McLeish meets fans - notes from MM...

[Ger Regan]

How many were there? No offence but a couple of fanzine editors isn't really meeting the fans is it?

How else would it be possible to get a reasonable spread of opinion from villa fans in a fairly short space of time? He's already said he'll be doing more fans forums, when others will be able to get his views and hear his plans.

[Steve67]

IVE JUST READ THERE WAS ONLY 5 FANS THERE LMAO. 5 "YES" MEN BY THE SOUNDS OF IT.

Turn you caps lock off, it's one of the buttons on the left of your keyboard, change your user name and get with the picture. No way are any of those who attended "yes men".  They represent our feelings and thoughts and I for one trust them.

[Toronto Villa]

How many were there? No offence but a couple of fanzine editors isn't really meeting the fans is it?

how many should he have met? What would have been an adequate number in your opinion? He's offered to do fan forums also. He met fans of Aston Villa so by definition he has done as he said he would.

[Greg N'Ash]

mebbe but it does come across as a PR exercise. Like some of the things he said but the reality is he doesn't have to convince people like Woodhall or Fear. Not that they are convinced.

[McleishOUT]

Might as well have met with 5 nodding churchill dogs.

[hipkiss92]

mebbe but it does come across as a PR exercise. Like some of the things he said but the reality is he doesn't have to convince people like Woodhall or Fear. Not that they are convinced.

But considering they run Fanzines you'd expect them to have a good idea of what a lot of fans are thinking and hopefully put that across to AM.

[Ger Regan]

Both were pretty open with their disappointment with the appointment, so not sure how they could be considered yes men. What would you have liked, a summary execution? Tarred and feathered? What? Or are you just coming out with childish nonsense?

Also, it's funny how you complain about someone having a go at you for "having an opinion", yet when other villa fans give their opinion on the new manager, they must be yes men. Strange that, isn't it?

[Toronto Villa]

mebbe but it does come across as a PR exercise. Like some of the things he said but the reality is he doesn't have to convince people like Woodhall or Fear. Not that they are convinced.

what kind of PR would it have been had he not met with them, or ignored Villa fans altogether despite the protests? Damned if you do...don't you think greg? Whether any of us agrees or not the likes of Woodhall and Fear help run fan websites so in some respects carry the opinions of users of those sites to the club. I'm sure they presented the concerns that we all share in a civillized manner. Which is exactly how it should have been conducted. Unless you think in front of a full house at VP, each member of the crowd armed with a tomato would have been more constructive?

[Greg N'Ash]

mebbe but it does come across as a PR exercise. Like some of the things he said but the reality is he doesn't have to convince people like Woodhall or Fear. Not that they are convinced.

But considering they run Fanzines you'd expect them to have a good idea of what a lot of fans are thinking and hopefully put that across to AM.

yeah but again your guilty of thinking H & V or Villatalk is the voice of the fans. The ones that will try to drive him out probably aren't even on here. He said he was impressed by Woodhall's knowledge of Rangers - the people who he has to convince don't care about Rangers, or know anything about them

[Toronto Villa]

mebbe but it does come across as a PR exercise. Like some of the things he said but the reality is he doesn't have to convince people like Woodhall or Fear. Not that they are convinced.

But considering they run Fanzines you'd expect them to have a good idea of what a lot of fans are thinking and hopefully put that across to AM.

yeah but again your guilty of thinking H & V or Villatalk is the voice of the fans. The ones that will try to drive him out probably aren't even on here. He said he was impressed by Woodhall's knowledge of Rangers - the people who he has to convince don't care about Rangers, or know anything about them

greg - what constitutes the "voice of the fans". It's no different to democratically electing a politician to represent your area. He/she may never represent the views of every constituent, but it's the best system we know to give an objective view for the majority. While Dave wasn't elected as such, and I am sure would never claim to represent all views, he was still likely able to convey the feelings, hopes and concerns of most of us.

[paulcomben]

Sheesh. Roll on the start of the season and football matches to judge, rather than this silly bickering about a very interesting initial post.

[not3bad]

Fine. Is this better?

Mcleish out !!

Do you not think it would be sensible to wait until he loses a couple of games before you use that name?

[PeterWithe]

Seems a load of sabre rattling to me, if Downing wants to go he will do, most of Blues players are shit?, yeah we know eck, thats why you got them relegated. Dont tell us, show us.

[Summers]

SOUNDS LIKE A BUM-FEST TO ME. THE PROOF WILL BE IN THE PUDDING.

I FUCKING LOVE PUDDING.

[Ger Regan]

yeah but again your guilty of thinking H & V or Villatalk is the voice of the fans. The ones that will try to drive him out probably aren't even on here. He said he was impressed by Woodhall's knowledge of Rangers - the people who he has to convince don't care about Rangers, or know anything about them

I'll ask again, how would it have been possible to gather a group of villa fans this quickly to an informal meeting? And again, he'll be conducting fans forums later on.

And I don't think he really has to convince the extremist (and, to be honest, idiotic) nutters like McLeishOUT to give him the space to make a good go of the job. He has to convince the disillusioned fans such as Lee, Fletch and the likes that he actually might be up for the job. I've yet to be convinced, but at least he's started the right way.