The Tinkerman Cometh To Villa!

Reports in today’s Mirror suggest that ex-Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri will be heading to Aston Villa IF David O’Leary is sacked.

Ok, I’m not sure there is an ‘IF’ in the departure of David O’Leary, if I was him I’d be walking at the end of the season, but if he ends up with a lower points haul that our worst Premiership (45 under Graham Taylor) then surely that will be reason enough for Doug to wield his often unwelcome axe?

The only way I can see David O’Leary surviving is if a new group do finally take over Villa and they decide O’Leary is the future. They might have some explaining to do to convince the fans, but they ‘might’ be able to do it?!

Anyway, the report says that Ranieri is next in line. You have to ask, why? What would the original ‘tinkerman’ have to tinker with at Villa? Are we really to believe that Villa have already made the decision that they need a new manager? Are we then to believe that this board, who seem to be only capable of reactionary actions, not pro-active decisions have drawn up a short list? To stretch it further, are we then expected to believe that this short list has been leaked BEFORE the news of the current managers departure?

Thought not. Interesting though. Seems the press are beyond the ‘will he leave?’ and have moved to the ‘who will replace him?’ phase! Shame we aren’t at the same stage with Ellis.