RMB

I could live with anyone from the list at the top bar Poyet who is not ready yet.

Just because we have been given permission to talk to him doesn't even mean he is one of our top targets. I imagine that Rafa was interviewed but rejected as well as others. Martinez may interview poorly and put Randy and Paul Faulkner off.

Because Bent wants Ancelotti?

It's a smoke screen!!!!

If Ancelotti rejects us, rijkaard thinks we aren't a big enough team and Moyes decided he wanted to stay at Everton, who would your next choice be?

Speak for youself, if not Moyes or Ancelotti then I'd say Rafa is perhaps the best of the rest. Agree. I think it is more a personal thing with Rafa for some people which is preventing facts being the basis of their judgement.

I think you're right but if McClaren loses a couples of games, the reaction will be appalling (worse than Houllier). They'd be mad to appoint him on that basis. We need someone to unite us and McClaren would have to get off to a Gregory-esque start to get tolerance. Today it's looking like Rafa's. Tomorrow who will it be? True but it shouldn't be like that. We are too quick to get on peopoles backs and it wouldn't help the team at all.

I know I'm in the minority but I wouldn't mind Mclaren. I'd get behind any manager right from the start though, its not going to do any good being on the managers back from the start is it?

Oh yes there is a god! Wear your best suit steve,Good luck at the interview mate Why are you talking in the third person Steve?

It's amazing how nobody has ANY idea who it could be. You could potentially say it will be one of about 15 people. Villa have done well to keep it all quiet, wonder how long they can keep it all quiet and whether they will just pop up and surprise us with an announcement. This is assuming Randy, Faulkner and the General aren't sat in Randy's mansion playing Aston Villa monopoly drinking soda.

Still have a feeling that Ancelotti isn't over just yet.

Worst lunch break ever

Do you realise Carlo, just how big a legend you could potentially become at a large English club if you just make this right decision?

Not at all. Clubs bid for players its the way of the world I've no issue with that or with you coming on here to tell us that is supposed to be the case in relation to Liverpool and Downing. What pisses me off is the underlying arrogance in the idea we might be bullied into selling for such a crap price and at a time when we've not got a manager. I think its a fairly safe assumption that we won't sell in our current circumstances. Nicely put Under Ellis it wouldn't have surprised me. Under Randy... not a cat in hells chance. If you think Randy is going to sell Downing before a new manager can come in and try to convince him to stay you are wrong imo.

Neither Ash nor Downing will be leaving until we have a new manager in place.

I would love Laursen to be involved in the set up in some form, just not as assistant manager yet.

Ancelotti hasn't really had out and out wingers in his time at Chelsea. What is his record like with wingers before Chelsea?

Moyes or Carlo and I'll be happy. I think they are both getable too.

Are we talking it WILL be Moyes, or just he is a target?

I have it on very good authority from a major source within the Senior management at AVFC that Moustapha Salifou is closing in becoming the new Aston Villa first team coach with Isaiah Osbourne becoming Assistant Manager and John Carew to take over as fitness coach. My source informs me that this only been made possible due to a scheme through the job centre which helps unemployed people find work and thus a major part of their salaries will be paid through the job centre. Edit: When questioned Moustapha Salifou declined to comment on the news.

Now it seems unlikely we'll get Hughes I feel like I want him more.

I am taking a 5 minute break from Villa talk to refrain from getting square eyes.

No idea if this is the Pete Colley off Sky Sports but this made me laugh on his twitter,

I had a dream that McClaren rang me up and said he was the new manager and asked me to be at training or 7.30pm Sunday night down the local astro turf.

Edit: Duhhhhhh