Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Concrete John on June 16, 2011, 08:50:15 AM
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Simple question:- presuming this does happen what would it take for Randy and McLeish to get you behind them and show that things may not be as as as we expect? This isn't as simple 'as sign loads of players' or 'win loads of games', although both will feature in mine below, but more the PR stuff that will get people thinking positively again.
Here's my three step guide:-
1. Front up the fans. The last thing they should do is hide away and limit themselves to press conferences and club statements. In a past life I ran a call centre and when doing training I always said "If someone wants to complain - let them!" They'll get angrier if you try to tell them they're wrong and it's therapeutic to be able to get it off your chest. So arrange some kind of fans forum and have AM there to explain his ideas, what he plans to do and answer our questions and doubts. This will show he's a strong and honourable man and start the him on the road to actually being liked.
2. A big signing. As much for ST sales as anything, lets have something to look forward to on opening day. It would also mean us talking about a player we all rate and are delighted we have, which gets us talking positively about Villa again, regardless of who the manager is. They could do a lot worse than bringing Jimmy Milner back in this regard.
3. Win the first game. Nothing gets fans happier than 3 points, IMO. But this would also need to be a convincing win woth a few goals scored, which would start to dispel the expectation of dull defesnive football. Obviously difficult and if we get Man Utd away unlikely to happen.
So that's it - front up the criticism, give us a new toy and deliver a good result. Do that and the atmosphere will change for the better!
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my expectations are so fucking low now that avoiding relegation next season will be a result.
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I am on side. I hope he does very well. I can't see why any Villa fan would not want that. If it all goes well, this will be forgotten. The issue is partly that lots of us clearly think it is not going to go well, and partly that if it goes badly, we're going to hit the ground with a very large bump.
I don't think the fans have lost their enthusiasm, I think the problem is it looks as if the board are starting to lose theirs.
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Nothing works better than winning games.
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my expectations are so fucking low now that avoiding relegation next season will be a result.
Normally I would dismiss this sort of post as silly etc but I have to be honest that's my feelings at the moment. Might be a good season then. If we start with this expectation then anything better will be a bonus.
Oh Villa, why do you do this to me and others ?
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I am on side. I hope he does very well. I can't see why any Villa fan would not want that. If it all goes well, this will be forgotten. The issue is partly that lots of us clearly think it is not going to go well, and partly that if it goes badly, we're going to hit the ground with a very large bump.
I don't think the fans have lost their enthusiasm, I think the problem is it looks as if the board are starting to lose theirs.
Kind of agree, but I think it's more to do with ££££'s Paulie.
Randy is hiring a Manager used to working on loans players and low budgets, and he won the CC on that strategy - I think Randy likes that.
I will totally back the board and certainly look on the positives, but I fear the days of spending big ( unless funded by selling big) are over under RL.
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I'll never stop wanting Villa to do well, buit that doesn't stop me thinking that Randy is an arse and that this is a mental appointment. Still, it's his money that he's inherited, if he wants to piss it up the wall like the know-nothing spoilt rich kid that the Browns fans think he is, he can carry on.
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Well I renewed my season ticket weeks ago but am embarrassed by this whole affair. I will look forward to seeing my team as always but really unsure as to the style of play they will be lumbered with. Am thinking a poorer version of MON. To get me back on side I'd like us to play attacking football and I'd like some people with a real feel for the club perhaps ex players to be involved at a higher level. And overall can we please do away with this cloak and dagger communication from the board.
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I don't think the fans have lost their enthusiasm, I think the problem is it looks as if the board are starting to lose theirs.
Spot on. Most of us fans can't lose our enthusiasm as its ingrained and developed through years and years of devotion.
It looks to me like the board have lost the spark of running Villa and are now just looking to bobble along in the way we did so successfully under Doug.
I'm sure that attendances will initially drop and season ticket sales are going to suffer a little, but through time I suspect most will be back out of a sense of duty, devotion or call it what you will.
One thing is for sure though, its going to take a little more than refurbishing a pub this time to repair the damaged trust.
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If appointed and does a 'David Unsworth' a week later.
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Reluctantly I will be showing my support to the manager. My support for the club and players WILL always be there. As for AM, i think he is under pressure from day 1.
1) Avoiding relegation is the minimum requirement.
2) Improving on last seasons 9th finish is another,
3) signing some quality players is another.
4) Giving players like Ireland and Warnock a second chance and see if they can improve the team.
5) Making use of the youth plyers that have broken into the senior squad - Albrighton, Bannan, Clarke
6) Being clear with the fans on the style of football he will be playing
its a tough ask for him but hope he proves us all wrong and is successful
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Public statement to say he doesn't have a clue. Assuming of course it is AM.
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He starts with a clean slate for me so I'll judge everything on merit and not on what has happened in the past.
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1. Full apology for the debacle of the last few weeks
2. No more sales of our best players in this window
Then they have to prove us wrong about Mcleish and get a top 6 finish. I'll be astonished if it happens though.
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I'm on side anyway- I look forward to his press conference and to seeing his transfer business , it's a new and exciting era as far as I'm concerned and he deserves every chance to succeed before being judged.
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Good question really, As a fan I hope if / when he is appointed he does well obviously.
I'd like to see a good cup run and back to challenging the Top 6 or Sky 4, a lot to ask given our predicament at I just can't see the brand of football being entertaining with McLeish at the helm and nothing I've seen fills me with confidence.
But hey ho nothing surprises me with the Villa any more and I guess that's why I love supporting the Claret and Blue UTV!
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Apologies aren't going to happen, and would serve no purpose anyway.
If they're going to make this appointment, then they are clearly going to face the consequences if it goes tits up as many seem to expect.
The flip side of that, though, is that we in turn have to hope for the best and support the team, which is what I suspect most of us will do. Then, when it does go to shit, we can say, with heavy heart, "well, don't say we didn't warn you..." confident in the feeling that we at least did our bit
Anything else and we're just adding to the problem.
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He starts with a clean slate for me so I'll judge everything on merit and not on what has happened in the past.
Sensible and is the only way to go.
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For me it's simple he improves on last seasons league placing and wins us the FA Cup. I'd also appreciate us battering Everton home and away as they're fans have really got my goat throughout this saga.
Surely AM saw the scenes at Villa Park on the tele and has read the press reports - the fact he still wants to be our manager suggests he is really hungry for it. This determination could work for us if we give him a chance - I'm prepared to wipe the slate clean and support him.
I've never had a problem with Randy before this but it will take a bit of time and something extrordinary for him to get back onside - free tickets for a home game? ;)
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Give him a chance before judging him- that's all I ask.
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If appointed, and I'm still waiting to be woken from this bad dream, I wil harbour no ill feelings towards McLeish. He is being offered a kind of job he must have never thought he would get after he got Birmingham relegated for a 2nd time. He will do his best and I will wish him all the luck.
However, I dont know if Randy's reputation can survive this appointment. Yes, he has done a lot of good for the club and invested money. But when times are good it's easy to be a good owner. The first error seems to have been Faulkner who seemed to 'rock the boat'. Then we had the fiasco that was the Houllier appointment (not forgetting the summer where we sold Milner for Ireland and a few quid and got no one else in).
He needed to get it right this time and has failed in spectacular fashion.
Never in the history of the Premier League will a manager take a job under so much pressure and with so much ill feeling towards him. We are like the new Newcastle.........sorry, I just took it too far!
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Clean slate for me too. Has to be - anything else will be counter productive.
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First things first, no players that we need out of the door.
Make a clear and concise statement to the press that the crown jewels of the club are going nowhere and you will at least start with a clean slate.
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The most disappointing thing about appointing McLeish is not that he’s
a bad manager, he isn’t. It’s not that he plays defensive football.
That’s not a crime. It’s not that he’s come from our closest
rivals. Who cares?
It’s that it lacks inspiration. It sends out a signal that Villa
have accepted their place in autocratic meritocracy that is football as also-rans.
There simply to make up the numbers.
And that’s the nub of the protest we witnessed last night. The euphoria
that greeted Randy’s take over has now gone. And fans aspirations have
gone with it. When you take football fans’ hopes and dreams away
there is nothing left.
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the fact he still wants to be our manager suggests he is really hungry for it.
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Or just like the majority of managers and players - greedy
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the fact he still wants to be our manager suggests he is really hungry for it.
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Or just like the majority of managers and players - greedy
Exactly, if it goes horribly wrong and he is sacked after 2 months he will get huge compensation. It's a win-win scenario. I don't really have a problem with Mcleish himself, he's hardly going to turn us down is he? It's Randy Lerner I have an issue with, his choice defies logic and reason.
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I think a few days in the stocks outside the Holte Suite having rotton fruit thrown at him to atone for previous jobs should about do it, then I'd want two tickets for the Brazilian National Mime Theatre at the Riverside Studios and a complete set of steak knives.
Then and only then, I'll reluctantly give him the first half of the opening game of the season before starting a 'McLeish Out' chant, or more likely tutting to my brother and fucking off down the King Edward.
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The most disappointing thing about appointing McLeish is not that he’s
a bad manager, he isn’t. It’s not that he plays defensive football.
That’s not a crime. It’s not that he’s come from our closest
rivals. Who cares?
It’s that it lacks inspiration. It sends out a signal that Villa
have accepted their place in autocratic meritocracy that is football as also-rans.
There simply to make up the numbers.
And that’s the nub of the protest we witnessed last night. The euphoria
that greeted Randy’s take over has now gone. And fans aspirations have
gone with it. When you take football fans’ hopes and dreams away
there is nothing left.
I said something very similar on the Generals thread (another forum before I joined here) to bread confidence you need inspiration and this imo has neither.
I'm still in shock that in 14 days all the good intentions between the board and the faithful have been thrown out of the window.
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I agree with everything Mac said above. Spot on. But we'll have to make the best of this new order. We have little choice. We are still Aston Villa.
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The ambition has gone for me.
Let's hope he gets a good start , because If he doesn't , the crowds will quickly dip and the rot will set in ( just like Liverpool ) . It's just a steady Eddie apointment for me who will sign Steady Eddies to keep us in the league .
I'm very disapointed at the moment , when I was a season ticket holder and watched the dire football in the old second division with the likes of David Hunt etc , I just carried on , it was our club and no one was telling me any pretense. When RL took over , I was seeing ambition and a future for us , I had never felt so excited , it's just this morning my body has drained of it all..
I support Aston Villa. Good luck to him .
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He starts with a clean slate for me so I'll judge everything on merit and not on what has happened in the past.
That just about sums it up for me although I understand why some on here feel differently. Please God, let's make some good signings and get off to a good start - I think we're all a bit weary of the bloodletting
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The most disappointing thing about appointing McLeish is not that he’s
a bad manager, he isn’t. It’s not that he plays defensive football.
That’s not a crime. It’s not that he’s come from our closest
rivals. Who cares?
It’s that it lacks inspiration. It sends out a signal that Villa
have accepted their place in autocratic meritocracy that is football as also-rans.
There simply to make up the numbers.
And that’s the nub of the protest we witnessed last night. The euphoria
that greeted Randy’s take over has now gone. And fans aspirations have
gone with it. When you take football fans’ hopes and dreams away
there is nothing left.
I see where you're coming from, Mac, but if Randy was just after the quiet life why make an appointment that will cause him so much grief?
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The most disappointing thing about appointing McLeish is not that he’s
a bad manager, he isn’t. It’s not that he plays defensive football.
That’s not a crime. It’s not that he’s come from our closest
rivals. Who cares?
It’s that it lacks inspiration. It sends out a signal that Villa
have accepted their place in autocratic meritocracy that is football as also-rans.
There simply to make up the numbers.
And that’s the nub of the protest we witnessed last night. The euphoria
that greeted Randy’s take over has now gone. And fans aspirations have
gone with it. When you take football fans’ hopes and dreams away
there is nothing left.
I see where you're coming from, Mac, but if Randy was just after the quiet life why make an appointment that will cause him so much grief?
Which brings us back to the sheer weirdness of this appointment.
If you look at what his intentions are, it is hard to see it making sense on any level, whatever his intentions are.
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Randy has waved the white flag and declared Villa to be a middle of the table at best side, we will be battling it out with Blackburn, Fulham and the like to get an eigth or nineth spot, we certainly are not chellenging the better sides.
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To answer the OP - for mcleish to resign.
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To get me onside, RL has to have the following in the contract:
Relegation cannot and will not be tolerated by anybody at Aston Villa Football Club. Relegation from the Premier League will automatically activate your resignation from the football club and no compensation will be paid.
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To answer the OP - for mcleish to resign.
So there's absolutely no way you'll ever support him, no matter how successful he might become (an unlikely scenario, granted)?
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Some enjoyable performances would be nice,lets not forget some of the dross we watched at VP last year.A couple of decent signings would placate a few people.I like the idea of a fans forum to enable him to get his thoughts on how we are to progress.
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Seems pretty clear that randy showed ambition if we did sound out ancelotti and others but sadly we are not likely to attract that calibre of manager in our currrent situation.
We don't know who randy went for so it's harsh to say he lacked ambition and I'd think it's pretty clear mcleish wasn't 1st choice originally but now he's here it's all aboard and ready for a new season and a new era.
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The most disappointing thing about appointing McLeish is not that he’s
a bad manager, he isn’t. It’s not that he plays defensive football.
That’s not a crime. It’s not that he’s come from our closest
rivals. Who cares?
It’s that it lacks inspiration. It sends out a signal that Villa
have accepted their place in autocratic meritocracy that is football as also-rans.
There simply to make up the numbers.
And that’s the nub of the protest we witnessed last night. The euphoria
that greeted Randy’s take over has now gone. And fans aspirations have
gone with it. When you take football fans’ hopes and dreams away
there is nothing left.
My thoughts exactly since we started talking to Martinez and to be honest since MON left. The "no longer sharing the same vision" line meant that MON wanted £££ to keep trying for Champs League, Randy didnt.
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If that fuckwit takes over at Villa Park I'm following Accrington Stanley
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I look forward to Randys explanation of why he and his team think AM is the best man for the job, and also what plans they have to make this apppointment a success, and i will take it from there.
Assuming they say all the usual bulls*it, bright future blah, blah, then he has to be backed, as any Aston Villa manager should be in his transfer dealings, any sign of penny pinching here and Randy will never recover from this.
Assuming he is backed in the transfer window, then we have to win games with good performances, and be sniffing around the top 6 all season.
AM will have to hit the ground running with results and performances as there will be no honeymoon period for manager or chairman on this one.
I fear it is too much to ask, but stranger things have happened.
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Winning FA cup and finishing top 10 would do.
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Beating Spurs at least once.
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I might be tempted by a two for one Villa mug deal.
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If that fuckwit takes over at Villa Park I'm following Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley??? Who are they?
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I look forward to Randys explanation of why he and his team think AM is the best man for the job, and also what plans they have to make this apppointment a success, and i will take it from there.
Assuming they say all the usual bulls*it, bright future blah, blah, then he has to be backed, as any Aston Villa manager should be in his transfer dealings, any sign of penny pinching here and Randy will never recover from this.
Assuming he is backed in the transfer window, then we have to win games with good performances, and be sniffing around the top 6 all season.
AM will have to hit the ground running with results and performances as there will be no honeymoon period for manager or chairman on this one.
I fear it is too much to ask, but stranger things have happened.
I think you'll be waiting a bloody long time.
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If that fuckwit takes over at Villa Park I'm following Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley??? Who are they?
Exactly!!!
(well, someone was gonna do it!)
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If that fuckwit takes over at Villa Park I'm following Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley??? Who are they?
Exxxaccccctly (in milk throated Scouse accent)
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I look forward to Randys explanation of why he and his team think AM is the best man for the job, and also what plans they have to make this apppointment a success, and i will take it from there.
Assuming they say all the usual bulls*it, bright future blah, blah, then he has to be backed, as any Aston Villa manager should be in his transfer dealings, any sign of penny pinching here and Randy will never recover from this.
Assuming he is backed in the transfer window, then we have to win games with good performances, and be sniffing around the top 6 all season.
AM will have to hit the ground running with results and performances as there will be no honeymoon period for manager or chairman on this one.
I fear it is too much to ask, but stranger things have happened.
I think you'll be waiting a bloody long time.
I'm not so sure - as has been stated:
1) If Randy was happy to allow Villa to become a middle of the road club, why make an appointment that's caused such a storm.
2) On this forum, the General stated that the new manager would be back as 110% by Randy. How would you interpret that as "we're giving him no money"?
3) In his Facebook 'rant', the General stated that Mcleish was not backed well at BCFC, so what would happen if he came to a club that was did back him well?
4) All the signs are that Villa did make enquiries about Ancelotti, but were turned down. Is this lacking ambition?
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To win me over top 7 and a cup semi final.
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I've decided to spin AM's record in my head in order to get onside. In three and a half seasons he managed to get Blose to their highest ever league finish (I think) and got them to win their first major trophy in a Wembley final. This is despite working for Gollivan and the crowd from Hong Kong. That, sort of, gives me a glimmer of hope.
It seems he has a very good relationship already with Randy, so, who knows, with stability, a game plan and ambitious financial backing AM just might produce the goods. His transfer kitty and subsequent squad building will be very interesting.
On a final note, I certainly admire AM's bottle and desire to take the job on. He knows the challenge ahead and all it entails - if we get behind him it just could be a better season than we imagine. I'm forever the optimist: if we get in the right quality of signings we can make another assault on the top six.
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Top six, winning all four derbies, and stuffing Blues in one of the cups.
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I'm a Villa season ticket holder and supporter and I always will be, but the board have lost my support.
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I'm already onside. Always have been always will be. If I was to throw a hissy fit over who the manager is, then it would have happened when Tommy Cummings was in the job.
I don't support the club because of who the manager is, but because it's Aston Villa Football Club.
That doesn't mean that I'm overjoyed with the likelihood of AM getting the job. But I can live with it.
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i'm still in shock that we are doing this. relegated twice, lowest goals scored,10 men at the back football, and to top it he's a nose.
If you was gonna take the piss out of villa fans for a laugh you would tell them i'm hiring mcleish.
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I'm a Villa season ticket holder and supporter and I always will be, but the board have lost my support.
Yes, my feelings about the Board have changed, too, in regard to their integrity, competence and general ability to put together a long term game plan for success. They seem to be ditherers and muddlers and certainly not the dynamic, blue-chip people I hoped they would be. I don't doubt for a second that Randy is an excellent man with many fine qualities (and I certainly don't doubt that he has a lot of feelings for Villa) but any thoughts I had that he could be the man to re-establish us as a very real force in the game have gone.
"Judge us by our actions" is something the General has written on a few forums...what else can be said? An interesting summer awaits.
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I've decided to spin AM's record in my head in order to get onside. In three and a half seasons he managed to get Blose to their highest ever league finish (I think) and got them to win their first major trophy in a Wembley final. This is despite working for Gollivan and the crowd from Hong Kong. That, sort of, gives me a glimmer of hope.
It seems he has a very good relationship already with Randy, so, who knows, with stability, a game plan and ambitious financial backing AM just might produce the goods. His transfer kitty and subsequent squad building will be very interesting.
On a final note, I certainly admire AM's bottle and desire to take the job on. He knows the challenge ahead and all it entails - if we get behind him it just could be a better season than we imagine. I'm forever the optimist: if we get in the right quality of signings we can make another assault on the top six.
Billy mate, this is what I want to believe and I am a "realist" (read hopeful pessimist)
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1. Front up the fans. The last thing they should do is hide away and limit themselves to press conferences and club statements. In a past life I ran a call centre and when doing training I always said "If someone wants to complain - let them!" They'll get angrier if you try to tell them they're wrong and it's therapeutic to be able to get it off your chest. So arrange some kind of fans forum and have AM there to explain his ideas, what he plans to do and answer our questions and doubts. This will show he's a strong and honourable man and start the him on the road to actually being liked.
John, are you going to post this in the General's thread? I think this is a very good idea.
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the fact he still wants to be our manager suggests he is really hungry for it.
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Or just like the majority of managers and players - greedy
Did I dream it but doesn't his wages halve in the Championship?
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1. Front up the fans. The last thing they should do is hide away and limit themselves to press conferences and club statements. In a past life I ran a call centre and when doing training I always said "If someone wants to complain - let them!" They'll get angrier if you try to tell them they're wrong and it's therapeutic to be able to get it off your chest. So arrange some kind of fans forum and have AM there to explain his ideas, what he plans to do and answer our questions and doubts. This will show he's a strong and honourable man and start the him on the road to actually being liked.
John, are you going to post this in the General's thread? I think this is a very good idea.
Hadn't planned on it as the last few questions I put in there didn't get answered!
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Free coaches to the Asia tournament, plus free tickets, free food, free accomodation (top class hotel mind), free beer, free scarf, free flag and regular executive relief (not from Randy or McLeish, the Donny Dog will do).
Upon my return, a new computer, free ST, plus free tickets and travel to all always. A seat on the board. A big bag of Revels. MoN's soul. Leo Messi in a Villa shirt. Stephen Ireland in any other shirt. To be told of all goings on concerning Villa so as I can be the new ITK King. A waffle iron. A cuddly toy. A life size fully interactive smurf.
For starters anyway.
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You turn because it is your club, love that club and in our case proud of its history and tradition. Every supporter turns up to support his team with a hope of maybe winning something but not everybody can be winners. After this you at least would like to be entertained. Its going to take alot to get me onside as I just can't see what his credentials are. Is this bloke capable of producing a team that can be entertaining? Yes start with a clean sheet but I fear the worst. Worst appointment (my opinion only) since I first stated following Villa 1974/75.
Shit, boring, negative football. If we end up scrapping for our Premiership lives I hope his team put in a better effort than his last team did at Spurs.
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1. Front up the fans. The last thing they should do is hide away and limit themselves to press conferences and club statements. In a past life I ran a call centre and when doing training I always said "If someone wants to complain - let them!" They'll get angrier if you try to tell them they're wrong and it's therapeutic to be able to get it off your chest. So arrange some kind of fans forum and have AM there to explain his ideas, what he plans to do and answer our questions and doubts. This will show he's a strong and honourable man and start the him on the road to actually being liked.
John, are you going to post this in the General's thread? I think this is a very good idea.
Hadn't planned on it as the last few questions I put in there didn't get answered!
I think, that as volatile as it might be to begin with, Alex Mcleish would probably go for that. I don't think he's the kind of man to run scared, and having managed on the Old Firm he'll know all about hostility. If he could answer the questions honestly, he would have every chance of winning some people over. Off course it ultimately depends on results, but he knows that, and no amount of PR will deflect from the one thing we are united in caring about.
The club do need to re-think it's approach to communication. I hope they are willing to learn something from this episode because it didn't have to go down like this.
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He's not "offside" with me. A decent signing or two and a good start to the season and we will all feel so much better.
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If that fuckwit takes over at Villa Park I'm following Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley??? Who are they?
Exactly!!!
(well, someone was gonna do it!)
I was worried nobody would spot it for a while!
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He doesn't need to front up the fans.
He's been appointed by the owner of the club. To him, it doesn't matter what we think, it is what Lerner thinks that counts, so why on earth would he feel he had to justify himself to us?
Besides, the only justification for this appointment we really need to see is performances on the pitch, surely?
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I'm in doubt. I'll wait what happens with the transfer stories and all that. Lets see what happens untill september, then i'll make up my mind.
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Hopefully he will bring the that goalie with him to, that would be a good start for me, other than that just win games and do his job well.
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He'll have to prove he's not going to play anti football for one, then show our better players that there is a future and were not going to just make up the numbers in the prem.
I wanna see some top signings, but im not going to hold my breath on any of them
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He doesn't need to front up the fans.
He's been appointed by the owner of the club. To him, it doesn't matter what we think, it is what Lerner thinks that counts, so why on earth would he feel he had to justify himself to us?
Besides, the only justification for this appointment we really need to see is performances on the pitch, surely?
No, he doesn't need to, but I don't think going into a new season with this kind of atmosphere is healthy for the club. By talking to us he can allay some fears and begin to feel like our manager and not their ex-manager. I think the other way to look at it is if they remain pretty silent between now and opening day, it'll come across like they're doing want they want without consideration for the fans, whereas some form of forum would show they care and want us to be onboard for the journey.
But I agree that the best wya to do this is to win games.
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One or two good early signings will work wonders. And perhaps a couple of deals are near as that would certainly take some sting out of the situation.
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A top 'keeper, a top replacement for Young and to convince Downing to stay.
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As the board don't give a flying f**k about the fans, I don't see how they can get me onside!
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But I agree that the best wya to do this is to win games.
Nobody is denying that, this is a results business. If Mcleish's reign starts with ten straight wins this will all be forgotten. But the chances are it won't start like that, and the more they can do to allay a poisonous atmosphere that could develop very quickly if things don't go swimmingly from the off the better.
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Firstly I have no problem with AM. He is an honest guy, a nice man and I will be giving him my support (I didn;t want him though).
As far as getting me onside my problem is with the board and the appalling way they have managed things in the last 12 months. My view is that we lack leadership and this stems from Randy not being involved enough in my opinion and his unwllingness to talk to the fans directly (whetehr via AVTV or the website, I am not syaing it has to be the press). What I think we need is for him to articulate what his vision is over the coming seasons, why he sees AM as being the right man to help deliver that and letting the fans know that he still has the passion and resources to support the club.
I would hope that Randy sees this as being needed and that he changes his approach and speaks tot he supporters more regularly
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1. Front up the fans. The last thing they should do is hide away and limit themselves to press conferences and club statements. In a past life I ran a call centre and when doing training I always said "If someone wants to complain - let them!" They'll get angrier if you try to tell them they're wrong and it's therapeutic to be able to get it off your chest. So arrange some kind of fans forum and have AM there to explain his ideas, what he plans to do and answer our questions and doubts. This will show he's a strong and honourable man and start the him on the road to actually being liked.
This is apparently what Sir Graham did when he took over at Wolves, had a meeting with the Wolves fans (that called the club to complain - 32 apparently) and spoke to them face to face. A great idea but it might mean AM would be busy all summer if he did the same.
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He doesn't need to front up the fans.
He's been appointed by the owner of the club. To him, it doesn't matter what we think, it is what Lerner thinks that counts, so why on earth would he feel he had to justify himself to us?
Besides, the only justification for this appointment we really need to see is performances on the pitch, surely?
I think he does, Paulie. And I think Randy needs to as well.
We need to be told just what the game plan is for our club. We need to know our targets and ambitions and the vision and philosophy behind getting there. Now whether they choose to do this through a large forum or (in my view a better way) through a meeting with maybe half a dozen representatives of the fans who could report back to us, I don't mind. Either way, morale would be much better if we all knew where we stood. This would go a long way towards us getting rid of the rudderless, leaderless stench that has set in these past fifteen or so months.
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unfortunatley,
it will take a top4 finish to get me onside ;D
tbh,i feel shafted by Lerner and co, it was obviously just empty talk
and when i see all the deadwood from last year that GH was going to get rid off all starting a fresh again, we are in for a very long season next year
maybe randy is trying to do a newcastle and recoup all his losses before he gets shot of us
if eck is our new manager, i think i will give this place a miss 8)
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I particularly agree with your point MIV about having to start all over sorting out the deadwood and the troublemakers. Those tasks alone are enough to test the mettle of a good manager and McLeish is far from that.
The only thing I am looking forward to next season is coming on here in November and December and trying to smoke out all these days' proclaimers of the new dawn and exciting future McLeish is going to bring to Villa Park.
The ones brave enough to put their heads above the parapet will get it right between the eyes.
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get a few decent signings onboard,keep downing and then win as many games as we can next season,thatl do me!
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As the board don't give a flying f**k about the fans, I don't see how they can get me onside!
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I particularly agree with your point MIV about having to start all over sorting out the deadwood and the troublemakers. Those tasks alone are enough to test the mettle of a good manager and McLeish is far from that.
The only thing I am looking forward to next season is coming on here in November and December and trying to smoke out all these days' proclaimers of the new dawn and exciting future McLeish is going to bring to Villa Park.
The ones brave enough to put their heads above the parapet will get it right between the eyes.
Looking forward to it already!
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I'm always onside in terms of wanting the team to do well. I would love nothing more than to be able to say what an idiot I, and many others have been come May.
I'm struggling though to find any sort of optimism for the forthcoming season. Best players leaving again, decent but not as good players coming in, a manager whose track record is mediocre at a very large push with a football philosophy that makes Sam Allardyce seem like Pep Guardiola.
It is imperative we get of to a good start, as things could turn even uglier come October.
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I was really enthused when Randy and co took over from Doug but the last few weeks, culminating in the probable appointment of McLeish, have made them and us look amateurish. I've now lost all faith in the board to make good footballing decisions, and the 'Bright Future' seems tarnished. I think the annual exodus of our quality players will continue and we'll struggle to attract players of similar quality. Mid table at best this season while we've still got Downing and Bent, but I really fear for next season. I'll still go to the games and support the team but I will have huge difficulty supporting McLeish. I sincerely hope I'm wrong.
For all the good work Randy has done neither he or Faulkner are footballing men and one way they could start to get me back onside is to recognise they could have done things better, and appoint a proper footballing man on the board, someone who really understands the game and the passions it arouses in the fans. Someone like SGT (but not necessarily him). Hopefully next time they get the opportunity to make a statement of this magnitude they won't repeat the ham-fisted debacle we've just witnessed.
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Steve Stride is perfect for the role, as others have mentioned before.
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Have been watching the Villa since 1962 and have witnessed many ups and downs - obviously relegation to the third was the major low alongside the boardroom dramas of the late 1960`s . Within 11 years of winning the 3rd Division we were European Champions - we never capitalised upon that and ever since we have beem mediocre with the odd League Cup and visits to Wembley. The arrival of Lerner et al was a breathe of fresh air displacing the stagnacy of the latter Ellis years.Like most of us I was swept along with all the " Proud History, Bright Future" talk. Some doom mongers at the time were shouted down and criticised for being negative.........Were they right all along?
I currently feel like I have been suckered in by the hype - What will take for me to be brought back on side - Easy, an appointment of a top quality manager, followed by the signing of several high quality players of the Bent ilk.
Does not look like that will happen - until then I will wait and see. As for season ticket renewal - I have until July 15th.
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I'm willing to give McLeish a chance and my support so I'm not sure if they need to get me back onside.
I have reservations and am not happy with it but I have to give him a chance.
What would go a long way to generate happiness and eradicate these reservations is some good signings and once the season starts decent results.
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From the football perspective:
A statement of intent with regard to existing players and new signings.
From the Club/fans perspective:
An acknowledgement of the fact that the process has been handled poorly. The most obvious move would be to shift Faulkner out.
I’m going to spend the summer pretending that nothing happens at Villa Park, cross my fingers for positive results in August and hope secretly that this is not a huge mistake but an inspired appointment – like all Villa fans worth their salt.
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A last minute winner away at The Sty in the cup, followed by running onto the pitch giving the 'double wankers' to the Tilton and kissing the lion on his chest.
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some very good points there lads,
especially the point about eck making sam allardyce look like pep guardiola
thats what keeps hitting me right between the eyes about eck
not the birmingham connection
but the utter dross Villa fans are going to have to watch next year
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A night's sleep.
I was bitterly disappointed with the selection process but having slept on it, I think he's preferable to both Martinez and McLaren. I'm pretty sure Randy will back him in the transfer market, like both previous managers, and he now has the opportunity to show that he can be a great manager.
He had a catastrophic end to last season but, had we swapped chairman with blues in January, I think he would have guided the scum to 9th and we would be the ones relegated. The fact that he wanted to sign Pav and Nzogbia and the fact that Houlier was able to sign Darren Bent lends weight to my argument
The boo boys now have an opportunity not to renew (please note I am in no way labelling all the people that do not renew 'boo boys') so hopefully those that do will get right behind the manager and club.
Now to enjoy the rest of the summer...
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It's unlikely that we are going to get CL football in the near future so i would at least want us to see some exciting and good quality football. If we finish 9th again and play some really entertaining football then I could live with that. I could put up with dull football if we win things. Sadly I can only see us getting dull football.
I won't be back on side unless we either win something or play entertaining football.
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Haven't read every post so apologies if i'm repeating anything.
Our new manager won shed loads of medals and caps as a player under Alex ferguson.
He took Motherwell to second place in the SPL.
He took over a Hibs side heading for relegation, brought them back up as champions then took them to a third place finish.
He won 2 titles and 5 cups in 5 years at Rangers at a time Celtic had more money.
He won 7 out of 10 games as manager of a limited Scotland side including some notable wins.
He took over a Blues side on the way down, brought them straight back up, took them to their highest position for about 50 years then won them their first meaningful trophy ever. He also then got them relegated although he did have an injury crisis.
I didn't want him mainly due to his relegations in England but he's our manager, he's obviously got some bottle (I don't buy the sugestion he's taking the job for a quick pay-off when it goes wrong) and I want the club to do well so he has my support. The fact that if he is a sucess with us it will stick in the throat of every Bluenose for eternity also appeals to me.
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Haven't read every post so apologies if i'm repeating anything.
Our new manager won shed loads of medals and caps as a player under Alex ferguson.
He took Motherwell to second place in the SPL.
He took over a Hibs side heading for relegation, brought them back up as champions then took them to a third place finish.
He won 2 titles and 5 cups in 5 years at Rangers at a time Celtic had more money.
He won 7 out of 10 games as manager of a limited Scotland side including some notable wins.
He took over a Blues side on the way down, brought them straight back up, took them to their highest position for about 50 years then won them their first meaningful trophy ever. He also then got them relegated although he did have an injury crisis.
I didn't want him mainly due to his relegations in England but he's our manager, he's obviously got some bottle (I don't buy the sugestion he's taking the job for a quick pay-off when it goes wrong) and I want the club to do well so he has my support. The fact that if he is a sucess with us it will stick in the throat of every Bluenose for eternity also appeals to me.
and his football is dire .. we will have to see
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Haven't read every post so apologies if i'm repeating anything.
Our new manager won shed loads of medals and caps as a player under Alex ferguson.
He took Motherwell to second place in the SPL.
He took over a Hibs side heading for relegation, brought them back up as champions then took them to a third place finish.
He won 2 titles and 5 cups in 5 years at Rangers at a time Celtic had more money.
He won 7 out of 10 games as manager of a limited Scotland side including some notable wins.
He took over a Blues side on the way down, brought them straight back up, took them to their highest position for about 50 years then won them their first meaningful trophy ever. He also then got them relegated although he did have an injury crisis.
I didn't want him mainly due to his relegations in England but he's our manager, he's obviously got some bottle (I don't buy the sugestion he's taking the job for a quick pay-off when it goes wrong) and I want the club to do well so he has my support. The fact that if he is a sucess with us it will stick in the throat of every Bluenose for eternity also appeals to me.
Blimey Damo, that reads ok. Your right he has got a lot of bottle to come here under such circumstances. I didn't want him but I have a lot of respect for the fella.
I hope that bottle rubs off on our squad.
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He starts with a clean slate for me so I'll judge everything on merit and not on what has happened in the past.
AGREE WITH THIS! we all should
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Make some good signings and not make us play anti-football.
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He took over a Blues side on the way down, brought them straight back.
On the way down? He joined them in November and had 25 games to save them. It's not as if they were doomed already.
What the hell though. I think it is a dreadful choice at the end of a farcical manager search in which we've looked very amateurish. Worse than that, though, it is a sign of dead ambitions.
Having said all that, though I blame the board for a bewildering appointment, I don't blame McLeish for taking it.
He seems a decent enough sort, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and get behind him and give him a chance.
As for the board, though, I've lost all belief in them, and I doubt that is ever coming back. Shame.
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He took over a Blues side on the way down, brought them straight back.
on the way down? He joined them in November and had 25 games to save them. It's not as if they were doomed already.
Quite right. Keep hearing this one. 7 months and it's surely the manager's responsibility. Look at Hodgson, his lot survived in less time.
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He took over a Blues side on the way down, brought them straight back.
on the way down? He joined them in November and had 25 games to save them. It's not as if they were doomed already.
Hodgson had much less time with WBA and they finished 10th !!
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Having said all that, though I blame the board for a bewildering appointment, I don't blame McLeish for taking it.
He seems a decent enough sort, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and get behind him and give him a chance.
As for the board, though, I've lost all belief in them, and I doubt that is ever coming back. Shame.
[/quote]
Totally agree Paulie - the very least they need to do now is to get some one on the board who knows something about football - as they clearly don't. My suggestion would be Graham Taylor in a non exec role.
They have lost any goodwill built up over the last 5 years for me.
A dreadful day and appointment.
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The first game needs to be a very well played win.
The minute we go a goal down the atmosphere will turn so dark it doesn't bear thinking about, you'll see thousands of Villa fans standing rigid, arms crossed and stoney faced, real grim, from there on in its over for him.
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He starts with a clean slate for me so I'll judge everything on merit and not on what has happened in the past.
AGREE WITH THIS! we all should
Yep, with you on that absolutely Chris. I will afford him the same opportunity I would anyone joining a new company and which i would expect myself. I find myself feeling strangely sympathetic towards the guy...
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The first game needs to be a very well played win.
The minute we go a goal down the atmosphere will turn so dark it doesn't bear thinking about, you'll see thousands of Villa fans standing rigid, arms crossed and stoney faced, real grim, from there on in its over for him.
Yes, well there's nothing like giving him a chance is there?
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To be honest, I've mellowed a hell of a lot in 48 hours. I really can't be arsed to mope about the appointment because it's done now so let's get behind him. As others have said, let's give the bloke a chance and see how we go. Up the Villa!
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The first game needs to be a very well played win.
The minute we go a goal down the atmosphere will turn so dark it doesn't bear thinking about, you'll see thousands of Villa fans standing rigid, arms crossed and stoney faced, real grim, from there on in its over for him.
Yes, well there's nothing like giving him a chance is there?
The Board havent
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To be honest, I've mellowed a hell of a lot in 48 hours. I really can't be arsed to mope about the appointment because it's done now so let's get behind him. As others have said, let's give the bloke a chance and see how we go. Up the Villa!
Same.
This is now day 1, well day -1 I suppose of the next chapter in the life of Aston Villa football Club.
Lets crack on with our pre season preparations , start getting our squad sorted for the new season and give the guy a fair crack of the whip.
We may not like it but there's nowt we can do about it, so upwards and onwards people.
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Haven't read every post so apologies if i'm repeating anything.
Our new manager won shed loads of medals and caps as a player under Alex ferguson.
He took Motherwell to second place in the SPL.
He took over a Hibs side heading for relegation, brought them back up as champions then took them to a third place finish.
He won 2 titles and 5 cups in 5 years at Rangers at a time Celtic had more money.
He won 7 out of 10 games as manager of a limited Scotland side including some notable wins.
He took over a Blues side on the way down, brought them straight back up, took them to their highest position for about 50 years then won them their first meaningful trophy ever. He also then got them relegated although he did have an injury crisis.
I didn't want him mainly due to his relegations in England but he's our manager, he's obviously got some bottle (I don't buy the sugestion he's taking the job for a quick pay-off when it goes wrong) and I want the club to do well so he has my support. The fact that if he is a sucess with us it will stick in the throat of every Bluenose for eternity also appeals to me.
I am pleased you are looking on the positive side. I hope you are not disappointed.
I see that you have listed all the successes. It is all about reading between the lines, however. If you spaced out each of your lines and filled in the gaps of what happened in the intervening years you would not have a quite so rosy picture. I suggest you go back to Wikipedia and fill in the blanks.
By the way, Celtic didn't have more money for all of the time, only the later years.
If you are going to quote facts to demonstrate a view, it would have more credence if you didn't try and hide the negative aspects.
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Haven't read every post so apologies if i'm repeating anything.
Our new manager won shed loads of medals and caps as a player under Alex ferguson.
He took Motherwell to second place in the SPL.
He took over a Hibs side heading for relegation, brought them back up as champions then took them to a third place finish.
He won 2 titles and 5 cups in 5 years at Rangers at a time Celtic had more money.
He won 7 out of 10 games as manager of a limited Scotland side including some notable wins.
He took over a Blues side on the way down, brought them straight back up, took them to their highest position for about 50 years then won them their first meaningful trophy ever. He also then got them relegated although he did have an injury crisis.
I didn't want him mainly due to his relegations in England but he's our manager, he's obviously got some bottle (I don't buy the sugestion he's taking the job for a quick pay-off when it goes wrong) and I want the club to do well so he has my support. The fact that if he is a sucess with us it will stick in the throat of every Bluenose for eternity also appeals to me.
I am pleased you are looking on the positive side. I hope you are not disappointed.
I see that you have listed all the successes. It is all about reading between the lines, however. If you spaced out each of your lines and filled in the gaps of what happened in the intervening years you would not have a quite so rosy picture. I suggest you go back to Wikipedia and fill in the blanks.
By the way, Celtic didn't have more money for all of the time, only the later years.
If you are going to quote facts to demonstrate a view, it would have more credence if you didn't try and hide the negative aspects.
How come you haven't said tHe same about hiding the positive aspects to all the people banging on about relegation?
We've had a very one sided debate on here it's about time somebody added a bit of balance.
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A slice of lemon cheesecake would be nice.
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Free beer and hotdogs at half time.
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- For Randy & the General to stop smoking crack. ;D
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This will never work, no one can say what will happen and how we will react because this is unique! It has never happened before!
The manager of your main rivals who are glad to see the back of him after suffering 3 years of shit football ("couldnt get out of there quick enough! - balls kept flying over my head" ALEXANDER HLEB. Has just signed for us.
If he was succesful and had been pushing the top 6 it wouldnt be too bad, but he hasnt and thats the main reason why im pissed off with it, Two relegations in 3 years and boring defensive long ball football.
People say the board didnt back him with money for signings:
Zigic 6m, Gardner 3.5m, Ridgewell 2m, Dann 2m, Curtis Davies 3.5m, Foster 6m, Hleb (loan) Bently (loan) Lee Bowyer, James Mcfadden 5.5m He HAS spent money and still got them relegated.
We as fans still boo ex blues players even now, Heskey has never been accepted, Chris Sutton was never accepted to name just 2.
For me personally he could win the first 10 games and be top of the league but as soon as we lose a couple of games the crowd will turn on him.
Look when the bluenose players went out on the piss until 4am a week before the end of the season!! He said he was angry with them for doing it, but where was the respect for him - they didnt have any!!! Shambles!
Best we can hope for is Mcleish sacked by Xmas! And keep our current group of players, especially downing.
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A couple of good signings and a couple of wins.
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We have gone from proud history bright future to proud ancient history, to a fuck up in recent history and a frightening future, what was the point in appointing GH and the foundations that was supposed to create to now having to poach bottom table teams managers and end up with agricultural football.
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If he can get the players we have to play to their potential & maybe put some pride back into wearing the shirt he will go a long way to getting fans onto his side.
Negative tactics will put the nails in his coffin.
As RL's appointment I expect him to be given plenty of time, unfortunately for AM most of the supporters will not give him that amount of time.
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Foster and Dann for starters.
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I would say the best we can hope for is to be top of the league by Christmas.
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This will never work, no one can say what will happen...
That's good going to totally contradict yourself in the first two phrases.
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Haven't read every post so apologies if i'm repeating anything.
Our new manager won shed loads of medals and caps as a player under Alex ferguson.
He took Motherwell to second place in the SPL.
He took over a Hibs side heading for relegation, brought them back up as champions then took them to a third place finish.
He won 2 titles and 5 cups in 5 years at Rangers at a time Celtic had more money.
He won 7 out of 10 games as manager of a limited Scotland side including some notable wins.
He took over a Blues side on the way down, brought them straight back up, took them to their highest position for about 50 years then won them their first meaningful trophy ever. He also then got them relegated although he did have an injury crisis.
I didn't want him mainly due to his relegations in England but he's our manager, he's obviously got some bottle (I don't buy the sugestion he's taking the job for a quick pay-off when it goes wrong) and I want the club to do well so he has my support. The fact that if he is a sucess with us it will stick in the throat of every Bluenose for eternity also appeals to me.
I am pleased you are looking on the positive side. I hope you are not disappointed.
I see that you have listed all the successes. It is all about reading between the lines, however. If you spaced out each of your lines and filled in the gaps of what happened in the intervening years you would not have a quite so rosy picture. I suggest you go back to Wikipedia and fill in the blanks.
By the way, Celtic didn't have more money for all of the time, only the later years.
If you are going to quote facts to demonstrate a view, it would have more credence if you didn't try and hide the negative aspects.
How come you haven't said tHe same about hiding the positive aspects to all the people banging on about relegation?
We've had a very one sided debate on here it's about time somebody added a bit of balance.
If you believed everything on here from the past few days, you'd think this bloke had never won a thing in his life, and the only thing he'd ever done is got teams relegated. He's worse than Billy McNeill, Dr.Jo, Paul Jewell and Phil Brown all rolled into one. It's very convenient for people to ignore the good when talking about the bad is much easier, and I'll concede the fact relegation just happened probably doesn't help.
There does need to be a sense of balance, and I think it is a shame that most people on here have no intent whatsoever in giving McLeish a chance. That they are already sharpening their knives waiting for the first defeat of the season. He's the manager of Aston Villa and people will be waiting for him to fail, rather than supporting him and hoping he succeeds. They can then shout from the rooftops how they knew this was going to happen. That's what's disappointing.
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Best we can hope for is Mcleish sacked by Xmas! And keep our current group of players, especially downing.
Probably best if you don't bother coming again with that attitude. How can you say 'our' players when you want us to fail?
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I would say the best we can hope for is to be top of the league by Christmas.
I would say that is pushing hope a little too far.
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Haven't read every post so apologies if i'm repeating anything.
Our new manager won shed loads of medals and caps as a player under Alex ferguson.
He took Motherwell to second place in the SPL.
He took over a Hibs side heading for relegation, brought them back up as champions then took them to a third place finish.
He won 2 titles and 5 cups in 5 years at Rangers at a time Celtic had more money.
He won 7 out of 10 games as manager of a limited Scotland side including some notable wins.
He took over a Blues side on the way down, brought them straight back up, took them to their highest position for about 50 years then won them their first meaningful trophy ever. He also then got them relegated although he did have an injury crisis.
I didn't want him mainly due to his relegations in England but he's our manager, he's obviously got some bottle (I don't buy the sugestion he's taking the job for a quick pay-off when it goes wrong) and I want the club to do well so he has my support. The fact that if he is a sucess with us it will stick in the throat of every Bluenose for eternity also appeals to me.
I am pleased you are looking on the positive side. I hope you are not disappointed.
I see that you have listed all the successes. It is all about reading between the lines, however. If you spaced out each of your lines and filled in the gaps of what happened in the intervening years you would not have a quite so rosy picture. I suggest you go back to Wikipedia and fill in the blanks.
By the way, Celtic didn't have more money for all of the time, only the later years.
If you are going to quote facts to demonstrate a view, it would have more credence if you didn't try and hide the negative aspects.
How come you haven't said tHe same about hiding the positive aspects to all the people banging on about relegation?
We've had a very one sided debate on here it's about time somebody added a bit of balance.
Because there are only 24 hours in a day and the vote against has been of landslide proportions.
I totally agree with you about balancing the pros and cons so that people can make informed and fair comment. It is this that has driven me mad for the last week or so with the media and likewise on here.
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I would say the best we can hope for is to be top of the league by Christmas.
I would say that is pushing hope a little too far.
It's better than hoping for the manager to be sacked.
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Play nice football and win more games than he loses will be a start. I don't want him as manager but it looks like he will be so time to hope i'm very very wrong and he's a success.
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Haven't read every post so apologies if i'm repeating anything.
Our new manager won shed loads of medals and caps as a player under Alex ferguson.
He took Motherwell to second place in the SPL.
He took over a Hibs side heading for relegation, brought them back up as champions then took them to a third place finish.
He won 2 titles and 5 cups in 5 years at Rangers at a time Celtic had more money.
He won 7 out of 10 games as manager of a limited Scotland side including some notable wins.
He took over a Blues side on the way down, brought them straight back up, took them to their highest position for about 50 years then won them their first meaningful trophy ever. He also then got them relegated although he did have an injury crisis.
I didn't want him mainly due to his relegations in England but he's our manager, he's obviously got some bottle (I don't buy the sugestion he's taking the job for a quick pay-off when it goes wrong) and I want the club to do well so he has my support. The fact that if he is a sucess with us it will stick in the throat of every Bluenose for eternity also appeals to me.
I am pleased you are looking on the positive side. I hope you are not disappointed.
I see that you have listed all the successes. It is all about reading between the lines, however. If you spaced out each of your lines and filled in the gaps of what happened in the intervening years you would not have a quite so rosy picture. I suggest you go back to Wikipedia and fill in the blanks.
By the way, Celtic didn't have more money for all of the time, only the later years.
If you are going to quote facts to demonstrate a view, it would have more credence if you didn't try and hide the negative aspects.
How come you haven't said tHe same about hiding the positive aspects to all the people banging on about relegation?
We've had a very one sided debate on here it's about time somebody added a bit of balance.
If you believed everything on here from the past few days, you'd think this bloke had never won a thing in his life, and the only thing he'd ever done is got teams relegated. He's worse than Billy McNeill, Dr.Jo, Paul Jewell and Phil Brown all rolled into one. It's very convenient for people to ignore the good when talking about the bad is much easier, and I'll concede the fact relegation just happened probably doesn't help.
There does need to be a sense of balance, and I think it is a shame that most people on here have no intent whatsoever in giving McLeish a chance. That they are already sharpening their knives waiting for the first defeat of the season. He's the manager of Aston Villa and people will be waiting for him to fail, rather than supporting him and hoping he succeeds. They can then shout from the rooftops how they knew this was going to happen. That's what's disappointing.
No, what will be disappointing will be if people are given the opportunity. If AM is successful, there will be very few dissenting voices.
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I would say the best we can hope for is to be top of the league by Christmas.
I would say that is pushing hope a little too far.
It's better than hoping for the manager to be sacked.
I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say i.e. hope = top 6, top of league = something akin to a miracle
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I'm already on-side, it's just that every now and again (well every 5 minutes) i shake my head in disbelief at the appointment.
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I have never really been against the appointment, although I was as shocked as anyone that we couldn't find a more suitable candidate to take the job. That said, Randy now needs to back McLeish to the hilt in the transfer market, including a Bent type marquee signing. McLeish has some work to do over the summer, the sooner he gets started, the better.