villaglint

To be fair Gazton MM has pointed the finger at the likes of Collins, Warnock, Dunne several times on this site.

You have stated several times that MM is ITK so the rest of us are putting 2+2 together

A few bookies have taken it down

Paddypower, betVictor, ToteSport, SportingBet, Bwin, 188Bet,

Sign something could happen soon?

Or is there another reason for this I cant think of?

I"ve said it before, and I say it again.

Guus Hiddink for manager.

Great manager but he had recently taken job at Anzi in Russia one of richest clubs in world.

YankeeinMadrid is an ITK and said we had approached Benitez.

I would see it as a long shot that we could get him. In my opinion this would be a fantastic appointment.

He may not be an open attacking manager but he knows how to win games and that is good enough for me.

It is actually quite dangerous to play in a very open attacking way if you haven't got the players to do it. That's why Wigan are always down the bottom because they lose so many games. Same for Blackpool the year before.

In contrast to AM who seemed to think a managers job was just to gee up the players Benitez is tactically brilliant and individually has a large effect on games.

If FSG dont want him at Plop then I cant see how he can get a bigger job than us in England. He clearly still wants to manage here but is waiting for the right time. Didn't want to do it last year and be on a hiding to nothing like AM.

If Randy shows he can invest to at least get us challenging for Europe if not CL then it might, might be enough to tempt him.

I think the antipathy towards Di Matteo stems from the fact that his achievements have been based more on unifying a discontented and under-achieveing squad rather than instilling a football philosophy and style of play. That's not to denigrate what he has done. He deserves a huge amount of credit for having managed to do that and win the ultimate prize to boot. He could do well at Villa, who knows? But the set of circumstances and the requirements are totally different to those he found at Chelsea. Basically, by pandering to the egos of the likes of Terry, Lampard and Drogba he got them to play to the best of their abilities again but that doesn't mean that AVB had incorrectly assessed what was required at Chelsea, he just went about it in the wrong fashion.

My choice for the Villa job would be Bielsa. He has done a truly incredible job at Athletic. He managed to instill a style of play that blended the passing game of Barça with a high tempo verve more reminiscent of the Premiership in matter of a few months. This was, of course, achieved without being able to go out and make wholesale changes to the team by signing new players due to the restriction of only being able to play Basque born players. they have been a joy to watch this season.

He may not fit the bill as a young energetic coach, but who cares?

Bielsa wouldn't certainly fit the bill as an exciting choice but isn't going to happen.

Balague has already discussed how Bielsa wont work in a non spanish speaking country because most of his method is based on meticulous communication with his players

When they unveil Oyvind Leonhardsen tomorrow at least I can say that I was close :winkold:

Trees your doing a sterling job - I for one wont hang you if thats the case. You have to take these things in the spirit in which their intended.

I have to ask - any reason you think there will be a press conference tomorrow. Seems odd to put these kinds of wheels in motion before they have even met the guy.

I think the current scenario is this.

He is being interviewed.

Villa end is obviously keen and he is obviously keen. Both putting in effort to make this happen.

Others could also be being interviewed, people already based in UK or not requiring jets. In fact I would bloody hope so.

Excitement on here relates to people hoping their bets come in.

It's still early stages in my book.

After the farce of last year and I am going to try and keep a stead hand this year.

....... I got in on OSG at 33/1!

I for one would be excited by Klinsmann - feels unlikely to me but I do seem to remember a rumour of his being friends with Randy.

No idea whether he would be successful or not but he certainly got the Germans playing good football. And they were in a bad place when he took over.

Ive said it before - Makoun, Ireland and N'Zogbia in the same midfield as someone like Diame would be a really good midfield imo. With Bent up top and maybe Holman on the right.

Like this?

Holman ------- Bent ---- N'Zogbia

-------- Makoun --- Ireland -------

--------------- Diame --------------

Warnock - Clark - Dunne - Lichaj

---------------- Given --------------

If Martinez was in charge, this could be a formation he'd play. I've put Holman left wing because I think Martinez preferred Zog on the right.

This could be interesting

Except with a very different defense. After everything that has happened this year it would be pretty upsetting to see Warnock as our starting full back next year.

When he scored that og I have never been so clear that a player was trying to ruin us from the inside.

Just putting this out there.

I've got a bit of a feeling that Ireland would be better suited in a more traditional CM role than the "in the hole" role we mostly deploy him in.

After Stan got injured I thought he did really well playing CM in the couple of games he had there and showed that he has the work rate and tackling ability to not get rolled over in this position.

I see him as closer to Raul Meireles than David Silva. He his great on the ball and has terrific passing but he doesn't have that little burst of pace to beat a man create some space and play the killer ball.

You see Silva and Mata doing this all the time and I think its critical to playing in that roaming position.

I would like to see Ireland in CM with a real destroyer next to him (Diame?) and somebody with a bit more of a cutting edge ahead of him (Someone like Keane? or Sigurdsson if we could afford him?). Possibly even N'Zogbia if he can get sharp - it was off the front man where he had most of his success at Wigan.

This way Ireland can helps us maintain possession (something which we have really really struggled to do this year. Whilst playing the odd killer ball and making the odd late run into the box.

So (with the players at our disposal presently) something akin to...

Albrighton Ireland  Herd   Holman

          N'Zogbia

                 Bent

You'd have Herd competing in the air and putting in the bulk of the grunt work, with Ireland on occasional mop-up duty but primarily used to retain possession and move the ball around. Give Holman the entirety of the left flank to run up and down (by all accounts he has the engine for it) with N'Zogbia providing movement and an outlet for Ireland and also having enough space on the right to run at defenders.

N'Zogbia's forays across and into the right channel could also allow Albrighton to sit back and play crosses in from a bit deeper, alleviating him of the pressure of trying to take on defenders and perhaps allowing him to find his range a bit better and rebuild some of that confidence from his first season.

Yeah - although I would be loath to go into another season relying on Marc Albrighton as our 1st choice winger. We have already set his career back several years by throwing him in too often too soon.

With our current players I would rather give Carruthers a go there.

Just putting this out there.

I've got a bit of a feeling that Ireland would be better suited in a more traditional CM role than the "in the hole" role we mostly deploy him in.

After Stan got injured I thought he did really well playing CM in the couple of games he had there and showed that he has the work rate and tackling ability to not get rolled over in this position.

I see him as closer to Raul Meireles than David Silva. He his great on the ball and has terrific passing but he doesn't have that little burst of pace to beat a man create some space and play the killer ball.

You see Silva and Mata doing this all the time and I think its critical to playing in that roaming position.

I would like to see Ireland in CM with a real destroyer next to him (Diame?) and somebody with a bit more of a cutting edge ahead of him (Someone like Keane? or Sigurdsson if we could afford him?). Possibly even N'Zogbia if he can get sharp - it was off the front man where he had most of his success at Wigan.

This way Ireland can helps us maintain possession (something which we have really really struggled to do this year. Whilst playing the odd killer ball and making the odd late run into the box.

My Short list

(may not be gettable but I'm hoping were a more attractive proposition that last year, with a few of the dead wood big earners gone. And I hope Randy will invest)

1 - Moyes

2 - Benitez

3 - Hiddink

4 - Lambert

5 - Martinez

6 - Poyet

I'll be happy with someone who at least attempts to win the games.

Well Hallebloodylujah!

Just hope hope hope that we have someone lined up - we seem to be lurching from one farce to another ever since MON left.

Also I would be surprised if it was Lambert or Martinez - we never seem to go for the obvious option.

I mean who would have guessed Houllier and the bloke who just got our Arch rivals relegated.

On AM nice bloke and all but his record speaks for itself he cant have any complaints.

The fact we got fewer points than the Blues did last season would make me cry if I wasn't a bloke and incapable of doing so.

is very good!

I think Daniel Johnson's decision making and general technique. Be interesting to see whether he can cope with the physicality of the Prem.

Hope he does get a chance at some stage though we have a ton of promising CM's.

The media are very confused. They lead with headlines like "Hutton blow for Villa" then they go on to say he won't be playing for us. Which is it?

Excellent

Would take Guthrie for sure but not the other two.

Guthrie is a solid premier league player who is good on ball - exactly what our midfield has lacked at times.

I take the point about him stifling someone like Gardner however we have seen this season that we need some experience around these kids. If we plan to rely on them on mass again we will get relegated for sure.

In any event I see Guthrie as a bigger threat to Herd than Gardner different types of players.

On Leon Best I would not see him as a positive addition to first team. Don;'t see him as an improvement to Gabby/Wiemann for example.

On Danny Simpson a player I like but unless we are selling Hutton (please god, please) then what's the point when we have Lichaj as decent cover.

Don't know why a few people are having a go at Gardner.

For me he played well last night. Did a huge amount of tracking throughout the game and was involved in almost every chance we had.

Great pass for Carruthers chance.

In right place for biggest chance of game (though granted it was a shocking miss)

Nearly won it with a header in last minute from a corner.

As someone said its partly because of the super hype up he got that he was never going to fulfil it. People were expecting a Rooney and he is really not that type of player.

He is a physically powerful, good all rounder with a rocket of a shot. Which means he is a solid midfielder who will pick up some goals throughout a season. Those types of players are pretty rare and very valuable.

Have every hope that he will become a big player for us.

Right at this minute though I have to say I think Carruthers is the closest to making an impact at first team level. He really is maturing very nicely.

Looks to me to be the closest thing we have to a Silva/Mata type player, able to beat a man and also find a good pass. Also looks physically capable to mix it with the big boys and most importantly seems to have the confidence in himself to do it.

Be interesting to see how he develops next year.

Bannan is frustrating the hell out of me right now - played well in patches last night but he really needs to put a higher price on possession. Gives it away far too much playing the hollywood passes when he really should be a Xavi type player who dictates games and never, ever, ever gives it away.

Longer term I am very excited by Jordan Graham as talented a prospect as I've seen.

So close to getting it right...

Can't say Grealish doesn't deserve it though.

Come on lads!!

I really dont know what the board are going to do -

On the one hand I think they knew it would be a tough year and were mentally prepared to ride it out with McLeish.

However the football has been that bad that they must be thinking twice about whether AM is the man. He really seems to have little clue about how to dominate a win a football match. The idea of going 2 ahead in a game seems completely alien to him - we have dropped something like 20 points from winning positions this year.

One thing I will say is that by this time next week we will know for sure.

After the Norwich game is gone they will either get rid and move on the Plan B we all hope has been worked on the last few weeks OR they will come out and back him and we will all spend a whole summer crying into our beers.

Guzan

Carlos (sadly)

Heskey (finally)

Collins

Warnock

Delfoneso (never going to make it here so time for him to try and make a career somewhere)

Makoun (if AM stays)

Possibly Petrov depending on what is happening with him

Plus 3 nippers

So can quite easily be done as long as we find buyers for players which will cost a bit in Collins, Warnock and Makoun. Maybe get £8m for the lot??

Plus £20m investment from Randy?? Might be a bit hopeful

Leaving us needing

A cheapy reserve GK - Freeby no idea who

1 new CB to play alongside Dunne with Clark and Baker as first choice reserves. (Will spend some money here I think maybe that Douglas guy £6m?)

A new LB - ??

2 new CM - Heard a lot of Guthrie rumours on free and one for some money ??

A new CF - ??

Personally think we need another wide player in addition to Holman.

Wiziwig says there will be a couple of stations showing the game! Yey!

Gardner on twitter saying he's playing so I think we'll put out a strong side.

Likes of Bannan, Carruthers, Baker, Delfouneso probably wouldn't have started against Norwich anyway. Weimann injured unfortunately.

I'd go

---------------Siegrist------------------

Webb-------Williams ----Baker ---Stevens

-----------Bannan ----Johnson----------

-----------------Gardner-----------------

Carruthers ----------------- Cameron

----------------Drennan----------------

Might seem ridiculous to leave Delfounso out but I cant remember the last time I saw him play well and Mickey deserves to start has been banging them in of late too.

Tough on Burke also but I like Cameron's pace and delivery from left. Also got Grealish and Jordan Graham on bench to terrorise if we have too.

Hopefully with United chasing the title the likes of Smalling, Jones, Cleverly will be out.

Anyone know if the game is on anywhere? Only audio commentary on AVTV.

CI you have to be the same person as Sir Gary Cahill ??

Genuine question !