The arrival of a new manager brings with it, of course, a fresh perspective that rather depends on the personality and reputation of the person appointed.
The entrance of Tim Sherwood caused a variety of reaction, some clamouring that he is not experienced enough, others that he’s going to wind up the players the wrong way and others exclaimed relief that we now have a manager who has an attacking philosophy behind his strategy and will put behind us the tedium – nay, stress – we have felt over the past 4 years or so. Well, we shall soon see: no matter what his style, the primary hope is that Villa avoid relegation.
In the fact that Sherwood has come in after the midway point of the season, I thought it might be interesting to see how Villa have faired before when a new manager has come in mid-term or later.
1950, December – George Martin. The Villa had, amazingly, been without a manager for 17 months and had been supervised directly by the board, the method used before the club’s first permanent managerial appointment, in 1934. Martin came in when Villa were 18th of 22 (2 for relegation in those days) and gradually got the wheels moving again with an end-of-season unbeaten run of 9 games, starting with a win at Wolves in Billy Wright’s heyday, and finishing with the demolition of Stoke, 6-2. Villa’s next season (1951-52) proved to be Villa’s best season in the 32 years between the War and 1976-77 with young stars Danny Blanchflower, Tommy Thompson and Johnny Dixon showing their flair. Martin walked out in August, 1953 after realising he was not getting the support he wanted from the board.
1958, December – Joe Mercer. A generally popular appointment, Mercer started as being an affable man but left in 1964 with broken health. He could not prevent relegation in his first (half) season, but Villa enjoyed a magnificent run to the FA Cup semi-final where they were unluckily beaten by Villa’s old legend Billy Walker and his Nottingham Forest side. From 1959 to 1962, Mercer appeared to be taking Villa to better places, but then the board’s lack of financial help, and some bad luck, caused a decline.
1968, December – Tommy Docherty. The new regime came in with a clean broom: the cobwebs of many years of neglect were swept away in magnificent style and hope reinforced by Docherty’s appointment. He saved Villa from relegation from the old Division 2 but then tried to achieve too much too quickly, resulting in his departure a little over a year after he started.
1970, January – Vic Crowe. Villa’s old skipper was not able to stop Villa’s relegation from Division 2, but quietly re-built the squad and by 1974 had built the nucleus of a side and a youth policy that would hold Villa in good stead for another 5 years. Unfortunately Crowe was not able to get the best out of those players, and with Villa seemingly stuck in Division 2, Ron Saunders was brought in with marvellous results.
1982, February – Tony Barton. The club’s former assistant manager took over after Ron Saunders walked out of Villa Park and seamlessly took Villa forward to win the European Cup the same year. Unfortunately for Barton, Doug Ellis took over as chairman the same year and Villa’s opportunities for further success were cut back. Barton stood his ground, however, but was forced to leave in 1984.
1994, December – Brian Little. Little took over from the former popular manager Ron Atkinson who had generally raised Villa’s profile over the previous 3 years. By this December, however, Villa were in 20th position out of 22. Little was able to bring about a recovery and took Villa through a couple of promising seasons.
1998, February – John Gregory. Brian Little voluntarily departed even though (at 15th place) Villa were not greatly in trouble, and with the same squad Little’s former assistant Gregory motivated the side to only two defeats for the rest of the season. Villa finished 7th.
2002, February – Graham Taylor. John Gregory, tired of disagreements with Doug Ellis, unexpectedly walked out when Villa were in a comfortable position in the league table. Graham Taylor took over for a second sojourn at Villa Park but also became discontented and vacated his post in the summer of 2003.
The omens for a mid-season incoming manager are generally good. Apart from the years 1958 and 1970, a mid-season change of appointment has been successful.
UTV
The Author
John Lerwill
I'm a Villan of more than 60 years standing and an occasional writer on Villa history. For me there is only one football club worth supporting, but I am now wondering whether I will again see anything like the pageant that was paraded under Ron Saunders or even that by Big Ron and Brian Little. My glass, however, is always half-full! Click here for my Villa website.Comments 89
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
JL
Nice piece , I can see the comparisons to previous campaigns and managerial changes.
In relation to this year and the question your leader poses, NO it’s not too late, but it is going to be very close.
I honestly believe if Lambert would have stayed we would have certainly gone down.
At least now we have a fighting chance, it’s going to be difficult and we still could do with those around us giving a helping hand. Our home form from here on in is crucial as on paper they offer the greatest opportunities of picking up wins and points, our away fixtures don’t, other than Sunderland and Newcastle still very tricky , but the likes of City, UTD,and Saints who are all in the top 4, don’t look like games we can do too well in, we don’t do well in Manchester .
But we simply have to believe in Sherwood, and get behind the lads in the run in, even those of us that want to hit Lerner in the pocket, staying away is simply cutting of your nose to spite your face, we have more chance of Lerner selling if we stay up!!
UTV SOTC
After reading that you realise that the board, in all its different forms, has often been to blame for Villa not pushing on.
Excellent post John – as ever, you show your encyclopaedic knowledge of the club, and add a great depth of knowledge to our site.
It’s great knowledge and brings back memories.
All though Thr Ron Atkinson season finishing 2nd was incredible i did like the Little years with Gregory as assistant. Dream Team.
Yorke really became world class then.
yes andrew,great memories,great managers,one of my favorites was tommy doc.great times up the holte it was electric and emotional in those days.vtid.
John, I understand your looking at managerial changes during the middle of the season, which excludes Billy McNeill’s disastrous time at Villa. I think anyone who was watching Villa at that time would rather airbrush that whole period from Villa’s history: McNeill’s only noteworthy achievement was that he took 2 teams down from the top flight in the same season for the first, and possibly, only time.
I think there’s plenty of time for Tim Sherwood to make a difference and I’m less concerned about relegation now than I was 10 days ago. Longer term, no one knows but we need to get through this season and let the future take care of itself.
As for Brian Little, he actually took over on 25 November 94, and his first game was a couple of days later against Sheff Wednesday.
Welcome Greg and Rob.
Another top leader John and very encouraging.
Andrew P,
We were dropping like a stone under Lambert just like we did with McNeill, no fight, no excitement, nothing.
Very good points B62, a bit disappointed with Sundays gate given the cost of tickets and Lambert being booted, I certainly hope the fans back TS, reading all the blogs i’d say 99% are positive.
Rob,
Agree about the Doc, the Southampton games were superb especially the home replay and taking 15,000 to Spurs for a night game was unbelievable.
Andrew P,
McNeill’s entry to Villa Park was in September, 1986, so he doesn’t quite fit into the category of those that came in “mid season” – hence why I didn’t mention him!
Apologies for the slight error re: Little.
… and Houllier also arrived in September (appointment effective 20th Sep).
Steamer, you’re right and it was grim. We’d won the European Cup 5 years earlier: you look back now and you scratch your head and wonder how it happened, but at the time it just seemed inevitable. That’s why I can never understand it when people say we were better off under Ellis. I remember going to Man United at the end of that season. We took loads up there and there were fans waving black fans. McNeill had already been sacked but he hadn’t got a clue.
John, I know and I acknowledged that, and no problem re your slight error!
Andrew P,
Yep, there have been some strange times at VP … apart from the years between 1974 and 1984 and 1989 to 2000, there’s not been a huge amount to shout about since WW2, apart from just the thrill of following your team…
… but we still say Villa are a “sleeping giant”. All I can say is that the giant must have had a spell cast upon it!
John, football has always been fairly cyclical until recently. A decent manager, a few top players and some luck along the way and you could move mountains. Now it takes £100 millions of oil money on top to even get close to real success. That said, currently we’re 1 win and 2 penalty shoot out successes away from our first FA Cup in my lifetime.
AP,
When Villa last won the cup (in 1957) it had been 37 years since the previous win and we thought then “that’s too long a time”. Now it’s been 58 years since 1957!
Do we remember about 12 years ago when Man U came to VP in the cup and we were at one time leading 2-1 and missed a chance for 3-1? Then they brought on van Nistleroy as sub and it soon became 2-3. I feel that since then we’ve hardly tried in the FA Cup apart from 2010 when we got to the semis. It’s about time we got to another final at least.
Nice Leader John, Nowhere to go with that other than just see what Sherwood can do with what he’s got… onwards and upwards…
On another note…
Sherwood said today: “Carles and Gabby are fit. Gabby was on fire today. Everyone is flying and can’t wait to get started.
So Gabby’s gonna get picked… fingers crossed it’s upfront where he can run in behind Benteke… He’s not a winger!!! he’s barely a footballer lol
Thank god carles is fit! 2 backroom staff appointed.
Gabby certainly owes us fans to do something…..anything!
On paper he is a defenders worst nightmare……quick, strong (too bloody big now) but unfortunatly he is shite.
If TS can get him running direct at the def then it may help tekkers out.
Kojak could play this season…
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-libor-kozak-could-8679662
Terrific read as always John – it’s always good to get an overview of what has gone on in the past and you are the expert .
You don’t say whether you think it is too late though ! !!
I have no doubt we will avoid the drop now a new mgr has been appointed . We have better players than the relegation strugglers : they were not being managed to their best.
In his press conferences he sounds like a. He is raring to go and b. he believes he can do it, There is no doubt , no fear and an air of supreme confidence .Towards the end of PLs reign , it was painful to see him going through the motions with not an ounce of belief or conviction in his words .
The effect this new found exuberance and enthusiasm will have on the players could be phenomenal IMO. They have been given hope and he is a strong leader – that much is obvious. They will feel like different players .
It’s great to see the buzz back at AV and I think we will beat injury bound Stoke . I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gabby scoring a few. He usually puts it on for new managers .
I like this quote from his press conf
‘You don’t burn bridges with players. You can’t afford to do that. They’re paid a lot of money by the football club and it’s an asset you’re pouring down the drain.’
And so say all of us .
Short term – Tim is the medicine that ailing Villa were crying out for . It’s going to be an exciting end to the season .
Jenny,
Ah, you’re putting me into a corner, eh? 😉
Well, firstly, the trend of past events (as listed) seems to indicate that changing manager at this time in the season is not necessarily a bad thing and therefore I am made optimistic from that standpoint.
But I am optimistic also from the point of view that TS is a +ve spirit, and that’s what we certainly need between now and the end of the season.
My view on PL (amongst other things) was that he seems to have been too concerned with playing techniques and systems when it was crying out for a man with vigour to motivate the players – with a kick up the pants where necessary. There is enough ability in them, it just needed to be drawn out.
I feel that TS can do that – i.e. draw out their talent and determination.
Well it couldn’t go on could it, we’ve had lamberts painting by numbers and now we are going to get ts’s freestyle hand painting. It will be interesting to see what he does with footballers that have forgot how to play effectively. I like the way he goes about things but I remain unconvinced until I see our players play quick balls around the oppositions box and develop the ability to find space and offer more than 1 option to the man on the ball, oh and effective crosses,dead balls, corners……..I wait with baited breath
I cant be excited about words. Lambert was saying the same kind of things.
Until i see good winning football i wont hold my breath
One thing that still bugs me, why did Delph sign a new contract? Lambert was going nowhere and yet he was excited by the future. Since then he’s been crap what gives?
No room for fence sitters here john 🙂
steamer,yes went to saints 2-2 and 2-1 at villa,and wagged school for spurs away,remember fans taking spurs end.thousands of us what an attmostphere,gave them a good game,lost 3-2,broadbent and i think barry hole scored .also a great night man u in cup semi 2-1.those were the days.
It’s all rather odd Mark – Sherwood being seen at VP several times previously – Delph signing and the big fanfare .
I’m not excited by words either Andrew – like you say , we’ve heard it all before. I can see how his energy and enthusiasm will give the players the lift they desperately needed . Once they’ve got their mojo back it’s a case of doing the talking on the pitch .
mark k
delph has always been poor couple long shots last year against soton wba and other than them only 0ne v chelsea none this season or assists either,if he england quality then england are v poor side
Jen Sometimes villa is more like a murder mystery than a FC
Can you imagine fox winking and tapping his nose to Delph behind Lamberts back 🙂 the whole dropped into the bottom 3 clause sounds like poo to me too
I don’t think Sherwood is a liar. From what I saw at Slurs, he’s very honest.
Can’t wait for the next few games but remember he said the villa we now might not be the villa we see next season.
442 and we will fly. Suits our players. Even gabby might do something
Mark- new owners. The only thing he’d sign for is if he promised a bright future
James can’t disagree he’s no Gerard or Robson, he’s not even a Wilkins 🙂
Frem I have no problem with him I like what I’m hearing sounds genuine enough and I understood him big bonus. It’s our players collective football amnesia I find a problem.
Amazing how yesterday Gabby was out for the season, and now suddenly overnight, he is fit, perhaps he found something in his shoe?????
Some more great facts there JL
I read that concrete ron has come out and said that he is not interested in a contract at villa — fairplay to him -he has made himself a household name by coming to the prem but i bet he has never seen such a shockingly run club in is playing career
PP,
Are your computer keys sticking ? i think overnight should be overweight and fit = fat, what he found in his shoe is probably some KFC.
Runtingz,
Disappointed if true, i think he’s a good influence on the team, i can’t see a top English club coming in for him as his injury problems seem to be getting worse.
Jen,
Yes, it seems something was going on before he was booted, but IMO he deserved what he got and more besides and i’m not talking money.
I think it’ll be tougher than some folk think tomorrow even with Storks injuries. I’m going for a one goal win.
Rob,
You had to be there didn’t you ? i’d say our fans were easily the noisiest in the country at the time, the Holte was a cauldron, you could even feel the foundations vibrating some games. Gordon Hill, the old MU winger said he hated playing at VP because ‘they had this massive end that made communication impossible and spewed out hate.’ Whatever happened ?
Rob,
Welcome are you any relation to Mike, titter titter.
John,
Some good managers in that little lot and some shockers, a recurring theme of managers walking out of VP makes you wonder is we have been our own worse enemy.
I think after Lambert it would be difficult not to be energised with the approach of TS I used to dread Lamberts press conferences where he would trot out the same old stuff and use the word excellent far too many times for my liking, in fact in his three years in charge I fail to see anything that I would describe as excellent.
Hopefully this is a the start of a new era and not another false dawn, lets see if Lerner and Fox back TS in the summer when he will need to do some business to avoid another relegation battle, which brings me nicely onto Vlaar who at 30 and injury prone can go wherever he likes, yes he has played well but if these players do not want to commit to Aston Villa then my opinion is get rid.
AVFC A NEW HOPE
Have backed us at 7-4 with Stan James. Stoke’s defensive injuries are beyond horrendous and we have the feel good factor of playing at home with a new manager. Stoke lost their last match 4-1 to lower league opposition. Even without my claret and blue tinted specs, there is good reasoning for this bet at such a big price.
Although I rate Guzan highly, I would let Given stay in the team after a world class display against Leicester. Guzan has looked a bit ropey this year and a kick up the arse wouldn’t go amiss. Keep him on his toes.
No need to change the defence but I would prefer Sanchez to Westwood and Gil to Bacuna, despite his wonderful goal.
Sherwood is likely to go 4-4-2 with some width, so Sinclair on one flank and Gil on the other would make sense.
Benteke and Gabby up front.
Given
Hutton
Vlaar
Clark
Cissokho
Sinclair
Delph
Sanchez
Gil
Benteke
Agbonlahor
I think that team with 4-4-2 and an optimistic crowd will be decent.
Have a feeling Frem will enjoy the width that this manager is likely to utilise. 🙂
SWV,
Well, that’s an interesting point – “… in the summer when [TS] will need to do some business to avoid another relegation battle”.
I for one feel that we have not yet seen this squad play anywhere near their best, and if TS can draw that quality out of them, it will be interesting to see how much modification is needed come summer. There *will* have to be a change or two, I’m sure, but maybe not as much as we fear.
We can only wait and see…
I agree John. This is a team with mid-table capabilities that is underperforming due to a total lack of confidence and playing in a system that didn’t suit them.
Of course, the manager must always strive to improve the quality of the squad and judging by the comments made when TS was appointed, it looks like we will be reverting back to developing young players. This is a good thing if Carles Gil is the type of young player we can pick up.
The reason the development of a young squad didn’t work under Lambert is that a) he didn’t have the required wage budget to buy quality. b) the balance was all wrong.
Fine make the nucleus of the team young players but every team needs at least 3-4 experienced Premiership players. I think Lambert did bloody well keeping us in his first 2 seasons. It is this season where he has failed badly. Time to move on. Am looking forward to us having a manager that is keen to use width. Villa Park has always been a ground where wingers can excel.
I have no issue with 4-3-3 merchants like Lambert but I think it is a bad fit for our football club. The idea of Sinclair on one wing with Gil on the other and Benteke having a strike partner excites me as a spectator.
Steamer , Hill and Copple – the days when football was exciting and top notch players were ten a penny
I really like Ron Vlaar , i think he carrys himself in a classy way and has been surrounded in speculation for some time know , but has never disrespected the club and i hope he decides to stay – we have 2 very good young centre backs that are developing nicely but with concrete in the mix as well i think that would be a very good look for the club going forward
B62
l have just found out the fight tomorrow is being streamed worldwide , type , BAMMA 18 ,, chris miah is my nephew , most of his fights are on youtube ,
Runtins
think lv fucked up dropbox , will be in touch later , (
dropkicked my laptop yesterday as it was playing up , so on the big thing in the study , think thats how l ballsed it up mate ,
also Hill was an annoying cocky git , but was still a top player ,
have a good weekend all ,
jenny xxxx
SWV nice one ,sorry cant put my hands up to that. Steamer.could be this all seater thing ,certainly takes a bit of the fun away. first time this season i havent renewed,hurts but couldnt take it no more ,but getting the urge again now that twats gone.my son and grandson still go.shame grandsons had to start off with watching crap.still upwards hopefully , come on you lions. .
st75 sure we can sort something over the weekend
TS has got a difficult few months ahead of him assessing players like Helenious, Robinson, Stevens and Gardner, he won’t have much time to watch them. Theirs centainly some dead wood at VP that can be shifted but some of the staff haven’t exactly had much in the way of opportunity. Possible bargains to be seen on Ebay will probably include – Steer, Stevens, Helenious, Bennett, Lowton, Baker, Cole, Bacuna, Westwood and Vlaar, possibly Senderos and Sanchez, hopefully Scabby and Weimann. Of course some are on ridiculous contracts awarded for services not rendered so it will be difficult for TS, what a mess Chubby and Lambert have left behind them.
I’d like to see a squad of –
Guzan, Given, Siegrist.
Cissy, Hutton.+1
Clark, Okore, Baker, Vlaar, Sendeross.
Sanchez, Delph, Bacuna, Grealish, Gardner.+2.
Benteke, Gil, Robinson, Helenious, Burke.+2
I think TS will have a mooch at loans, he’s got a lot of contacts and Spuds especially are overloaded with talented but under achieving players, whatever comes in though must be of a far higher standard to what Lambert signed.
Vlaar is by far our best defender…need to keep him and play him.
It’s a must win game tomorrow , imagine a defeat and other teams do well, all little positivity vanishes.
B62
NIA 24th April . put in your diary mate , hope the little un is ok and keeping you busy ,
Well,
enjoyed reading loads of positives, and as Andrew has said, tomorrow is a must win. A loss would be unthinkable.
So lets hope that Tim and his Aston Villa Foresters will come good tomorrow and bag the gold.
Liked the pun “Fifty saves of Given”……
me and steamer are going to see the new Susan Boyle film this afternoon , “50 shaves a day “
PP,
“Aston Villa Foresters”! 🙂 … I like that. Let’s hope they take an axe to the opposition…!
Some blogs reporting that Agbonglahor has said that ‘he saw Lambert off’ on something called a podcast.
Kevin McDonlad assistant manager.
Clever from TS.
Never thought about it.
Afternoon all, good appointment by Sherwood. Kmac knows the club and a lot of the players and should fit in nicely. By all accounts he’s a good coach too. I remember before Houllier came the players backed him to get the job permanently which says a lot.
KMAC back, Is Sherwood made of Teflon, he’s doing everything right so far. Media focus back on the club but in a good way, great back room appointments. Gabby will now going for the salad option in KFC.
All we need now are the results, picking a good time to play a tough side like Stoke given their injuries/suspensions. Prayers being said for a one nil win. Quarter Final on my birthday, the omens are good for the best birthday present in x number of years I’ve been around.
Roll on the weekend
UTV
Wonder how much he knows him personally though?
Onto the Stoke game and for the first time in a long time Im excited and optimistic. Think the Sherwood factor will get us the win, hopefully we will start quick and get that first 15 min goal we’ve been missing for a looong time.
Given the situation and Stoke’s defensive woes I would go for a 3-4-1-2 formation.
Given
Clarke
Vlaar
Okore
Sinclair
Delph
Sanchez
Bacuna
Gil
Weimann
Benteke
In not really a fan of the formation but I think in this instance it can work pretty well. Bacuna for me deserves another start, both him and Sinclair would have to work hard up and down the pitch. But I think we could penn Stoke into their own half and they wouldnt expect it. Gil to have a free role and go wandering around the pitch. Weimann to start in his preferred position, as TS has said. Benteke to grab a couple goals to end his drought.
3 – 1 imo UTV
Chuffed about KMAC, i knew some of his players and they never said a bad word about him, some folk aren’t cut out for the top job, not his fault, but he knows the set up at VP and i’m confident he can tell TS a few things about the players that will make his settling in period easier.
Ree,
Looking at Sinclair on Sunday and i think TS has him down as a forward. Thats certainly an attacking team that Lambert wouldn’t put out. Folk were impressed by Clevs reaction, what do you think ? sign or not ?
Steamer, he came on as LW though. He did get into that central position for the goal and come to think of it he would actually make a good second striker to partner Benteke. He has speed, decent touch, much more ability than Weimann/Gabby, finishes well and can pass too. Maybe its time for a re-invented Sinclair? The only problem is then we would be left with no natural LW. Gil could play there but he’s not your typical winger.
Cleverly impressed in the second half comparatively, since he’s been sh1te all season. Half a game does not impress me. For me Sanchez > Westwood > Cleverly. We’ve all heard TS doesnt like specialist DM’s but tbh Sanchez, although he is a specialist in that role, is not the type to just sit back. We’ve seen him go forward a lot, sometimes to our detriment. I do think him and Delph and our best CM partnership though.
Agree with Ree about Delph and Sanchez. They haven’t played together many times and it would be interesting to see what develops if they have a run of games together. Also agree with Droyd that 7/4 against us beating Stoke looks like value. I’m on. Also also agreed with the appointment of Kevin Macdonald which seems like a hugely sensible decision by someone. God knows there haven’t been enough of those at Villa in the last few years.
Only thing that bothers me at the moment are SWV’s sign offs.
AVFC Return of the Chip Fed Brummies
I was concerned somewhat about continuity (hence my being a little surprised about Marshall’s departure), but the appointment of Mac is far, far better and solves the continuity issue in one stroke.
And, although Mac was around Villa Park for a long time, he’s still only 54 – plenty of time to help TS build the new era at VP.
Bloomin ‘eck … this all should have happened at least 2 months ago. Stingy chairman – he just wanted to make sure he didn’t have to give away £10m! 😉
At last we have a steady, reliable, sensible, respected number 2.
All this should of happened in the summer
Utterly brilliant PR from Sherwood to appoint KMac.
How it will work with him as a number 2 I have no idea but already Sherwood has managed to tap into what is going to get the fans on his side. Lambert never had any understanding of this.
Sherwood, whatever his managerial credentials is exactly the sort of character we need in the here and now.
Have to agree with everyone so far, what a great appointment, Kevin Macdonald back at the Villa….I think this will be Gordon Cowans influence, a no brainer , if you think about. They have both worked together for years at villa, and Gordon was Tim’s mate….He now has a strong team around him, who will all be pulling in the same direction, for the first time in many years. Tom is turning out to be a very wily old “Fox”…!!
Tom and Tim look like they could really take this club forward now. I am still certain that Fox did not come to Villa without good reason…I still think that there is things afoot behind the scenes.
Continuity, thats the word, durgghh.
However, KMAC is a Jock.
It is looking far better isn’t it ? all we needed was a little common sense, an acknowledgment that the fans do actually know a little about the club and do care far more than the absentee owner.
Just to celebrate a bit more, my new found enthusiasm has caused me to re-vamp my Villa site – in particular the home page but a couple of other bits as well…
http://www.lerwill-life.org.uk/astonvilla/index.htm
Copies of the Nutshell book are still available, btw! 😉
All we need now are results. The next 5 games will determine our season. Absolutely massive. I urge you all to get behind the mighty Villa by buying tickets and singing your hearts out.
I’m off to London for the weekend.
🙂
Good call PP, wonder if Sid would be a decent DoF ?
Tell you what John, the club is cutting its own throat by giving you the deaf, We could have had a fantastic museum generating decent money, websites the lot. Perhaps Fox may reconsider the clubs position. It does disappoint when some tiny little club, thats contributed little to soccer opens one while the most historical club in England can’t get its act together.
BTW, I saw a photo on someone’s FB last week of the Blose effort, it looked like a fishtank with a snooker trophy plonked in it, priceless.
Steamer,
The reluctance to move things at Villa when I was there gave me a great deal of frustration, I assure you. A museum was a cert money-maker, but it was tied in with the development of the North Stand and car park … which of course hasn’t happened. But the size of the museum they had in mind was puny really.
Excellent choice by Tim Sherwood of KMac. I always wondered why he went so suddenly and doubted it was by choice . Unlike Paul Lambert who gave the appearance of wanting to throw out everything “before his time ” -which is a sure sign of insecurity and naivety . It shows that Tim S doesn’t feel threatened by the old timers and recognizes their inportance and what they can add . How useful KMac will be particularly as there is no time for TS to learn the ropes . I’m really impressed by this appointment .
It shows intelligence and confidence.
John – your time will come too .
Steamer – good luck to your nephew : I hope he doesn’t get hurt .
JL,
The last time i went in the Holte pub it was virtually deserted, when Lerner first took over both the Holte Suite and the pub were chocca, so why not convert the pub ? its got lifts ( sorry Randy, elevators ) and a decent sized downstairs as well.
It’s also going to make him popular with the fans and the players / a win win .
Jen,
Dunno about popular, less hated possibly.
fantastic appointment kevin mac we are getting a proper workable unit together at last.welcome back super mac.
Sorry, thought you were talking about RL and the museum.
Hows the little fella ?
Steamer,
(sorry to break off)
The Holte Pub was considered way back but there were too many H & S concerns (as always!).
The KMac appointment reveals a bit of common sense being used by Sherwood and or the club.Small steps toward regaining our self respect as a football club.
Now let`s have a new club crest which states the name of the club and the year we were formed please,not a kitten playing with a snowflake ,and BMH should be name after one of our past greats,and by that I don`t means the knob whose name is on the Witton Lane Stand.
Have a lovely weekend all Villans wherever on the globe you find yourselves.
COYVB.
Allan Evans thrown his name in the equation for the defensive coach.
What a great week or so. The club finally starting to look like it knows what it’s doing. Fox may not be so bad after all. Kmac back is very nice. Players liked him.
So we will have 2 coaches, plus Sherwood and an assistant ?
3 points tomoz please Villa to rap it up
B6B,
Yer only saying that because yer off to Rio for carnival you jammy so & so.
Frem,
Isn’t your pal a Stork fan ? might be your turn to take the Michael after last year.
Yes Steamer he is. Hate Stoke to high heaven. If they beat us and we go down, he will say it was them who sent us down. Remember when we were 2 up against Stoke, and ended up drawing 2-2, he still says that was the game that fucked our champions league up.
I’m hoping to say if we win, that it was the game that kick started our survival 😉
They have a lot of injuries so we should win. God I hope do because in all honesty, if we don’t win at least one of Stoke or Newcastle, I think that’s us down. 4 points needed minimum
Steamer
Carnaval was last weekend ,plus Mon and Tues of course.
Steamer – no KMac will be popular 🙂
Pundits have us down to win tomorrow . Now Graham had led me astray on the gambling front I will look at the odds for Teckers scoring a hat trick. If Lukaku can do it this week so can our lad .
An ideal first game – Stoke’s defence being injury ridden and the new belief and optimism – and Stoke aren’t battling relegation . Prediction 3-1
steamers get on villa to finish in top 10 18 to 1 on bet fair stoke are 10th and we are 11 points behind them that will be 8 after tomorrow and we will drop to about 10 to 1 get on now 18 to 1 great price
New signing lined up for close season ?
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/02/20/report-aston-villa-take-belgian-striker-on-trial-transfer-plan/
Sherwood don’t lack self confidence does he!!!
Westwood apparently to be axed which I’m surprised at if we were to play 442. Clev to be on the bench and Sanchez to start ( according to mirror) so I’m guessing it won’t be 442 which is a shame. Bacuna I guess will start with Gil and Sinlcair wide and Benteke up too. 433 again?
I’d hope we’d play two up at home and get Bacuna and Gil wide to supply the two strikers
Sports Mole has reported a statement from Graham Taylor:
Former Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor has urged American owner Randy Lerner to consider slashing his asking price for the club.
It has been widely reported that Lerner, who owned the Cleveland Browns until 2012, was looking to offload the Villains and has rarely attended matches in recent months.
However, Taylor believes that the 52-year-old would be acting in the best interests of the club, if he were to reduce the price.
He told The Mirror: “I worked for Doug Ellis and whatever one says about him, he cannot be described as a non-football person. You cannot run a football club by phone from the other side of the Atlantic and that is what Lerner is trying to do.
“I don’t know who is on Aston Villa’s board, how it’s run, no one does.
“All I can ask is that things are sorted out quickly. You’ve brought somebody in, but it might be too late Mr Lerner.”
GT seems not to be a fan of RL!
Whoops, GT’s talk was (in lengthier form) first in the Mirror:
“Aston Villa is a rudderless ship,” said Taylor, who also had a second spell as manager and served on the board. “It is all over the shop.
“When Randy Lerner took over I was impressed. I thought he was going to show me that these billionaires could come in and successfully run the show.
“I thought Villa had done well and there was a plan. He has put a lot of his own money into Villa, but I began to be disturbed when people like Steve Stride, the best football club secretary I have ever worked with, left.
“At that point I thought something had gone wrong. Changes have been made that have not been for the good of the club.”
Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images Tim Sherwood is unveiled as the new manager of Aston Villa at Villa Park
New man at the helm: Tim Sherwood has taken charge at Villa
Lerner, 52, bought Villa for £64million and has added over £100m to the bill since but runs things via internet and phone from his home in New York and rarely goes to games.
The Villa owner put the club up for sale in May saying: ”I owe it to Villa to move on, and look for fresh, invigorated leadership, if in my heart I feel I can no longer do the job.”
He was looking to break even, but would now take £150m – with Taylor encouraging him to slash even that price for the good of the club.
“They are nice people at Villa, but they are not football people,” said Taylor whose family home is only a few miles from Villa Park.
“You have non-football people making the appointments. Do they understand what they are doing?’
Lerner’s right hand man is chief executive Tom Fox whose background is in business after five years as Arsenal’s chief commercial officer.
Doug Ellis, who is 91, sold the club to Lerner and Taylor said: “I worked for Doug Ellis and whatever one says about him, he cannot be described as a non-football person. You cannot run a football club by phone from the other side of the Atlantic and that is what Lerner is trying to do.
“I don’t know who is on Aston Villa’s board, how it’s run, no one does.
“All I can ask is that things are sorted out quickly. You’ve brought somebody in, but it might be too late Mr Lerner.”
John,
Interesting comments from GT, it has been well documented that the problems within the club are due to it being run by non footballing people, let’s hope this is now about to change.
On a side note how can I purchase a copy of your book?
Muz,
Thanks for your enquiry, mate. Please go to http://www.lerwill-life.org.uk/astonvilla/nutshell.htm to purchase via a PayPal procedure. It will come to you via the post.
John,
Thanks mate, will order today.