear the youth do play like this and therefore may be coached it). Should it be obvious that they are coaching the incorrect stuff, then I would look to expand the coaching staff, with more progressive coaches.

Any players commenting on twitter about him going??? (sorry mods know there was a twitter thread but couldnt find it)....Know it's unlikely that any will be slagging him off, but would be interesting to see what the players actually think.

My mate mentioned Ralf Rangnick...hadn't heard much about him myself but his stats look good....again health issues would be a concern..

What would people's thoughts be on someone "left field" like this? Like the wolves situation maybe?

DI MATTEO!!!!

We'll all totally be behind him and Villa Park will become a fortress again. AVFC FTW

No they wouldn't he isn't that good. League form hasn't been that impressive, plus the chelsea "in boys" like him so will play for him. Think he would get walked over.

I've got that song from The Wizard of Oz stuck in my head: "Hey ho the Witch is dead, hey ho the wicked witch is dead..."

For some reason.

DITO

He really is deluded.