Steve McClaren

[CorkVilla]

Apologies if this has already been discussed. Apparently 'we' cost Steve McClaren the Villa job:

https://www.balls.ie/football/aston-villa-364675

[Taylor]

To be perfectly honest I would have preferred him to Mcleish.

[cheltenhamlion]

Was McLaren not actually in the running when Houllier got the job or am I getting confused?

[West Derby Villan]

No McLeish I think

[PeterWithesShin]

I'm sure it's been said from decent sources that it's bollocks and McLaren fecked up his interview and talked himself out of the job. Fan power against him doesn't stand up to any scrutiny considering they appointed McLeish instead.

[Steve67]

Well said PWS. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story eh brolly Wally?

[SoccerHQ]

To be perfectly honest I would have preferred him to Mcleish.

Given the job he did at Newcastle he'd have probably struggled to even get the 38 points TSM did.

[joe_c]

I'm sure it's been said from decent sources that it's bollocks and McLaren fecked up his interview and talked himself out of the job. Fan power against him doesn't stand up to any scrutiny considering they appointed McLeish instead.

Yes, I heard similar, came across as desperate for the job.

[olaftab]

Yesh datsch right Schtefe.

[The_Rev1]

Agreed with all the previous comments, I remember it being somewhat newsworthy at the time but it seems Martinez was first choice and then the board made it perfectly clear upon appointing McLeish they didn't give a crap about either footballing philosophy (how can you go directly from Martinez to McLeish with the same squad? They are polar opposites in how their teams play) or what the fans thought.  That said, I met McLeish once and he came across as the most charming man in the world, he's a genuinely lovely bloke.  I'm guessing he interviews very well and he aced the interview and got the job, but he should never have been on the shortlist.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Yup and yup. What PWS and others have said. We had nothing to do with it. Sorry Mr. McClaren, if you want someone to blame for your career decline take a look in the mirror.

[alftitimus]

The Lerner regime faced more of an "Oh Jasus..." --- sigh when it was leaked that McClaren was shortlisted.
I believe he never reached the Interview stage.

With McLeish however, it was more than a sigh, it was almost mutiny.
Placards and Bedsheets on the steps, social media comments going viral.

BUT -- the Lerner Regime saw fit to appoint McLeish in face of the biggest backlash from fans in our History. So that actually proves that "fan-power" was not a factor.

[Nelly]

Would it have been worth it for the inevitable Brummie accent from 'Stoive' Mclaren?

No. Probably a decent coach and he did do well with Middlesbrough but that was a long time ago.

[SoccerHQ]

In context at the time he'd won the Dutch league with Twente in 09/10 and then was sacked from Wolfsburg in January 2011 after an underwhelming spell.

Just another poor name on the shortlist though. Our previous four seasons we'd finished 6th, 6th, 6th and 9th. Oh to have on the board back then someone with the nous Southampton did who could attract Koeman and Pochettino when they were fighting relegation battles and selling half their team to Liverpool.

[Jon Crofts]

Yes, but just imagine what he could have done with Randy's money.