markavfc40

There is something seriously amiss here that we have fans thinking that Lambert, Rodgers, Martinez, Adkins wouldn’t want to come to us. I am not saying they are wrong in thinking that but what has happened to our mentality that we should be thinking like that. No disrespect to the likes of Norwich, Swansea, Wigan and Southampton but when Aston Villa come calling you should be willing to walk to VP to sign on the dotted line. As stated previously if we can’t get a manager from a club like that then we are either not being ruthless enough in pursuing them or we are not doing a very good sales pitch. Regardless of the turmoil of the last couple of seasons Aston Villa is still one of the biggest clubs in this country with a fantastic history, great stadium, some of the best training facilities around and a large and passionate fan base who with the right manager and a little bit of hope will back the club. It should not be a difficult sell to the vast majority of managers for Lerner and Faulkner. If it is proving difficult then they are doing something seriously wrong.

Yes you don't do that and then say They are really milking this aren't they. Its been a cracking bit of publiity for Molde off the back of us and has ultimatey shown them in a good light having kept there man regardless of whether we actaully ever wanted him.

If it was a two horse race between those two then in all fairness he always was the better choice. Yes there was the excitement of the slight unknown about Ole and a 45 minute youtube video that showed him in a good light but aside from that Lambert wins hands down. What he has achieved at Norwich the last there years with in a very, very tight budget is nothing short of remarkable. Two back to back promotions and a very credible Premiership finish whilst playing a nice brand of football. At 42 he is the right age, comes across as highly ambitious with a winners mentality, gives the impression he stands no **** about and would for me instantly command the respect of the players. He would be the perfect fit for us. If we haven’t approached him then serious questions need to be asked of Lerner and Faulkner.

With Solskjaer now out of the frame it is time to move on. I don't personally think he was ever first choice and was never more than a back up and I am hoping that he was made aware that we had got our first choice and then stated family reasons for pulling out to save a little face and so he could tide things over with Molde. If that is the case then we should make an appointment in the next few days. My worry is if this drags on then it means we are again struggling to get who we want and will again end up with a second rate manager. I personally want Lambert and always have but I have a feeling it is a non starter. If we simply haven't bothered to approach him then that for me is a mistake. I still believe Aston Villa should be any easy sell to apart from the very top class managers. To a Lambert, Rodgers, Martinez etc given the clubs they currently manage when Aston Villa come calling it should simply be a case of where do I sign. If that isn't the case then Lerner/Faulkners sales pitch cannot be going down well. This next managerial appointment was always going to tell us a lot about where Randy now wants to take this club. To either stagnate around mid to lower table happy to survive or to again try to kick on and get back up amongst the top half dozen clubs in this country. There is no point crying over Solskjaer until we know who the manager is. I wouldn't write off Lerner pulling a rabbit out of the hat that we'll be happy with, can believe in and see taking us forward. I also wouldn't rule out a McCarthy, Bruce or Kev Mac. By the law of averages he is due the former. Interesting days ahead.

and we do know.

It has about as many legs as a snake mate.

Mike its easy done but I think we are starting to over scrutinise everything. A journalist throws a question at him and he says it will be discussed in what would be a scheduled press conference after training tomorrow as Molde have a game coming up. It seems a fair enough reply to me. He was also never offered the job.

It actually takes relatively little to bring someones odds down. Skybet initially went way out at 28/1 compared to the rest of the market anyway who all went out to about 8/1.

That sounds plausible, but if that is the case, why the hell didn't we offer it to him!? I'm hoping that its because Plan A has given us the nod. I don't think Solskjaer was ever anything more than a back up plan.

Suggests Solskjaer was never more than a plan B and that they have had a positive response from plan A. If we make an appointment in the next couple of days it would seem that is the case.

Lambert was always way ahead as my number one choice but I'd have been happy with Ole as a back up plan. With him out the running I hope we now get Lambert as otherwise it could be another **** up appointment.

:shock: wtf if the jury is still out on Lambert then it hasn't even been selected for Solskjaer. I have no problem if it is to be Solskjaer but if it comes down to managerial experience then Lambert is way ahead. Just in his 3 seasons at Norwich he has 2 promotions and a credible Prem finish with a newly promoted club whilst playing good football and spending relatively very little.

Bee Gees not really my cup of tea but you can't help but acknowledge and admire how gifted they were. RIP

Have you seen Norwich play the last couple of seasons? Lambert doesn't play hoof ball. I was at Carrow Road last week where like for much of this season they played some nice stuff. 3000 of us Villa were suitably impressed and singing Lamberts name.

Richard is spot on. Lambert is the ideal choice for where we are at now. If it is to be Solskjaer so be it I'll back him but if he isn't backed with some hefty funds by Randy then I have a feeling it could go tits up very quickly and we'll be in the same kind of crap we were in this season and for the majority of the previous one.

I don't care if the next manager is 20 years old or 90 if they preside over a relegation season then they will rightfully be sacked. You can't excuse failure no matter how old someone is. If they aren't ready for the job due to a lack of experience then don't employ them but don't use it as an excuse for failure.

I do think Villa have researchers that will be scanning the major forums and other media. I recall when it was suggested we were seriously looking into Steve McLaren last season and within hours almost of complete fan uproar on the forums the club officially acknowledged he was no longer a target.. Now I doubt McLaren turned us down, I think it was a case of the fans have spoken.. Nice theory. Not sure the appointment of McLeish would back it up though.

OGS was possible last week. Just nobody considered a guy for manager of Aston Villa whose senior managerial experience ran to 12 months managing in a second rate league.

Excellent post Richard. The board choosing a decent manager is only half the job. If we are to get any higher than lower to mid table, which can never be good enough for Aston Villa, then he'll need to be backed. Good will and an air of positivity around the club will only last for so long if we were hovering around 10-15th.

It seems that way. If you had asked me on Thursday morning do I want a manager whose managerial experience ran to managing in a piss poor Norwegian league for a year to be manager of Aston Villa like most of us I'd have laughed at you and told you to **** off. Now I stand to win a nice few quid I have to say the idea has grown on me surprisingly quickly although still not clouded my judgement totally. Was Solskjaer mentioned by even one supporter before Thursday I wonder

Pretty much this for me. Lambert was my first choice of realistic candidates on Thursday morning and the fact that since then I stand to win a few quid on Solskjaer becoming manager is not going to cloud my judgement.

Bayern only have themselves to blame. They were passing for passings sake at times and trying to walk the ball in. Then when they did finally shoot the shots were woeful. Really wanted Chelsea to lose but even during pens when they were behind I just had a feeling the **** would win. One less club we can sing have you won the European Cup at then.

**** me its hardly speculation is it. If Solskjaer doesn't get the job I doubt anyone else is likely to be interested in a guy whose first team experience is 30 odd games in a league the standard of which is the equivalent to the Championship/League 1 in this country. One things for sure if we are to compete for at least a top 10 finish next season we need to be looking at better quality than this. Promising young midfielders is something we don't lack.

Given the amount of money VTers have on a certain Norwegian I'd say its pretty pointless.

If he is willing to talk to us then we'd be **** bonkers not to. The guy has done an unbelievable job at Norwich for 3 years. I just don't see that Norwich will let us speak with him though.