Confirmed: Houllier is the new Villa manager

[Jez]

"I've seen one or two players that I think might make the club better, but whether we can go and do anything about that, nothing has been said.

"With two days left after Sunday (until the transfer window shuts), a lot can happen in those 48 hours as you saw last year when we signed Richard Dunne, James Collins and Stephen Warnock within the last couple of days.

"The timescale isn't a big issue I don't think."

Interesting stuff from K Mac :shock:

Yeah he said something about transfers on BBC WM Radio as well, the other day.

"Nothing has been said".

Hardly sounds promising.

KM hasn't even applied for the job and has said he won't decide whether to apply for it or not until after Sunday.

KM has been told to prepare the team for football matches, nothing more, while the club works on appointing a new manager. It appears KM isn't sure if he even wants to be considered for the job.

Of course the club is in a bit of limbo right now, but I'd prefer if the board took the time to make a considered and proper appointment. Whether that happens before or after the deadline is not a concern to me. But if KM is waiting until the day before the deadline before he even applies for the job, he can't really complain if he's not in a position to buy players.

[GaztonVilla]

"Nothing has been said".

Hardly sounds promising.

Of course nothing's been said, he hasn't decided if he wants the job or not.. If he'd applied for the job last week I'm sure something would have been said by now.

[Cracker1234]

I wonder how long it will be before GingerCollins shows his face.....weeks? months?

[tismyk]

Hey Guys

Just bin speaking to a well known football agent in my village. Hes heard a lot of rumours and hes fairly sure that the new manager of Villa will have two arms.

Above average manager then.

Ive said too much already. Make of it what you will

I don't claim to be any sort of ITK but just to back up your claim my taxi driver this morning claimed he picked someone up who he described as "having more than one arm".

Don't shoot the messenger.

That is an average passenger.

[TheSufferingVilla]

I find it odd that Gérard Houllier hasn't been mentioned. Regardless of what most people think of the guy he does have considerable credentials, Premiership experience and no job.

[TwirlyDoors]

Hey Guys

Just bin speaking to a well known football agent in my village. Hes heard a lot of rumours and hes fairly sure that the new manager of Villa will have two arms.

Above average manager then.

Ive said too much already. Make of it what you will

I don't claim to be any sort of ITK but just to back up your claim my taxi driver this morning claimed he picked someone up who he described as "having more than one arm".

Don't shoot the messenger.

That is an average passenger.

News from my ITK

Nattaporn Rawango, never heard of him?

Former Thai international Rawango is the shock new name to be linked with the hot seat at Villa Park.

The coach, who previously worked alongside Villa legend Peter Withe, made his mark with Muangthong United, by winning back to back promotions in 2007 and 2008, and then the 2009 Thai Premier League with the un-fancied side.

The move would cause controversy with the unknown, at least in European football, Nattaporn recently fired from Muanthong after undergoing a sex change operation. Rawango would be the first “Ladyboy” manager in the Premiership.

But there are some heavyweight candidates in the background, as the odds shortened on former Charlton and West Ham boss Alan Curbishley.

Curbs was quoted on Skybet at 5-1, with Slaven Bilic at 6-1 and, inevitably, Sven Goran Eriksson at 8-1 along with his old England sidekick Steve McLaren, now coaching Wolfsburg in Germany.

Jurgen Klinsmann is another name in the frame, along with sacked West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola. Further out are Gerrard Houllier, Terry Venables and Stoke boss Tony Pulis.

Intriguingly, two unsettled Championship managers get a mention - Forest's Billy Davies and Dave Jones of Cardiff City, both of whom guided their clubs to the play-offs last season.

Will Randy Lerner pull off a ladyboy coup.

[Demitri_C]

Of course the club is in a bit of limbo right now, but I'd prefer if the board took the time to make a considered and proper appointment. Whether that happens before or after the deadline is not a concern to me. But if KM is waiting until the day before the deadline before he even applies for the job, he can't really complain if he's not in a position to buy players.

what i dont get gaz, is why wait on someone who has no experience to make a decision? its not like its jose mourinho we are approaching. we should be interviewing candidates NOW. have a selection or pool to choose from instead of going for the cheap option without having anyone else in mind

that way if mac didnt want the job we have somone else in line straight after everton game to come in. as now we will have to spend the week interviewing people and it just drags on and on. he owns teh cleveland browns and has had to appoint new people before i dont see why its taken so long to make a decision?

the more i think about it from who is realistic and available i think alan curbishly would be our best bet. he will keep us around where we are at the moment and thats we need

[John]

One potential solution would be to bring in an experienced figurehead to work alongside him, allowing the former Liverpool midfielder to concentrate on coaching, where he is most comfortable, and leave dealing with the media, player recruitment and negotiating contracts in the hands of a director of football

I read something similar to the above (from The Guardian) in The Times today. They named Brian Little as the one who might work alongside him.

[Ulver]

It'll be MacDonald for sure.

[Jordanderve]

Ottmar Hitzfield's name is getting mentioned in alot of places now and his odds are tumbling. I would like to see him named.

[Pilchard]

KM hasn't even applied for the job and has said he won't decide whether to apply for it or not until after Sunday.

KM has been told to prepare the team for football matches, nothing more, while the club works on appointing a new manager. It appears KM isn't sure if he even wants to be considered for the job.

There has been a distinct change of attitude from KM this week. He seems much more willing to take the job, and in fact, has come out and said he wants it. All the talk about it being a 'Great Opportunity' to take for him etc etc. He wants it, he will be offered it, and he'll take it.

It sounds very much like Randy has told him give it a go for a month and see if you like it, if not, then we'll get interviewing people. And that's really disappointing. We need a manager with a proven record, experience in dealing with teams on a tight budget if necessary. Someone who can make changes during games. Someone who takes every game seriously. Doesn't 'rest' players after one game to be repaid with the worst defeat the club has had in years, to then do the same again a week later.

That man doesn't necessarily have to be the first person you look at when O'Neill throws his toys out of his pram.

Still, perhaps this is what you get when you have nobody at the club with a history in football administration.

We'll be searching for a new manager again come May.

[RMB]

I noticed his odds coming down yesterday. Was thinking of whacking 20 in the PaddyPower account in case any more 'ITK' about him came up.

[Cracker1234]

Ottmar Hitzfield's name is getting mentioned in alot of places now and his odds are tumbling. I would like to see him named.

Someone changed his Wikipedia yesterday saying he will be the next Villa manager on the 27th.....I IP Tracked the poster and it came up with:

Country: United Kingdom

State/Region: Hertford

City: Rickmansworth

Not sure who that could be...someone having a laugh no doubt.

[RMB]

The best odds you can get on him now are 28's! Was 67 yesterday I think.

[Richard]

We'll be searching for a new manager again come May.

I think that is being optimistic. I think we'll be looking again come January to be honest and that may very well disrupt that transfer window. D

[Pilchard]

Really - don't bother getting your hopes up about a big name or someone with a record. It'll be MacDonald. I said it when O'Neill went, I just wish I'd put a couple of pounds on it when he was 20/1.

He's cheap at a time when we need to be prudent.

He's there at the club now.

He knows the club and is already settled.

And one thing I hadn't considered back then - no one at the top of the club has any experience of the football industry.

MacDonald's quotes that they'll wait for him to 'decide' before they interview anyone else makes it pretty clear that Kevin MacDonald is Randy Lerner's top choice to be manager of Aston Villa.

Which is a very weak, poor choice in my opinion.

[Pilchard]

We'll be searching for a new manager again come May.

I think that is being optimistic. I think we'll be looking again come January to be honest and that may very well disrupt that transfer window. D

Haha well that would be convient.

Well, if we are as poor as we have been in the previous two games, then perhaps so. I think Lerner is the type of man to sit tight and wait until the end of the season.

[b_allcott]

We'll be searching for a new manager again come May.

I think that is being optimistic. I think we'll be looking again come January to be honest and that may very well disrupt that transfer window. D

I Had £30.00 on him at betfair for 50's - also got 1000/1 on Walter Smith & 90/1 for Mcleish.

[lexicon]

It's quite clear that he isn't a manager though, Pilchard and I don't think, well I certainly hope, that what you've said isn't enough for him to get it. Getting someone in from the lower leagues wouldn't be an expensive choice either, mind.

This is Lerner's biggest test as chairman IMO. All he really needed to do was sanction funds to keep the supporters happy up until now.

[Doug]

It'll be MacDonald. I said it when O'Neill went, I just wish I'd put a couple of pounds on it when he was 20/1.

Any tips for the gee gees as you've called this one spot on?