If, as expected, an interview occurs with Roberto Martinez today, then we may see him unveiled as manager of Aston Villa in the near future. With papers giving actual quotes from Dave Whelan saying that permission was sought to approach Roberto, and his return from a family holiday for a reason, it seems likely that this will lead to his appointment.
In a week of reporting that has taken in many candidates from the ambitious (Ancelotti) to the ridiculed (McClaren), there is a public perception from a lot of people that Aston Villa don’t know what they are doing. This view, sadly, is echoed by groups of our support who seem to think Randy Lerner should be standing outside the gates of Villa Park reading out a list of his targets.
Favourites – Every day the media gives us a new one
Every day we have seen a new favourite installed. Ancelotti, Hughes, Benitez, McClaren, Turvey. Ok maybe not the last one, even though I saw it tweeted out by people. The list has been so long that I’ve literally given up trying to look at odds. Why? They form no marker with which to judge the new manager’s potential for taking over. In short, the bookies haven’t got a clue. All they can do is watch where money was being spent, and on who. Couple that with monitoring social media for cues on who might take the job and, obviously, statements from the managers involved, and they move accordingly. It’s got quite ridiculous – at one point O’Neill was being voiced as an option on TalkSPORT. We know THAT isn’t going to happen.
I could sit down and rationalise who I want in charge. I could sit down and try to second guess the mind of Randy Lerner. I could do a lot of things, but most of these ideas don’t really achieve anything. They don’t because there is essentially a blackout at the club which means my guess is only as good at the next one.
Pure opinion – What do I want?
What I will do is state what I want. I, all along, have vaunted Ancelotti as the ambitious target, and Martinez as the more realistic one. Some fans will slate my choice of Martinez as unambitious or as a risky appointment, but I stand by my choice for my own reasons. Roberto plays good football, plays with flair, is a fantastic motivator, find quality foreign youth as well as developing existing young players, interviews well, has a good and honest rapport with fans, and has success at taking clubs and making them over achieve. In short, he’s got all the good parts of Martin O’Neill and none of the bad ones. I’m not saying he is definitely going to get the job – I’m not the board after all – but I’d certainly be delighted if he did. I am, however, saying what I think is the best choice for Aston Villa given our current circumstances. I could be wrong obviously, but this is my opinion – I’m not shirking it by switching between choices on a daily basis.
Detractors will say he only just avoids relegation with Wigan, but the reality is this – Wigan are punching above their weight. Their hopes next year are based on finishing above QPR, Wigan, and Swansea. Given QPR’s spending power, Wigan might just slip into the bottom three this year. Now might be as good a time to get out as any.
Other people questioning his appointment will say it is a risk – taking on a manager who hasn’t managed a top club before. However, I’d rather gamble on a manager who might do well, rather than managers who just do the same kind of thing with the same kind of club. I’m looking at you David Moyes.
Of course employing an unproven manager is a risk. What appointment isn’t a risk after all? On paper Gerard Houllier was a great manager, but between things under his control (tactics, man management) and things not under his control (injuries, player revolts), it didn’t work out. Employing someone like David Moyes or Owen Coyle isn’t going to guarantee success. Remember Allardyce at Newcastle? He didn’t take off immediately and paid the price for it.
Whoever gets the job will get a handover from Houllier as he still lives in Birmingham, but Martinez may get more. He might get a man who can stay behind the scenes and help him develop into a top class manager with a top class team.
Success starts somewhere
All managers have to start their success story somewhere. Where better than a club that is screaming out for success after all these years. We’d take a league cup, even if lowly old Blues won it last year. What we want is silverware to go in our cabinet. Of course we want to improve in the league too, but we really could do with a cup to shut up some of our detractors and give us something to smile about.
Martin was welcomed as a messiah. Roberto may not get the same mob welcome, but he may well turn out to be more of a saviour of Aston Villa Football Club than Martin O’Neill ever was.
The Author
