Etxeberria

Id have him over petrov any day, he does everything petrov does only better. The trouble is he doesnt really do anything petrov doesnt do either, so id like to see a NRC/Parker type player alongside him, i think that would be a nice balance. Its like 4 lyon, he was always decent when playing alongside toulalan in midfield, but was bad when playing instead of him

i think the key word in the opening post is 'currently', and based on this i dont see how any1 could vote yes. The first 4 years were great, yes, but the last 12 months have been so shambolic that its almost deemed them as pointless, as it now feels as though we're pretty much back 2 where we were for the majority of the ellis reign - showing no real direction or ambition and looking forward 2 finishing anywhere from 6th-17th. I would like to believe this is just a blip, but unfortunately the whole vibe coming out of the club suggests otherwise. I know that lerner is a level above ellis as a chairman and all that, but football has moved on so much in the last few years that hes had to be. When put into context with how football has evolved though i dont think we are currently a great deal better off than he arrived, at least in terms of what we can look forward to on the pitch anyway. Ellis sold us just in time before he relegated us. I hope that, if we have another 12 months like the past 12, or if this does turn out 2 be more than just a blip, that lerner will manage to do the same.

This whole deal stinks... McLeishs appointment goes completely against the reasons we apparently discounted much more suitable candidates such as Hughes and McLaren. It goes completely against the apparent change of direction we were supposed 2 taking with our last appointment and our apparent first choice this time. It goes completely against the supposed ambition of our board that we seem to place premier league experience of higher importance than actual success, especially when that premier league experience has resulted in undoubted failure. And most of all it goes against the fan friendly, family club image the board have spent 5 years pushing. Is Randy friends with McLeish and has just promised his mate a job? Has McLeish offered his services on the cheap? Is Randy just trying 2 piss off the fans or the blues board? Has the typical chairman disease taken over and finally given him an ego? Or is he just bored and wants to create some controversy? Whatever it is, Randy must have an intensely personal reason to not see what every villa fan can see, and to risk undoing 5 years of hard work and investment. And its that suspicion of this being in Randys interest more than that of the club that just doesn't hang right. I mean from a football perspective it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. What we desperately need once he's appointed is for a statement from Lerner himself, explaining exactly what the hell has happened these last few weeks, to try and help us make sense of it. We need answers regarding all the contradictions this appointment has created, and details regarding what the hell our ambitions are now going forward, as its pretty clear now we aren't going to reach the heights we expected under this board. But I won't hold my breath, no doubt it'll just be the usual vague, meaningless, corporate drivel about mcleish sharing the vision of the bright future. The bright future that has now all but been extinguished by this either naive, vain, or just simply unambitious appointment. On a brighter personal note though, marcelo bielsa is hotly tipped 2 become the new manager of my other team, Athletic Bilbao. At least that's one possible exciting appointment 2 look forward to. It's a shame villa couldn't show the same ambition.

i agree that sven wouldnt be a bad choice, he did a good job at city, signed some good players, gave youngsters a chance, played good football, and would come 2 us. I doubt we could get anyone else with his record and pedigree. My only reservation is his uninspiring international record, and the fact most of his success came when he was being backed with money, makes me wonder if hes the best man if we are operating on a budget. Certainly better than most of the names we are linked with though.