That’s it then.
The inevitable has happened and we find ourselves in search of a new manager.
From what I’ve read, compensation was agreed at around the £1,000,000 figure and if that’s true I think we got off lightly even though I’ve thought for weeks that Garde wasn’t the right man for us.
So where did it go wrong?
Well, I keep reading that Remi Garde is a really nice man and that says a lot to me. A nice bloke and a bunch of petulant players as we have at the club were never going to be a good mix and it seems at least some of them just didn’t respect the manager. Garde’s failure to bring his favoured right hand man in was probably instrumental in his not being able to keep control and Richards calling a fan a “clown” via social media is just a typical example. Things like that just don’t happen under tough managers and if they do, they get stamped on hard.
Will Richards be fined for slating a fan? I doubt it.
Fundamentally, what went wrong was that Garde couldn’t get the players to perform for him and the result was a 10% or whatever win ratio. And it’s as simple as that.
He had to go.
So now what?
Eric Black will take over and I find myself dismayed.
Ok, he’s the number two and logical next in line until we sort something more permanent out.
But I worry about his appointment, as under Garde there must have been one of two situations, in my opinion.
Either he agreed with the way Garde was trying to do things and supported him. If that’s the case, what’s going to change?
Or he didn’t agree and just went along with things. Which doesn’t make him a very good number two in my eyes, as he should be advising/assisting the manager and telling him if he’s being too soft. Either way, this is probably the better situation of the two, as perhaps he’s a bit more of a disciplinarian. I doubt that’s the case though, as if it was, I’d have expected him to take over the training.
I suppose we have to have someone though although I’d have liked it to be Brian Little, as with his experience, he’d have soon sussed this lot out.
Hence my opinion says we have to get the next manager in as quickly as possible, so he can take a look at the rag-tag bunch we call a squad and instantly weed out the worst offenders, with the aim of getting rid at whatever cost.
Make no mistake, I believe that this is the single biggest priority of all. It even comes before how good I think a footballing manager he is.
Because trying to achieve anything will prove pointless if you have trouble-makers.
Even the great Brian Clough couldn’t do it at Leeds Utd because of some of the “personalities” there and while I’m not comparing Garde and Clough, I’m sure you know what I mean.
I said “at whatever cost”. And I mean it.
Pay them off, give them away, put them on gardening leave if we have too.
I don’t care. Just get rid of them, as they’ll drag the kids down with them if we don’t and we can kiss any hopes of promotion goodbye.
Alienate them and show the kids that unprofessional behaviour, whether on or off the pitch just cannot and will not be tolerated at the mighty Aston Villa.
Which all in all, means I’m leaning to Nigel Pearson.
Note I said “leaning”. I’m not convinced, by any means.
Although I do think he’s the sort of strong personality we need and he has been through the promotion mill. I can’t see his favoured backroom team leaving Leicester to join him though, which might make him a “doubtful”, if I’m being realistic.
I think Moyes is the fans’ favourite, but I’m not sure he will have the appetite for the challenge that any prospective manager faces.
That said, this is exactly what we’ve got the new board in for, isn’t it?
But they have a tough task in choosing a new manager. He’ll need to be given a lot of control and he’ll also need money, because if we weed out say half a dozen of the worst perpetrators, they’ll need replacing with decent quality and not kids from the squad.
And that’s where I worry even more.
Will Lerner be willing to fund the “root and branch” change that is needed for the club to genuinely move on?
I seriously have my doubts.
Still, if the board are as good as they’re being made out, they’ll convince Lerner that we have to go down this road won’t they?
And hopefully they’ll have been on the case for weeks and are close to making an appointment.
Won’t they??????
Or do we think our main target is currently employed and obliged to see the season out?
Questions, questions and as been said, this is a massive appointment; the one that could either save us or see us in a tailspin.
I can’t really leave this post without a poll can I?
And it has to be a nice sunny theme, as I’m sick of this rubbish weather.
I don’t know how many of you agree but Moyes, Rogers, Dyche and even Pearson (who I personally think is a bit of a loose cannon) are all managers who I would rejoice if announced tomorrow. I am certain that any of them will be up to the job of cleaning out the crap at VP.
However I must admit that I still have a sneaking liking for Gary Rowett. He’s been successful with a team that he’s spent nothing on and knows the Championship inside out. A Villa fan to boot.
Also like to see the noses reaction if we nabbed him 🙂
Anyway good to know that Little is on the case and it’s looking like his say-so will be vital. Onwards and upwards…
…or perhaps downwards and then upwards a little later on :-~
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35931220
Deadly Doug states that ‘he does not regret selling the Premier League club to Randy Lerner and says the American is a “good man” ‘
How nice. Of course he did get £62.6 million from Mr. Lerner. If someone gave me £62.6 million I might think they were pretty good too.
Lol ????
I see the media are already supporting their ‘own’ and pushing Neville for Villa manager!
He’s British but he doesn’t fulfil any other of the (reported) criteria that will be important.
The ‘advice’ the last board needed when appointing a new manager just reinforces the lack of footballing nous they had. Can’t see Bernstein, Little and Bevington needing to speak to anyone about the next appointment!
Completely off topic but great win by England in World T20 semis yesterday.
Somebody mentioned best of a bad bunch and I can agree with that sentiment when it comes to the next manager.
For me it needs to be someone who has massive bravery, leadership and organisation. Personally I would get them in asap to begin looking at the squad characteristics and try to get a win or two before the end of the season to lift the mood even by a small amount (especially of this is done with a couple of the club’s academy players in the team). I do understand, however, that it is a big risk for a manager to come in now and have a relegation to their name…albeit one out of their hands.
I like Pearson’s no nonsense approach…but he is a peculiar, even inflammatory character (read up about his controversies). Brendan Rogers no thanks, because he is not someone who to me installs confidence at the moment. Dyche is a good shout but I doubt he would move with Burnley looking strong for promotion. I see the positives for Gary Rowett, but let’s be honest …not enough experience and clout to sort out the squad and he would divide the Villa fans with the Blues connection. If Steve Mclaren is even considered….well let’s not go there! Gary Neville is an interesting option to me. Disliked him as a player immensely, he lacks experience and many continue to hate him, however I respect his approach to management and leadership in that he is a strong character and takes no prisoners when it comes to getting things his way. I would certainly look past his Valencia sacking because that club have their problems too and going to start your career in a country where you don’t speak the language was always going to be tough.
For me it leaves one (slightly) stand out candidate (if he himself consists himself to be). David Moyes. Some people on here see him as weak in personality, but I don’t think this is fair. During his time at Everton, many Villa fans were begging him to come when we had a managerial vacancy. Since his United stint this has changed dramatically. Why? He was onto a loser in that job; Ferguson could not be followed successfully. In so many areas of business, public sector and football when someone bows out at the top, the team, or company, suffer a setback as there is a power vacuum of sorts or the staff take their foot off the pedal. Looking at van Gaal’s efforts (an experienced and successful European manager) the United job is very tough indeed. I also think Moyes is a man for the long term by looking at what he did for Everton for a decade. He attracts good players, good coaches and pretty good results. In addition he is British which is a pre-requisite for the board it seems. Finally he locked horns with Villa for a few years in the 5th -6th placed battle…he usually won and he saw Villa playing well, getting great crowds and feeling good…he knows what he could get by taking on the challenge, he knows the potential quality of this club.
Just read an interesting piece from Collymore on Twitter – look it up if you follow him, it’s worth five minutes of your time. In it he tells a few home truths to senior players and says Sir Brian has asked him to a meeting to get his views on things. It’s a piece that I couldn’t argue with any of his points and agree wholeheartedly with many including shaking hands with Gabby and telling him to go. However it’s his views on Lerner that have got me thinking that it may be best if he doesn’t manage to sell this summer. If he sells for a bargain price, the opportunity for a chancer with no actual money to spend buying us increases. Equally, it’s only early, but we’ve never had such a professional board under RL which would surely be dismantled under new ownership? Is it better the devil you know?
Though I don’t like the guy, can’t disagree with Stan too much there.
It should be a pre-requisite of any new manager that Gabby and Richards are the first out the door, no ifs, buts and second chances.
Earl I agree with you about Lerner. He’s undoubtedly been terrible for us, but he is a stable, honourable bloke, who has misspent a lot of money on us. He seems to be finally accepting his many mistakes and letting people who know what they’re doing take over control.
I’m happy with the recent board appointments, statements and sackings. I do feel bad for Remi, but change is needed. Moyes for me, whatever he costs, but I’d be ok with Pearson. I don’t see Dyche being interested, as I hope we make the appointment soon. I like the Rowett interest but I think that one could be for the future after he’s managed another club between us and them.
I really don’t like agreeing with Collymore but Gabby should be released/ paid off, an absolute cancer. Anyone else who Garde had trouble with should be given the boot too. It’s all down to the rotten core of the squad, why we are where we are.
Says Collymore who was the biggest overpaid time waster in our history and actually responsible for Little losing his job. Yet Little is consulting him you already have to question is Little the right man for this role!
Things must be looking up if you’re back complaining OohAah! ???? Agree with you 100% on Collymore though, he’d feel right at home with our current squad.
I’m of an age to remember how bad SVC’s time was at the club but Sadly, oohah we’ve had more overpaid wasters at our club in the last four years (on and off the field) than 20 collymores rolled together. Just look at the people who have captained the club this season if you need proof. In the article Collymore admits his time at the club was a failure but he is without question a Villa fan and has been vocal on his radio show about the need for change and continues to receive racist abuse for his trouble. What he suggested in regards of restructuring the board has come to pass. If he gives Sir Brian the slightest thing that he can use to make us a force in the championship and beyond, it’ll be worth the price of the tea! Read what he says and then judge the article. Perhaps someone can link it?
I know that it’s easy to look back at Collymore’s time at VP and put him in the same bracket as some of the current wasters, but I also remember that he was apparently suffering from clinical depression, and despite the easy jokes about ‘highly-paid footballers having nothing to be depressed about’, that is a real illness.
As for OohAh’s point about BL’s departure as manager: from memory that had more to do with his personal life imploding for various reasons, rather than anything that happened at the club.
Not sure Ardent from memory when Little signed Collymore we should of been challenging for the league we had Yorke Southgate etc the basis of a title winning team. He was supposed to be the final piece of the jigsaw. But instead I think we lost our first 4 games and Collymore was awful from day one. Add to that I think he had a disruptive influence in the changing room. If he was suffering from depression surely he should of been up front and told us before we signed him. There are plenty of good tablets even when he played that would of helped him. Amazing how he didn’t seem depressed now it’s like it disappeared by magic when he left us! Just saying.
I thought Little stepped down for personal reasons, he was going through a divorce. I don’t think he was fired.
Think you’ll find it was his kids being bullied at school,
We don’t need to rush into this, we’re going down and even the sweet Lord Jesus couldn’t save us. We’ve got a solid group taking control now, let’s trust them to make the right decision. I’m prepared to wait till the season’s over, that still gives the new guy the whole summer to get to work on what will be a huge rebuilding job.
I’m not happy with us being linked with the chuckle brothers let’s hope that’s lazy journalism
On that we agree 100% !!
+1
if the chuckel brothers come it will be a backward step
There looking for a manager with championship experience that rules out the so called chuckle brothers, we don’t need a manager that will use us for gaining experience.we now need someone who’ll get us hitting the ground running.
thing is whichever guy comes in how much input will he have with our football committee, surly they will take all the decisions and just leave their puppet to implement and take the blame for poor decisions
BB – that’s no different to any business / football club where the board have to sanction any major expenditure. The main difference now is that we have a board with a major amount of football experience that will (a) understand the managers view and (b) be able to have a competent and intelligent debate with him before reaching a decision.
The previous board / transfer committee lacked football experience, didn’t do their jobs properly and if the Telegraph is correct deliberately lied.
I always contrive to be optimistic before a ball is kicked. It’s just football that gets in the way. I think we are agreed that even with the cancers of Gabby and Richards shown the door, the remainder do not look like players in the hard-working all-action sides that got promoted last season. In this respect the game against Bournemouth will provide an interesting comparison.
Therefore I expect it to take some time to turn this ship around, I cannot see it being done in one season unless the new man is given the authority to sack the lot and given enough money to hire a completely new squad. No chance of that happening.
How about I throw a dark horse into the mix?
Chris Hughton?
It won’t happen, but look at his record, before you rip me to pieces.
Norwich fans wouldn’t agree with you lol
Decent record but a very cautious and uninspiring brand of football. Also maybe an old school hairdryer type might be best, we need a real shake up.
SSN Lerner in talks with Venkeys about a possible takeover and the return of Lamberk being discussed. Bkackburn has been sold apparently. If this is true then we are finished!! Ffs
Too nice a guy we need someone ruthless like Pearson
April fool Badger.
i see the idle fat b——d gabby suspended .hopefully kick him out the club
gabby is and has been for while the poison inside the club. the antidote is to get rid. NOW if possible.
if you can pay off managers for being inept it should be done more often for inept players.
Couldn’t agree more. No ones going to take him off our hands, so we have to keep paying him, but we don’t have to let him train or be anywhere around the squad.
I like what happened to Bendtner this week, told him to stay away while they work out how to get rid. Why pay Gabby off and let him play for someone else, put him on gardening leave and let him rot, much like he’s done to us ever since O’Neil left.
Shabby what a fucking arsewipe if this incident doesn’t open the club’s eyes heaven knows what will.get rid he’s not required SHITE stirring within the squad plus hitting the Jamaican woodbines no wonder he’s that laid back on the field he’s tripping.
SSN Lerner in talks with Venkeys about a possible takeover and the return of Lamberk being discussed. Bkackburn has been sold apparently. If this is true then we are finished!! Ffs
SSN Lerner in talks with Venkeys about a possible takeover and the return of Lamberk being discussed. Bkackburn has been sold apparently. If this is true then we are finished!! Ffs 🙁
April fool’s are supposed to be funny.
Yes Gabby suspended from the squad!!!
Sanity at long last
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35940983
Silly sods probably a Shikabab from a curry house.
@Bill
Don’t care what it was so long as he’s gone. Hope it’s confirmed as permanent soon and the rest of the dross follow him not long after.
A ray of light at VP – who’d have thought it!
He no longer offers anything but disruption – has to go. Perhaps the MLS would the him a free – at least he’d be 2500 miles away!
*take him on a free
Pat Murphy on Shabby –
‘The disconnect between Villa fans and players is now tangible, with the supporters ranging from resigned to angry.
Agbonlahor’s suspension is designed to reduce the hostility towards the players that may surface at some stage during Saturday’s home game against Chelsea.
Although Agbonlahor did nothing illegal in Dubai, many Villa fans are angry at his decision to relax in such a way, with the season so close to an end.’
Angry??? Absolutely f**king fuming more like it! (No pun intended)
Whole “Dubai” episode just sums-up what’s wrong with many of the current players.
They’re paid so much money and treated with kid-gloves so often that the poor knobs really think that a week in a 6-star resort in March is normal, even if they’ve hardly broken into a sweat at any time since last August.
I might even look forward to some honest, hard-working lower-league players coming in for next season to replace the pampered ‘premiership’ lot, because none of these will have the slightest clue how to survive in the Championship.
Pat 57,
I washed my hands with Abonglahor few years ago, that kid from Erdington got to big for his boots then, meet his mate in th a Villa tavern pub got into a discussion over his attitude and playing at Villa, the only thing he had was speed, I told him if he (Gabby) thinks fans don’t know what he’s up to at Villa I did, I said tell him he’s not fooling me, he’s been a poisonous player at the club and been allowed to get away with it.whether that was said to him I don’t know but I felt better saying it. I’m glad he’s been found out.
I’m getting completely pi**ed off with reports in the press and the comments of the much vaunted (and over paid) pundits about the club I love. How can Wilkins be taken seriously – but no we have endure his assagnine comments with his amazing hindsight knowledge. And now – if that wasn’t bad enough, (insert any appropriate swear word) Wenger has felt it necessary to criticise the sacking of his love child Garde.
What these arse***es should be doing is looking to the future and the changes the club are making rather than dwelling on the past. We all know that Lerner has made massive mistakes, is an absent ‘landlord’ and has to take responsibility for the mess we are in. We all know the previous board were sh*t. We all know that many of the players need ‘shooting’ etc. etc. etc.
The only person I’ve read that has made any real comments about the changes at VP is Steve Round. When are the media going to start talking about our future rather than our past?
Rant over – where’s the wine bottle?
Today i have finally decided, who i want to manage villa. i was in the rogers camp but never 100% sure. having thought about all the possible managers , pros and cons. i think the one guy that could sort out a competitive squad for us, is mick mcCarthy. hardly the most exiting appointment but very safe hands indeed. again thou i can’t see appointment before the season ended.
gabby in the news again, nothing surprises me this season especially when comes down the to players. its just which one is next. said before some clubs have one or two bad apples, we have a basket full of them
Agreed – I don’t think that McCarthy is a bad shout for any team in the Champoinship. He’s a no-nonsense old fashioned manager, and knows all the tricks.
I could see him bringing us back up, but then we’d all start moaning that his Prem teams are not really exciting-enough -like the Baggies fans are doing about Pulis!