Aston Villa's Manager Situation

Wouldn't mind getting your opinions on the Villa manager situation, being relative neutrals and all.

Firslty, I'm sad that Houllier went. Mainly because I think he had more to offer and juging by our form in the second half of the season, we could have had a good season next year.
As it is he'll be remembered for being a pretty crap manager for us, which is a shame as I don't think he's bad, his timing was just unfortunate and coupled with a few PR gaffs.

Anyway, Hughes appears to be favourite amongst Bookies and Journos. Not exactly inspiring but a solid appointment, in my opinion.

However, there's also suggestions that Ancelotti is a frontrunner.
The London press and a couple of sources from Villa, including the journo who broke the Houllier leaving story nearly 48 hours before it actually happened, say that we are definitely "in for" Ancelotti.

Being in for him, and getting him are two different beasts.

Most of us fans think it would be a great appointment, but that it's not going to happen as he wouldn't come to us.

What do you guys think? Who should we be going for in your opinion?

I don't think Villa will miss Houllier all that much and am not sure how much he would have been able to improve this team. He is a decent manager, but I'm not sure that his skills are required at a club like Villa who require a more innovative and tactical manager to impose themselves in the intense competition for a top 8 place.

More than Mark Hughes, I would like to see David Moyes at Villa. He has a solid rep, but the constant financial worries at Everton don't allow him much room to build on the team year on year. At Villa I think he would get room to grow. One of the perceived advantages of Houllier was his extensive contact book and his reputation beyond the the confines of the UK. Moyes is not comaparable in that sense, but he is an staute judge of getting value players. His record of bringing through young players at Everton is amonst the best in the league and prior to City and Tottenham, managed the only other team to break into the top 4.

Thought we could just start this as a new thread.

I agree that its a shame Houllier couldn't keep going. He was starting to make his mark on Villa and signed a few decent players in January. Houllier is a manager with a bit of vision too, given a few years I think he'd have done a really good job at Villa bringing in some quality players as well as bringing through the young talent already there.

It looks like Hughes might be the most likely replacement now and I don't think that bodes all that well for the younger players who haven't broken through yet. Plus he's a ****.

Hope your new manager has a sensible mind for what formation and players to use.

Feel like Aston Villa, much like Arsenal, are burdened by finding a formation that fields the most high quality players at once in their best positions.

Think your lot would do well with a 4-5-1 now that you've got Bent, prior to him though it seemed to me you didn't have the players suitable for any formation.

Agreed with Qs. Houllier made some good signings, those continental players that Villa really need to up a notch instead of keep going too many British average.

I think Villa needs another continental foreign manager to bring them up to another level. Deschamps might want to leave Marseille, would be a great coup to have him.

Mark Hughes has just resigned from Fulham and says no one has approached him yet. Looks like he's definitely off to Villa, and if I'm honest they could do better.

He's probably the safe option, but I don't see him cracking the top 6/7. I can't stand him either.

Thats definitely that then. Can't see why he would quit Fulham without any reason at all. Tbf, I think he has done a brilliant job with the whites.

What do you guys think? Who should we be going for in your opinion?

No offence mate, but you haven't got a hope in hell of Ancelotti coming.

I'm not sure Villa fans would be keen, but I think Roberto Martinez would be a great appointment. Has done a great job at Wigan, in difficult circumstances. I think he's got a big future ahead of him, and the football he gets his teams playing is fantastic.

I think Hughes would be a good appointment. Could definitely see Villa improving on this season's showing with Hughes in charge, he's a solid PL manager.

Hughes is just mediocre, watch him crumble under the pressure of securing top8, he never experienced something like that.

Would be a coup for Villa to get Ancelotti but it will never happen, I think you should go with a proven continental manager, British managers are overrated..

Im with Ricky, Roberto Martinez would be a quality choice - a very classy young manager with a pretty exciting vision of how the game should be played, would bring a freshness to Villa Park. That said, im not sure Martinez would leave Wigan just yet, he has a strong relationship with Dave Whelan and I think he would repay the faith shown in him by Whelan, for now anyway, by staying.

Mark Hughes.

Martinez is deluded, 'We play well but we lose every week'....rich man's Tony Mowbray.

Which British managers would you say are overrated, Beksl?

Martinez is deluded, 'We play well but we lose every week'....rich man's Tony Mowbray.

Which British managers would you say are overrated, Beksl?

Hughes for once, and Steve Bruce he has done well with Wigan and was regarded as good manager back then, but he should do better with Sunderland and all the money he has at his disposal.

Steve McClaren he had a good spell with Middlesbrough, one CC trophy and finished as runners up in Uefa with them and all of a sudden he was glorified as a savior of England. Well they don't think much of him now though but it just shows you how they tend to overrated British managers as soon as they get a smell of success.

Seems Hughes is not in the running according to SkySports.

Anyway, I don't see how he is overrated. He's a solid PL manager, did an excellent job at Blackburn and was good at Fulham aswell. City was a bit over his head but it happens.

Don't know if McLaren ever was rated, IMO he overachieved if anything. Won a few cups, assistant to Fergie during a very successful period, and managed England which shows the incompetence of the FA, that was always gonna end in tears.

Ancelotti is fairly short at the bookies, that would be interesting. He did say he would manage West Ham recently so I wonder if there's any truth to that one.

Just taken Rafa Benitez at 10/1 to become next Villa boss.

Why would any Villa fan want Ancelotti as manager? With Young and Downing possibly gone you guys need someone to rebuilt the squad with new talent, not someone to win the title after being given 80 million to spend. Someone like Hughes is closer to what you guys need.

Edit: just saw this http://m.guardian.co.uk/ms/p/gnm/op/s05 ... &cat=sport. Yeah, Hughes's actions are a bit despicable and thumbs up to Villa for not accepting it. Jol would be a good manager, but LOL if they end up with McSven.

Daily Mail say it will be Ancelotti and he'll be appointed next week.
Still can't see it happening.

Not sure on the Martinez shout. I think he's one of these managers who people say "he's good because he plays the right way"
I don't buy into that. The right way is what gets the best out of your team.
Wigan finished 11th the summer Before Martinez was appointed. This season they barely escaped delegation.
Doesn't add up to a good manager in my opinion.

The (reliable) ITKs are quiet on this one. The only one who's piped up is a guy who is friends with Carlos Cuellar (verified).
He says it will be Moyes, but his source isnt Cuellar, which kind of gives it no credit, IMO.

Rafa Benitez's odds plummeted today for no obvious reason.

So in short, I'm still none the wiser!!

Just taken Rafa Benitez at 10/1 to become next Villa boss.

He'll look at Villa as a step down compared to the teams he's coached recently, and will be too proud to take the position. My opinion.

I could see Benitez going there, I mean which Champions League teams will take him after his fiasco with Inter? His stocks never been lower and I'm sure he understands that.

For some reason I think it will be Benitez, and he'll do a good job, the set up is fantastic and there's plenty of good players/youth coming through.

Benitez would be a good shout IMO, what do you think of Martin Jol Stevo, I think he could do a decent job at Villa?

Reckon it'll be either steve mcclaren or mark hughes

What about Gary McAllister taking the top job?

Hughes is getting the reputation of a quitter after leaving Fulham. I rate him as a manager, but I am not sure he is a good fit.

Someone mentioned Martin Jol. I've always liked him. He has contacts on the continent, which is always a big plus. Benitez?

What about Gary McAllister taking the top job?

Hughes is getting the reputation of a quitter after leaving Fulham. I rate him as a manager, but I am not sure he is a good fit.

Someone mentioned Martin Jol. I've always liked him. He has contacts on the continent, which is always a big plus. Benitez?

Jol has signed for Fulham now.

I reckon Villa will take their time over a new appointment, but will look to get it sorted before the end of this month. McAllister should be in with a good shout. He has done a decent job with the side at the tail end of the season and has prior managerial experience albeit in the lower leagues.

McAllister would be a huge gamble I think, can see Lerner looking for a more experienced manager.

I hear Shhteve McLaren's name being mentioned, that would be a poor one.

I sure how the Villa board isn't dumb enough to be chasing Benitez or Ancelotti instead of a Jol that's closer to what they need at the moment.

Jol is a good signing for Fulham. Villa missed out on him but if they can get Rafa or Carlo its a huge coup as well.

Benitez is getting close according to SSN.

Would be a gamble; not sure Villa has enough cash for Rafa to blow on strange signings.

Just taken Rafa Benitez at 10/1 to become next Villa boss.

Looking good, hehe, fingers crossed.

If it does come through il have to give a shout out to the person from whom I got this tip.