With ongoing fall out at Aston Villa over both our results so far this season, our performances and manager Steve Bruce’s words about the fans – that’s actually three things isn’t it, damn my intelligence – conversation amongst the fans has already turned to potential replacements and plenty have eyes on Brentford and Celtic.
With some debating which former manager of ours would’ve handled this squad better, others still backing Bruce and plenty recognising what he has achieved with us and improved during his time at the club, there are two clear front-runners based on what I’ve read.
Brentford’s Dean Smith has long been a go-to based on the attractive and largely productive football his sides play – we all saw how they took us apart and they’ve done that plenty of others as they skirt the Play-Off spots in the last few years.
The other is Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers especially in light of his more recent comments given their start to life and summer transfer window issues.
Whilst neither receives a 100% of the proverbial vote, I can see the positive and negatives of both – and of course, other names and managers are available and a number believe a manager in the ilk of Hoffenheim’s Julian Nagelsmann should be the type of gaffer we now approach – he’s already pre-contracted up though I believe.
Taking a gander around social media, there’s certainly a groundswell about Rodgers if we can get the Swansea City version and not the Liverpool, and it reflects largely the comments on the Vital Villa Forum – usual caveats apply, language, disagreements, ugly people etc.
I’d welcome Brendan Rodgers with open arms if it could be done #avfc
— clare villains (@VillainsClare) September 24, 2018
Smith would take a couple of seasons, would likely want to revamp the squad. Not sure many of our fans have the patience.
— Scott (@CaptainScott87) September 25, 2018
Fancy coming to @AVFCOfficial mr Rodgers ? #avfc https://t.co/1DK7XgzjcS
— Harvey Bassra (@harveyavfc95) September 23, 2018
Come on back down Brendan Rodgers, we'll gladly have you #AVFC
— Luke Kitson (@DirectSnap_LK) September 23, 2018
If we think Bruce is arrogant..Rodgers is a whole new level. Rodgers isn't exactly tactically great either..
— Stuart Doyle (@StuartD_1982) September 23, 2018
Exactly. Replace one idiot with no tactics with another one!!! Give your heads a shake, lads!!
— audrey lynch (@LynchLyncha53) September 23, 2018
No way!!! Villa need someone younger with new ideas, someone hungry to make it in the game, football has changed and these guys need to change too
— Mark Burke (@markyb0611) September 23, 2018
There's plenty of young people out there. Look the change Stevie g has to Rangers. Rather someone like olof mellberg than rogers.
— Mark Burke (@markyb0611) September 23, 2018
Are they the mad few?