A number of Aston Villa fans have turned to social media to laugh off speculation that the club are targeting Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe as a potential replacement for departed manager Steve Bruce.
The Villans sacked the former Hull and Sunderland boss last week and were without a permanent figure in the dugout for the 2-1 defeat to Millwall over the weekend, and their hunt for a replacement is ongoing.
The Daily Record have claimed that Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers features highly on their shortlist as they look to arrange talks with the Hoops man, but that Howe, who is impressing with the Cherries in the Premier League this season, is a new name among the potential candidates.
Many Villa fans could not believe what they were seeing when linked to the 40-year-old, and took to Twitter to voice their reaction to the speculation.
This is Futbol has gathered a selection of the supporters’ tweets:
https://twitter.com/PaddyMcConway/status/1049256571413454852
Eddie Howe ?no chance https://t.co/zGdLcSgjll
— Price (@jayrobinson96) October 8, 2018
Eddie Howe ? his team are in the top 4 of the premier league ffs. Some reporters ?????????? https://t.co/LCj5sD3y4j
— James Acaster (@BiggieGriffiths) October 8, 2018
Eddie Howe is a waste of time. No chance he would join us. Absolutely none. And Rodgers said "yes" in an interview last night when asked about if he was ruled out. #avfc
— Chrsmo (@Chrsmo) October 8, 2018
Eddie Howe ?? https://t.co/2wAJcHeLdJ
— Monchi’s Moolah ? (@AVFCTranstweet) October 8, 2018
Eddie Howe ?! ????? they literally make this stuff up don’t they #avfc https://t.co/IVhT23ht2r
— Jake ? (@Jake__Villa) October 8, 2018
Eddie Howe ahahaha, more likely to be United manager https://t.co/i4T8dDHxMo
— Jude (@jude_avfc) October 8, 2018
Eddie Howe???
Who the hell keeps coming up with these names FFS!
Why would he want to leave a team that is currently 6th in the Premier league? #BeRealistic #AVFC— Simon H (@smnhndmch) October 8, 2018
Opinion
The Villa Park faithful are absolutely right to question Howe’s name as a potential replacement for Bruce, for there is very little reason for him to move to the club. Yes, Villa’s history is greater than the Cherries’ but he has been in charge of the south coast club since 2012 and has a fond connection with the fan base and the board – not to mention his side are flying high in the Premier League. Villa obviously want to be ambitious but there is looking to take themselves to the next level and being unrealistic, and a hunt for Howe certainly falls into the latter category. It is good to see that the supporters are seeing this for what it really is rather than getting excited about his potential arrival, for there would have been plenty of hearts broken if they actually believed they stood a chance of appointing him.