Confirmed: Houllier is the new Villa manager

[villanesque]

I don't mean Hiddink as such, just saying that with a man renowned as a football Mr Fixit in Harris then it seems we're looking at someone that we, as a supporters, think we've no chance of getting. Did anyone think that we'd get MON at the time? And wasn't Harris instrumental in getting Randy? And I'd say MON too?

So I think that we will be very nicely surprised by who we get in. And the 2 weeks break is perfect for a number of reasons. IF it is a man currently working for a federation then it allows him to contractually abide by the next 2 internationals and if it is a man currently at a club (and I believe it's one of these 2 options otherwise why involve Harris?) then he has a break to allow us to deal with the other club properly AND allow them a period to search for a replacement.

Interesting theory. Oh how I wish to be nicely surprised. So that's it. Until more details emerge I'm adopting your theory. A man has to believe in something, right? Right now I'll pray at the altar of Hopeful Nice Surprise. The theory of having a major power broker getting us hooked up with a quality manager puts a smile on my face. UTV!

[legov]

Thank god for the international break!

[MrDuck]

Thank god for the international break!

Now there's six words you rarely hear together in the same sentence.

[JAMAICAN-VILLAN]

I think we should at least try to get one or two players in on loan, if we get a couple of injuries we are utterly screwed, we need a left back/ midfielder and another striker at least i feel. Even if its just stop gap until Jan.

[jacketspuds]

I think we should at least try to get one or two players in on loan, if we get a couple of injuries we are utterly screwed, we need a left back/ midfielder and another striker at least i feel. Even if its just stop gap until Jan.

Definitely. We already have an injury to Ireland and Carew will always have his back associated injuries so a CM & ST would be ideal. Heskey just doesn't suit our style of play and a striker, even on loan, would be an excellent addition to our squad.

We don't have enough players as it is to make up a 25 man squad and I hope that although we don't have a manager the board are taking KM's recommendations on board before the window closes.

[Pilchard]

Randy was sat next to Keith Harris at the game. Now I think Harris has some major contacts within the game which suggests to me that whoever Villa go for Harris will be involved in the negotiations, whether they be with the managers current club or football association. Which in turn makes me think that it won't be the likes of Southgate, Brown etc. as surely Randy wouldn't need a major player in the world of agents and negotiations as Harris if he was approaching the Roy Keanes, Gareth Southgates or even the Gerard Houlliers of the world?

I think it'll be someone we'll be very pleasantly surprised over. Maybe a Hiddink?

Harris is a friend of Randy's - I'm led to believe he was there for purely personal reasons.

[Adam2003]

Pardew just left Southampton.

Sure it would provoke outrage on here but I quite like Pardew.

I'd prefer Hiddink obviously!

[thetrees]

Sure it would provoke outrage on here but I quite like Pardew.

No outrage.

You are quite at liberty to quite like Pardew :winkold:

[Moorski]

Pardew has been sacked as Southampton are only 14th in League 1, He has no chance of getting the job.

We are looking at higher calibre Managers than him.

[Ballybunion_Ice]

Just stuck 20 on Steve McLaren.

[C4rvillan]

Your silly then.

[dudley_villa]

Sven with roy kean as assistant...

[Cracker1234]

I could NEVER see that working.

[terrytini]

Well at least their criteria appears to rule out Mac and see the need for a Top Class Manager.

Thank God !

I for one will be happy with anybody (except Southgate for historical reasons associated with this Club) that they choose given those criteria, don't understand peoples not happy with Sven, or Curbishley, or Houllier, or anyone. They all have good points and bad points, and as long as the Board apply the criteria they've stated that's all we can ask for.

[lmarsha_926]

At least now any manager will have time to look at our sqaud and then decide in January who we might need. The Right manager is more important than signings right

[MCU]

Sven please.

[lmarsha_926]

Odds have changed again on Sky Bet.

Eriksson S 3/1

Curbishley A 5/1

Houillier G 5/1

Macdonald K 6/1

Southgate G 8/1

Jol M 10/1

Zola G 12/1

McClaren S 14/1

Bradley B 16/1

Keane R 20/1

Pardew A 20/1

Jones D 25/1

McLeish A 25/1

Koeman, R. 25/1

Klinsmann J 25/1

[Foxy1]

Houllier has shortened significantly

Poss director of football with KMac as day to day manager?

[dudley_villa]

Bookie Offers

153105805

Sort By:

Fav Name

5.00 Sven Goran Eriksson Sven Goran Eriksson 3 7/2 4 10/3 7/2 3 27/10

6.00 Gerard Houllier Gerard Houllier 5 10 22/5

7.00 Kevin Macdonald Kevin Macdonald 6 5 11/4 9/4 4 26/5 27/10

17.00 Bob Bradley Bob Bradley 16 10 7 9 9 31/2 9

21.00 Gareth Southgate Gareth Southgate 8 10 12 20 10 16 39/5

21.00 Martin Jol Martin Jol 10 16 20 12 16 21 18

21.00 Ottmar Hitzfeld Ottmar Hitzfeld 10 14 20 69 41

21.00 Steve Nicol Steve Nicol 20

26.00 Alan Curbishley Alan Curbishley 5 6 12 25 8 11 8

26.00 Gianfranco Zola Gianfranco Zola 12 20 20 9 25 28 35/2

26.00 Phil Brown Phil Brown 25 10 20 37

26.00 Ronald Koeman Ronald Koeman 25 16 14 10 10 43 35/2

26.00 Jurgen Klinsmann Jurgen Klinsmann 25 12 8 10 10 43 25

26.00 Lee Clark Lee Clark 25 399 369

26.00 Bora Milutinovic Bora Milutinovic 25

34.00 Steve McClaren Steve McClaren 14 25 33 18 25 33 19

34.00 Sam Allardyce Sam Allardyce 33 33 33 25 25 54

34.00 Paul Jewell Paul Jewell 33 74 67

34.00 Paul Lambert Paul Lambert 33 10 10 11 74 44

34.00 Roy Keane Roy Keane 20 25 33 25 25 199

34.00 Stuart Baxter Stuart Baxter 33 999 964

34.00 Peter Reid Peter Reid 33

41.00 Slaven Bilic Slaven Bilic 40 28 33 20 25 79 19

41.00 Manuel Pelligrini Manuel Pelligrini 40 109 61

41.00 Tony Pulis Tony Pulis 40 40 20 139

51.00 Glenn Hoddle Glenn Hoddle 33 33 50 25 25 19 49

51.00 Billy Davies Billy Davies 50 25 50 25 199 187

51.00 Roberto Di Matteo Roberto Di Matteo 50 25 199 187

51.00 Guus Hiddink Guus Hiddink 50 33 199 48

51.00 Diego Maradona Diego Maradona 50 40 40 40 249

51.00 Steve Clarke Steve Clarke 40 40 50

51.00 Dean Saunders Dean Saunders 50

51.00 Harry Redknapp Harry Redknapp 50

51.00 Roberto Martinez Roberto Martinez 50 25

67.00 Alex McLeish Alex McLeish 25 25 66 16 54

67.00 Kevin Keegan Kevin Keegan 66 50 50 69 26

67.00 David Moyes David Moyes 33 33 66 74 57

67.00 Tony Mowbray Tony Mowbray 66 33 66 25 109 61

67.00 Walter Smith Walter Smith 50 66 199 187

67.00 Bruce Arena Bruce Arena 66 25 25 199 187

67.00 Simon Grayson Simon Grayson 66 33 50 25 25 199 153

67.00 Ian Holloway Ian Holloway 66 25 199

67.00 Sean O Driscoll Sean O Driscoll 66 33 499 469

67.00 John Toshack John Toshack 66

67.00 Frank Rijkaard Frank Rijkaard 66 40 40

67.00 David Platt David Platt 66 33 25

67.00 John Robertson John Robertson 66 33

67.00 Steve Bruce Steve Bruce 66 50 33 25

81.00 Dave Jones Dave Jones 25 33 80 25 49 40

81.00 Stuart Pearce Stuart Pearce 66 16 80 33 25 99

81.00 David OLeary David OLeary 66 80 50 19

81.00 Fabio Capello Fabio Capello 80

81.00 Martin Laursen Martin Laursen 80

81.00 Gary Megson Gary Megson 80

81.00 Nigel Clough Nigel Clough 80

81.00 Alan Pardew Alan Pardew 20 80 33 25

81.00 Gus Poyet Gus Poyet 80

81.00 Tony Adams Tony Adams 80

101.00 Terry Venables Terry Venables 66 33 100 33 25 54 44/5

101.00 Alan Shearer Alan Shearer 100 66 74

101.00 Steve Coppell Steve Coppell 100 50 149

101.00 Mark Hughes Mark Hughes 100 50 25 169

101.00 Peter Withe Peter Withe 100 999

101.00 Brian Little Brian Little 66 100 66

101.00 Mark Bosnich Mark Bosnich 100

101.00 Dr Josef Venglos Dr Josef Venglos 100

101.00 George Graham George Graham 100

101.00 Andy Gray Andy Gray 100

101.00 Paul Merson Paul Merson 100 100

126.00 Ron Atkinson Ron Atkinson 100 125 100 19

151.00 Steve Staunton Steve Staunton 66 150 100 66 199

151.00 Dion Dublin Dion Dublin 66 100 150 100 999 949

151.00 John Gregory John Gregory 150 100 100 66

251.00 Stan Collymore Stan Collymore 250 100

501.00 Tony Morley Tony Morley 500

9999.00 Carlos Queiroz Carlos Queiroz 69

9999.00 Ruud Gullitt Ruud Gullitt 84 61

9999.00 Gordon Strachan Gordon Strachan 199

9999.00 Fatih Terim Fatih Terim 199

9999.00 Roberto Donadoni Roberto Donadoni 199 187

9999.00 Claudio Ranieri Claudio Ranieri 199 181

9999.00 Paul Le Guen Paul Le Guen 199 187

9999.00 Paul Ince Paul Ince 199 187

9999.00 Javier Aguirre Javier Aguirre 199 187

9999.00 Juande Ramos Juande Ramos 299 254

9999.00 Leonardo Leonardo 309

9999.00 Paulo Sousa Paulo Sousa 499 464

9999.00 Bryan Robson Bryan Robson 599

9999.00 Iain Dowie Iain Dowie 599 534

9999.00 Ralf Rangnick Ralf Rangnick 999

9999.00 Brian McDermott Brian McDermott 999 949

9999.00 Chris Coleman Chris Coleman 999 949

9999.00 John Collins John Collins 999 964

9999.00 Alberto Malesani Alberto Malesani 999 964

9999.00 Danny Murphy Danny Murphy 999

9999.00 Billy McKinlay Billy McKinlay 999 929

9999.00 Ray Lewington Ray Lewington 999

All OddsBest OddsExchangesSpreads Odds shown come direct from online bookmakers. Please check all aspects of your bets before placement.

[Rainy]

Whilst having the usual Villa mangers discussion yesterday,it came to mind that with their being a shortage of good candidates around. I started thinking that we need an experienced head to come in and knows the club inside out.

Thats when Big Ron came to mind! He could come in with a young coach and help steady the ship. You've then got the option of handing over to a young coach groomed by Ron,who could then maybe move onto the board? Or,just take over for a year to look for a quality replacement.

Ron would probably increase the attendances too.

Thoughts please!