Now before the Nigelettes go rushing for their pom-poms and ra-ra skirts - this is not meant to wind anyone up nor to be provocative - but Roberto Mancini's abject failure in reaching an FA cup final and securing a Champions League spot (second place finish!) following on from the previous season when he won the title and the one before when he won the FA cup - shows how precarious a football manager's job can be: So if our owners decide that Nigel's performance this season has fallen below their expectations who would you like to see come in? You get 3 each - but have to justify them. Here's mine as of today. 1) Martin O'Neil - proven beyond doubt and currently out of work. 2) Neil Lennon - may just want away from the intensity of 'old firm' and woul bring a wealth of knowledge of Scottish players 3) Darren Ferguson (my 'wild card') - the escape job that so narrowly failed was admirable and built with peanuts for resources - what impressed me more was his ability to get results against the top clubs once he had the momentum going. With my crafty head on, I also understand that he knows a bloke that could provide some expert knowledge and guidance and has some excellent contacts and credentials in the game.
Darren Ferguson is ****. He took Preston down and Peterborough twice MON shouldnt come back and every other realistic replacement is worse then Nigel
1) Chris Powell - Knows the club, respected in the game, excellent job with Charlton, players would like him and play for him, would attract quality players. 2) Chris Powell - As above. 3) Chris Powell - As above.
Darren Ferguson has had no money at either Peterborough or Preston - he's had to make do with loan signings, kids and geriatrics on the whole. His record against the play-off contenders this season Cardiff - Peterborough won both games 2-1 Hull City - drew at home 1-1 won 3-1 away Watford - lost 1-0 away won 3-1 at home Brighton - lost 1-0 away drew 0-0 at home Crystal Palace - lost 3-2 away lost 2-1 at homey Leicester City - lost 2-0 away won 2-1 at home Points against the top 5 = 14 Our against the top 5 = 11 (and we had a tad bit more to spend)
please log in to view this image If he was to go, i'd go with: 1) Neil Lennon - Has taken over as my number 1 mainly because of his recent success, this is also the reason that i think this guy is a pretty unrealistic ask and (as FF keeps banging on about ) he seems like a manager who would be able to turn around a bad run. I dont want him to bring players from Scotland, Gordon Strachan showed at Mboro that it doesn't work. 2) Martin O'Neil - Prem managerial experience, possible player loyalty from the prem willing to work for him, but at the same time, it could sour our previous bromance with him. 3) Billy Davies - seems to have the drive of this league, wanted him before Pearson returned and he has done little wrong to change my opinion about him. EDIT: Chris Powell is also a good shout, joint 3rd
Not necessarily disagreeing but - Finished 3 points behind us on probably less than half of our budget - beat us both home and away. What do you base your assertion on? If you are brutally honest, it can only be 'gut feeling' ... or the 3 point differential ignoring budgets etc.
Good shout for all the reasons that you give - plus, he can obviously motivate players on the evidence of Kermorgant's season.
First choice would always be O'Neill, Sunderland his only blip. Second would be the soon to be unemployed Pardew. Injuries have dealt him a rough hand this year but don't think that will save him. Third is a lottery.
You're a young lad Jack - so you probably were not around when a bloke called Wallace - Jock (not William now) came down from Scotland to Filbert Street bringing in the then virtually unknown, Gary McAllister, Ali Mauchlen, Bobby Smith (RIP), Alan Young, Iain Wilson and Jim Melrose. Promotion and an FA Cup semi final against Tottenham followed... so if, you know, your history (I feel a song coming on)... Further - last Saturday a young Scotsman named Moloney totally commanded the midfield battle against Man City's superstars in an FA Cup final - where did Wigan get him from? - Celtic.
Scotland is a completely different league from way back then grandpa This is why chiefs from all the clubs are having crisis meetings to reform the league, as for players like Maloney, every country has stand out players, like Skrtel for Slovakia. He finished 11th, 6th, 6th and 6th with Villa in that order. Yes, i bet Villa fans would never want to get back into that mess
You are of course right Junior - in that it is a completely different environment - but forgive me, haven't Celtic just achieved the best ever Champions league finish for a Scottish club? ... or is my altzheimer's getting the better of me?
Yes, you're right, those top 10 finishes were pretty rubbish - was a good job that Houllier, McLeish and Lambert have taken them to their rightful place... (although fair play to the latter who isn't doing too bad a job IMHO) ...
Well yes, but only 3 of the regulars for Celtic are Scottish, so actually, to get them as far as he did in the Champions league is a miracle!
Agree even if he was at Watford as a fan, it shows that he really cares about us. But if he was scouting talent then he can sod off back to Scotland, the summer will tell in regards to his agenda. The fact is in the modern game, you haveto be willing to spend money in order to succeed, unless you have a David Moyes. Lambert has taken Villa and has done what Pearson has done in this division (bear with me, im talking squad not money), hes reduced the wage budget and bought in a young squad, costcutting measures that almost cost them their premier league status. Its not like clubs aren't making millions from ticket sales, TV rights and sponsorship. My prediction is that Everton will fall next season, no-one will be able to bring the same success to Everton on the same budget. EDIT when i say fall, i mean lower down the league, not relegation.
Very rarely is it a manager that nearly bankrupts the club - he would identify targets but it is then the CFO and the finance team that do the deals ... and most Villa fans I know would love to have him back (although I sense that Paul Lambert is starting to win them over - subject to avoiding the drop of course)..
