Another Day, Another Manager
No longer than 12 hours after the Mail reported that Houllier was to be appointed at Villa Park, there has been another candidate thrown into the mix. The new-boy comes in the shape of former Italy boss Roberto Donadoni. Donadoni’s UK representative Charles Collymore, no relation to Stan, claimed that the 46 year old was interested in being the next man in charge.
“Roberto is a great student of the English game and he is very interested in the job at Aston Villa. He knows Villa are a top club with an ambitious owner and feels he could be a success there”
If the Italian was to take charge it would go completely against the criteria that the board stressed was so important in a new manager. Donadoni has no experience at Premier League level and doesn’t have any experience of club management in European competitions. Donadoni was something of a surprise replacement for Marcelo Lippi, who left after winning the World Cup in 2006. The ex-Milan player was given the job after an impressive record with Livorno, with whom he achieved a 9th place finish in the Serie A, way above expectations.
His managerial career started in 2001, just a year after hanging up his boots, with Lecco before joining Livorno with an extremely brief 3 game stint at Genoa saandwiched between his two spells at the club. The manager was relieved of his duties by Italy after being knocked out by eventual Champions Spain in the Euro’s on a penalty shoot-out in the quarter finals and winning just 13 games of a 23 game reign. Since then he has managed Napoli but a short 7 month spell was ended after losing 8 from 18. This sort of record will endear Villa fans and the candidate is seen by many as a bigger name than reputation.
His representative went on to say that his client has always wanted to manage in England and feels that he has the credentials to make a success of himself at the club.
“Roberto has worked at the highest level and he has always dreamed of coaching in England. Roberto has the experience and talent to develop the best young English talent and also the knowledge to find the best foreign talent available.”
A foreign manager is looking increasingly likely and is something that most Villa fans are taking to the idea of. After MON seemingly refused to dip into the foreign transfer market, maintaining that the best of British would take the club to the next level, many fans see the possibility of signing a few foreign stars as favourable. Whether Donadoni is the man is debatable having a frankly mediocre managerial record, taking charge of 146 matches, winning 52, drawing 46 and losing on 48 occasions.
In other baffling news Aston villa have resigned ex-Norwich keeper Andy Marshall on a year’s contract as cover for Big Brad and Big Brad. The veteran 35 year old keeper has not started a single game for the club and but the deal will allow the likes of youngster’s Elliott Parish and Benjamin Siegrist to get some first team experience from potential loan moves.
UTV!
Houllier to be new Boss?
The Daily Mail have reported tonight that Gerard Houllier is to be the new man in charge at Villa Park. The 62 year old, if the papers are anything to go by, is now the hot favourite with the board and will become Villa’s first foreign manager for 20 years, Jozef Venglos was the man in charge, spending just one season at the club.
Houllier will be best known to the Villa faithful for his role in charge of Liverpool. The Frenchman spent 6 years at the club, originally alongside Roy Evans, so has plenty of experience of the league and also valuable experience of playing at Europa Cup and Champions League level. This is thought to have been a clinching factor for the Midlands club and they will be hoping, if Houllier does take charge, he can lead them back into Europe at the first time of asking.
Houllier spent a year in charge of the French national team after a 3 year spell at PSG before a 5 year break until his days at Anfield. He made some landmark signings including Hyypia and Hamman who became scouse favourites but also made some questionable transfers whilst in charge, see Djimi Traore! A couple of interesting links to Villa players include his signing of current Villa striker Emile Heskey as well as the sale of keeper Brad Friedel whilst at the club.
After he left Liverpool in 2004 he took charge at French giants Lyon between 2005-07. Whilst there he was inadvertently helping Villa improve by agreeing to swap John Carew with the frankly useless Milan Baros. Let’s hope those sort of deals aren’t emulated were he to join. It’s fair to say Villa could expect to see some young French hopefuls arriving at the club as Houllier looked to do whilst at Liverpool, not all of whom set the world alight. If Houllier does get the job I would hope to see him employed alongside MacDonald who knows the ins and outs of the club although maybe a reunion with the great honk of Soccer Saturday, Phil Thompson, could be on the cards.
If true this is pretty massive news so what do you think guys, is he the right man for the job?
UTV!
Kicked to the Curb?
Today’s main story at Villa Park surrounds an interview supposedly help with former player Alan Curbishley on Wednesday. The board hope to fill the managerial vacancy by the time Villa kick-off in their next league game against Stoke City next weekend. Curbishley who joined the club as a player from arch rivals Birmingham has been touted as a candidate since MON departed and it is now apparent that he was indeed shortlisted for the job. With the club stating that a manager with Premier League experience was a necessity, Curb’s has shot up to second favourite for the job. Whether this should be read in to too much is another matter as the favourite seems to be changing every other day but it is clear that the former Charlton and West Ham boss is in the frame.
So four days ago it was Koeman and two days ago it was Moyes, both of whom are still though to be in the running, but out of these three gaffer’s who would you most like to see at Villa Park?
Curbishley’s record is very decent at Premier League level considering the players he has dealt with. He took Charlton into the league before establishing them as a mainstay in and around mid table, a feat that hasn’t really been emulated since with Stoke looking the most likely. After leaving the Addick’s the club found themselves in turmoil as many a manager tried and failed to feel his boots. With West Ham he battled relegation and successfully so keeping the club up in a dramatic, down to the wire fashion before leaving two years ago. One main issue may be that he hasn’t managed since but this seems to have been through his own choosing as he is linked with nearly every job that has comes upon his departure. I hear he was very close to becoming a checkout girl at Sainsbury’s!
In other slightly less interesting news a 22 man squad was named yesterday with no shocks whatsoever from the 25 available places. Hopefully this paves the way for three superstars in January, who knows. The squad in full is;
Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, James Collins, Carlos Cuellar, Habib Beye, Curtis Davies, Richard Dunne, Luke Young, Stephen Warnock, Eric Lichaj, Stewart Downing, Jonathan Hogg, Isaiah Osbourne, Stiliyan Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker, Stephen Ireland, Steve Sidwell, Ashley Young, Moustapha Salifou, John Carew, Gabby Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey
If you’re wondering where the likes of Albrighton, Delfouneso, Delph and Clark are on the list they do not have to be submitted as they are under 21 and can be called upon at any time. They are joined by youth hopefuls such as Shane Lowry, Nathan Baker, Barry Bannanand Andreas Weimann.
In some positive news right back Luke Young has expressed his desire to stay at the club and move on after a difficult season last term. The ex-England international was strongly linked with a move to Liverpool this summer but opted against a switch and has started all three Premier League games thus far. This is great news as Young was unlucky not to play more last season after having a fantastic first season at the club and he looks back to his best now, especially in last weekend’s victory against Everton, netting the winner. This should mean that Cuellar, who is far from an inspired right back, should fight for a centre half spot, where he has turned in a number of impressive performances.
Although it is too late to get excited about since the deadline is passed, it is typical that Villa were linked with a player today. Sporting CP striker Yannick Djalo is rumoured to have been a deadline day target, although it is thought that the club may revive their interest in January. Djalo is a pacey, young striker who abused Manchester City scoring twice in a pre-season friendly earlier this summer so if we were to sign him it would be just grand if he could do that to them again later in the campaign because we don’t like them much!
UTV!
Deadline Day
Filed under: Aston Villa, Hot topic debates, Transfer News
So its transfer deadline day and it’s a hectic time, on the phone all day looking for new last ditch signings, bargain and loans isn’t it? Well no. Not at Villa anyway. The current managerial vacancy means no dealings this window other than the part exchange for Milner and Ireland. I’m trying to stay positive after a good win against Everton but it doesn’t help seeing the Blues making signings left, right and centre, most notably Aleksandr Hleb who Villa have been linked with on numerous occasions even prior to his Arsenal spell. So nothing to report and nothing to expect on the transfer front as the manager’s situation still overshadows any hopes of a team building exercise over the international break.
One positive note is at least there are no new boys, bigger boys or bullies coming in so squad harmony should be relatively high after the weekend. Just Ashley Young in action for England on Friday which should see Gabby Agbonlahor get a lengthy rest to recover from injuries. Warnock misses out once more due to the so called revolution of the England side with Kieran Gibbs getting the nod as Cole’s understudy.Young will face club captain Stiliyan Petrov if selected and the midfield workhorse is wary of a lashback from the Three Lions despite a depleted squad.
We know how strong England are. They had a disappointing World Cup, but now they are going to show the fans that is all behind them, they will try to win the game because of that feeling.
So, back to the usual business of discussing the next manager at the club. Interestingly this Monday saw Everton boss, David Moyes’ odds slashed quite drastically making him favourite with many bookies which will encourage many Villains. The Scotsman has scooped Manager of the Year awards along with his rave reviews at the club since arriving in 2002 and has impressed in all departments including his ability to pull in some big names for low prices (See Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill, Baines and the rest). The slightly scarily intense 47 year old certainly fits the boards criteria with his extensive Premier League experience despite still being somewhat of a whippersnapper in managerial circles.
USA coach Bob Bradley has now committed his future to the American dream so is out of the running although caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald is still in with a chance. The club statement from Paul Faulkner seemed to effectively rule KMac out but the current man in charge finally made his interest in the job known to chairman Randy Lerner and is still sitting pretty as one of the favourites for the job after an impressive victory against Everton. It is now thought by many that the two Scotsman who met in battle on Sunday are now to duel over the post at Villa Park despite the fact that Moyes ruled himself out just a few weeks back.
Still lurking in the bushes waiting to pounce on the opportunity is dirty dog Sven Goran-Eriksson along with the likes of Alan Curbishley and Phil Brown but there’s no doubt that most Villa fans would see Moyes as a major coup. Let me know what you think about the rumours and the lack of activity at the club and I’ll be sure to write about the new signings that won’t happen later on!
UTV
Quick Turnaround
If you had asked most Villa fans of their opinions on the rest of the season after Thursday night the responses may have been bleak but a new day brings new optimism into the supposed club in crisis. With the most brash of pessimists writing Villa’s European hopes off already by Friday just two days later the club find themselves sitting pretty in fourth. A gutsy 1-0 victory over an impressive Everton side was relieving not only due to the result but in the manner of the win. The reliable defence of last term hadn’t seemed to have returned from their holiday’s but were magnificent today under pressure in a game where they soaked up more than a sponge in a wet t-shirt competition.
The reunion of Dunne and Collins at centre back was a vast improvement with match winner Luke Young impressing at right back. Many will say that the result was not deserved but a battling performance was just what the doctor ordered and showed that Villa are no pushover’s. Although the result only takes off some of the humiliation of the midweek defeat it offers a much brighter outlook to the fans and chairman Randy Lerner. Will this win spark a mini revival or was it a fortuitous result that is unlikely to reoccur?
Over the last couple of days the manager’s position has been a massive talking point with MacDonald maintaining that he would make a decision on his availability after today’s game. Dutchman Ronald Koeman also threw his name into the mix with some clear intentions of hoping to fill the vacancy.
“In Holland we have always viewed Villa as an important club with a tradition of being powerful in Europe when I was younger, so I would be very interested in managing them if the job was offered to me.”
He revealed that he has had a number of offers but sees Villa Park as an extremely desirable destination after an impressive club record in Spain, Portugal and his native Holland. This interest though, appears to have been quashed this evening after the club finally released an interesting statement regarding their preferred candidate.
“Two of the traits we believe are of crucial importance are that candidates have experience of managing in the Premier League and a strategy for building on the existing strengths in our current squad.”
These revelations all but rule out the current man in charge along with Koeman and long running favourite for the job Bob Bradley. The shortlist appears to have been cut down further with candidates such as Jurgen Klinsmann and Otmar Hitzfeld not having the required Premier League experience that the board room are looking for. Does this mean that the candidates have been whittled down to the likes of Guus Hiddink (yes please), Sven Goran Eriksson (no thanks) and Alan Curbishley (we’ll think about it)? Martin Jol would be a popular choice but has the statement opened the door to more unwelcome unemployed than before? The likes of Houllier, Southgate and Phil Brown are now in the mix but would this signify a step in the wrong direction for the club?
Also in the news this week was a very unnerving increase in interest in Ashley Young from Tottenham. Would selling the player be a huge mistake and a massive omen of what’s to come or does every player have his price? Congratulations goes out to Ashley on another well deserved England call up. In better news Gabby Agbonlahor was quoted saying that he would have no reason to leave the club for his entire career as he hopes to emulate the likes of Steven Gerrard as a one club man. At just 24 the striker is now Villa’s longest serving player and hopes to keep it that way so good on you Gabby! Views on today’s game, the manager’s position or anything else are wanted at the end of a day that has Villains smiling once again.
Up The Villa!
Dark Day for Villa
It seems relaunching this site has cursed Villa to some extent. A 6-0 crushing defeat to Newcastle being followed up by an unceremonious dumping out of the Europa Cup at the hands of an old enemy. Villa lost 3-2 at home to Rapid Vienna who have knocked us out at the same stage in consecutive seasons. The tie ended 4-3 on aggregate against a side who we should be beating comfortably. Please see the full round up on the Match Report page of the site. Although it is early days it appears that one of last season strongest defence’s would now struggle in a junior Sunday football league. Conceding 9 in two games against inferior opposition does not exactly instill confidence for the rest of the season.
Will Kevin MacDonald call time on his short reign thus far at Villa Park and more to the point should he? It is clear that the player’s would like to know who will be leading them into the new campaign and the uncertainty appears to be affecting them. Mistakes were made tactically in the game resting players who, after a full pre-season and just 3 games under their belts, should not need resting. I feel the outcome would have been different had Warnock started in place of Beye who was at fault for 2 of the 3 goals. Curtis Davies was poor once more and should do his talking on the pitch rather than moaning to the media about not being played because frankly Curtis, if you’re going to play like that every week you’re better off in the reserves.
Stephen Ireland looked in good shape but may be wondering what he’s gotten himself into since joining the club and the likes of Heskey and Albrighton also put in good shifts. It was in the defensive third where we looked dismal and when the ball is delivered into the box at the moment we appear to be giving away free gifts to opposing sides who are more than happy to accept. Are some players surplus to requirements at the club and who do you think should be bought in?
In other news youngster Harry Forrester will be hoping to gain some invaluable first team experience at a decent level after agreeing to join SPL side Kilmarnock on loan. The 19 year old forward who was signed from Watford has impressed in the reserves and we wish him all the best for the season and look forward to him coming back bigger and better.
Who do you think should be the next manager? Where is it going wrong on the pitch at the moment? I want to know your opinions or if you just want to have a good moan about the club that’s fine by me. The site is now fully up and running and updated so keep checking for updates and surely things can only get better? Or maybe worse?
AstonVillaBlog.com Relaunch for 2010!
A new era at Villa means a newly revitalized blog
Hello my dear Villains, my name is Martin and I have been handed the task of reviving this blog as the club beckons in a new dawn, post MON. I will be looking for moaners, groaners and gloaters to spark some serious and occasionally not so serious discussions, debates and banter all in the name of our beloved Aston Villa. This voyage will not work without you. The one who’s blood runs claret and blue!
I will be blogging regularly about the entire goings on at the club, be it the ups or downs, starting on the day of a 6-0 defeat to Newcastle may suggest that this is a down, but it doesn’t have to be! I want to know what you think about everything that’s happening at Villa Park. Your opinions are wanted and we’re all in this together guys so let’s keep it friendly, this is a safe place! Be you an optimist or a pessimist we want to hear from you. Think of this as your Villa haven. A place you can let all your praise or worries be known.
I look forward to gaining some loyal Villains to support our quest, Premier League 2010/11!
Martin
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