Seeing as we’ve only just sacked Bruce, it seems a bit early to be asking this question, as we’re still digesting the news.
But it’s been requested and I suppose it’s going to be the next big subject, so here goes;
Quite simply, who do you think should be our next manager?
I probably shouldn’t say anything, as I really don’t want to lead anyone in any way at all, but my opinion says that any of the supposed candidates are completely rubbish suggestions that will not happen.
I’m going to list all those I’ve seen, but importantly, add A.N.Other
Which is where I’d welcome suggestions.
And I’ve randomised the choices.
Blimey, thick and fast voting there!
Rodgers takes an early lead; a manager that would have to leave a top club, yet is apparantly not happy.
28%, while Benitez, in a similar position ony polls 8%
A Mendez link is currently second.
Interesting, indeed.
Why are people keen for Rodgers? Do we really want more of the same boring, defensive football?
No thanks.
Dean Smith deserves a go surely?
That’s the thing, isn’t it Guest?
As managers take on bigger clubs, they seem to turn more canny and cautious.
Would Smith be willing to play with his attacking approach, at the Villa?
And if he did, could he maintain it?
it’s why I think we need someone who doesn’t know the club, or even give a toss about us, tbh.
We need 100% pragmatism and it’s the only way we’ll get it, because our massive reputation goes before us,
Not that I want to influence anyone, but a Mendez choice is now running neck and neck.
Dean Smith would be my choice if we could get him of course. I’m not a fan of Benitez TBH despite getting promotion with Newcastle. The Liverpool fan I work with said football was mostly dour when Benitez was in charge. I want a manager who plays on the front foot. With our defensive issues we haven’t got much choice. I’m not sure about Henry or Terry, they might be amazing choices but it concerns me that either would serve their apprenticeship at Villa’s risk. Whoever is appointed will divide fans opinions, but should get backed for rest of season, because nothing will be gained by turning on a new manager without time to implement their philosophy. For the record I would like to thank Bruce for stopping the rot that we had got into. It was a shame he didn’t succeed in the play off final. Ultimately that game started his fall from grace, and hopefully when fans look back to his time in charge he will get credit for the good things he achieved. Hopefully he will bounce back soon.
Really surprised that ‘some geezer’ is currently the favourite. I voted for Terry just because he’s available and he knows the club so well. But who knows who the new owners have in mind?
I’m sure we’ll all be surprised when we find out.
Terry is the answer.
Badger you haven’t got Paulo Fonseca up there. Currently he’s the Shakhtar Donetsk manager but I suppose he’s covered by ‘some geezer’ as he seems he has ‘links’ with Jorge Mendes.
Interesting times indeed.
Terry, player coach. Could be a match made in heaven or a total disaster. Pros: He’s known, liked and can play center back. Cons: No experience.
Jose ? 😉
I voted for the ‘Mendes geezer’ because it seems to me that the owners / CEO are closely linked with him and they are going to make a statement with this appointment. So, whilst I like what Dean Smith is doing at Brentford, I don’t believe he has the ‘right profile’.
Paulo Fonseca has emerged as a possibility and I think that’s the sort of appointment they will make. Coming from the hotbed of a Turkish football I don’t think he would be fazed by taking on Villa BUT why would he leave a Champions League club – not that I really know anything about him!
Hitchens, he manages in the Ukraine, not Turkey.
Apologies Guest – got my clubs mixed up; sign of advancing senility I’m afraid but I think the sentiments are generally still valid.
Sadly Turnip has passed on, Potato has been sacked. Personally I’d go for a Swede – Olaf Mellberg.
I went with the geezer…as I think the owners will have to take advice so can see it being like at Wolves. …some or most of our players will be off loaded and new guys will take over.
If we do go with a geezer then we should ALL get behind him…players included.
No more old school British managers – never again please Villa. I’d like to see us think outside of the obvious choices – therefore one of Fonseca, Flores or Hasenhuttl for me.
Though it will be very difficult to attract Fonseca – the compensation would be massive and would he really drop CL football for the championship. Pretty sure he rejected West Ham at some point.as well.
I do agree though that I’d be happy with a Mendez recommended manager – the Wolves model works.
I like Dean Smith but the manager is a very small cog in Brentfords advanced analytics approach – you need the whole setup to be implemented over a sustained time for it to work. He’d struggle here just as Warburton did when he left Brentford.
West Ham and Everton according to reports!
It must be someone currently not working. How on earth can you attract manager from another team mid season and his whole coaching staff. The fact that villa have cleared the decks with getting rid of Bruce, coaches and earlier the scouting network. I believe new team have been put in place behind the scenes and will be officially announced during the international break. Whoever it is I think they already know the jobs theirs. Seems to be pointing towards Henry or possibly J.T. (unfinished business).
Have been unsure of who would actually be my preferred choice to come in, like all of us I will support whoever gets the opportunity. However this morning the Birmingham Mail have linked us to Osorio, who is now at Paraguay but had been at Mexico for a few years and was their coach at the World Cup this summer.
They quote him as being keen and would love the chance to manage Villa, which if true we should absolutely be having discussions with him imo. Worked wonders with Mexico, came in after their last coach was sacked over an altercation with a reporter and reunited their dressing room. Watching some of their games at the World Cup this year, he had them playing some great, fast paced football. They would turn from defence to attack within seconds, and their work without the ball was phenomenal. Pressing the other team into mistakes, when in stark conrtast you look at our last few games and there is little to no movement off the ball.
They beat Germany in the first game too, who went on to have a shocker of a tournament and didn’t need make it out of their group. Personally even though he may be keen, doesn’t sound like he is high up on our own list which is disappointing. But there’s still some interesting names linked! UTV
Chester only given 1 match ban, its normally 3 for traight red so good news.
Bill, I didn’t understand that; is it an admission that the red card was very harsh in the circumstances – it certainly didn’t look like a deliberate foul by Chester
The referee’s action contravened the last International board decisions regarding the prevention of a clear goal scoring opportunity in the penalty area. If a penalty is given, unless the offence is deemed violent conduct or not a genuine attempt to win the ball, the card shown should be yellow. The IB did not want to see a double punishment. That tackle was not violent conduct and was a genuine attempt to win the ball.
Thanks OLL – in those circumstances wouldn’t Chester have a good case to appeal the red card as there has been, unfairly imho, a double penalty.
i voted henry but i havent a clue how that will work out. i see smith is winning the poll sofar. i do hope whoever gets the job we all unite behind them and the team. one good thing is the midfield and attack have good options and good quality. i think plenty of good managers would lick their lips at the prospect of the role. plus owners willing to back them further once they beat the ffp hindrance
I am saddened by the amount of personal abuse that SB has taken. Yes he had his faults as a manager but so has the best managers in the game/ Come on lads act like grown up’s we are better than that.
Agree 100% Rocky and no abuse from me – have the greatest respect for the guy and one wonders whether the tragic loss of both parents affected him more than has been realised – the really bad run (8 wins in 24 games) is perhaps no coincidence starting when it did. With some of the names being mentioned in the media feeding frenzy I’d rather stick with Bruce – Allardyce, McCarthy, Moyes – really!
Never was any personal abuse from me, he did a good job in stabilizing Villa from the inevitable drop and I thank him for that. I have to admit I did see the writing on the wall at the end of last season, to be honest so should Bruce.have , Managers know its a short life, if you don’t deliver the goods and Bruce didn’t, like any jobs if you don’t do your job right its bye bye. Remember your paying good money and getting bad results .I wish him all the best and hope he helps some football club in the future, We are the Villa and want the best for our club, its not just a job.
Bill and Hitch I was not insinuating that the abuse towards SB was from anybody on this site as you feel that reading some of the posts on here are coming from respectable Villa fans. But when you read some of the abuse on other sites and social media it is shame and in no way a reflection of genuine fans that see what has happened as football decision and not a personal one. I was at the match the other night and some of the abuse from some fans was unacceptable and really unnecessary.
I love the Villa and always will but some people really need to take a look in the mirror. Pay good money then as soon as the game turns, turn on the manger like a pack of wolves,
Anyway moving on what about Olof Mellberg and Martin Laursen as a manager and assistant? Dean Smith would be a gamble as supporting Villa will not make you and good Villa manager and I think the job would be too big for him..
But please not Moyes or Big Sam that is not a fresh approach. It has to be an appointment that will please the most fickle to avoid this happening in another 2 years.
Moyes has jumped to pole position with the bookies with some offering evens. Please no! I hope this doesn’t come true. I would sooner get Bruce back. Names like Moyes, Allardyce, McCarthy should be dismissed because they are the same style as Bruce. We either need to think out of the box or go with young and enthusiastic. I would love to see Mellberg or Laureen or both back but that’s not going to happen. Why isn’t Curbishley not in the poll?