and the market closes soon anyway so he won't really have to do anything until January which gives him plenty of time to learn up.
I had doubts about Kevin Keegan, Alan Shearer, and Chris Hughton operating individually in the transfer market let alone Bob Bradley. I like the DOF set-up because it removes some pressure on inexperienced managers and lets them concentrate on match results. Keep in mind the European transfer window is more complex then just sending over a faxed offer sheet. You need to have connections with agents, players, and other managers. Also I don't imagine having an American manager will be seen as a positive by many European players so a well known DOF might help get some players on board.
heavy sarcasm. Bookies need names. Names attract bettors because everyone has some horse in the race. But, make no mistake, Lerner and O'Neill have turned Villa back into a sub-CL/Europa League level club, steps above someone like Fulham. And, considering that all the alleged Fulham interest in Bob was a pile of rubbish, chances of Bob making it to Villa Park have to be very slim. Between the bookies and the gossip columnists, there are enough vested parties to stir the shit up just to leave people with something to talk about.
Most English fan still equate the DOF-manager setup as small time. They have this romantic ideal of every club having this genius pitted against another club's genius pulling all the levers of power to lead the club to glory. Its terrible organization. Martin O'Neill has been better than many, but the strong manager role has led some clubs into real financial hardship. If they hadn't been rescued by new ownership Roy Keane might have run Sunderland into insolvency. Portsmouth will be paying for Harry Redknapp's tenure for a long time. Chelsea are the most prominent example of club which follows a pretty strict NFL style heirarchy separating the business of the club from the game management of the club. With money becoming tight, and clubs having to closely configure their purchases around the new EPL roster rules I think you are going to see more clubs adapt the NFL model.
Heard from a reliable source that Bob is going to be annouced as Villa's coach tomorrow at the Brasil game. Also, the leading runners for the USA coaching spot are currently siggi schmid and Jurgen Klinnsman
And another important question is why Aston Villa would reveal their new manager at an international friendly in the United States instead of, say, at Villa Park?
I saw on SSN just now that Manchester City is the only team in the Premier League with a higher net spending than Aston Villa since Martin O'Neill took charge of the club. And a lot of O'Neill's signings have underperformed. If this was a power struggle over transfer funds, I might have to side with Lerner on this one.
Bradley has already been mentioned as the #1 candidate on Sky News this morning. First story on the lead in to the commercial. This was the news and not Sky Sports News.
I guess every person in Britain loved or loves MON, but I think he did a poor job given the talent. Ibangawhore, Young, Young, Milner, that ginger what failed at chelsea etc etc, the team was stacked with just the right veterans, speed, and youngsters to be very good.
The general feeling I'm getting from the twitter feed on google is that Villa fans are not big on Bradley at all..
You'd think so, it is pretty comical reading the comments from some of these people. Its along the lines of, "I don't like him, I don't know why, but I just don't." And as usual, even the respected English press are printing ridiculously misleading titles, such as "Bradley would love Villa job: Bob Bradley has confirmed he would be keen to coach in Europe after he became the favourite to become Aston Villa manager." Of course inside the article there is NOTHING that hints at him even talking about the job, just rehashed quotes from before the WC even started about one day wanting to coach in Europe. I will never bash our press after being misled so many times by their rags.
It only takes a couple of wins in the first several games to convince them. They aren't really going to like any new manager, so this isn't a big deal.
Aston Villa start search for Martin O'Neill replacement http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/8899765.stm
Fulham interest wasn't rubbish. He was definitely among the small group of candidates that they considered before deciding upon Hughes. This is confirmable by several sources.
http://sports.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/Next-permanent-Aston-Villa-manager-e214358634 BB at 3/1 and Sven "I'll take any job because I'm a whore" Erickson at 5/1. On another note, I have a feeling Capello may resign soon. He may be a long shot as a replacement for BB. He's getting very frustrated with the English footballer attitudes.
the problem is that it is team that has been competing for Euro-places, and has now been strip-mined of talent. The new coach will last 10-12 games and then be fired. I am not sure it is a good gig. Fulham was a much more stable situation.
Bruce... I just dont see it that way... there is loads of talent left on the squad... Milner is way over-rated and the sources say that he is leaving for 18million GBP + Ireland coming the other way...seems a very good bit of business... If they hold on to Young and Gabby... they would be in no way shape or form a bottom 10 club still...
Where did he say that? I've seen him say he was "presented" for the job, whatever the hell that means (as far as I know that means his agent told Fulham he wanted to be considered for the job).