Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: martin@ardenley on June 17, 2011, 08:54:42 AM
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From the OS
The Club are pleased to confirm that Alex McLeish has been appointed Aston Villa manager and will assume his duties with immediate effect.
The 52-year-old son of a Govan shipyard worker, McLeish began his managerial career in 1994 at Motherwell whom he guided in his first season to second place behind Rangers, then in the midst of their nine-in-a-row Scottish titles.
Following a three-year spell in charge of Hibernian, which included a Scottish Cup final appearance, he took over at Rangers where he unseated Martin O'Neill's then dominant Celtic team by winning the Scottish Cup and League Cup in his first season in 2001-02 and the Treble - including the Scottish Premier League title - in his second.
He won two championships and seven trophies in total in his five years at Ibrox before succeeding Walter Smith as Scotland boss in 2007.
Only a 2-1 win by Italy at Hampden Park in the final qualifying game prevented McLeish from leading his country to the Euro 2008 finals.
He pursued his ambition to manage in the Barclays Premier League and led Birmingham City to their highest top-flight finish in 51 years in 2009-10.
When his team beat Arsenal to win the Carling Cup four months ago at Wembley he became one of the only current managers in the Barclays Premier League who has won a major piece of silverware.
That Alex McLeish is a well-respected, well-rounded and accomplished football man is not in question.
As a formidable central defender in Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen team which broke the Old Firm's stranglehold on Scottish football, he won three championships, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup.
He was also capped 77 times by Scotland and played at three World Cups and throughout his playing and managerial careers he has maintained an unfailing grace and humility and an unflinching will to win.
He also understands and supports the Board's vision and strategy for Aston Villa in our ongoing efforts to grow the Club and to ensure its sustainability and he is determined to confront the challenges of managing the Club.
He said: "I am honoured to have this opportunity to manage a club with such a fantastic history as Aston Villa's.
"The heritage, the history of success and the tradition of Aston Villa are compelling and irresistible. The challenge for me is to try to add my own chapter.
"Since first becoming a manager at Motherwell, my desire to succeed and my energy and drive have never waned. My objective is to impart that drive and will to win to the players and fans of Aston Villa.
"I know that some of our fans have voiced concerns and I can understand why. It will be up to me to convince you that I am the right man to drive the Club forward and I intend to give absolutely everything to prove that I can be a success at the Club."
Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Aston Villa, said: "We believe we have appointed the right man for the job.
"Unquestionably, Alex meets the criteria we set out at the beginning of our search which was based on proven Premier League experience, leadership, a hard-working ethic and, most importantly, a shared vision for Aston Villa.
"Alex is someone with whom we will work close and work well together.
"With our strong squad combining the necessary virtues of experience and the exciting potential of our young players, our objective is to compete as strongly as we possibly can.
"Alex's vast experience and proven abilities demonstrate clearly that he is a strong leader and an ambitious man and we are looking forward very much to the exciting new season about to start."
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Long live the err... King.
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Welcome to the club Eck. Stop the protests and get behind the team now
In randy we trust
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From this point all we can do is wish the bloke luck.
He's going to need it.
UP the Villa.
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A slight change to Who's 'Won't get fooled again'
Meet the new Boss, worse than the old Boss.
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The 52-year-old son of a Govan shipyard worker,
Interesting how nobody has picked up on this important point in other threads.
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Welcome to the pride of Birmingham Alex. Good luck, and well done from moving from the dark side!
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Ok – all the speculation over, now let’s get behind him and the team and judge only results, not on personal prejudices.
UTV
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17/6/2011 Black friday
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Not my choice, but he's Villa Boss now....
Good Luck Alex.
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May I be the first to say "McLeish out!"
I don't mean it, though.
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Welcome to the worlds best football club Alex.
Wish you well for the future.
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The City is ours, your managers ouuuurs, feck off Small Heath, The City's still ours.
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Welcome to the club Eck. Stop the protests and get behind the team now
In randy we trust
1st part I agree, but the 2nd line is a load of c*ck.
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Not my choice, but he's Villa Boss now....
Good Luck Alex.
Ditto
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Even up till the last minute I didn't think RL could go through with this, I'm appalled. What a kick in the bollocks. Did I mention I'm appalled?
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The 52-year-old son of a Govan shipyard worker,
Interesting how nobody has picked up on this important point in other threads.
The board think he's going to be our Fergie. I hope they're right. Welcome Alex. Your new bosses have thrown you into the lions' den. Let's see you come out fighting - and winning.
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Welcolme and good luck Alex. Prove us wrong please.
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All the best Alex- UTV!
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Good luck,you're gonna need it. UTV.
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The 52-year-old son of a Govan shipyard worker,
Interesting how nobody has picked up on this important point in other threads.
The board think he's going to be our Fergie.
Yes, based on talking to the real Fergie.
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Time to show him who the real Birmingham club is and the one with the best fans.
Good Luck Eck - make us proud.
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He's one of us now, for better or worse.
Good luck big man.
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Entering a manager search hoping for Ancelotti, Moyes or Benitez, it takes some time and sulking to digest that McLeish is the outcome.
And avoiding McClaren only to appoint Big Eck is a bit like dodging a bullet and later getting hit with a cannon ball.
I have been hoping that Villa would do an eleventh hour backtrack, but now it's done and dusted. So even if his recent dismal record doesn't inspire much hope, there's nothing much to do except to wish him luck and hope that he'll surprise us.
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Well now you're here, good luck Alex and prove us wrong.
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Is Sid staying or has he brought his own staff with him?
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He should, and will, be judged on signings and results. Exactly the same as Ancelotti, Benetez or even Mourinho would have been.
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"Shared vision and compete as best we can" thanks Paul I'm fucking inspired to spend £600 on that dream. Good luck Alex but the board had proven it is a shambles over this.
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Apologies for the re-post but it seems so appropriate.
I reckon it'll work out fine. Good luck big man.
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greeted with just a sigh of resignation from me.
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Is the Fergie article the first down payment for Ash I wonder?
http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2377784,00.html
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What a great day for our club.
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*sighs*
Welcome to the club Eck. Good luck.
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Well, at least things can't get any worse!
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Well, at least things can't get any worse!
Wait till Bowyer rocks up at Bodymoor Heath.
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Welcome and good Alex - you will get a fair crack of the whip from me....until we're two down at half-time to Fulham that is
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He's one of us now so all the best Alex.
Not the choice most of us would have made but we can either behave like a toddler who hasn't got way or accept it and give the bloke a sporting chance.
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sigh.........
best of luck Alex and welcome.
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Very good at working with limited resources, is the mantra I keep reading. I think we know what's coming next. Prove me wrong, Villa.
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As someone said, not who I particularly wanted, but here's here, so I will support him, starting with renewing my season ticket before the end of the month.
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Good luck Alex, you're a good man, hopefully you will be a great manager with us.
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Well I hoped until the very last second that there might be another twist, but hey ho.
You're here now, so get on with replacing Ash, keeping Downing and buying some defenders! With a fair wind and the Villa Gods behind you it may just work out. You've certainly been handed a lucky start!
Good luck and welcome to the finest club in the land.
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Welcome to Aston Villa, Alex.
Good Luck. Let's hope it's a bright future for us all.
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A very odd appointment. Stan Lerner may very well have lost his marbles. Good luck Alex. You either have delusional belief levels in your own ability or you're as mad as Randy.
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Arse biscuits.
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Welcome Alex, who should be judged from this point on the results from his Villa team
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Heads should roll.
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And so it begins.....
Not remotely happy but he's here now and we've got to get on with it. Like everyone else I'll be taking an even keener eye than usual on who gets shipped out and who he gets in both in terms of players and staff. The opening fixtures couldn't have been kinder for him so no excuses
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I need to get over my Pavlovs dog type hate reaction to seeing his photo, as i feel sick, realising he is our manager.
Disappointed, very disappointed.
After the spin on that piece, Pravda is f**king right.
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Hate, hate to be writing this - but can' be positive, and i really really want to be.
After 30 years of following Villa - I can't honestly remember feeling this flat, i really can't. Any credit Lerner had with me has now gone. The grand 5 year plan has ended with this - fucking madness
When GH was pensioned off i thought we really could find someone to push us on - the summer to date proves that our board really have not got a clue which direction they want to take Villa - for me this is illustrated by our desire to talk to Martinez, who whether we thought he was the right man or not, has a totally different football philosophy to the twat we have appointed. So the board want us to be a footballing entertaining side - or they want us to play negative shit and be hard to beat, make up your mind!!
I couldn't give a shit about SHA or what he did at Rangers/Hibs et - couldn't give a fuck, bottom line the guys plays football with as much flare as one of Russell Brand's jeans.
As the hairy bard himself would say - if this doesn't end in tears i'll eat my ball bag.
AY is off - Downing will follow i have no doubt and who in their right mind will want to join Villa this summer with the toxic atmosphere that is BOUND to come to the fore especially if he starts badly. He's been lucky with the first 6 games - but this is a double edged sword - we will be expecting a goodly amount of points from those games - god help him if he doesn't deliver
Sorry for the negativity - i just can't find it in myself to be magnanimous and fall in behind him - even though i know i have to and eventually will - not like i have a choice.
In summary - piss flaps!
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Oh F-Eck.
No great surprise, but quite unbelievable. From a progressive, forward thinking, technical manager to this. May as well stick Alex Ferguson on the Villa Board when he retires from management since he already appears to be running our club.
Randy, General I no longer have any any faith in your fitness or ability to run our football club. You very clearly do not know what you are doing. If you think restricting you shortlist of managers to last season's relegation candidates and a mediocre ex-England coach, and recruting the worst of the bunch, is the right way to go about things then you clearly don't have the slightest clue. Especially when the likes of Jol, Hughes, Ranieri, all proven at the top end of the PL, were available. How you could arrive at this decision is just un-be-fecking-lievable.
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Alex is not to blame for his appointment, that responsibility lies with Randy,PF and Ken Dodd's Diddy Men who I assume were our advisors. Despite the lunacy of the appointment, I will support McLeish just as I would any new Villa manager. He's a decent man who I'm sure will give everything he has to make things work.
I trust others will not put self interest before that of the club. Remember, football is a funny game and fingers crossed, this just might work out.
Good luck, Alex.
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Stupid decision from a know-nothing owner who has given up. Ah well, fuck him.
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As Peter O'Hanraha-hanrahan once said, "I don't like it, but I'll have to go along with it."
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May as well stick Alex Ferguson on the Villa Board when he retires from management since he already appears to be running our club.
Alex Ferguson isn't interested in running Aston Villa. He's interested in having his mates managing other PL clubs because they'll support him in his coming spats with the FA, referees, Kenny Dalglish or any one else that isn't towing the line.
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Best of luck Alex, I look forward to a good season.
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I think Randy Learner needs a new instructor (advisor) to show him how to drive the club forward..
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Welcome Alex, hope you surprise us with enterprising attacking football and bringing the youth through to be top notch players. Hope all your managerial purchases turn out to be gold as well. Hope is all we have left, and there isn't much of it to go around.
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I think he is going to need all the luck in the world!
Now to get some players in before the last day of the summer transfer window.
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Best of luck Big Eck. I have some admiration for him taking the job, clearly has balls and confidence in his own ability. Never disliked him even though he managed Rangers and Blues.
However, I will start the call for Faulkner Out!! Randy please appoint someone to that position who has some knowledge of football, some nous with the media and some respect for the fans. This has been one of the most undignified, desperate manager hunts and at present we are the laughing stock of the League. Randy you must back Eck to restore some pride. If >30 million isnt spent this summer, there will be no ambiguity that the shared vision is Premier League survival.
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Welcome Alex I will be behind you 110% let's hope we have a a lot of success together.
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Ok Alex, please prove us wrong, I am looking forward to eating a large piece of humble pie next May when we have won a cup and finished in the top 4!
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Dons positive hat. He's good defensively so will hopefully sort our shower out. He's crap at finding strikers, but fortunately we've already got a damn good one. It might just work.
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:'( Far from any appointment I could have envisaged at VP but.....
All the best Eck UTV! ( 3 points at Fulham please)
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Welcome Alex, who should be judged from this point on the results from his Villa team
exactly- welcome alex , a new era and i believer we have good times ahead , all aboard and lets enjoy the ride.
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Although I think it's an awful decision, I hope that somehow he does well.
Nothing would please me more than to be proved wrong.
I also owe an apology to Villadawg for all the times I doubted his assertion that the boards ambition was waning.
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Welcome Alex! Good luck, and ignore the vocal minority. Once we start seeing good football and good results they'll go quiet.
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Like many others on here I’m still stunned by this decision. I have nothing personal against McLeish, but clearly the board were being advised by a panel of the great consisting of The Smurfs, The Teletubbies and Mr Blobby in making this decision.
Nonetheless I have to admire the obvious Buster Gonad size of your testicles Mr McLeish for taking us on and wish you all the success in doing so.
First things first, no-one leaves this club in the immediate future and please stick one of your giant plus 4’s up the collective arses of Messrs Dunne and Collins and get them to defend again.
Oh yeah and if you get Stephen Ireland playing to his ability and not acting like a raving lunatic, you could even win over the idiots at the back of the Holte End.
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Congratulations on your appointment Alex. Welcome to Aston Villa.
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Although I'm not happy with the appointment, I'm an Aston Villa fan and I will support whoever we have at the helm.
Good luck, Alex, you'll probably need it to win over the haters. As said, as soon as you start getting the results in there then I'm sure they'll shut up and start eating their own words.
I'm just gutted I've gotta look at his fugly mug everytime I access the OS. I know GH was no looker, but McLeish is 'SUMMINK ELSE'!
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This is just weird. I find myself staring at the screen in disbelief.
In a weird way I admire his courage, he must know he's walking into a bear pit.
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Welcolme and good luck Alex. Prove us wrong please.
Not much I can add to this.
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Oh yeah and if you get Stephen Ireland playing to his ability and not acting like a raving lunatic, you could even win over the idiots at the back of the Holte End.
We've appointed Alex McLeish, not Dr Oliver Sacks.
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Welcome Alex. While some of us (including me) are not exactly overwhelmed now if you bring us the FA Cup I'm sure we'll all love you forever. If I were you I'd be signing some players pretty damn quickly - and some bloody good ones at that...
Hopefully we'll not be looking for another manager for a VERY long time....
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Welcome AM- good luck! Kick some arse !
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Welcome, Big Eck.
A few thoughts:-
1. Fergie only says nice things about you if you aren't a threat/rival to him, so that more than anything shows where we are in the footballing hierarchy right now.
2. I don't agree with the notion that Randy has given up, but what we see between now and 31/8 will answer the question.
3. I notice the statement and SAF's comments about his CV does not mention the two relegations with SHA - let's call that 'positive spin'!
What we've got is a manager who seems to be of good character and never slagged us as Blues boss. That alone should mean we wipe the slate clean and judge him from this point forward. It'll be a uphill battle and every defeat/signing we don't like will be greeted with extra venom and every victory/signing we do like will be tainted with a negative preconception of both him and the board. But he's intelligent enough to know this and if he's up for that challenge he's a very brave man.
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I'm disappointed - but he's our manager now and I wish him every success. He certainly has a good run of fixtures to start with - top of the table by the end of August?
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Welcome Alex! Good luck, and ignore the vocal minority. Once we start seeing good football and good results they'll go quiet.
Hardly a minority mate did you notice the 85% or so disagreeing when his name was first put forward. Anyway I hope he proves the vast majority wrong and you can hardly blame him for taking on what is a much better job than his last one !
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His honeymoon period will last about 50 minutes. I give it until the 5th minute of the second half of our first pre-season game. If we look like shit he is going to get pelters from there on. A mad appointment, he has no goodwill in the bank whatsoever and the board are now running on empty too.
Good luck, you are going to need it.
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Alex
I think you are a decent man (having spoke to you several times) and have always been respectful of our club even when you were associated with the undead.
I admire you as you must have bollocks the size of a horse to have done what you done
You obviously wanted the job to go through all this shit to get here - now its yours please take care of it and do listen to what has been said
We cannot demand success, we cannot demand trophies but we can demand that we do not start every game thinking a 0-0 would be a good result.
I for one will accept that you probably was fighting for your life at the dog shit and with limited resources had to grind out the results where you can
this is the biggest club you will ever manage and i am sure you have seen from our set up a light year away from what you have been used to. so now you have it look after it
If you think the response to your appointment was rough - god help you if you try to play like the dog shit did
welcome and i really hope you do well
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The man has shown a lot of courage and bottle to take the job. Let's get behind him and see what he can do.
I'm sure there wont be any patting of other teams crests or waving to opposition fans....and he definitely wont be calling his own fans fickle....unless he wins the league that is!
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Welcome Alex! Good luck, and ignore the vocal minority. Once we start seeing good football and good results they'll go quiet.
It's not the minority it's the overwhelming majority dont you read other posts? and this is going to be the problem if he doesn't get us up and running right from the start posters will savage each other before turning on the manager and the board. I now want him to be a success and prove the majority wrong but i can see a difficult season ahead.
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Rewind back to May 22nd and the demise of our friends down the road. One of the more amusing comments on this site was along the lines of- If McLeish takes them down a third time do they drown? Oh how I laughed. Now he is our manager. Alex McLeish is Aston Villa manager. I am absolutely dumbfoudned. How has this happened?
Prove us wrong Alex, please prove us wrong.
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The man has shown a lot of courage and bottle to take the job. Let's get behind him and see what he can do.
I'm sure there wont be any patting of other teams crests or waving to opposition fans....and he definitely wont be calling his own fans fickle....unless he wins the league that is!
Courage? He's taken over a football club where he'll probably be booed a bit for 90 minutes every other week, in return for a multi million pound salary. He hasn't stormed a military bunker to rescue injured colleagues.
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It kinda bothers me that he just relegated Citeh. Why wasn't the Board concerned about the fact that he has lead teams to relegation two out of the last three years? At any rate, at least he has some semblance of enthusiasm (Houllier was a dud).
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The man has shown a lot of courage and bottle to take the job.
I just can't agree with this, his wage has rocketed from 800k pa to £2m pa.
No other club in the world would offer him a wage like that, or a position in a well respected Premier football club.
The only other positions he would have been offered, other than us, is a return to Hibernian or another Championship side.
He's fell off the roof of Rackhams and landed in a suit.
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Welcome Alex! Good luck, and ignore the vocal minority. Once we start seeing good football and good results they'll go quiet.
Hardly a minority mate did you notice the 85% or so disagreeing when his name was first put forward. Anyway I hope he proves the vast majority wrong and you can hardly blame him for taking on what is a much better job than his last one !
The 'vocal minority' are not those that didn't want him, but those that are unwilling to give him a chance now he's got the job.
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From the moment McLeish was linked with the job the fact he's coming from the Blues hasn't bothered me.It's the two relegations in four seasons, the negative dire tactics, the fact that he managed a side to 37 goals in 38 games that has put me off.Since when has this been a way of enhancing a CV? Had he finished last season with that cup and a mid table finish then we'd be talking in different terms, gloating even about nicking him.
Got to admire Mcleish for having the bottle or ego to take the job but I can't see how this is going to end well.When Kermit was pensioned off I thought the only way was up,now I just feel gutted.
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The man has shown a lot of courage and bottle to take the job. Let's get behind him and see what he can do.
I'm sure there wont be any patting of other teams crests or waving to opposition fans....and he definitely wont be calling his own fans fickle....unless he wins the league that is!
Courage? He's taken over a football club where he'll probably be booed a bit for 90 minutes every other week, in return for a multi million pound salary. He hasn't stormed a military bunker to rescue injured colleagues.
There are many different types of courage and it does take balls to do what he's done. Yes he'll be well rewarded but I'm sure he's not exactly a pauper so he could gave easily opted for the quiet life.
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Welcome Big Eck.
I'm going to push all this dire football stuff to the back of my mind and judge you on what you do for Aston Villa.
The time for slating this appointment has passed in my opinion and hope everyone will now just get behind the guy and see how far we can go.
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Welcome Alex! Good luck, and ignore the vocal minority. Once we start seeing good football and good results they'll go quiet.
Not sure which is braver, him taking the job or you posting that on here!! I take my hat off to you sir...
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There's no bravery involved at all. In the rare event that he does well, the criticism will die down soon enough, and if he doesn't he'll be sacked and get a huge pay off.
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The key question for Big Eck is:
Brown sauce, red sauce or no sauce at all on your sausage sandwich?
We need that answer asap!
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Welcome - I will do my best to start with a clean slate - you do your best to prove that this appointment was worth the effort
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He could have stayed at SHA and raked in a mere £800,000p.a and had the quiet life. Wages dont play a part in this in my opinion. He knows the feelings of the fans, and has shown balls to still take the challenge on.
Regarding military references, its a totally different situation, and not at all comparable so lets keep everything in perspective.
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This shows a distinct lack of ambition. So sad.
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Welcome to Aston Villa 'The' Midlands football club.
Whilst I too didnt agree with the appointment I believe it is possible you may surprise a lot of people. Even when you were at the dark side I thought there was a presence about you that means business.
With the right support and better players, who knows.
Lets go!
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The man has shown a lot of courage and bottle to take the job. Let's get behind him and see what he can do.
I'm sure there wont be any patting of other teams crests or waving to opposition fans....and he definitely wont be calling his own fans fickle....unless he wins the league that is!
Courage? He's taken over a football club where he'll probably be booed a bit for 90 minutes every other week, in return for a multi million pound salary. He hasn't stormed a military bunker to rescue injured colleagues.
There are many different types of courage and it does take balls to do what he's done. Yes he'll be well rewarded but I'm sure he's not exactly a pauper so he could gave easily opted for the quiet life.
Even if he is rich, he won't turn down £40k pw.
Well off people rarely kick back and live off their savings, I can't think of many football Managers who have done it.
O'Neill was nicely compensated by us and he was rich anyway, but he'll still be in the market for a well paid job.
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*sigh*
Welcome - and learn to attack - and be quick about it.
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Another positive thing about him is you rarely hear about any player fall outs from Birmingham, unlike Houllier and MON managed.
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He could have stayed at SHA and raked in a mere £800,000p.a and had the quiet life. Wages dont play a part in this in my opinion. He knows the feelings of the fans, and has shown balls to still take the challenge on.
Wages and much better owners are the factors of him taking the job, he would have had never ending grief at the Dog Shit, the owners would have expected instant promotion on a shoestring and also a large say in which players were signed.
From the off, one of their board was at the training ground in a tracksuit every day observing and giving opinions on players.
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An absolute unbelievable appointment made by a bunch of incompetent board of imbeciles!
And NO I don't welcome him to Villa Park at all!
And don't give me all this bullshit about bottle, its all to do with another payrise and paycheck, utter, utter crap!
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You're right, there is.
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Season ticket renewed....fixtures all put in my diary (in pencil).
Right now we are 2nd in the table and unbeaten, Im backing the our manager 100%. Come on Villa !
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/table/default.stm
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Another positive thing about him is you rarely hear about any player fall outs from Birmingham, unlike Houllier and MON managed.
They had so much respect for him they went on the piss till four in the morning a few days before the game that got them relegated.
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Certainly would not have been my choice for the job and up until now I have not been happy about this appointment. However, that stops here and he has my support because I want the club to succeed and if he is the man to do it, so be it. I hope every body else can put their negative views behind them and back the club.
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There's no bravery involved at all. In the rare event that he does well, the criticism will die down soon enough, and if he doesn't he'll be sacked and get a huge pay off.
Couldn't disagree more with the first part of your statement Risso
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Alex McLeish's Claret and Blue army...
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An absolute unbelievable appointment made by a bunch of incompetent board of imbeciles!
And NO I don't welcome him to Villa Park at all!
And don't give me all this bullshit about bottle, its all to do with another payrise and paycheck, utter, utter crap!
Check out Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs sometime over the summer!
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Now he's here wecolme Alex,let's get behind him and hit the ground running.
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You have to say that Villa's agenda is totally different to our's - the bottom line is that they are a better team."
--- Alex McLeish
He's always loved us.Welcome Alex and good luck.Prove us all wrong please !!
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Alex McLeish's Claret and Blue army...
Sweet Jesus, that sounds horrific.
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Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Aston Villa, said: "We believe we have appointed the right man for the job.
"Unquestionably, Alex meets the criteria we set out at the beginning of our search which was based on proven Premier League experience, leadership, a hard-working ethic and, most importantly, a shared vision for Aston Villa.
Interesting to see no mention of "success" in the criteria they set out.
Not McLeish's fault and i wish him all the best. It isn't him who deserves the stick, it is the board.
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Alex McLeish's Claret and Blue army...
Sweet Jesus, that sounds horrific.
"Big Eck's Claret & Blue army?"
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Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Aston Villa, said: "We believe we have appointed the right man for the job.
"Unquestionably, Alex meets the criteria we set out at the beginning of our search which was based on proven Premier League experience, leadership, a hard-working ethic and, most importantly, a shared vision for Aston Villa.
Interesting to see no mention of "success" in the criteria they set out.
Not McLeish's fault and i wish him all the best. It isn't him who deserves the stick, it is the board.
It's almost funny to see Faulkner, who is clearly the wrong man for the job, talking up another wrong man for the job.
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Indeed, they set the wrong criteria if McLeish met them.
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Who's number 2?
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Although I think it's an awful decision, I hope that somehow he does well.
Nothing would please me more than to be proved wrong.
I also owe an apology to Villadawg for all the times I doubted his assertion that the boards ambition was waning.
No apology needed at all and please believe me, I wish with all my heart I had been apologising to you today.
Ever since I started questioning their ambition following Pelty and the General's extraordinary posts at the start of last pre-season I have been hoping to be proved wrong.
That quote from Ferguson, which has been so crudely edited on the official website does appear to finally confirm my worst fears. The ability to get the best from what you have at a club that isn't spending, is the only thing that commends McLeish above the other potential candidates.
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I notice that in the Fergie article on Pravda the bit about the ability to work with no money being useful at Villa is cut off mid sentence.
"In all his jobs he's had to deal with that kind of situation of making do with what you have and making the best of it and that's a quality that."
I also note that the three relegations have been airbrushed from his potted CV in the announcement, which somehow reminds me of one of those photoshopped blurred 'glamour photos' sold in supermarket foyers to past their best women.
This is as bad as anything HDE ever did.
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Reading that statement - I am concerned about our future.
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I will never mention his name in a Villa chant
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Welcome Alex! Good luck, and ignore the vocal minority. Once we start seeing good football and good results they'll go quiet.
Not sure which is braver, him taking the job or you posting that on here!! I take my hat off to you sir...
The minority I'm referring to are those that will never give the bloke a chance just because of where he's been working. I hope that now he is our manager he will get support from most of us and is given a chance to be a success.
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Who's number 2?
Peter Grant was his SHA asst, although I think there may be a very good chance that Roy Aitken may come.
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An absolute unbelievable appointment made by a bunch of incompetent board of imbeciles!
And NO I don't welcome him to Villa Park at all!
And don't give me all this bullshit about bottle, its all to do with another payrise and paycheck, utter, utter crap!
Check out Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs sometime over the summer!
Thats what I will miss from this forum, there is always some patronising sod with a holy than thou attitude!
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Anyone know if Sid is being kept on?
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I'm still a bit dazed,I feel like Bishop Brennan after Father Ted kicked him up the arse. In a day or two ill snap out of it shouting ' He did appoint Mccleish...LERNER..'
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Who's number 2?
Peter Grant was his SHA asst, although I think there may be a very good chance that Roy Aitken may come.
Well if it is Aitken, then his experience of working with an unpopular Villa manager that doesn't know his arse from his elbow stewarded by an inept chairmen will come in handy for him.
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Welcome Alex! Good luck, and ignore the vocal minority. Once we start seeing good football and good results they'll go quiet.
Not sure which is braver, him taking the job or you posting that on here!! I take my hat off to you sir...
The minority I'm referring to are those that will never give the bloke a chance just because of where he's been working. I hope that now he is our manager he will get support from most of us and is given a chance to be a success.
Ill be behind Alex and ive renewed my season ticket but seeing good football and good results lol
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Appalling from Lerner and Faulkner. An absolute disgrace from everyone involved in this shambolic appointment process.
I have nothing against Mcleish, now that hes here. I just don't think he's even remotely worthy of this magnificent club.
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Welcome Alex, you are now one of us and will get my support.
All we expect is that you don't stunt the progress of the youngsters by bringing in overpaid journeymen.
We try harder to keep our best players.
We win every game.
And play like Barcelona.
Good luck.
Oh, and don't for one minute think about getting rid of Gordon Cowans - he is a Villa legend and we all think the world of him.
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I'm still a bit dazed,I feel like Bishop Brennan after Father Ted kicked him up the arse. In a day or two ill snap out of it shouting ' He did appoint Mccleish...LERNER..'
Ha ha.
I've now got a vision of you running across the Villa Park pitch with an oversize cape bellowing out behind you.
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I'm still a bit dazed,I feel like Bishop Brennan after Father Ted kicked him up the arse. In a day or two ill snap out of it shouting ' He did appoint Mccleish...LERNER..'
Lol, excellent ;D
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IMO Love for your football club should be as unconditional as the love for your wife.
If you disagree about something in your marriage and you let it fester then then the marriage is doomed. It's the same when it comes to loving the club, they might do something that you disagree with but you need to accept that a mistake may have been made and no amount of personal abuse or vitriol is going to change things. All it does is make things very uncomfortable for the rest of the 'family', and some of those 'family' members may leave because they don't like the poisonous atmosphere.
In other words any of you thinking of turning up at Villa Park just to show your displeasure at what has happened will do more to help empty the stadium than any appointment the board makes.
Now is the time for the club and fans to pull together for the sake of Aston Villa. Or will you only be satisfied when the only people left are the bitter ones?
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IMO Love for your football club should be as unconditional as the love for your wife.
It is.
But I don't think my wife will unexpectedly flip me over and take me up the Khyber with a strap-on.
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I may be churlish, but I will not welcome this man to our Aston Villa
Everyone involved should hang their heads in embarresment.
To put on the O/S an endorsment by the manager of Newton Heath is adding insult to injury.
Alex,s Claret and Blue Army. Never.
If he proves me wrong I will apologise. If he proves me right I will not beam with selfrightusness.
I am not angry but emotianly drained as I feel the club has told me to fuck off with my dreams.
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IMO Love for your football club should be as unconditional as the love for your wife.
If you disagree about something in your marriage and you let it fester then then the marriage is doomed. It's the same when it comes to loving the club, they might do something that you disagree with but you need to accept that a mistake may have been made and no amount of personal abuse or vitriol is going to change things. All it does is make things very uncomfortable for the rest of the 'family', and some of those 'family' members may leave because they don't like the poisonous atmosphere.
In other words any of you thinking of turning up at Villa Park just to show your displeasure at what has happened will do more to help empty the stadium than any appointment the board makes.
Now is the time for the club and fans to pull together for the sake of Aston Villa. Or will you only be satisfied when the only people left are the bitter ones?
Great analogy.However,if you're replacing the wife you wouldn't go and get your next door neighbours missus who has failed at her wifey duties.You'd want the one from out of town with the big knockers
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Sorry, but I don't buy this bullshit about him having the bollocks to take us on. If it goes tits up he still trousers a few million so what's he got to lose?
No one else would have paid him as much as we are. We're the biggest club he'll get to manage from here on in. Taking the job on when it was offered was a no brainer. Nothing to do with courage.
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IMO Love for your football club should be as unconditional as the love for your wife.
It is.
But I don't think my wife will unexpectedly flip me over and take me up the Khyber with a strap-on.
You are expecting it then?
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Appalling from Lerner and Faulkner. An absolute disgrace from everyone involved in this shambolic appointment process.
I have nothing against Mcleish, now that hes here. I just don't think he's even remotely worthy of this magnificent club.
shame on you -go and wash your mouth out with soap! :D
only joking django , i hope by eck he proves you wrong.
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Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Aston Villa, said: "We believe we have appointed the right man for the job.
"Unquestionably, Alex meets the criteria we set out at the beginning of our search which was based on proven Premier League experience, leadership, a hard-working ethic and, most importantly, a shared vision for Aston Villa.
Interesting to see no mention of "success" in the criteria they set out.
Not McLeish's fault and i wish him all the best. It isn't him who deserves the stick, it is the board.
Amen to that.
Best of luck Alex, you're gonna need it
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IMO Love for your football club should be as unconditional as the love for your wife.
What's the equivalent of making them sleep on the couch?
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Absolutely pefect statement, sums up what I think anyway..
Alex
I think you are a decent man (having spoke to you several times) and have always been respectful of our club even when you were associated with the undead.
I admire you as you must have bollocks the size of a horse to have done what you done
You obviously wanted the job to go through all this shit to get here - now its yours please take care of it and do listen to what has been said
We cannot demand success, we cannot demand trophies but we can demand that we do not start every game thinking a 0-0 would be a good result.
I for one will accept that you probably was fighting for your life at the dog shit and with limited resources had to grind out the results where you can
this is the biggest club you will ever manage and i am sure you have seen from our set up a light year away from what you have been used to. so now you have it look after it
If you think the response to your appointment was rough - god help you if you try to play like the dog shit did
welcome and i really hope you do well
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Congratulations Randy.
You've just turned us from a top 6 club to the next Leeds United* in one fell swoop.
* May be interchanged with Notts Forest, Sheffield Wednesday etc
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IMO Love for your football club should be as unconditional as the love for your wife.
If you disagree about something in your marriage and you let it fester then then the marriage is doomed. It's the same when it comes to loving the club, they might do something that you disagree with but you need to accept that a mistake may have been made and no amount of personal abuse or vitriol is going to change things. All it does is make things very uncomfortable for the rest of the 'family', and some of those 'family' members may leave because they don't like the poisonous atmosphere.
In other words any of you thinking of turning up at Villa Park just to show your displeasure at what has happened will do more to help empty the stadium than any appointment the board makes.
Now is the time for the club and fans to pull together for the sake of Aston Villa. Or will you only be satisfied when the only people left are the bitter ones?
Great analogy.However,if you're replacing the wife you wouldn't go and get your next door neighbours missus who has failed at her wifey duties.You'd want the one from out of town with the big knockers
I think this is the managerial equivalent of having Kate McCann as your new wife.
She'll go wandering off and somebody will creep into your house and make off with those youngsters by the name of Darren Bent and Stewart Downing.
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This isn't about McLeish as erstwhile Bluenose, is it?
It's about a club who only a year ago had notched up three consecutive 6th places with a highly regarded manager who had brought bright English talent to the club - good players, mostly ( Harewood excepted).
I forgive the Board last season, MON, whom I supported , left us in the shit. But this summer we had rescued some respectability from the season and had the cream of talent available this time, Ancellotti, Benitez, Hughes, Rijkaard etc.I don't care who was your personal favourite, there were some good names out there.
And who do we end up with?
The Lerner/MON dream is over, Everton style mediocrity stares us in the face, or worse. Perhaps that is all there ever was, but we did have hope - now that is gone.
I am sure that McLeish will "do a job". It could all melt down into relegation, more likely a Stoke mentality "We're safe" hooray, with 40 points by March.
That is has come to this....................................
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I'm still a bit dazed,I feel like Bishop Brennan after Father Ted kicked him up the arse. In a day or two ill snap out of it shouting ' He did appoint Mccleish...LERNER..'
Ha ha.
I've now got a vision of you running across the Villa Park pitch with an oversize cape bellowing out behind you.
I'll use a banner from the other day!
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http://www.that lot.com/read.php?1,565039
The Blosers opinion
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Sky still saying we've paid them 2m. Wonder if it's true.
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Sky still saying we've paid them 2m. Wonder if it's true.
No. We've given them Stephen Ireland instead.
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IMO Love for your football club should be as unconditional as the love for your wife.
If you disagree about something in your marriage and you let it fester then then the marriage is doomed. It's the same when it comes to loving the club, they might do something that you disagree with but you need to accept that a mistake may have been made and no amount of personal abuse or vitriol is going to change things. All it does is make things very uncomfortable for the rest of the 'family', and some of those 'family' members may leave because they don't like the poisonous atmosphere.
In other words any of you thinking of turning up at Villa Park just to show your displeasure at what has happened will do more to help empty the stadium than any appointment the board makes.
Now is the time for the club and fans to pull together for the sake of Aston Villa. Or will you only be satisfied when the only people left are the bitter ones?
Great analogy.However,if you're replacing the wife you wouldn't go and get your next door neighbours missus who has failed at her wifey duties.You'd want the one from out of town with the big knockers
I think this is the managerial equivalent of having Kate McCann as your new wife.
She'll go wandering off and somebody will creep into your house and make off with those youngsters by the name of Darren Bent and Stewart Downing.
Fecking hell! ;D
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gold says mcleish his best manager by far in 18 years as a chairman.
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Congratulations Randy.
You've just turned us from a top 6 club to the next Leeds United* in one fell swoop.
* May be interchanged with Notts Forest, Sheffield Wednesday etc
Sorry but you've got that wrong. Leeds ended up as they did because their board threw money at an unattainable dream, with no thought for what would happen if it went tits up.
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Sky still saying we've paid them 2m. Wonder if it's true.
do you watch anything other than sky ? ;D
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I thought he walked out on Small Heath and was taking them to court and them taking him to court likewise. How come we are paying 2million compensation then if he was free? Seems like everything this board do at the moment is a joke. Anyway Big Eck,best of luck your going to need it .
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This isn't about McLeish as erstwhile Bluenose, is it?
It's about a club who only a year ago had notched up three consecutive 6th places with a highly regarded manager who had brought bright English talent to the club - good players, mostly ( Harewood excepted).
I forgive the Board last season, MON, whom I supported , left us in the shit. But this summer we had rescued some respectability from the season and had the cream of talent available this time, Ancellotti, Benitez, Hughes, Rijkaard etc.I don't care who was your personal favourite, there were some good names out there.
And who do we end up with?
The Lerner/MON dream is over, Everton style mediocrity stares us in the face, or worse. Perhaps that is all there ever was, but we did have hope - now that is gone.
I am sure that McLeish will "do a job". It could all melt down into relegation, more likely a Stoke mentality "We're safe" hooray, with 40 points by March.
That is has come to this....................................
Yes, most of it, for all the denials, is about where he's come from. We've appointed less promising managers in the past but there's never been this reaction. I didn't want him, but now he's here we have to make the best of it. 'Everton-style mediocrity,' given the two club's respective league places over the past ten years, will do nicely for a start.
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Why have they included all these comments from Ferguson on the official site?
'Look - Sir Alex has won all these trophies so he knows what he's talking about'.
He doesn't run our fucking club. They've admitted and provided proof that they don't know what they're doing. If they realised that, they should get someone working for us that does, not someone who has nothing to do with Aston Villa.
To use a competitor's viewpoint as some kind of justification that they've made the right decision is ridiculous and infuriating. I can just see the words coming out of Faulkner's mouth. I think he should fuck off.
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gold says mcleish his best manager by far in 18 years as a chairman.
Fry,francis,bruce,zola and Grant are his competition.Oh and Gold is a bell end
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I thought he walked out on Small Heath and was taking them to court and them taking him to court likewise. How come we are paying 2million compensation then if he was free? Seems like everything this board do at the moment is a joke. Anyway Big Eck,best of luck your going to need it .
maybe a sweetener to secure his staff and make it easier to go back and raid their best players.?
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The club putting condescending opinions and advice from the manager of another Premier League team - one that we should be trying to challenge - is patronising in the extreme. Ooh, look, Alex Ferguson says McLeish is alright for a little team like Aston Villa, so we should all feel grateful and happy. What an endorsement! The stupidity of our board in going to the likes of vile Alex Ferguson for advice is imbecilic and utterly galling, but the very idea that they think Villa fans will swallow this garbage is making my gag reflex work overtime.
After all the good work they've done, how could they go and do something so downright insulting? Their lack of understanding truly beggars belief. Let's not blame McLeish for any of this, the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of Randy Lerner and Paul Faulkner.
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Why have they included all these comments from Ferguson on the official site?
'Look - Sir Alex has won all these trophies so he knows what he's talking about'.
He doesn't run our fucking club. They've admitted and provided proof that they don't know what they're doing. If they realised that, they should get someone working for us that does, not someone who has nothing to do with Aston Villa.
To use a competitor's viewpoint as some kind of justification that they've made the right decision is ridiculous and infuriating. I can just see the words coming out of Faulkner's mouth. I think he should fuck off.
"Oooh, look, the big gruff Scottish manager at the really big club who wins loads of trophies thinks he's a good appointment!"
More amateurish PR. Is Martin's best mate still doing that job?
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Congratulations Randy.
You've just turned us from a top 6 club to the next Leeds United* in one fell swoop.
To be fair to Lerner, that's exactly what he hasn't done.
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Welcome Alex! Good luck, and ignore the vocal minority. Once we start seeing good football and good results they'll go quiet.
It's not the minority it's the overwhelming majority dont you read other posts? and this is going to be the problem if he doesn't get us up and running right from the start posters will savage each other before turning on the manager and the board. I now want him to be a success and prove the majority wrong but i can see a difficult season ahead.
Isn't there a difference between a minority and a vocal minority?
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Why have they included all these comments from Ferguson on the official site?
'Look - Sir Alex has won all these trophies so he knows what he's talking about'.
He doesn't run our fucking club. They've admitted and provided proof that they don't know what they're doing. If they realised that, they should get someone working for us that does, not someone who has nothing to do with Aston Villa.
To use a competitor's viewpoint as some kind of justification that they've made the right decision is ridiculous and infuriating. I can just see the words coming out of Faulkner's mouth. I think he should fuck off.
Agree. That's wound me up no end. A nice little pat on the head from Ferguson, just before he signs our best player. Thanks. Thanks a lot. Ferguson speaking well of someone who was a key player for him at Aberdeen, back in the day? Brilliant. Everything's okay then.
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I've now decided that I would like to see PF FO.
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Agreed, lets get Sir Alex to tickle their tummies to distract them from the kick to the bollocks they've just taken.
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I'm not usually one to go overboard on criticism of the manager, but barring the most dramatic style change in managerial history this appointment is a horrible one. It's an appointment which says they value staying up over competitive passing football, the myth of 'stability' over keeping players like Downing and Young. There is no point in signing Bent then appointing McLeish. There is no point in asking Downing to stay if you've appointed McLeish. It's disastrous.
I maintain that this 'Premier League experience' stuff is utter bollocks. This is clearly one of their biggest criteria, and it means that our appointing a new manager is possibly even more myopic than MON's transfer policy. I really can't believe they think it's so important that all of a sudden McLeish becomes a candidate. Randy has handled this whole process appallingly.
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Stupid decision from a know-nothing owner who has given up. Ah well, fuck him.
You know what, for ages I've seen you post whatever the hell you want, without any remorse, regret or recrimination. Other people are regularly banned for some of the comments you make and yet as a MOD you seem to have carte blanche.
Practice what you preach and show some respect, you ignorant individual.
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Congratulations Randy.
You've just turned us from a top 6 club to the next Leeds United* in one fell swoop.
* May be interchanged with Notts Forest, Sheffield Wednesday etc
Sorry but you've got that wrong. Leeds ended up as they did because their board threw money at an unattainable dream, with no thought for what would happen if it went tits up.
You can't tell me I'm wrong because I'm making a prediction (although I'll be very happy to be proven wrong).
As I said, you can swap the names for any number of other 'once-great' clubs in big cities with big fan-bases that were once in the upper reaches of the Top Flight and found themselves rattling around in their big, half-empty stadiums playing lower league football.
Even back in the 90's it took a string of poor decisions and mis-management for them to slip down the ladder.
In 2011 the Premier League is a pressure cooker, where even a minor losing streak can take you from the Europa League positions to the Relagation Zone.
One catastrophic decision (and I believe this is one such decision) could be all it takes.
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Alex
I think you are a decent man (having spoke to you several times) and have always been respectful of our club even when you were associated with the undead.
I admire you as you must have bollocks the size of a horse to have done what you done
You obviously wanted the job to go through all this shit to get here - now its yours please take care of it and do listen to what has been said
We cannot demand success, we cannot demand trophies but we can demand that we do not start every game thinking a 0-0 would be a good result.
I for one will accept that you probably was fighting for your life at the dog shit and with limited resources had to grind out the results where you can
this is the biggest club you will ever manage and i am sure you have seen from our set up a light year away from what you have been used to. so now you have it look after it
If you think the response to your appointment was rough - god help you if you try to play like the dog shit did
welcome and i really hope you do well
Excellent post - ditto (apart from the conversations of course)
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Welcome Alex, welcome to the club where you belong...now get spending.
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From the OS
When his team beat Arsenal to win the Carling Cup four months ago at Wembley he became one of the only current managers in the Barclays Premier League who has won a major piece of silverware.
What is that supposed to mean.
As well as some blatant spin and cherry-picking of achievements, I am surprised how such an important statement, given the circumstances, can be so poorly written, and even grammatically inept.
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Welcome Alex - you wouldn't have been my choice but now you are here you deserve the same chance any other manager would get.
If this appointment had happened 12 months ago I think feeling would be different, you had just finished 9th, we had just lost a manager who for the third season running had blown a good opportunity to finish in the top four due to poor team selection and tactics.
You should also take heart from the fact that the best manager in our history was not wanted when he was appointed because he played dour and boring football, something he was accused of while at Villa but he built a team that became the best in Europe. The internet wasn't around then but if it had been these message boards would have carried a similar response to his appointment.
Make us difficult to beat, get the ball to Bent as often as possible and you will win more than you lose - Good Luck big man.
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it is April 1st isnt it?
nice to see everyone "backing" big eck
be interesting to see what kind of crowds he attracts - wasnt GH first match 18k?
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Fergie only says nice things about you if you aren't a threat/rival to him, so that more than anything shows where we are in the footballing hierarchy right now.
I realize that they have to try and put a positiv spin on this appointment, but it is slightly annoying that they play the "Oh, look, the almighty Sir Alex approves" card as if Aston Villa has suddenly become a subdivision of Man Utd.
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Welcome Big Eck.
Surprised you're here but you now have my 100% support - your opening statement set the right tone so onwards and upwards. I'm sure you'll show more respect to our support than they have shown you so far and certainly more than the previous Manager showed them.
You talk bout the Villa 'heritage' and 'tradition'. That's great, it's important to us and important that our leader understands these and instills them into everyone coming to our Club. That's not always been the case recently. Our lot needed discipline and defensive organisation last year - you'll excel there imo.
I'm sure you'll notice an enormous difference between our two Clubs by the way.
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Stupid decision from a know-nothing owner who has given up. Ah well, fuck him.
You know what, for ages I've seen you post whatever the hell you want, without any remorse, regret or recrimination. Other people are regularly banned for some of the comments you make and yet as a MOD you seem to have carte blanche.
Practice what you preach and show some respect, you ignorant individual.
That's my firmly held view of Lerner, and one that as a poster on here I am free to make. I have no respect for Lerner as owner of Aston Villa Football Club, if that upsets you, that's your look out unfortunately. All we ask is that people don't abuse other posters, which I haven't, unlike you.
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Fergie only says nice things about you if you aren't a threat/rival to him, so that more than anything shows where we are in the footballing hierarchy right now.
I realize that they have to try and put a positiv spin on this appointment, but it is slightly annoying that they play the "Oh, look, the almighty Sir Alex approves" card as if Aston Villa has suddenly become a subdivision of Man Utd.
I think you'll find Ferguson was very complimentry about Pep Guordiola and Barca a couple of weeks ago - I'm pretty sure they'd be classed as 'threats/rivals'.
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Now it's happened I'm feeling quite calm about it. Two things will happen - he might make a few good signings and get us off to a solid start or it will be a disaster from the off. I'm ready for both. What a high-risk strategy Mr L.!!!
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Anyone who intends to boo, criticise and abuse our new manager and chariman please stay away from Villa Park next season - nobody needs it. There is nothing worse that boo's coming from within your own 'fans'. Its no better than the mindless idiots that de-faced our training ground... YES 'OUR TRAINING GROUND! Would you ruin your own house to make a point? This is our football club, support and treat it with respect!
We have to accept this and move on whilst continuing to SUPPORT our club.
If you buy a ticket focus your efforts on supporting the team, not on negative chants!!
I've already renewed my season ticket and am looking forward to next season!
UTV!!!
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Fergie only says nice things about you if you aren't a threat/rival to him, so that more than anything shows where we are in the footballing hierarchy right now.
I realize that they have to try and put a positiv spin on this appointment, but it is slightly annoying that they play the "Oh, look, the almighty Sir Alex approves" card as if Aston Villa has suddenly become a subdivision of Man Utd.
I think you'll find Ferguson was very complimentry about Pep Guordiola and Barca a couple of weeks ago - I'm pretty sure they'd be classed as 'threats/rivals'.
If we had hired Pep Guardiola I doubt that the club would have thought it necessary to justify the appointment by quoting praise from Alex Ferguson.
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From the OS
When his team beat Arsenal to win the Carling Cup four months ago at Wembley he became one of the only current managers in the Barclays Premier League who has won a major piece of silverware.
What is that supposed to mean.
As well as some blatant spin and cherry-picking of achievements, I am surprised how such an important statement, given the circumstances, can be so poorly written, and even grammatically inept.
Forgot about that bit!
WTF? Absolute jokers.
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Stupid decision from a know-nothing owner who has given up. Ah well, fuck him.
You know what, for ages I've seen you post whatever the hell you want, without any remorse, regret or recrimination. Other people are regularly banned for some of the comments you make and yet as a MOD you seem to have carte blanche.
Practice what you preach and show some respect, you ignorant individual.
That's my firmly held view of Lerner, and one that as a poster on here I am free to make. I have no respect for Lerner as owner of Aston Villa Football Club, if that upsets you, that's your look out unfortunately. All we ask is that people don't abuse other posters, which I haven't, unlike you.
I would call my statement quite reserved, not abusive.........not like yours to someone who you don't know and have no idea what they have in mind.
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Fergie only says nice things about you if you aren't a threat/rival to him, so that more than anything shows where we are in the footballing hierarchy right now.
I realize that they have to try and put a positiv spin on this appointment, but it is slightly annoying that they play the "Oh, look, the almighty Sir Alex approves" card as if Aston Villa has suddenly become a subdivision of Man Utd.
I think you'll find Ferguson was very complimentry about Pep Guordiola and Barca a couple of weeks ago - I'm pretty sure they'd be classed as 'threats/rivals'.
Only because he'd just been 'given a hiding'. Not much else he could do.
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Friday 17 June 2011 a dark day in the history of once great Aston Villa Football Club. A day when we make this dreadful dreadful appointment and announce to the world that we are leaving the pitch for others to compete.
Having said that he is here now so we have to get behind him. The best way he can start is to tell Downing he is going no where and somehow persuade Ash to change his mind.
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He's manager of the great AV now so welcome Alex. Whatever your view on the matter, he needs to be given a fair chance.
For those who want rid of Randy, well I would do what you preach and tell us all who you've got lined up to take over, who's going to be so much better?
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I would call my statement quite reserved, not abusive.........not like yours to someone who you don't know and have no idea what they have in mind.
No idea what they have in mind?
Isn't that pretty obvious?
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Stupid decision from a know-nothing owner who has given up. Ah well, fuck him.
You know what, for ages I've seen you post whatever the hell you want, without any remorse, regret or recrimination. Other people are regularly banned for some of the comments you make and yet as a MOD you seem to have carte blanche.
Practice what you preach and show some respect, you ignorant individual.
That's my firmly held view of Lerner, and one that as a poster on here I am free to make. I have no respect for Lerner as owner of Aston Villa Football Club, if that upsets you, that's your look out unfortunately. All we ask is that people don't abuse other posters, which I haven't, unlike you.
Risso,
that is a perfect post and sums up my feelings today
Lerner has basically told us with the appointment of eck, i couldnt give a flying fuck about this club or fans
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Who's number 2?
I am not a number, I AM A FREE MAN !
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That's my firmly held view of Lerner, and one that as a poster on here I am free to make. I have no respect for Lerner as owner of Aston Villa Football Club
Out of interest, which slant are you coming from on that? To me he's a good owner in that he's well intentioned and prepared to invest, but has shown over this that he and his board might not be the right men to guide us through the cut throat world of modern football.
So do you think he's a) a charlatan who has spent a few bob to get us on side, b) an incompetent idiot or c) both.
I simply do not believe the first and think the 2nd will be proven by what Mcleish does in the job.
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Lerner has basically told us with the appointment of eck, i couldnt give a flying fuck about this club or fans
No he hasn't.
I think he's basically setting us up to coast, Sunderland-like.
That's part of it, but I also think he genuinely thinks that is a great appointment, and to be honest, that's the bit that scares me the most.
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Well we had the Celtic approach in MoN and now we try the Rangers version.
Looks like we have foregone our England, and even Ireland, nursery days. Roll on providing the proving ground for the Scottish National team..no goalies please.
Major cataclymic changes in the offing now.
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Devastated. The manager that Faulkner talks about in his statement sounds alright, shame the one we've got is so very shit. The most depressing thing is that Randy has either given up or gone mad.
Alex, please prove me wrong. UTV
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A poor choice, as it offers little else than hope. But then, that is where I started. Good luck!
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Fergie only says nice things about you if you aren't a threat/rival to him, so that more than anything shows where we are in the footballing hierarchy right now.
I realize that they have to try and put a positiv spin on this appointment, but it is slightly annoying that they play the "Oh, look, the almighty Sir Alex approves" card as if Aston Villa has suddenly become a subdivision of Man Utd.
I think you'll find Ferguson was very complimentry about Pep Guordiola and Barca a couple of weeks ago - I'm pretty sure they'd be classed as 'threats/rivals'.
Only because he'd just been 'given a hiding'. Not much else he could do.
Still flys in the face of John M's opening line though.
I don't care what Ferguson says about us whether positive or negative. He said something positive and some complain, that day when we were 'Dour and uncompromising' some complained.
Bottom line is he's a great Manager who I have huge respect for and wish he'd joined us in 1985.
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I would call my statement quite reserved, not abusive.........not like yours to someone who you don't know and have no idea what they have in mind.
No idea what they have in mind?
Isn't that pretty obvious?
Not to me it isn't. It's very possible they've hired the best man they can get (and that is a scarey thought!) and intend to back him as they did MON and Houllier.
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One thing I would say re Randy is that in the past he has been excellent on the "here's the money" side, but pretty poor all round on the actual running of the club.
While O'Neill was here, he got away with it because he had another strong football character at the club, who brought decent results.
When O'Neill went, it exposed what consisted of the rest of the football brains of the club, and we've seen in a relatively short period of time, that there isn't much quality there.
I might be wrong, and he might continue to throw money at the club, but ultimately, it is all a bit pointless if large chunks of it get wasted - whether that's through a duff managerial appointment bringing poor results, a manager setting up an unsustainable wage bill, or paying huge sums of compensation for managers old or new or whatever.
Having the money is only part of it. Look at Newcastle, they threw enormous sums of money at it for several years, but the leadership of the club was comically inept, and they got nowhere. Poor managerial appointments and rank bad direction did for them and they transformed into a comedy club.
What I am now concerned about is that we are going to start mirroring them, and to be honest, I'm scared to death.
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Like many others on here I’m still stunned by this decision. I have nothing personal against McLeish, but clearly the board were being advised by a panel of the great consisting of The Smurfs, The Teletubbies and Mr Blobby in making this decision.
And would also have included the Wombles if they had not needed to rehearse for Glastonbury this weekend.
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The deed is done.
Probably the most shambolic and disrespectful period in the club’s recent history.
But I would like to wish Alex all the best and may he bring success to the club and prove us all wrong.
For Randy: you have lost most of the fans on this. Gods help you if this appointment goes badly wrong.
For PF: Where are you getting married tomorrow? I really hope it doesn’t piss down.
For the General: Sorry but you are not one of us and never will be.
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Risso,
that is a perfect post and sums up my feelings today
Lerner has basically told us with the appointment of eck, i couldnt give a flying fuck about this club or fans
My take is that he has put his head above the parapet and made a decision which he genuinly believes will be for the benefit of the club. I happen to think it will be too.
Anybody can avoid making unpopular decisons, be they politicians or owners of football clubs....populist decisions usually end in tears.
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He's here now - not my first choice but it's time to neck up and get on the dancefloor.
Roll on fulham .
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I would call my statement quite reserved, not abusive.........not like yours to someone who you don't know and have no idea what they have in mind.
No idea what they have in mind?
Isn't that pretty obvious?
Not to me it isn't. It's very possible they've hired the best man they can get (and that is a scarey thought!) and intend to back him as they did MON and Houllier.
Agreed, I think the only thing it does confirm is the the Villa don't have anywhere near the pulling power that I and many others thought we had.
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Lerner has basically told us with the appointment of eck, i couldnt give a flying fuck about this club or fans
No he hasn't.
I think he's basically setting us up to coast, Sunderland-like.
That's part of it, but I also think he genuinely thinks that is a great appointment, and to be honest, that's the bit that scares me the most.
That's the real fear for me. For years Doug was accused of letting the club do this and was the main reason why people wanted him out, the accusation being that we never punched our potential weight. We all (well I) hoped that this would change under Lerner, but this appointment seems to show that he's comfortable to let us drift up and down mid-table just as before.
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Fergie only says nice things about you if you aren't a threat/rival to him, so that more than anything shows where we are in the footballing hierarchy right now.
I realize that they have to try and put a positiv spin on this appointment, but it is slightly annoying that they play the "Oh, look, the almighty Sir Alex approves" card as if Aston Villa has suddenly become a subdivision of Man Utd.
I think you'll find Ferguson was very complimentry about Pep Guordiola and Barca a couple of weeks ago - I'm pretty sure they'd be classed as 'threats/rivals'.
Only because he'd just been 'given a hiding'. Not much else he could do.
Still flys in the face of John M's opening line though.
I don't care what Ferguson says about us whether positive or negative. He said something positive and some complain, that day when we were 'Dour and uncompromising' some complained.
Bottom line is he's a great Manager who I have huge respect for and wish he'd joined us in 1985.
Ever see him say nice things about Wenger, Rafa or Mourinho when they were fighting for the title? No, me neither.
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Lerner has basically told us with the appointment of eck, i couldnt give a flying fuck about this club or fans
No he hasn't.
I think he's basically setting us up to coast, Sunderland-like.
That's part of it, but I also think he genuinely thinks that is a great appointment, and to be honest, that's the bit that scares me the most.
That's the real fear for me. For years Doug was accused of letting the club do this and was the main reason why people wanted him out, the accusation being that we never punched our potential weight. We all (well I) hoped that this would change under Lerner, but this appointment seems to show that he's comfortable to let us drift up and down mid-table just as before.
Maybe this is our weight.
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Lerner has basically told us with the appointment of eck, i couldnt give a flying fuck about this club or fans
No he hasn't.
I think he's basically setting us up to coast, Sunderland-like.
That's part of it, but I also think he genuinely thinks that is a great appointment, and to be honest, that's the bit that scares me the most.
That's the real fear for me. For years Doug was accused of letting the club do this and was the main reason why people wanted him out, the accusation being that we never punched our potential weight. We all (well I) hoped that this would change under Lerner, but this appointment seems to show that he's comfortable to let us drift up and down mid-table just as before.
Maybe this is our weight.
It looks like the logical conclusion, yes.
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Can I be renamed Bad 'Eck' English in honour of this momentous occasion?
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Maybe this is our weight.
Maybe it is. We cannot compete with the Top 6 anymore, if you assume it to be Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Tottenham & Liverpool.
Selling club with ambition of finishing in the top 10 is probably what we are now.
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Can I be renamed Bad 'Eck' English in honour of this momentous occasion?
That seems like a very good idea.
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I think because of all the negative football been posted about Mcleish`s football. He will make a complete u turn and play two strikers up front and a strong holding midfield. He did not have the players at the scum (Jerome Zigic) to play any other way. We are aware of how bad our defence were/are and he will change that. Not happy but give him a chance ..........
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I would call my statement quite reserved, not abusive.........not like yours to someone who you don't know and have no idea what they have in mind.
No idea what they have in mind?
Isn't that pretty obvious?
I'll say the same to you as I would to anyone else that thinks they know..................have you ever spoken with Randy Lerner and been told, by him, what he wants for this Club?
If not, your just speculating.
Wait and see what happens, don't condemn for the sake of it.
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Let's not forget that McLeish did us a huge favour already buy giving us £2.5million for Curtis Davies. ;-)
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Maybe this is our weight.
Maybe it is. We cannot compete with the Top 6 anymore, if you assume it to be Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Tottenham & Liverpool.
Selling club with ambition of finishing in the top 10 is probably what we are now.
There was a good piece in the Guardian yesterday, which in turn attracted an excellent comment - apart from the top four and Liverpool, the rest of the aspirants are in a cycle of either challenging for Europe or midtable. That's probably the grim reality for a lot of clubs.
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Anyway, fuck it, I need a new mug. Hie me to the online shop. This appointment has clinched the sale.
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Have a look at the hierarchy of clubs in the English Premier League. Keep going down the list until you come to the clubs that would have an endorsement from Alex Ferguson for their new manager on their official website. Chelsea? Nope. Arsenal? Don't be fucking stupid. Tottenham, then? Keep going... Erm, Everton. Fat chance. Okay, Stoke, Fulham, Wigan... wait, here's the one. Aston Villa.
What a message this sends out about our place in the pecking order. It used to be the job of everybody else to write us off as a smalltime footballing irrelevance. Now we've just confirmed it. The appointment of McLeish is one thing. But patronising crap like that from a rival manager in our own league is offensive beyond reason for any self-respecting Villa fan. It says: accept it, we're lapdogs and be grateful for that.
If we'd appointed Jose Mourinho, do you think for one second that an avuncular Fergie would come on our website and say nice things about him like the old git on the Werther's Original advert?
Christ on a penny farthing.
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what does it matter if he is ex shipyard or Grand National winning jockey ?, he is now the Honorable manager of AVFC, a new chapter in our history, lets do it!!
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I wonder if the comments from Ferguson are to sweeten us for the Young deal or whether we've told him he can have a sizeable discount if he said them.
As is usual with a controversial incident, there are those that see the very worst and imagine worst-case scenarios and the others who see a more positive angle.
McLeish is of course being pilloried because he's managed them lot, his record isn't as good as some others but it's not that bad either and is comparable to MON.
There aren't many managers that wouldn't have been relegated managing that lot but he did get them promoted and he won a trophy which is something that Houlllier, MON, O'Leary, Gregory, Venglos, Taylor (x2), McNeill and Turner couldn't do for us.
I'm not sure why it means that the owner has given up.
If you look at other potential managers have on their cv, Hughes and Martinez haven't won anything, Benitez wanted loads of dosh, Ancelotti wouldn't be interested unless there was a chance of winning the league and MacLaren, the other possible contender (who won a trophy with an unfashionable club in this country) saw a ridiculous outcry on here too.
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He's manager of the great AV now so welcome Alex. Whatever your view on the matter, he needs to be given a fair chance.
For those who want rid of Randy, well I would do what you preach and tell us all who you've got lined up to take over, who's going to be so much better?
Better still, support the manager so that the board have no excuses that they appointed the wrong man.
When my Manc brother-in-law heard the story about Fergie he asked if Fergie told them to burn down Villa Park, would they?
I think we all know the answer to that one.
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i thought it was a shit idea, now its confirmed i still think its shit, just wait for the bad run and watch the avalanche of hate come rolling down off the holte end it cant and wont be good for AV. I fear he will have to play football like barca and have results like fergie anything less and the rumbles will start, any sort of bad run and they will rise to a deafening crescendo resulting in doleing out more compensation
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Good luck Alex, I sincerely hope I am wrong about you.
As for Randy Lerner and Paul Faulkner, prepare yourself for an almighty 'we told you so' if this goes horribly wrong. Given the widespread opposition to the appointment, I'm afraid you shouldn't expect too much patience if things start badly. If it goes well, I will strongly applaud your courage.
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McLeish is one of Fergie's proteges from the old days. Of course he'll be asked for a comment.
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Well it's done now...
You have to say AM has a real pair of cojones-he may not get 'Glasgow style' death threats etc(I hope not-we're above that-I hope) but his next trip to the shop for a pint of milk maybe an adrenaline fuelled rush!
you may also come to the conclusion that our owners 'football knowledge' is scant at best-deadly Doug surprised us all when appointing MON as his 'transfer of ownership' manager.
MON then f*cked off and RL went and appointed a very 'left field' choice-a sick frenchman.
So we all went "Huh?" and "WTF!?" and then got behind him(in varying degrees) despite some weird selections/PR gaffes.
As Villa/football fans we think we have some influence(and it seemed to put the Kybosh on McClaren) BUT REALLY ANY OWNER CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS.
ah well
Up the Villa
come on-own up, which lucky punter staked Alex when he was @ 500-1?!
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All there is to say is good luck Alex and welcome!
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McLeish is one of Fergie's proteges from the old days. Of course he'll be asked for a comment.
They're good friends.
If I was asked for a reference about one of my mates for a good job that was available, i'd say
'Ohh he's great, top notch.'
Even if he wasn't.
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the more this thread goes on the more obvious it is that the hope has been sucked out of every last one of us!
from Ancellotti - Benetiz -Martinez (quite obvious he did turn us down now) - McLeish
we are a selling club now (dont give me the nonsense about every club being a selling club), who are going to be happy finishing mid table and maybe get a run in one of the cups
happy fucking birthday me
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McLeish is one of Fergie's proteges from the old days. Of course he'll be asked for a comment.
They're good friends.
If I was asked for a reference about one of my mates for a good job that was available, i'd say
'Ohh he's great, top notch.'
Even if he wasn't.
this
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McLeish is one of Fergie's proteges from the old days. Of course he'll be asked for a comment.
Really? Would Tottenham be asking him for a comment if they'd somehow bungled so badly that they had to employ him? What this says is: "We pose no threat whatsoever to the established order of English football. Now run along and buy a season ticket."
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come on-own up, which lucky punter staked Alex when he was @ 500-1?!
Was it Harry Redknapp ?
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Lerner has basically told us with the appointment of eck, i couldnt give a flying fuck about this club or fans
No he hasn't.
I think he's basically setting us up to coast, Sunderland-like.
That's part of it, but I also think he genuinely thinks that is a great appointment, and to be honest, that's the bit that scares me the most.
That's the real fear for me. For years Doug was accused of letting the club do this and was the main reason why people wanted him out, the accusation being that we never punched our potential weight. We all (well I) hoped that this would change under Lerner, but this appointment seems to show that he's comfortable to let us drift up and down mid-table just as before.
Maybe this is our weight.
But then again, even many of the Villa hating press, which seems to be most of the press at the moment, still refer to us as a "sleeping giant", which would suggest that the view is we are punching below our weight.
Either that, or it is being thrown in as the final insult.
Having said that, I am slowly coming round to the view that there is no longeer the footballing passion in the Midlands to support a very top club. I hate to say it, but after living down here for 15 years or more, there does seem to be more enthusuiasm for supporting, even the smaller, football clubs. I think fans in the Midlands may have got too involved in their own petty local rivalries, and lost sight of the bigger picture. Dons tin hat and flees.
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Is it really so hard for many fans to actually suppport the club instead of knocking it at every opportunity?
Randy Lerner may not be the most knowledgable chairman when it comes to footballing matters, but he employs staff who are in the areas that we need them, ie the team. Would you prefer an owner who buys players (Doug/Abramovic) and undermines his manager?
Alex McLeish is now OUR manager, and I for one will get behind him 100%.
Taking away his connection with Blues (and how boring is the contanct referral to our neighbours!) his football pedigree stands up as both a player and a manager. We need someone of strong character, and if a bloke is prepared to face up to the challenge of coming to Villa, knowing that the job is a huge one, and made worse for him due to the rivalry, then i reckon he could well be that strong character.
He knows the vitriol of some of our 'fans' and still wants the challenge.
As for players, well Foster is the keeper we need, and either centre back would be what we need too.
Stop trying to hold the club back by harping on about Blues, lets get real and think about what's best for the club and supprt the man who bought it and put money into it, and the man who he has chosen to manage it.
And...what was your reaction when you heard Ron Saunders was our new manger???
C'mon Villa!!
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Maybe this is our weight.
Maybe it is. We cannot compete with the Top 6 anymore, if you assume it to be Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Tottenham & Liverpool.
Selling club with ambition of finishing in the top 10 is probably what we are now.
There was a good piece in the Guardian yesterday, which in turn attracted an excellent comment - apart from the top four and Liverpool, the rest of the aspirants are in a cycle of either challenging for Europe or midtable. That's probably the grim reality for a lot of clubs.
Essentially, I agree. The top of the premier league is now nothing more than a 'who has got the most money' league. Everyone else from about 4th downwards is just in one big wadge of mediocrity, not that I think the top 4 finishers this season are actually that much cop either. In one sense it is good news for us, as I think it is probably very easy to get to about 6th or so and even challenge Liverpool and Spurs who are both over-rated by the media. Spurs have the Europa cup as well next season and that dreadful deflating feeling of all your subsequent games being on a Sunday. The bad news is that nothing is really worth it anymore in the league unless you can finish top 4 and that is likely to become an exclusive club that almost no one can touch....
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I'm sure Big Eck will now concede that the ref was right to give a penalty when Roger Johnson bought Gabby down a couple of years ago in front of the Holte and also if we had had a full team out in the Carling Cup QF against Blues we would definitely have beat 'em.
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That's my firmly held view of Lerner, and one that as a poster on here I am free to make. I have no respect for Lerner as owner of Aston Villa Football Club
Out of interest, which slant are you coming from on that? To me he's a good owner in that he's well intentioned and prepared to invest, but has shown over this that he and his board might not be the right men to guide us through the cut throat world of modern football.
So do you think he's a) a charlatan who has spent a few bob to get us on side, b) an incompetent idiot or c) both.
I simply do not believe the first and think the 2nd will be proven by what Mcleish does in the job.
c) both
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come on-own up, which lucky punter staked Alex when he was @ 500-1?!
Was it Harry Redknapp ?
well if we see Harry with pockets bulging with cash -we (removed on legal advice)
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To be honest, I would have enjoyed it if old burgundy beak had actually said "That oul gingerrr ****** at Villa? Away tae fuck!"
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Is it really so hard for many fans to actually suppport the club instead of knocking it at every opportunity?
Randy Lerner may not be the most knowledgable chairman when it comes to footballing matters, but he employs staff who are in the areas that we need them, ie the team. Would you prefer an owner who buys players (Doug/Abramovic) and undermines his manager?
Alex McLeish is now OUR manager, and I for one will get behind him 100%.
Taking away his connection with Blues (and how boring is the contanct referral to our neighbours!) his football pedigree stands up as both a player and a manager. We need someone of strong character, and if a bloke is prepared to face up to the challenge of coming to Villa, knowing that the job is a huge one, and made worse for him due to the rivalry, then i reckon he could well be that strong character.
He knows the vitriol of some of our 'fans' and still wants the challenge.
As for players, well Foster is the keeper we need, and either centre back would be what we need too.
Stop trying to hold the club back by harping on about Blues, lets get real and think about what's best for the club and supprt the man who bought it and put money into it, and the man who he has chosen to manage it.
And...what was your reaction when you heard Ron Saunders was our new manger???
C'mon Villa!!
calm down mr krulak :)
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Is it really so hard for many fans to actually suppport the club instead of knocking it at every opportunity?
Randy Lerner may not be the most knowledgable chairman when it comes to footballing matters, but he employs staff who are in the areas that we need them, ie the team. Would you prefer an owner who buys players (Doug/Abramovic) and undermines his manager?
Alex McLeish is now OUR manager, and I for one will get behind him 100%.
Taking away his connection with Blues (and how boring is the contanct referral to our neighbours!) his football pedigree stands up as both a player and a manager. We need someone of strong character, and if a bloke is prepared to face up to the challenge of coming to Villa, knowing that the job is a huge one, and made worse for him due to the rivalry, then i reckon he could well be that strong character.
He knows the vitriol of some of our 'fans' and still wants the challenge.
As for players, well Foster is the keeper we need, and either centre back would be what we need too.
Stop trying to hold the club back by harping on about Blues, lets get real and think about what's best for the club and supprt the man who bought it and put money into it, and the man who he has chosen to manage it.
And...what was your reaction when you heard Ron Saunders was our new manger???
C'mon Villa!!
Or your reaction when you heard MON had been appointed? Didn't he win most of his trophies in Scotland too and a league cup down here? Lest I forget his pedigree at Wycombe, Norwich and Leicester. I still can't see how he was much different to our new manager to be honest? And yes, I was ecstatic like everyone else when MON came onboard. I suspect that when a lot of people say 'it's nothing to do with him being at the Blues' that in fact it has an awful lot to do with that. And I can understand that, it's easy for me to dismiss it not living in Brum and so not seeing a bluenose from dawn to dusk 365 days of the year!
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Can I be renamed Bad 'Eck' English in honour of this momentous occasion?
can I be renamed 'Fergal, the man who now supports a football club that is willing to appoint a manager of a rival team that only managed to score 37 goals in a full season then got relegated and feels like the owner has given up all hope of progressing to the next level and is willing to let us bump and bobble along the middle of the table with the odd hope of a Cup Run to make us feel good leaving me wondering who Randy gets his advice off because there must be better managers available who could do better and would at least show the world that we do indeed have a bit of ambition especially as knowing the health problems of our former manager would mean a change thus giving us months to look for a sucess...... forget it I am too sad and feel... Bent
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I've no problem with Ferguson's endorsement of McLeish. I think it is a genuine and honestly held opinion. Now all you have to do is read and understand what he said and why he thought it a good appointment for us. You won't be able to read it in the dishonestly edited version on the official website but this is what he said...
"...By the time Alex took over at Rangers they weren't spending the kind of money which they previously had, so he did a great job. In all his jobs he's had to deal with that kind of situation of making do with what you have and making the best of it, and that's a quality. Villa represent the same type of challenge."
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Been away for a while but the only possible reason I can see to this dreadful appointment is the board are desperate for us to win a trophy to stop the flak and they've reasoned if Mcleish can do it with that rabble, he can certainly do it with us.
Forget ever challenging again for the top 4 while he's in charge though.
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I've no problem with Ferguson's endorsement of McLeish. I think it is a genuine and honestly held opinion. Now all you have to do is read and understand what he said and why he thought it a good appointment for us. You won't be able to read it in the dishonestly edited version on the official website but this is what he said...
"...By the time Alex took over at Rangers they weren't spending the kind of money which they previously had, so he did a great job. In all his jobs he's had to deal with that kind of situation of making do with what you have and making the best of it, and that's a quality. Villa represent the same type of challenge."
Where can you find the full version of Ferguson's statement?
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the more this thread goes on the more obvious it is that the hope has been sucked out of every last one of us!
from Ancellotti - Benetiz -Martinez (quite obvious he did turn us down now) - McLeish
we are a selling club now (dont give me the nonsense about every club being a selling club), who are going to be happy finishing mid table and maybe get a run in one of the cups
happy fucking birthday me
Get a life mate, its not that bad. why would randy suddenly start selling off and devauing the asset he owns.
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Welcome to Villa Alex. It will be a bumpy ride for the foreseeable future but positive results will take care of that. You're not a popular choice, but you're not the anti-Christ either. Good luck and prove everyone on here wrong. You're at a very, very good football club. Take advantage of it.
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Taking away his connection with Blues (and how boring is the contanct referral to our neighbours!) his football pedigree stands up as both a player and a manager.
Ignore the 3 relegations and somehow managing to fionish third with Rangers, and yeah, I guess his foiotball pedigree as a manager does appear ok. But it'd be bloody stupid to ignore those things, so it doesn't. He's got a record that is, at its very best, quite bad.
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Minced lamb face: "...By the time Alex took over at Rangers they weren't spending the kind of money which they previously had, so he did a great job. In all his jobs he's had to deal with that kind of situation of making do with what you have and making the best of it, and that's a quality he'll need at Villa."
Or something like that (words in bold are a re-imagined version of the edited sentence).
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Can't pretend to be happy with the appointment, but I'll give him a chance to prove he's up to the job. Good luck, Alex, you'll need it.
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Welcome to the Bright Side Alex.
Any new of a press conference?
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The statement is awful. Using terms like 'unquestionable' just invites criticism. In fairness, the quotes from Feck himself are pretty sensible, but this Faulkner guy is a prick.
'he won two championships and seven trophies in total in his five years at Ibrox'. For starters, the 7 trophies include the 2 titles, but then they go on to say 'he became one of the only current managers in the PL who has won a major piece of silverware', intimating that his trophies from Scotland, aren't worth shit anyway. Also, Rangers apparently unseated Celtic by finishing 2nd in the league to them.
And what is the relevance of his father's job? I couldn't give a shit if he was related to William fucking Wallace, tell us about his footballing credentials. On second thoughts, probably best to avoid going into too much detail there.
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That's my firmly held view of Lerner, and one that as a poster on here I am free to make. I have no respect for Lerner as owner of Aston Villa Football Club
Out of interest, which slant are you coming from on that? To me he's a good owner in that he's well intentioned and prepared to invest, but has shown over this that he and his board might not be the right men to guide us through the cut throat world of modern football.
So do you think he's a) a charlatan who has spent a few bob to get us on side, b) an incompetent idiot or c) both.
I simply do not believe the first and think the 2nd will be proven by what Mcleish does in the job.
c) both
Just because Pelty had a pop at you.......... 8)
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Tbf I'd have said he's as qualfied as MON was. Won plenty up in the SPL and won a league cup against the odds with a small team.
My main problem is the style of football is going to be completely dreadful, far worse than under MON.
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The statement is awful. Using terms like 'unquestionable' just invites criticism. In fairness, the quotes from Feck himself are pretty sensible, but this Faulkner guy is a prick.
Agreed, he comes across as one of these Scudamore generation business school tosspots.
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Taking away his connection with Blues (and how boring is the contanct referral to our neighbours!) his football pedigree stands up as both a player and a manager.
Ignore the 3 relegations and somehow managing to fionish third with Rangers, and yeah, I guess his foiotball pedigree as a manager does appear ok. But it'd be bloody stupid to ignore those things, so it doesn't. He's got a record that is, at its very best, quite bad.
I've seen this '3 relegations' thing a few times now, but surely it was just the 2 with the Dark Side? Has this now become accepted as it's been mentioned a lot or have I missed something?
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the more this thread goes on the more obvious it is that the hope has been sucked out of every last one of us!
from Ancellotti - Benetiz -Martinez (quite obvious he did turn us down now) - McLeish
we are a selling club now (dont give me the nonsense about every club being a selling club), who are going to be happy finishing mid table and maybe get a run in one of the cups
happy fucking birthday me
Get a life mate, its not that bad. why would randy suddenly start selling off and devauing the asset he owns.
to make money?
loss of 39 million last year + the payoffs to GH, MON and now Birmingham
young away for 20 million - downing to follow, how long before Bent wants to go?
anybody with any sort of ambition (and worth a few quid) will be out the door
but sure get a life and cheer up
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Taking away his connection with Blues (and how boring is the contanct referral to our neighbours!) his football pedigree stands up as both a player and a manager.
Ignore the 3 relegations and somehow managing to fionish third with Rangers, and yeah, I guess his foiotball pedigree as a manager does appear ok. But it'd be bloody stupid to ignore those things, so it doesn't. He's got a record that is, at its very best, quite bad.
I've seen this '3 relegations' thing a few times now, but surely it was just the 2 with the Dark Side? Has this now become accepted as it's been mentioned a lot or have I missed something?
One was with Hibs.
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The statement is awful. Using terms like 'unquestionable' just invites criticism. In fairness, the quotes from Feck himself are pretty sensible, but this Faulkner guy is a prick.
Based on?
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I know I could probably Google this, but who was/is his backroom staff? Spink left did he? Be good to think Sid/Kevin Mac will stay.
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Taking away his connection with Blues (and how boring is the contanct referral to our neighbours!) his football pedigree stands up as both a player and a manager.
Ignore the 3 relegations and somehow managing to fionish third with Rangers, and yeah, I guess his foiotball pedigree as a manager does appear ok. But it'd be bloody stupid to ignore those things, so it doesn't. He's got a record that is, at its very best, quite bad.
I've seen this '3 relegations' thing a few times now, but surely it was just the 2 with the Dark Side? Has this now become accepted as it's been mentioned a lot or have I missed something?
One was with Hibs.
he also managed rangers to 3rd place in a 2 horse race
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I've no problem with Ferguson's endorsement of McLeish. I think it is a genuine and honestly held opinion. Now all you have to do is read and understand what he said and why he thought it a good appointment for us. You won't be able to read it in the dishonestly edited version on the official website but this is what he said...
"...By the time Alex took over at Rangers they weren't spending the kind of money which they previously had, so he did a great job. In all his jobs he's had to deal with that kind of situation of making do with what you have and making the best of it, and that's a quality. Villa represent the same type of challenge."
Where can you find the full version of Ferguson's statement?
The Independant - Clicky (http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/villa-fans-should-learn-to-love-mcleish-ndash-ferguson-2298590.html)
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Now the manager is in place the thing that worries me most is what decent player will want to join club whos board is made up of clowns. Players have no loyalty and if results go agaist us in the short term Bent will start looking it's human nature.
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The statement is awful. Using terms like 'unquestionable' just invites criticism. In fairness, the quotes from Feck himself are pretty sensible, but this Faulkner guy is a prick.
Based on?
I feel that the use of language in the statement is provocative and the content is littered with inconsistencies and conjecture, causing further damage to the relationship between the fans and the board and the buck stops at Faulkner (as I presume that he would have final approval on such a statement, correct me if I'm wrong)
Terms like 'unquestionably' and 'not in question' and 'proven abilities demonstrate clearly' are statements designed to say 'we are right, you are wrong', and I feel that it is a tad passive aggresive.
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McLeish is not a bad manager. I often felt that small Heath had the better deal when they had him and we had O'Neil. That doesn't make him good enough for Villa. It's the kind of appointment - first steps in the right direction - that would have had value when replacing O'Leary. We have moved on since then, or at least we should have done.
We should still be aiming to break into the big time, We earn less than the teams we are trying to overtake and money is all. We need a manager who can outperform the competition in order to bridge this gap.
O'Neil wasn't the man to do this, McLeish won't be either. A totally uninspiring and unimaginative appointment. It is also opportunity wasted. The manager's post at Aston Villa is (or should be) a very attractive proposition and there aren't that many that come up for grabs.
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One was with Hibs.
I don't think something like that way back in his career has any real relevance to present day PL football. I fully agree the two at Blues do. For instance, and apologies this is from Wikipedia, did you know that in his first job Rafa was manager of Real Valladolid for the 1995–96 season, but was sacked after only two wins in 23 games with the club bottom of the Primera Division?
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Board full of clowns? Id take our clowns over any of the other clowns in the PL. Only Arsenal seem to have their heads screwed on and they have player issues, fan issues etc. Seems a lot of hysteria at the moment. Alex will probably have to achieve more than most new managers to start winning new hearts, but i think that underlines how much he wanted the job. It appears that he jumped at the chance to manage us, which some of the so called "Preferred men" did not. I want someone who wants to manage us and succeed. Not, "Oh ill do it til the next big job turns up" I listened to the Steve McLaren interview and I still think we have the right man between those two.
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At least he'll get a good pre season with the players to see what we have.
Maybe Stephen Ireland might respond to Alex, and if so we'll have a good player on our hands.
With a motivated squad all pulling in the same direction we might have a more consistant season than we have had for a long time.
...........New Goalkeeper
Young.....Collins.....Dunne.....New back/Warnock
Alrighton.....Petrov(or someone better) Delph......New Winger(Downing if he stays)
.......................Gabby........Bent................
We have Makoun and Bradley who might make the step up. Clarke is going to be a great player as well.
There is a huge lot of work to be done to get this squad into a reasonable shape for the season, three or four good quality players need to be brought in for us to have any chance.
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To be honest the reaction towards him has been staggeringly evil by some. I find it very odd and quite embarrassing. I agree it was a strange appointment but he has had some success and he must have some inner belief to come here during this unusual period.
All the best, go out there and prove the doubters wrong (me included) and ignore the mind boggling personal insults which he does not warrant.
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Oh my god it gets worse ! Did he really manage to steer Rangers to 3rd in a 2 horse race. That takes some doing .
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McLeish win us a trophy, any trophy. We'll take mid-table for some silverware, but doing well in the league too would be nice.
Win the FA Cup and I’ll love him forever.
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Board full of clowns? Id take our clowns over any of the other clowns in the PL. Only Arsenal seem to have their heads screwed on and they have player issues, fan issues etc. Seems a lot of hysteria at the moment. Alex will probably have to achieve more than most new managers to start winning new hearts, but i think that underlines how much he wanted the job. It appears that he jumped at the chance to manage us, which some of the so called "Preferred men" did not. I want someone who wants to manage us and succeed. Not, "Oh ill do it til the next big job turns up" I listened to the Steve McLaren interview and I still think we have the right man between those two.
Top Post
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he also managed rangers to 3rd place in a 2 horse race
He also took Motherwell to 2nd it the same 2 horse race that they weren't even in.
Look, I'm not defending the appointment, but lets not paint it out to be worse CV than it is. What he is is a half decent manager with a reputation for defensive football. And we should be aiming for higher.
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Oh my god it gets worse ! Did he really manage to steer Rangers to 3rd in a 2 horse race. That takes some doing .
He did, but he also steered Rangers to besting O'Neill's Celtic who were (shock horror!) spunking cash on fees and wages, while Rangers were in the process of surrendering to the TSB.
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A truly awful appointment. The actions of the board have reduced AVFC to a laughing stock.
I think McLeish is an alright guy. With Euro 2014 next summer, those decent players that remain at the club will be looking to impress. Even Houllier made some good signings so McLeish might too.
With a good start, we might finish top 6 ala DOL's first season. If not, a painful relegation battle with McLeish leaving by mutual consent before the end.
We still have good players - L Young, Dunne, Collins, Clark, Cuellar, Delph, Albrighton, Downing, Bent, Gabby can all be good EPL players next season.
McLeish will need to decide on Beye, Warnock, Ireland, Petrov, Heskey and one centre half to go. Finding buyers will be tricky. Might be worth giving a few of them another chance. Petrov and Heskey are finished but they are the kind of players McLeish is probably going to like unfortunately.
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Oh my god it gets worse ! Did he really manage to steer Rangers to 3rd in a 2 horse race. That takes some doing .
Just imagine what he could do with the backing of a board
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The statement is awful. Using terms like 'unquestionable' just invites criticism. In fairness, the quotes from Feck himself are pretty sensible, but this Faulkner guy is a prick.
Based on?
I feel that the use of language in the statement is provocative and the content is littered with inconsistencies and conjecture, causing further damage to the relationship between the fans and the board and the buck stops at Faulkner (as I presume that he would have final approval on such a statement, correct me if I'm wrong)
Terms like 'unquestionably' and 'not in question' and 'proven abilities demonstrate clearly' are statements designed to say 'we are right, you are wrong', and I feel that it is a tad passive aggresive.
I am seriously amazed that anyone can attach that level of importance to an announcement on a football website. It's seriously weird.
Edit: apologies for repetition of the word 'seriously'. Seriously.
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Could I suggest starting another thread so we can have a micro-analysis of the club's statement? Aren't some people exhausted enough after the last few weeks?
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Oh my god it gets worse ! Did he really manage to steer Rangers to 3rd in a 2 horse race. That takes some doing .
What you on about? I know some may class it as lowering expectations, but I'd settle for 3rd next season 8)
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has a press conference been scheduled yet?
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he also managed rangers to 3rd place in a 2 horse race
He also took Motherwell to 2nd it the same 2 horse race that they weren't even in.
By your previous reasoning on his Hibs relegation 'I don't think something like that way back in his career has any real relevance to present day PL football.'
We can discount his Motherwell achievement then.
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has a press conference been scheduled yet?
Weddings, holidays etc getting in the way, you know, rather get down to business etc etc.
Oh and it's a hugely unpopular appointment as well.
If they want to sell us this shit how about fronting up and having the courage to back this decision? I mean Randy as well. He doesn't have to answer any questions, just be there backing his man for the photos. Show a united front and you might get some fans back on side. We continue to look foolish and now we look like cowards.
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By your previous reasoning on his Hibs relegation 'I don't think something like that way back in his career has any real relevance to present day PL football.'
We can discount his Motherwell achievement then.
Fair enough, but then that just brings us back to an average CV all told.
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McLeish's CV is average, not shit. But it's volatile: 9th in the PL and a Carling Cup with Birmingham is impressive; getting relegated twice in four years isn't. My feeling is that if things go his way, he does his thing and does it well: grind out 1-0 wins and scoreless draws by parking the bus. But he gets into restless waters, he doesn't have what it takes to steady the ship, cue Birmingham's free-fall at the end of last season.
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has a press conference been scheduled yet?
Weddings, holidays etc getting in the way, you know, rather get down to business etc etc.
Oh and it's a hugely unpopular appointment as well.
If they want to sell us this shit how about fronting up and having the courage to back this decision? I mean Randy as well. He doesn't have to answer any questions, just be there backing his man for the photos. Show a united front and you might get some fans back on side. We continue to look foolish and now we look like cowards.
Would you cancel your holiday and wedding because you'd pissed a few folk off at work?
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What I find strange is that many people on here wanted David Moyes, anyone checked his CV ? 3 years at Preston where he won the Division 2 title and 10 years at Everton where he has won nothing. Not exactly the stuff of dreams is it
Some people thought he would be a great appointment
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Just got back off holiday and it seems in that time Randy has lost the plot.
Absolutely nothing to suggest McLeish is the right man for us, regardless of who he used to manage, and that's without even mentioning the other candidates who were available. A trophy is good but set against two relegations and utterly shite football and it all looks rather ominous.
I'll support the team come what may and I will hope to be proven wrong about the manager but I now have huge reservations about Lerner. He's basically had two major decisions to make since he came here and he's fucked them both up.
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What I find strange is that many people on here wanted David Moyes, anyone checked his CV ? 3 years at Preston where he won the Division 2 title and 10 years at Everton where he has won nothing. Not exactly the stuff of dreams is it
Some people thought he would be a great appointment
But he's not a bluenose!
(That was a sarcastic comment by the way)
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Neither is McLeish.
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Welcome to the club Alex, good luck and here's hoping you prove us all wrong.
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has a press conference been scheduled yet?
Weddings, holidays etc getting in the way, you know, rather get down to business etc etc.
Oh and it's a hugely unpopular appointment as well.
If they want to sell us this shit how about fronting up and having the courage to back this decision? I mean Randy as well. He doesn't have to answer any questions, just be there backing his man for the photos. Show a united front and you might get some fans back on side. We continue to look foolish and now we look like cowards.
what an odd response to a simple question.
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Oh my god it gets worse ! Did he really manage to steer Rangers to 3rd in a 2 horse race. That takes some doing .
Just imagine what he could do with the backing of a board
We saw it last season, he spunked £40m net on that team.
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All; this talk of CV's is getting a bit silly. So let's look at the CV of Aston Villa Football Club.
Since 1884 we have had 32 managers.
Only nine of the 32 have won a meaningful trophy.
Between those nine they they won a total of 24 trophies.
One of the nine, George Ramsay won twelve of those trophies. 6 League Championships and 6 FA Cups.
So the other eight won a grand total of twelve trophies between them.
Now I can't see any top class manager looking at that and thinking "oh yes I'll have some of that".
Yes, in our eyes we are a great and proud club. But prospective managers probably look at our past record in terms of winning things and don't see our record as being very inspiring and probably wonder if they would be better off going elsewhere.
And before you all jump on me and accuse me of running the club down. I'm not. I'm just trying to point out we are where we are and we have to accept it.
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Point of order: McLeish took over at Hibs in February when they were all but down. He actually did a good job there.
Anyway McLeish has my full support. He has the job and I'll let him have some time in it before deciding if he is capable of it or not.
The board on the other hand...
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What has happened to all those people who in March were saying that they'd accept relegation in return for a trophy?
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Glad it's done. Welcome to the Villa. Good luck, you'll need it.
Now get on with business.
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Most people seem to be unhappy that we haven't made a 'sexy' appointment, that this appointment is embarassing for Villa fans.
Well, it might not be a 'looker' of an appointment, but I'm confident it'll end up banging like the shithouse door in the wind.
And if some fans can't bear to sing his name, can I suggest "Gingerbollocks Claret & Blue Army"?
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Have a look at the hierarchy of clubs in the English Premier League. Keep going down the list until you come to the clubs that would have an endorsement from Alex Ferguson for their new manager on their official website. Chelsea? Nope. Arsenal? Don't be fucking stupid. Tottenham, then? Keep going... Erm, Everton. Fat chance. Okay, Stoke, Fulham, Wigan... wait, here's the one. Aston Villa.
What a message this sends out about our place in the pecking order. It used to be the job of everybody else to write us off as a smalltime footballing irrelevance. Now we've just confirmed it. The appointment of McLeish is one thing. But patronising crap like that from a rival manager in our own league is offensive beyond reason for any self-respecting Villa fan. It says: accept it, we're lapdogs and be grateful for that.
If we'd appointed Jose Mourinho, do you think for one second that an avuncular Fergie would come on our website and say nice things about him like the old git on the Werther's Original advert?
Christ on a penny farthing.
Yes hate that patronising twat. His point is "they are a small club and McLeish can have a go and if he does well may be he can have a big job"
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has a press conference been scheduled yet?
Weddings, holidays etc getting in the way, you know, rather get down to business etc etc.
Oh and it's a hugely unpopular appointment as well.
If they want to sell us this shit how about fronting up and having the courage to back this decision? I mean Randy as well. He doesn't have to answer any questions, just be there backing his man for the photos. Show a united front and you might get some fans back on side. We continue to look foolish and now we look like cowards.
Would you cancel your holiday and wedding because you'd pissed a few folk off at work?
Heard on R5 that a press conference is taking place on Monday. Didn't give any details
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I seem to remember that SAF bigged up MON and his squad two years ago, his tip for the new team to break into the top four. Did he get shit for saying that then on these pages?, I cant remember, nor really care. SAF doesnt really give a shit whether Alex makes it or not, and I couldnt care less what he thought. He will be whining like mad if we take six points off him this year, and that is what would interest me. It does also mean that the press spend more column inches on this than discussing the merits of Bebe for instance
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come on-own up, which lucky punter staked Alex when he was @ 500-1?!
Randy hopefully put down a mil across the betting firms
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So what if Fergie comments. Has it not much to do with the fact that they are both Scottish for a start plus they spent time together in the past...the pecking order stuff is pure garbage.
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Oh my god it gets worse ! Did he really manage to steer Rangers to 3rd in a 2 horse race. That takes some doing .
He did, but he also steered Rangers to besting O'Neill's Celtic who were (shock horror!) spunking cash on fees and wages, while Rangers were in the process of surrendering to the TSB.
see ads that is totally made up - rangers always outspend celtic, always have and always will
even when Lloyds took them over they still outspent celtic
lets not try and dress the guy up ffs
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All; this talk of CV's is getting a bit silly. So let's look at the CV of Aston Villa Football Club.
Since 1884 we have had 32 managers.
Only nine of the 32 have won a meaningful trophy.
Between those nine they they won a total of 24 trophies.
One of the nine, George Ramsay won twelve of those trophies. 6 League Championships and 6 FA Cups.
So the other eight won a grand total of twelve trophies between them.
Now I can't see any top class manager looking at that and thinking "oh yes I'll have some of that".
Yes, in our eyes we are a great and proud club. But prospective managers probably look at our past record in terms of winning things and don't see our record as being very inspiring and probably wonder if they would be better off going elsewhere.
And before you all jump on me and accuse me of running the club down. I'm not. I'm just trying to point out we are where we are and we have to accept it.
They'd find only 3 clubs with more trophies and one of those hasn't won the big one.
All-Time Honours Table - Clicky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_football_clubs_in_England_by_major_honours_won#Honours_Table)
Edit: and from that same link, this is what a good season's trophy haul looks like,,,
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/AVilla1899.jpg/672px-AVilla1899.jpg)
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Oh my god it gets worse ! Did he really manage to steer Rangers to 3rd in a 2 horse race. That takes some doing .
He did, but he also steered Rangers to besting O'Neill's Celtic who were (shock horror!) spunking cash on fees and wages, while Rangers were in the process of surrendering to the TSB.
see ads that is totally made up - rangers always outspend celtic, always have and always will
even when Lloyds took them over they still outspent celtic
lets not try and dress the guy up ffs
Hang on, back that up with facts at least. Haven't they not spent money on players for about 3 years?
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All; this talk of CV's is getting a bit silly. So let's look at the CV of Aston Villa Football Club.
Since 1884 we have had 32 managers.
Only nine of the 32 have won a meaningful trophy.
Between those nine they they won a total of 24 trophies.
One of the nine, George Ramsay won twelve of those trophies. 6 League Championships and 6 FA Cups.
So the other eight won a grand total of twelve trophies between them.
Now I can't see any top class manager looking at that and thinking "oh yes I'll have some of that".
Yes, in our eyes we are a great and proud club. But prospective managers probably look at our past record in terms of winning things and don't see our record as being very inspiring and probably wonder if they would be better off going elsewhere.
And before you all jump on me and accuse me of running the club down. I'm not. I'm just trying to point out we are where we are and we have to accept it.
They'd find only 3 clubs with more trophies and one of those hasn't won the big one.
All-Time Honours Table - Clicky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_football_clubs_in_England_by_major_honours_won#Honours_Table)
Yeh but the simple fact is outside Villa Park you won't find many holding their breath about our record since we won the European Cup.
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All; this talk of CV's is getting a bit silly. So let's look at the CV of Aston Villa Football Club.
Since 1884 we have had 32 managers.
Only nine of the 32 have won a meaningful trophy.
Between those nine they they won a total of 24 trophies.
One of the nine, George Ramsay won twelve of those trophies. 6 League Championships and 6 FA Cups.
So the other eight won a grand total of twelve trophies between them.
Now I can't see any top class manager looking at that and thinking "oh yes I'll have some of that".
Yes, in our eyes we are a great and proud club. But prospective managers probably look at our past record in terms of winning things and don't see our record as being very inspiring and probably wonder if they would be better off going elsewhere.
And before you all jump on me and accuse me of running the club down. I'm not. I'm just trying to point out we are where we are and we have to accept it.
They'd find only 3 clubs with more trophies and one of those hasn't won the big one.
All-Time Honours Table - Clicky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_football_clubs_in_England_by_major_honours_won#Honours_Table)
Edit: and from that same link, this is what a good season's trophy haul looks like,,,
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/AVilla1899.jpg/672px-AVilla1899.jpg)
If McLeish can scoop up that little lot he might get a few on side. Specially that shield, it's the dog bollocks is that.
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Oh my god it gets worse ! Did he really manage to steer Rangers to 3rd in a 2 horse race. That takes some doing .
He did, but he also steered Rangers to besting O'Neill's Celtic who were (shock horror!) spunking cash on fees and wages, while Rangers were in the process of surrendering to the TSB.
see ads that is totally made up - rangers always outspend celtic, always have and always will
even when Lloyds took them over they still outspent celtic
lets not try and dress the guy up ffs
utter rubbish , celtic spent far more than rangers did during the time o neill and mcleish were there as managers, he won 7 trohies including a treble , you cannot big up o neills record at celtic and then dismiss mcleish record at rangers - if anything mcleish had the better record and he spent considerably less-FACT!
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they don't make shields like that anymore. You need a real man, with a fucking stiff jaw and bullet proof moustache just to pick that bloody thing up.
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Oh my god it gets worse ! Did he really manage to steer Rangers to 3rd in a 2 horse race. That takes some doing .
He did, but he also steered Rangers to besting O'Neill's Celtic who were (shock horror!) spunking cash on fees and wages, while Rangers were in the process of surrendering to the TSB.
see ads that is totally made up - rangers always outspend celtic, always have and always will
even when Lloyds took them over they still outspent celtic
lets not try and dress the guy up ffs
utter rubbish , celtic spent far more than rangers did during the time o neill and mcleish were there as managers, he won 7 trohies including a treble , you cannot big up o neills record at celtic and then dismiss mcleish record at rangers - if anything mcleish had the better record and he spent considerably less-FACT!
Spreadsheets at Dawn.
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All; this talk of CV's is getting a bit silly. So let's look at the CV of Aston Villa Football Club.
Since 1884 we have had 32 managers.
Only nine of the 32 have won a meaningful trophy.
Between those nine they they won a total of 24 trophies.
One of the nine, George Ramsay won twelve of those trophies. 6 League Championships and 6 FA Cups.
So the other eight won a grand total of twelve trophies between them.
Now I can't see any top class manager looking at that and thinking "oh yes I'll have some of that".
Yes, in our eyes we are a great and proud club. But prospective managers probably look at our past record in terms of winning things and don't see our record as being very inspiring and probably wonder if they would be better off going elsewhere.
And before you all jump on me and accuse me of running the club down. I'm not. I'm just trying to point out we are where we are and we have to accept it.
They'd find only 3 clubs with more trophies and one of those hasn't won the big one.
All-Time Honours Table - Clicky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_football_clubs_in_England_by_major_honours_won#Honours_Table)
Edit: and from that same link, this is what a good season's trophy haul looks like,,,
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/AVilla1899.jpg/672px-AVilla1899.jpg)
If McLeish can scoop up that little lot he might get a few on side. Specially that shield, it's the dog bollocks is that.
I'm sure that guy second from the left front row is Des Bremner's grandad.
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Alex McLeish signings at Rangers: http://rangerspedia.org/index.php/Alex_McLeish_Signings
I can think of O'Neill spending way more and their records in terms of trophies in Scotland are comparable.
McLeish even brought through youth players there like Chris Burke and Charlie Adam who faded out of the picture only after he left.
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Alex McLeish signings at Rangers: http://rangerspedia.org/index.php/Alex_McLeish_Signings
I can think of O'Neill spending way more and their records in terms of trophies in Scotland are comparable.
McLeish even brought through youth players there like Chris Burke and Charlie Adam who faded out of the picture only after he left.
bang on the money bentman.
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Enjoy your summer, eastie.
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Enjoy your summer, eastie.
you too jimbo , back in work at 6 am and no holidays till late sept now for me ,but have a good summer everyone!
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Alex McLeish signings at Rangers: http://rangerspedia.org/index.php/Alex_McLeish_Signings
I can think of O'Neill spending way more and their records in terms of trophies in Scotland are comparable.
McLeish even brought through youth players there like Chris Burke and Charlie Adam who faded out of the picture only after he left.
He and his cheif scout have a pretty good hit rate with players in fairness. I would assume he will be joining up with him.
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I may be churlish, but I will not welcome this man to our Aston Villa
To put on the O/S an endorsment by the manager of Newton Heath is adding insult to injury.
Alex,s Claret and Blue Army. Never.
I'm quite happy with an endorsement from a man who managed McLeish to a league title with Aberdeen before winning more trophies with Man Utd than we've had hot dinners.
It's a shame that you can neither welcome the manager of your club nor support or encourage him. I hate the phrase 'so called supporter' so probably best to call you no supporter at all.
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Got to say although Fergie has done his mate a favour, there are few people who have an opinion as valuable as him in the game.
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Does anyone know for sure what the shield is? And by that I mean its title instead of "Fucking big".
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Does anyone know for sure what the shield is? And by that I mean its title instead of "Fucking big".
Is it the Atari six-a-side shield?
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All; this talk of CV's is getting a bit silly. So let's look at the CV of Aston Villa Football Club.
Since 1884 we have had 32 managers.
Only nine of the 32 have won a meaningful trophy.
Between those nine they they won a total of 24 trophies.
One of the nine, George Ramsay won twelve of those trophies. 6 League Championships and 6 FA Cups.
So the other eight won a grand total of twelve trophies between them.
Now I can't see any top class manager looking at that and thinking "oh yes I'll have some of that".
Yes, in our eyes we are a great and proud club. But prospective managers probably look at our past record in terms of winning things and don't see our record as being very inspiring and probably wonder if they would be better off going elsewhere.
And before you all jump on me and accuse me of running the club down. I'm not. I'm just trying to point out we are where we are and we have to accept it.
They'd find only 3 clubs with more trophies and one of those hasn't won the big one.
All-Time Honours Table - Clicky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_football_clubs_in_England_by_major_honours_won#Honours_Table)
Edit: and from that same link, this is what a good season's trophy haul looks like,,,
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/AVilla1899.jpg/672px-AVilla1899.jpg)
If McLeish can scoop up that little lot he might get a few on side. Specially that shield, it's the dog bollocks is that.
I'm sure that guy second from the left front row is Des Bremner's grandad.
No it's not Des's grandad. Thats Des himself. ;D
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All; this talk of CV's is getting a bit silly. So let's look at the CV of Aston Villa Football Club.
Since 1884 we have had 32 managers.
Only nine of the 32 have won a meaningful trophy.
Between those nine they they won a total of 24 trophies.
One of the nine, George Ramsay won twelve of those trophies. 6 League Championships and 6 FA Cups.
So the other eight won a grand total of twelve trophies between them.
Now I can't see any top class manager looking at that and thinking "oh yes I'll have some of that".
Yes, in our eyes we are a great and proud club. But prospective managers probably look at our past record in terms of winning things and don't see our record as being very inspiring and probably wonder if they would be better off going elsewhere.
And before you all jump on me and accuse me of running the club down. I'm not. I'm just trying to point out we are where we are and we have to accept it.
They'd find only 3 clubs with more trophies and one of those hasn't won the big one.
All-Time Honours Table - Clicky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_football_clubs_in_England_by_major_honours_won#Honours_Table)
Edit: and from that same link, this is what a good season's trophy haul looks like,,,
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/AVilla1899.jpg/672px-AVilla1899.jpg)
If McLeish can scoop up that little lot he might get a few on side. Specially that shield, it's the dog bollocks is that.
I'm sure that guy second from the left front row is Des Bremner's grandad.
Were they doing Movember?
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Not certain, but I think that could be the 'F**k You Lot We've Won Everything Shield'. 8)
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Thats not a shield, it's a portal to another dimension.
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Good luck Eck, I've got this strange feeling we're going to be alright.
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32 managers seems very low especially as we've had 5 in the last 9 months...(okay 2 were caretaker managers and obviously don't count as full time managers).
How many have we had in the 20 years of the Prem
BFR
Little
Gregory
Dolly
GT
MON
Houllier
McLeish
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I have a feeling that's Charlie Athersmith, strong claimant to the title greatest Villa player of all, who also played for Small Heath.
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I have a feeling that's Charlie Athersmith, strong claimant to the title greatest Villa player of all, who also played for Small Heath.
Better than Paul McGrath? Impossible !
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Not certain, but I think that could be the 'F**k You Lot We've Won Everything Shield'. 8)
I feel sorry for the player sat behind it :D
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I have a feeling that's Charlie Athersmith, strong claimant to the title greatest Villa player of all, who also played for Small Heath.
Better than Paul McGrath? Impossible !
Better than Paul McGrath. Charlie Athersmith is the only player in history to win every honour he could in a season.
First one to name them all wins a prize. I'll open up another thread for it.
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I'm quite happy with an endorsement from a man who managed McLeish to a league title with Aberdeen before winning more trophies with Man Utd than we've had hot dinners.
Didn't fergie also sing the praises of Djemba Djemba, encouraging us to sign him?
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Does anyone know for sure what the shield is? And by that I mean its title instead of "Fucking big".
Is it the Atari six-a-side shield?
fuck me Lee. That was my guess.
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I have a feeling that's Charlie Athersmith, strong claimant to the title greatest Villa player of all, who also played for Small Heath.
Better than Paul McGrath? Impossible !
Better than Paul McGrath. Charlie Athersmith is the only player in history to win every honour he could in a season.
First one to name them all wins a prize. I'll open up another thread for it.
Even better than Mark Kinsella?
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Have a look at the hierarchy of clubs in the English Premier League. Keep going down the list until you come to the clubs that would have an endorsement from Alex Ferguson for their new manager on their official website. Chelsea? Nope. Arsenal? Don't be fucking stupid. Tottenham, then? Keep going... Erm, Everton. Fat chance. Okay, Stoke, Fulham, Wigan... wait, here's the one. Aston Villa.
What a message this sends out about our place in the pecking order. It used to be the job of everybody else to write us off as a smalltime footballing irrelevance. Now we've just confirmed it. The appointment of McLeish is one thing. But patronising crap like that from a rival manager in our own league is offensive beyond reason for any self-respecting Villa fan. It says: accept it, we're lapdogs and be grateful for that.
If we'd appointed Jose Mourinho, do you think for one second that an avuncular Fergie would come on our website and say nice things about him like the old git on the Werther's Original advert?
Christ on a penny farthing.
Firstly I was pissed off to find that we had appointed Ferguson as our DOF - when did that happen?
Honestly I can understand him giving a good word but what relaly annoys me is that there is more from him on our website than there is from our baord on why they chsoe him. Least theyc ould do was to explain their reaosnign behind it instead of begging Ferguson to do their dirty work!
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Alex McLeish signings at Rangers: http://rangerspedia.org/index.php/Alex_McLeish_Signings
I can think of O'Neill spending way more and their records in terms of trophies in Scotland are comparable.
McLeish even brought through youth players there like Chris Burke and Charlie Adam who faded out of the picture only after he left.
Some decent buys amongst those and a lot of them free transfers (should please Lerner!)
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Had that photo as a framed picture for my christmas present from my sister, looks great in my office!
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I have a feeling that's Charlie Athersmith, strong claimant to the title greatest Villa player of all, who also played for Small Heath.
I think the fella sitting to the right of the trophies is Fred Wheldon, who actually joined from Small Heath and went to West Brom when he left us. He may have been the first to play for all three clubs.
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All; this talk of CV's is getting a bit silly. So let's look at the CV of Aston Villa Football Club.
Since 1884 we have had 32 managers.
Only nine of the 32 have won a meaningful trophy.
Between those nine they they won a total of 24 trophies.
One of the nine, George Ramsay won twelve of those trophies. 6 League Championships and 6 FA Cups.
So the other eight won a grand total of twelve trophies between them.
Now I can't see any top class manager looking at that and thinking "oh yes I'll have some of that".
Yes, in our eyes we are a great and proud club. But prospective managers probably look at our past record in terms of winning things and don't see our record as being very inspiring and probably wonder if they would be better off going elsewhere.
And before you all jump on me and accuse me of running the club down. I'm not. I'm just trying to point out we are where we are and we have to accept it.
They'd find only 3 clubs with more trophies and one of those hasn't won the big one.
All-Time Honours Table - Clicky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_football_clubs_in_England_by_major_honours_won#Honours_Table)
Edit: and from that same link, this is what a good season's trophy haul looks like,,,
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/AVilla1899.jpg/672px-AVilla1899.jpg)
If McLeish can scoop up that little lot he might get a few on side. Specially that shield, it's the dog bollocks is that.
I'm sure that guy second from the left front row is Des Bremner's grandad.
Were they doing Movember?
I think McLeish's first move should be to grow a fuck off fat moustache.All; this talk of CV's is getting a bit silly. So let's look at the CV of Aston Villa Football Club.
Since 1884 we have had 32 managers.
Only nine of the 32 have won a meaningful trophy.
Between those nine they they won a total of 24 trophies.
One of the nine, George Ramsay won twelve of those trophies. 6 League Championships and 6 FA Cups.
So the other eight won a grand total of twelve trophies between them.
Now I can't see any top class manager looking at that and thinking "oh yes I'll have some of that".
Yes, in our eyes we are a great and proud club. But prospective managers probably look at our past record in terms of winning things and don't see our record as being very inspiring and probably wonder if they would be better off going elsewhere.
And before you all jump on me and accuse me of running the club down. I'm not. I'm just trying to point out we are where we are and we have to accept it.
They'd find only 3 clubs with more trophies and one of those hasn't won the big one.
All-Time Honours Table - Clicky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_football_clubs_in_England_by_major_honours_won#Honours_Table)
Edit: and from that same link, this is what a good season's trophy haul looks like,,,
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/AVilla1899.jpg/672px-AVilla1899.jpg)
If McLeish can scoop up that little lot he might get a few on side. Specially that shield, it's the dog bollocks is that.
I'm sure that guy second from the left front row is Des Bremner's grandad.
No it's not Des's grandad. Thats Des himself. ;D
Is that picture from the queue outside the auditions for Freddie Mercury - the Musical?
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Completely underwhelmed by the appointment.
However, I'm not going to wish ill on my club and hope he goes on to prove a lot of people completely wrong. Silverware and good football will make the humble pie taste all the sweeter.
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Regarding the £2m compensation that sky have been reporting we have agreed to pay blues- has this been confirmed anywhere else as I haven't seen or heard it mentioned elsewhere and blues are still reportedly taking legal advice?
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Kendrick rubbished it last night
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Regarding the £2m compensation that sky have been reporting we have agreed to pay blues- has this been confirmed anywhere else as I haven't seen or heard it mentioned elsewhere and blues are still reportedly taking legal advice?
£5.4m (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13811563.stm)
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Oh well onward's and upwa ???
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Just hope he proves us all wrong and I wish him all the best.
Now that it's over I think I just want to put all the shenanigans of the past few weeks behind me by sitting back for a few hours, having a couple of drinks, and catching up with some back episodes of CSI Miami. I'm sure that will take my mind off it all.
On second thoughts, maybe not.
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Just heard Earl Barrett on Talksport. Did we upset him in his time here?
Seemed to not know anything about the club, fans or owner. Said he expected us to have a "very successful" season by finishing in the Top 10??!!!
I am not saying we will be higher than that, but it is not a "very successful" season.
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When does he actually start?
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Regarding the £2m compensation that sky have been reporting we have agreed to pay blues- has this been confirmed anywhere else as I haven't seen or heard it mentioned elsewhere and blues are still reportedly taking legal advice?
£5.4m (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13811563.stm)
I will put all of Dave Woodhall's money on it not being anything close to £5.4m, and top it up with the pennies left in my pocket that it won't be the £2m that it's being reported. I'm guessing it will be less and undisclosed because the LMA will tell Blues he had every right to walk because of they way they treated him and undermined his position. It will be a small compensation for acting like a small club.
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When does he actually start?
immediately according to the OS
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When does he actually start?
immediately according to the OS
Apparently he's gone back to finish his holiday and the press conference is reportedly on Monday.
Mind you he resigned by email on holiday, so I suppose he can tap ......err no I'd better stop for legal reasons.
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Well, the die is cast. There is not a lot we can do about it now.
What I guess we have to do is get behind the club and the team and trust that we will be ok.
Talk of returning season tickets and boycoting the club are just futile. Anyone doing that is actually punishing themselves, not the club.
Welcome to Aston Villa Mr.McLeish, I wish you well, because you doing well will mean MY club is doing well.
Forgive me if I don't refer to you as Big 'Eck just yet.
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Big 'Eck? If/when things go pear-shaped I can see Fletch's 'Fucking 'Eck' coming in to play.
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I suppose one way to look at it is there was genuine excitement at the appointment of DOL and MON, and in the end they disappointed to different degrees. I was neutral on the Houllier appointment and by the end he'd done moderately OK under the circumstances.
I'm dead set against this appointment, so hopefully he'll outperform all three.
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Regarding the £2m compensation that sky have been reporting we have agreed to pay blues- has this been confirmed anywhere else as I haven't seen or heard it mentioned elsewhere and blues are still reportedly taking legal advice?
£5.4m (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13811563.stm)
I will put all of Dave Woodhall's money on it not being anything close to £5.4m, and top it up with the pennies left in my pocket that it won't be the £2m that it's being reported. I'm guessing it will be less and undisclosed because the LMA will tell Blues he had every right to walk because of they way they treated him and undermined his position. It will be a small compensation for acting like a small club.
It could cost a whole lot more...
Possible £5.4 to blues for Eck, then the compensation to be payed if he brings his back room staff from blues, plus the compensation for getting rid of our current back room.
We could be looking at over £20 Million
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Have they said who his backroom team is.
Could we have a double helping of Mac management?
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Regarding the £2m compensation that sky have been reporting we have agreed to pay blues- has this been confirmed anywhere else as I haven't seen or heard it mentioned elsewhere and blues are still reportedly taking legal advice?
£5.4m (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13811563.stm)
I will put all of Dave Woodhall's money on it not being anything close to £5.4m, and top it up with the pennies left in my pocket that it won't be the £2m that it's being reported. I'm guessing it will be less and undisclosed because the LMA will tell Blues he had every right to walk because of they way they treated him and undermined his position. It will be a small compensation for acting like a small club.
It could cost a whole lot more...
Possible £5.4 to blues for Eck, then the compensation to be payed if he brings his back room staff from blues, plus the compensation for getting rid of our current back room.
We could be looking at over £20 Million
So Villa refuse to pay, and instead Blues have to pay up their contracts when the new manager brings his own team in. I am sure a very cheap compromise will be reached.
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Does anyone know for sure what the shield is? And by that I mean its title instead of "Fucking big".
It's the Sheriff of London (Dewar) Shield which we won in 1901 and shared in 1899. It was something of a forerunner to the Charity Shield with a one off game played between the top professional and top amateur teams. We played in it three times - 1899 drew 0-0 with Queens Park, 1900 lost 2-1 to Corinthians and 1901 beat Corinthians 1-0.
From wiki...
"The Shield itself, commissioned by Dewar, was over six feet high - the largest trophy to be competed for in the history of football. In the 1980s the trophy was put up for auction and sold for £26,000 to a private American owner. It is on display in the Watford Museum."
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Heard the phrase 'Alex McLeish's Aston Villa' for the first time tonight - will take some getting used to.
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Why, the big Eck ?
Is this a term of endearment, or some humorous nickname bestowed on some one from North of the Border ?
More appropriate would be, Who the F,Eck is this.
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Heard the phrase 'Alex McLeish's Aston Villa' for the first time tonight - will take some getting used to.
[/quot
For any mourning there should be a period of grace.
I can not see this bouncing around the ground at Craven Cottage.
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He and his cheif scout have a pretty good hit rate with players in fairness. I would assume he will be joining up with him.
So, Bear Grylls is coming to the Villa. I'll have to find my woggle.
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I liked how they conviently left out the two relegations in 3 seasons...
Oh well, despite what we all think of him lets try and get behind him.
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I liked how they conviently left out the two relegations in 3 seasons...
Oh well, despite what we all think of him lets try and get behind him.
It's getting late, I've had a long day and I'm a feeling a bit tetchy, so I hope you'll forgive my pedantry, but do you think that in future you could possibly modify your presumption that everyone thinks badly about AM's appointment?
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I liked how they conviently left out the two relegations in 3 seasons...
Oh well, despite what we all think of him lets try and get behind him.
It's getting late, I've had a long day and I'm a feeling a bit tetchy, so I hope you'll forgive my pedantry, but do you think that in future you could possibly modify your presumption that everyone thinks badly about AM's appointment?
I don't know anyone on here who wanted him, but now we've got him (unfortunately) we've got to be supportive and be positive.
I don't see the logic behind giving him the job, quite frankly it's bewildering but I'll still try and get down to the games and support the team and manager.
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From the OS
The Club are pleased to confirm that Alex McLeish has been appointed Aston Villa manager and will assume his duties with immediate effect.
The 52-year-old son of a Govan shipyard worker, McLeish began his managerial career in 1994 at Motherwell whom he guided in his first season to second place behind Rangers, then in the midst of their nine-in-a-row Scottish titles.
Following a three-year spell in charge of Hibernian, which included a Scottish Cup final appearance, he took over at Rangers where he unseated Martin O'Neill's then dominant Celtic team by winning the Scottish Cup and League Cup in his first season in 2001-02 and the Treble - including the Scottish Premier League title - in his second.
He won two championships and seven trophies in total in his five years at Ibrox before succeeding Walter Smith as Scotland boss in 2007.
Only a 2-1 win by Italy at Hampden Park in the final qualifying game prevented McLeish from leading his country to the Euro 2008 finals.
He pursued his ambition to manage in the Barclays Premier League and led Birmingham City to their highest top-flight finish in 51 years in 2009-10.
When his team beat Arsenal to win the Carling Cup four months ago at Wembley he became one of the only current managers in the Barclays Premier League who has won a major piece of silverware.
That Alex McLeish is a well-respected, well-rounded and accomplished football man is not in question.
As a formidable central defender in Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen team which broke the Old Firm's stranglehold on Scottish football, he won three championships, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup.
He was also capped 77 times by Scotland and played at three World Cups and throughout his playing and managerial careers he has maintained an unfailing grace and humility and an unflinching will to win.
He also understands and supports the Board's vision and strategy for Aston Villa in our ongoing efforts to grow the Club and to ensure its sustainability and he is determined to confront the challenges of managing the Club.
He said: "I am honoured to have this opportunity to manage a club with such a fantastic history as Aston Villa's.
"The heritage, the history of success and the tradition of Aston Villa are compelling and irresistible. The challenge for me is to try to add my own chapter.
"Since first becoming a manager at Motherwell, my desire to succeed and my energy and drive have never waned. My objective is to impart that drive and will to win to the players and fans of Aston Villa.
"I know that some of our fans have voiced concerns and I can understand why. It will be up to me to convince you that I am the right man to drive the Club forward and I intend to give absolutely everything to prove that I can be a success at the Club."
Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Aston Villa, said: "We believe we have appointed the right man for the job.
"Unquestionably, Alex meets the criteria we set out at the beginning of our search which was based on proven Premier League experience, leadership, a hard-working ethic and, most importantly, a shared vision for Aston Villa.
"Alex is someone with whom we will work close and work well together.
"With our strong squad combining the necessary virtues of experience and the exciting potential of our young players, our objective is to compete as strongly as we possibly can.
"Alex's vast experience and proven abilities demonstrate clearly that he is a strong leader and an ambitious man and we are looking forward very much to the exciting new season about to start."
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From the OS
The Club are pleased to confirm that Alex McLeish has been appointed Aston Villa manager and will assume his duties with immediate effect.
The 52-year-old son of a Govan shipyard worker, McLeish began his managerial career in 1994 at Motherwell whom he guided in his first season to second place behind Rangers, then in the midst of their nine-in-a-row Scottish titles.
Following a three-year spell in charge of Hibernian, which included a Scottish Cup final appearance, he took over at Rangers where he unseated Martin O'Neill's then dominant Celtic team by winning the Scottish Cup and League Cup in his first season in 2001-02 and the Treble - including the Scottish Premier League title - in his second.
He won two championships and seven trophies in total in his five years at Ibrox before succeeding Walter Smith as Scotland boss in 2007.
Only a 2-1 win by Italy at Hampden Park in the final qualifying game prevented McLeish from leading his country to the Euro 2008 finals.
He pursued his ambition to manage in the Barclays Premier League and led Birmingham City to their highest top-flight finish in 51 years in 2009-10.
When his team beat Arsenal to win the Carling Cup four months ago at Wembley he became one of the only current managers in the Barclays Premier League who has won a major piece of silverware.
That Alex McLeish is a well-respected, well-rounded and accomplished football man is not in question.
As a formidable central defender in Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen team which broke the Old Firm's stranglehold on Scottish football, he won three championships, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup.
He was also capped 77 times by Scotland and played at three World Cups and throughout his playing and managerial careers he has maintained an unfailing grace and humility and an unflinching will to win.
He also understands and supports the Board's vision and strategy for Aston Villa in our ongoing efforts to grow the Club and to ensure its sustainability and he is determined to confront the challenges of managing the Club.
He said: "I am honoured to have this opportunity to manage a club with such a fantastic history as Aston Villa's.
"The heritage, the history of success and the tradition of Aston Villa are compelling and irresistible. The challenge for me is to try to add my own chapter.
"Since first becoming a manager at Motherwell, my desire to succeed and my energy and drive have never waned. My objective is to impart that drive and will to win to the players and fans of Aston Villa.
"I know that some of our fans have voiced concerns and I can understand why. It will be up to me to convince you that I am the right man to drive the Club forward and I intend to give absolutely everything to prove that I can be a success at the Club."
Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Aston Villa, said: "We believe we have appointed the right man for the job.
"Unquestionably, Alex meets the criteria we set out at the beginning of our search which was based on proven Premier League experience, leadership, a hard-working ethic and, most importantly, a shared vision for Aston Villa.
"Alex is someone with whom we will work close and work well together.
"With our strong squad combining the necessary virtues of experience and the exciting potential of our young players, our objective is to compete as strongly as we possibly can.
"Alex's vast experience and proven abilities demonstrate clearly that he is a strong leader and an ambitious man and we are looking forward very much to the exciting new season about to start."
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A.M. as manager of the mighty villa???? Is that the problem of foriegn owners? They just dont understand the passion loyal supporters have for their teams. I understand the arguments from both sides for giving him ago and for those who say def not. At the end of the day he has come from the blue noses and no matter how good he is he should never ever manage the Villa. I know there are people out there who will disagree but its only my oppinion. Sir Alex Ferguson is backing him to take us forward..... But I have a question for the best manager in british football. Would you leave Man Utd and manage Man City? And would you be accepted by either manchester supporters? I dont think so!!!!!!!
But the decision has been made and I have been an Aston Villa supporter for close to 50 years and have cheered at our triumphs, Cried at our defeats and swore at the matches when we have been crap, But have stayed in love with the Villans. So what ever decision the board make I will still be a supporter untill I die. Lets hope and pray that this is the one and my head stays out of my hands for a good season to come. Come on the VILLA
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I liked how they conviently left out the two relegations in 3 seasons...
Oh well, despite what we all think of him lets try and get behind him.
It's getting late, I've had a long day and I'm a feeling a bit tetchy, so I hope you'll forgive my pedantry, but do you think that in future you could possibly modify your presumption that everyone thinks badly about AM's appointment?
I don't know anyone on here who wanted him, but now we've got him (unfortunately) we've got to be supportive and be positive.
I don't see the logic behind giving him the job, quite frankly it's bewildering but I'll still try and get down to the games and support the team and manager.
I think most of us (oops - nearly said all) are aware of your views, but in your (and to be fair lots of others) eagerness to let us know, I think you may have missed the (admittedly very small) number of people on this board who have voiced their support for the appointment. I think they are entitled to their opinion.
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I liked how they conviently left out the two relegations in 3 seasons...
Oh well, despite what we all think of him lets try and get behind him.
It's getting late, I've had a long day and I'm a feeling a bit tetchy, so I hope you'll forgive my pedantry, but do you think that in future you could possibly modify your presumption that everyone thinks badly about AM's appointment?
I don't know anyone on here who wanted him, but now we've got him (unfortunately) we've got to be supportive and be positive.
I don't see the logic behind giving him the job, quite frankly it's bewildering but I'll still try and get down to the games and support the team and manager.
I think most of us (oops - nearly said all) are aware of your views, but in your (and to be fair lots of others) eagerness to let us know, I think you may have missed the (admittedly very small) number of people on this board who have voiced their support for the appointment. I think they are entitled to their opinion.
I can honestly say you're the first person I've come across on here who actually wants him as manager.
Just because people haven't realised or acknowledged there are people like you on here who want him as manager it doesn't mean you need to start questioning.
But that's in the past, he's our manager now and everyone has to get behind him whether or not we wanted him in the first place. I'm still going to support McLeish as manager.
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I liked how they conviently left out the two relegations in 3 seasons...
Oh well, despite what we all think of him lets try and get behind him.
It's getting late, I've had a long day and I'm a feeling a bit tetchy, so I hope you'll forgive my pedantry, but do you think that in future you could possibly modify your presumption that everyone thinks badly about AM's appointment?
I don't know anyone on here who wanted him, but now we've got him (unfortunately) we've got to be supportive and be positive.
I don't see the logic behind giving him the job, quite frankly it's bewildering but I'll still try and get down to the games and support the team and manager.
I think most of us (oops - nearly said all) are aware of your views, but in your (and to be fair lots of others) eagerness to let us know, I think you may have missed the (admittedly very small) number of people on this board who have voiced their support for the appointment. I think they are entitled to their opinion.
I can honestly say you're the first person I've come across on here who actually wants him as manager.
Just because people haven't realised or acknowledged there are people like you on here who want him as manager it doesn't mean you need to start questioning.
But that's in the past, he's our manager now and everyone has to get behind him whether or not we wanted him in the first place. I'm still going to support McLeish as manager.
Where did I say that I want him as manager?
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I don't didn't want Alex as our manager. His PL record is not exactly great. I think the board have let us down. BUT I have a funny (gut)feeling that AM could be a good bloke for us.
UTFV
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I liked how they conviently left out the two relegations in 3 seasons...
Oh well, despite what we all think of him lets try and get behind him.
It's getting late, I've had a long day and I'm a feeling a bit tetchy, so I hope you'll forgive my pedantry, but do you think that in future you could possibly modify your presumption that everyone thinks badly about AM's appointment?
I don't know anyone on here who wanted him, but now we've got him (unfortunately) we've got to be supportive and be positive.
I don't see the logic behind giving him the job, quite frankly it's bewildering but I'll still try and get down to the games and support the team and manager.
I think most of us (oops - nearly said all) are aware of your views, but in your (and to be fair lots of others) eagerness to let us know, I think you may have missed the (admittedly very small) number of people on this board who have voiced their support for the appointment. I think they are entitled to their opinion.
I can honestly say you're the first person I've come across on here who actually wants him as manager.
Just because people haven't realised or acknowledged there are people like you on here who want him as manager it doesn't mean you need to start questioning.
But that's in the past, he's our manager now and everyone has to get behind him whether or not we wanted him in the first place. I'm still going to support McLeish as manager.
That Eastie clown wanted him so there is 2 of em.
Where did I say that I want him as manager?
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At the risk of sounding naive, why is Alex Ferguson so enamoured with AMc?????
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But the decision has been made and I have been an Aston Villa supporter for close to 50 years and have cheered at our triumphs, Cried at our defeats and swore at the matches when we have been crap, But have stayed in love with the Villans. So what ever decision the board make I will still be a supporter untill I die. Lets hope and pray that this is the one and my head stays out of my hands for a good season to come. Come on the VILLA
I think this is about where I am - go Alex! Let's have a season to kick the best out of the crap! I'm on board so go for it! VILLA!
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At the risk of sounding naive, why is Alex Ferguson so enamoured with AMc?????
AM played under Fergie at Aberdeen
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I agree with a fair few on here that Mcleish has shown genuine courage and I am sure he will make all the right noises about now being at a big club though his record stands out as one of mediocrity at best.
The problem i now have is with the board who have shown such disregard for all fans whether it be rational or irrational doesnt matter as football clubs live and die with their fans and some will never forgive.
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I agree with a fair few on here that Mcleish has shown genuine courage and I am sure he will make all the right noises about now being at a big club though his record stands out as one of mediocrity at best.
The problem i now have is with the board who have shown such disregard for all fans whether it be rational or irrational doesnt matter as football clubs live and die with their fans and some will never forgive.
Never mind whether he does well or not, they didn't ask us. How dare they run their business as they see fit.
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Don't buy the courage line.
Think that's a load of old hokum. Personally, I think he's on a win win. If he has an excellent start and has people rallying behind him, he might do a good job against the odds. That will boost his reputation, doing well at one of the bigger clubs in England. If it all goes tits up, he'll have a nice, juicy payout and can probably take on the Rangers or Scotland job again in a few years.
Hopefully, even if he has a 'mare, he might secure a few decent players for us that the next manager may benefit from.
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What other business is there that would expect such blind loyalty?the sad thing is we are not just consumers but we are fans and as such we cannot move about as such and that is the sad thing about it.they are not fans and will never understand as proven over the last year.
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Will be interesting to see how it plays out re gates and overall averages this year.
If it's near enough the same as the last few years, the scenes of the last few days will be much ado about nothing. But if gates are down substantially, RL and co will have no one to blame but themselves. There will be no point GK coming on here carping about fans not attending ever again. If you don't listen to customers -or if you do but disregard them anyway- there will generally be consequences.
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Attendancies were pretty poor under the last appointment which we were led to believe was made due to the lack of viable alternatives so I dare to think what will happen this time.
I for one hold no malice towards am just feel he was appointed by people who know next to nothing about "soccer" which has been proven over the last year.
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Out of interest, why do they call him Big Eck? I get the big but what is Eck all about?
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It's short for Alex.
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Well I guess we have to back him now, so best of luck and prove me wrong, UTV
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I for one hold no malice towards am just feel he was appointed by people who know next to nothing about "soccer" which has been proven over the last year.
Agree with the first part. He isn't as detestable as quite a few characters associated with that lot. Even when he had a chance to rub it in after the cup game, he held back.
I don't think there are many who dislike McLeish the individual. It's more the style of play he has become associated with and his record to date in England.
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Time to get behind him and support the team, give the guy a chance.
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I agree with a fair few on here that Mcleish has shown genuine courage and I am sure he will make all the right noises about now being at a big club though his record stands out as one of mediocrity at best.
The problem i now have is with the board who have shown such disregard for all fans whether it be rational or irrational doesnt matter as football clubs live and die with their fans and some will never forgive.
Never mind whether he does well or not, they didn't ask us. How dare they run their business as they see fit.
I'm not sure Dave, that everyone recognises irony when they see it.
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ALEX McLEISH walked into Aston Villa yesterday - and will pocket a 150 PER CENT pay rise.
The Scot agreed a three-year deal worth £2million a year.
McLeish's contract at Birmingham would have seen his wages HALVED to £800,000 a year after the club were relegated from the Premier League.
McLeish, 52, who quit Brum last Sunday, insists he will silence the Villa boo-boys after crossing the Second City.
Big Eck said: "I know some of our fans have voiced concerns and I can understand why. It will be up to me to convince you that I am the right man to drive the club forward."
Despite his appointment, the legal rows are not over. Blues want compensation for McLeish walking out, while the Scot is claiming constructive dismissal.
A Brum statement said: "We are still looking into whether Villa's conduct has been in line with Premier League rules."
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3645423/New-Aston-Villa-boss-Alex-McLeish-lands-150-pay-rise.html#ixzz1PbsFUEh0
Yes keep looking into it!!
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Well we can't do anything about it, so no point in complaining I guess. If he fails, then we won't really be surprised. All he can do is surprise us with some degree of success. If we finish in the top 8 I'd be very surprised. We shall see.
He dropped a bollock at the scum after they won the league cup. They were complacent. With the money he'd spent and the squad he had, they shouldn't have been relegated in truth. They're shite yes, but getting relegated was a huge fuck up. The previous season he'd done very well there in fairness to him.
I'm not looking forward to the standard of football, nor the tactical deficiency. In all honest, I think the guy is a poor man's MON. But he's yet to test himself at a big club (South of the border anyway). So he might raise his game. Hopefully he'll adapt his style a bit. In retrospect I preferred Martins style over Gerards, because we got better results out of it, and it wasn't always entirely horrible to watch. A bit of directness could suit Bent well.
We just got to back him now. If he can keep Downing here and make a couple of decent signings, then that's a start. I suppose having the Fergie seal of approval should count for something.
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As the old joke goes, '' they have dug a hole and now they are looking into it.'', I too thought it a bad idea, but as a wise schools inspector said of the National Curriculum, one can fight change or embrace it and turn it to advantage., what is certain is that change has happened. If Eck goes all out to prove himself, plays a more expansive game and brings some defensive organisation, and decides the best way to thwart critics is to succeed, then we may be beneficiaries. Hopefully.
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It's short for Alex.
Actually it's short for Alec.
Apparently people used to call him Alec McLeish instead of Alex. Some sort of weird scottish joke.
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I suppose having the Fergie seal of approval should count for something.
About this Fergie thing. He was hardly going to advise that we break the bank to get Ancelotti.
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I suppose having the Fergie seal of approval should count for something.
About this Fergie thing. He was hardly going to advise that we break the bank to get Ancelotti.
and the Fergie seal of approval was given for Djemba Djemba.
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I suppose having the Fergie seal of approval should count for something.
About this Fergie thing. He was hardly going to advise that we break the bank to get Ancelotti.
and the Fergie seal of approval was given for Djemba Djemba.
Thanks for dredging up those repressed memories of the Djemba twins. I take it back. Fergie is a hack! I'm glad Booby has already been loaned out to someone, because we'd have ended up with him.
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I suppose having the Fergie seal of approval should count for something.
About this Fergie thing. He was hardly going to advise that we break the bank to get Ancelotti.
and the Fergie seal of approval was given for Djemba Djemba.
Was it, I don't remember that. Where have you got it from, surely you haven't just seen it posted on the Internet and taken it as gospel.
Clearly, McLeish is a mate so he's hardly going to slag him off but the fact that he made him captain shows that the best manager in the country and probably of all time rates him. It's no guarantee of success but shouldn't be dismissed just because it doesn't suit your standpoint.
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I suppose having the Fergie seal of approval should count for something.
About this Fergie thing. He was hardly going to advise that we break the bank to get Ancelotti.
Our owners are obsessed with Fergie's worthless opinions.
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I suppose having the Fergie seal of approval should count for something.
About this Fergie thing. He was hardly going to advise that we break the bank to get Ancelotti.
Our owners are obsessed with Fergie's worthless opinions.
Hardly worthless, the bloke was won everything worth winning for 20 years although why they didn't keep his advice to themselves rather than splash it over the front page of the website is what I'd like to know.
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I suppose having the Fergie seal of approval should count for something.
About this Fergie thing. He was hardly going to advise that we break the bank to get Ancelotti.
Our owners are obsessed with Fergie's worthless opinions.
Hardly worthless, the bloke was won everything worth winning for 20 years although why they didn't keep his advice to themselves rather than splash it over the front page of the website is what I'd like to know.
I suppose having the Fergie seal of approval should count for something.
About this Fergie thing. He was hardly going to advise that we break the bank to get Ancelotti.
Our owners are obsessed with Fergie's worthless opinions.
Hardly worthless, the bloke was won everything worth winning for 20 years although why they didn't keep his advice to themselves rather than splash it over the front page of the website is what I'd like to know.
Fergie only cares about himself and Man U. Anything he says about other clubs and other managers must in my view be seen in that context.
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I suppose having the Fergie seal of approval should count for something.
About this Fergie thing. He was hardly going to advise that we break the bank to get Ancelotti.
Our owners are obsessed with Fergie's worthless opinions.
Hardly worthless, the bloke was won everything worth winning for 20 years although why they didn't keep his advice to themselves rather than splash it over the front page of the website is what I'd like to know.
I suppose having the Fergie seal of approval should count for something.
About this Fergie thing. He was hardly going to advise that we break the bank to get Ancelotti.
Our owners are obsessed with Fergie's worthless opinions.
Hardly worthless, the bloke was won everything worth winning for 20 years although why they didn't keep his advice to themselves rather than splash it over the front page of the website is what I'd like to know.
Fergie only cares about himself and Man U. Anything he says about other clubs and other managers must in my view be seen in that context.
Precisely, and anyone who believes otherwise - after decades of Fergie's antics in the game - is as naive as our board appear to be.
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At the risk of sounding naive, why is Alex Ferguson so enamoured with AMc?????
Because he knows he will still get 6 points off us and a FA Cup win..
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I agree with a fair few on here that Mcleish has shown genuine courage and I am sure he will make all the right noises about now being at a big club though his record stands out as one of mediocrity at best.
The problem i now have is with the board who have shown such disregard for all fans whether it be rational or irrational doesnt matter as football clubs live and die with their fans and some will never forgive.
Never mind whether he does well or not, they didn't ask us. How dare they run their business as they see fit.
Didn't you once say that we are customers when it suits the club, supporters when it doesn't?
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I agree with a fair few on here that Mcleish has shown genuine courage and I am sure he will make all the right noises about now being at a big club though his record stands out as one of mediocrity at best.
The problem i now have is with the board who have shown such disregard for all fans whether it be rational or irrational doesnt matter as football clubs live and die with their fans and some will never forgive.
Never mind whether he does well or not, they didn't ask us. How dare they run their business as they see fit.
Didn't you once say that we are customers when it suits the club, supporters when it doesn't?
“Anybody buying a football club should regard himself as a custodian for supporters who care very deeply about it” - Randy Lerner
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I can honestly say you're the first person I've come across on here who actually wants him as manager.
I am quite happy with the appointment. Don't expect too much dressing room unrest now. I expect a fully fired up side for the new season.
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I suppose having the Fergie seal of approval should count for something.
About this Fergie thing. He was hardly going to advise that we break the bank to get Ancelotti.
and the Fergie seal of approval was given for Djemba Djemba.
Was it, I don't remember that. Where have you got it from, surely you haven't just seen it posted on the Internet and taken it as gospel.
Clearly, McLeish is a mate so he's hardly going to slag him off but the fact that he made him captain shows that the best manager in the country and probably of all time rates him. It's no guarantee of success but shouldn't be dismissed just because it doesn't suit your standpoint.
Steve Bruce,Roy Keane, and Bryan Robson also captained under Fergie's management and they like Eck became mediocre managers.
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Steve Bruce,Roy Keane, and Bryan Robson also captained under Fergie's management and they like Eck became mediocre managers.
Bruce, Keane and Robson have to date won nothing as managers. McLeish has.
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I agree with a fair few on here that Mcleish has shown genuine courage and I am sure he will make all the right noises about now being at a big club though his record stands out as one of mediocrity at best.
The problem i now have is with the board who have shown such disregard for all fans whether it be rational or irrational doesnt matter as football clubs live and die with their fans and some will never forgive.
Never mind whether he does well or not, they didn't ask us. How dare they run their business as they see fit.
Didn't you once say that we are customers when it suits the club, supporters when it doesn't?
Either way, it still has to be their decision to make.
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worst.
decision.
ever.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2D2m8pAw58/STQxrK_6FOI/AAAAAAAAAUs/6eceeZv4tQI/s320/the+comic+book+guy+pondering.gif)
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Steve Bruce,Roy Keane, and Bryan Robson also captained under Fergie's management and they like Eck became mediocre managers.
Bruce, Keane and Robson have to date won nothing as managers. McLeish has.
They would have done if they'd managed Rangers as would anyone.
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It's short for Alex.
Actually it's short for Alec.
Apparently people used to call him Alec McLeish instead of Alex. Some sort of weird scottish joke.
Thanks. How the long winter evenings must fly by in Scotland.
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Steve Bruce,Roy Keane, and Bryan Robson also captained under Fergie's management and they like Eck became mediocre managers.
Bruce, Keane and Robson have to date won nothing as managers. McLeish has.
They would have done if they'd managed Rangers as would anyone.
What about if they'd had all had a chance of managing Small Heath?
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Good luck Alex and welcome to the Villa. Let's now all pull together and get behind the man.
People are quick to point out that he got Blues relegated twice, but how many of their managers havent? Goes with the territory over there.
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Steve Bruce,Roy Keane, and Bryan Robson also captained under Fergie's management and they like Eck became mediocre managers.
Bruce, Keane and Robson have to date won nothing as managers. McLeish has.
They would have done if they'd managed Rangers as would anyone.
McLeish won titles and cups with Rangers at a time when Celtic (and O'Neill) were spending all the money.
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as an alternative, a hibs fan on another forum i visit was singing his praises after getting them to a cup final and apparently playing some great football (for a scottish club)...
i think even jebus himself would struggle to polish the small heath turd...
thats not to say i want him as manager, as his record in the premier league is shit at best, and thats what really counts, but just chucking that thought out there to la la land...
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Steve Bruce,Roy Keane, and Bryan Robson also captained under Fergie's management and they like Eck became mediocre managers.
Bruce, Keane and Robson have to date won nothing as managers. McLeish has.
They would have done if they'd managed Rangers as would anyone.
What about if they'd had all had a chance of managing Small Heath?
Plenty of average managers have managed to fluke a cup win.
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Steve Bruce,Roy Keane, and Bryan Robson also captained under Fergie's management and they like Eck became mediocre managers.
Bruce, Keane and Robson have to date won nothing as managers. McLeish has.
They would have done if they'd managed Rangers as would anyone.
What about if they'd had all had a chance of managing Small Heath?
Plenty of average managers have managed to fluke a cup win.
Plenty of good managers have been relegated.
This sort of cherry picking the bits of his career that suit and dismissing those that don't suggest that it's all about the Small Heath connection but you're embarrassed to admit it.
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I think we'll find out whether he is a good manager or not at Villa. In the meantime, let's give the bloke every encouragement.
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Plenty of average managers have managed to fluke a cup win.
But Bruce, Keane and Robson haven't managed to fluke one between them..
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This sort of cherry picking the bits of his career that suit and dismissing those that don't suggest that it's all about the Small Heath connection but you're embarrassed to admit it.
His PL record, which is by far the best guide to how he might fare with us, isn't very good. Two relegations suggests his preferred method isn't effective in this league. The league cup win was a fine achievement but I don't think it really balances the two relegations.
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It's a funny thing with managers. So much depends on circumstance, on the people around you, on timing, on the general state of things. Funny that if we had employed McCleish when Blues did, we would probably all have thought it was a great appointment; funny that if McClaren had come at a different time, we may have felt the same. Mark Hughes' early reputation at Blackburn was of producing a team of cloggers and strong arm tacticians to suit the players available before he blossomed and bloomed as his career developed. For Roy Hodgson, everything was wrong at Liverpool and so he was wrong. Doesn't make him a bad manager. Even Sir Alex had some very delicate moments at Utd during the early part of his reign and I remember after a 3-0 defeat at Villa Park, most people thought it was an experiment gone wrong. Curbishley at Charlton and then West Ham is another example of how things can wrong (or right).
So we get McCleish, who quite honestly seems an uncomplicated and pretty determined guy, who played half a season without some key players at Blues and with well-publicised uneasiness in the relationship with his directors, and who certainly wouldn't have been the first name on Villa fans lips when we were looking for a new manager. But interestingly, he does seem to be highly regarded amongst a fair number of people within the game.
I'm not holding my breath, but maybe, just maybe, he could just be a trump card if the circumstances, the timing and the people around him are right. And that includes the fans who just can't afford to let their gut feelings and cries of 'Ee took the Scum down twice' make it even more difficult for a bloke who will need all the support we can give him. So, 'enough already', moaning about McCleish and roll on next season. Let's get over the embarrassment of childish protests outside the Holte End and let's mix it with the big boys.
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Steve Bruce,Roy Keane, and Bryan Robson also captained under Fergie's management and they like Eck became mediocre managers.
Bruce, Keane and Robson have to date won nothing as managers. McLeish has.
They would have done if they'd managed Rangers as would anyone.
McLeish won titles and cups with Rangers at a time when Celtic (and O'Neill) were spending all the money.
I think Celtic spent some money before McLeish arrived at Rangers but I don't think they spent more whilst he was there.
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Steve Bruce,Roy Keane, and Bryan Robson also captained under Fergie's management and they like Eck became mediocre managers.
Bruce, Keane and Robson have to date won nothing as managers. McLeish has.
They would have done if they'd managed Rangers as would anyone.
What about if they'd had all had a chance of managing Small Heath?
Plenty of average managers have managed to fluke a cup win.
No manager at Villa has in fifteen years. Fluke away please Eck!
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Two relegations with Small Heath and a promotion is pretty much par for the course with them. They’ve done it more than anybody else has.
Finishing 9th and winning a trophy with that same lot, suggests he’s got a bit about him.
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This sort of cherry picking the bits of his career that suit and dismissing those that don't suggest that it's all about the Small Heath connection but you're embarrassed to admit it.
His PL record, which is by far the best guide to how he might fare with us, isn't very good. Two relegations suggests his preferred method isn't effective in this league. The league cup win was a fine achievement but I don't think it really balances the two relegations.
Then there's a 9th place, their best PL finish.
My Nose mate reckons that the two cup runs last season over stretched the squad and that when injuries hit they had no answer. You could argue that was bad management or you could take the view that winning a trophy was a gamble worth taking (as many on here were at the time of the Man City game).
I think both points have merit and we'll have an idea which is correct over the next couple of seasons.
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I suppose having the Fergie seal of approval should count for something.
Yes he is pleased that there will no new imposters disturbing their cosy Skyteams elite group!
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Death threats!? FFS! (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13821404.stm)
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Fucking ridiculous, we should give the guy a chance now and get over it.
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I attempted to post this on another thread just as some contributors' effing and blinding got it locked, so apologies if it's a point worth making on a thread not requiring it.
I don't want him here any more than I would want Fat Sam, Tony Pulis or Mick McCarthy here. And at least that trio have a proven track record of keeping shitty little clubs in the top league, whereas all McCleish has got is a proven track record of getting shitty little clubs relegated from it.
Now, bearing that in mind, how much time and effort am I supposed to invest in getting behind a manager who I think is profoundly wrong for the club if and when we start to lose games playing poor football? A year? Six months? Six weeks?
The bloke is on probation every time the team take the field, and deservedly so .
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Steve Bruce,Roy Keane, and Bryan Robson also captained under Fergie's management and they like Eck became mediocre managers.
Bruce, Keane and Robson have to date won nothing as managers. McLeish has.
They would have done if they'd managed Rangers as would anyone.
What about if they'd had all had a chance of managing Small Heath?
Plenty of average managers have managed to fluke a cup win.
Plenty of good managers have been relegated.
This sort of cherry picking the bits of his career that suit and dismissing those that don't suggest that it's all about the Small Heath connection but you're embarrassed to admit it.
I think it's you that's cherry picking to find the positives.
My view on Mcleish is based on the criteria that i would rate any manager, and certainly these days I would discount anything "achieved" as manager of either Rangers or Celtic, which basically just leaves us with his 4 seasons in England. I'm certainly not impressed with 2 relegations and as for the 9th place as ever these days when the top 6 are miles ahead it was a poor 9th, playing poor football. Remember also that Curbishley and Allardyce achieved 9th or better with smaller clubs than Birmingham.
As for the one cup win, the likes of John Sillett, Bobby Gould, and Steve Mclaren managed this, but remind me how many trophies Graham Taylor won in his career?
Don't get me wrong though I quite like Eck as a bloke I couldn't care less about him coming from Blues and I wish him well, but I can't see how anyone can dispute that his managerial career so far is underwhelming.
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I attempted to post this on another thread just as some contributors' effing and blinding got it locked, so apologies if it's a point worth making on a thread not requiring it.
I don't want him here any more than I would want Fat Sam, Tony Pulis or Mick McCarthy here. And at least that trio have a proven track record of keeping shitty little clubs in the top league, whereas all McCleish has got is a proven track record of getting shitty little clubs relegated from it.
Now, bearing that in mind, how much time and effort am I supposed to invest in getting behind a manager who I think is profoundly wrong for the club if and when we start to lose games playing poor football? A year? Six months? Six weeks?
The bloke is on probation every time the team take the field, and deservedly so .
I agree. It's a difficult position to be in. How long before every man and his dog are wheeling out the 'I told you so's.
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Although i'm not happy about his appointment, what i will do now is support the manager like every other manager that has had the Pleasure to Manage our football club.
Yes as manager of Blose he went down with them in his 1st season, but they were as good as down already by the time he took over. And this Season well if his owner would have given a ' Gift ' such as Bent instead of Zigic [ who he never asked for ] it would have more than likely been us relegated.
He as he has stated himself is at a Bigger Club with different agenda, and after looking properly at this Guys record [ and not cherry picking bits of info to make my argument seem valid ] I am starting to feel much more positive about the forthcoming season.
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are all these people who are saying that anything AM achieved in Scotland doesn't count the same people who couldn't keep their dicks out of their hands when MON was appointed?
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AM has been foisted on the club, we can't do anything about it so may as well give him a chance. No doubt he will work his damndest to succeed so not to support him would be folly.
Lerner (our "custodian of the club... it belongs to the fans"),(he must have a short memory) )has made it quite clear what he thinks of the fans by his contempt for us ,and Krulak,(fans should butt out of the appointment), (wasn't he supposed to bring supporters views to the Board,not chastise them for it) has reinforced similar contempt)
There is absolutely no point in him being on forums now that his contempt has confirmed he is an ass-licking syphocant. The Board has no footballing brain on it so i suggest Lerner, Krulak, et al, take their "soccer" fantasy and sell to genuine knowledgable footballing people.
We have become a laughing stock worldwide because of the mismanagement of the WHOLE recruitment process., not just the actual appointment.
Even Deadly Doug at his worst never treated the fans with such contempt.
Proud history.......very, very chancy and unsure future!.
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AM has been foisted on the club, we can't do anything about it so may as well give him a chance. No doubt he will work his damndest to succeed so not to support him would be folly.
Lerner (our "custodian of the club... it belongs to the fans"),(he must have a short memory) )has made it quite clear what he thinks of the fans by his contempt for us ,and Krulak,(fans should butt out of the appointment), (wasn't he supposed to bring supporters views to the Board,not chastise them for it) has reinforced similar contempt)
There is absolutely no point in him being on forums now that his contempt has confirmed he is an ass-licking syphocant. The Board has no footballing brain on it so i suggest Lerner, Krulak, et al, take their "soccer" fantasy and sell to genuine knowledgable footballing people.
We have become a laughing stock worldwide because of the mismanagement of the WHOLE recruitment process., not just the actual appointment.
Even Deadly Doug at his worst never treated the fans with such contempt.
Proud history.......very, very chancy and unsure future!.
yes, off course we are. I can only imagine in corridors and boardrooms of great football powers like Boca, Inter, Real Madrid and Bayern the directors of those clubs are rolling on the floor laughing at us. I'm sure they all stopped what they were doing glued to the Villa managerial situation. And did Doug ever consult the fans before appointing a manager? I must have missed that bit.
At least you've stopped swearing now. It's an improvement on your last rant.
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are all these people who are saying that anything AM achieved in Scotland doesn't count the same people who couldn't keep their dicks out of their hands when MON was appointed?
"Dishy", the prevailing circumstances required for me to embrace the pork sword are numerous; the occasions upon which I would invoke the success of the bigot twins of west Scotland as fantasy material in order to satisfy those desires are less so.
Alex McLeish is not the manager to bring success to Aston Villa; Martin O'Neill was not the manager to bring success to Aston Villa.
Yours, I can assure you, with dick out of hand.
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Very melodramatic but I don't feel that I've been treated with contempt, get over yourself.
They've made a decision that I don't think is the right one but accept that I've been wrong in the past and might be wrong about this.
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are all these people who are saying that anything AM achieved in Scotland doesn't count the same people who couldn't keep their dicks out of their hands when MON was appointed?
It was his achievements at Wycombe and Leicester that put him on the map.
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are all these people who are saying that anything AM achieved in Scotland doesn't count the same people who couldn't keep their dicks out of their hands when MON was appointed?
It was his achievements at Wycombe and Leicester that put him on the map.
And he also got Celtic to a UEFA Cup Final.
Mind you, Steve McLaren achieved a similar feat.
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I don't think I have seen this much repression since Jehovah's Witness visited me. It could be that I need to do something else for a while.
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I must admit I was devastated by this appointment, not because of the club he has come from, but because of his record in the premier league of two relegations and a win rate of only 36%.
To me it shows a real lack of ambition by the club.
That said, the club he came from always were and always will be small time charlies who's majority of fans are more concerned with beating us rather then being interested in their own clubs long term future.
AM is now here and I hope he brings success, just as I have hoped with every other previous manager, as it is Aston Villa FC that I will always support and love.
VTID
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get over yourself.
Chris.
Please stop watching Hannah Montana.
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Death threats from Villa fans ...well unbelievable FFS it's a game.
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Not what I wanted as I do feel he is poorly qualified and there were far better alternatives available.
However, he's here now, so good luck to him in what will be a very challenging job.
The Board needs to acknowledge that the appointment process has been a complete shambles. They should do this by thanking Mr Faulkner for his efforts and recruiting someone with football nous for the CEO role.
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This sort of cherry picking the bits of his career that suit and dismissing those that don't suggest that it's all about the Small Heath connection but you're embarrassed to admit it.
His PL record, which is by far the best guide to how he might fare with us, isn't very good. Two relegations suggests his preferred method isn't effective in this league. The league cup win was a fine achievement but I don't think it really balances the two relegations.
Interesting.
How do you think SAF would do on a Blose budget under a Blose board at the sty ?
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Death threats from Villa fans ...well unbelievable FFS it's a game.
I'd view these threats with the same sort of suspicion I have for stories of hundreds of Season Tickets being returned.
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This sort of cherry picking the bits of his career that suit and dismissing those that don't suggest that it's all about the Small Heath connection but you're embarrassed to admit it.
His PL record, which is by far the best guide to how he might fare with us, isn't very good. Two relegations suggests his preferred method isn't effective in this league. The league cup win was a fine achievement but I don't think it really balances the two relegations.
Interesting.
How do you think SAF would do on a Blose budget under a Blose board at the sty ?
He wouldn't take them down! Did he have less money than say Bolton or West Brom?
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Death threats from Villa fans ...well unbelievable FFS it's a game.
I'd view these threats with the same sort of suspicion I have for stories of hundreds of Season Tickets being returned.
T'he two quoted twatter threats in t'he mirror both called him a Judas.
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Interesting.
How do you think SAF would do on a Blose budget under a Blose board at the sty ?
Amazingly, now that he's Villa manager, McLeish's tenure at SHA has become a brave struggle against all odds.
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This sort of cherry picking the bits of his career that suit and dismissing those that don't suggest that it's all about the Small Heath connection but you're embarrassed to admit it.
His PL record, which is by far the best guide to how he might fare with us, isn't very good. Two relegations suggests his preferred method isn't effective in this league. The league cup win was a fine achievement but I don't think it really balances the two relegations.
Interesting.
How do you think SAF would do on a Blose budget under a Blose board at the sty ?
He wouldn't take them down! Did he have less money than say Bolton or West Brom?
I haven't got the figures, have you ?
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This sort of cherry picking the bits of his career that suit and dismissing those that don't suggest that it's all about the Small Heath connection but you're embarrassed to admit it.
His PL record, which is by far the best guide to how he might fare with us, isn't very good. Two relegations suggests his preferred method isn't effective in this league. The league cup win was a fine achievement but I don't think it really balances the two relegations.
Interesting.
How do you think SAF would do on a Blose budget under a Blose board at the sty ?
He wouldn't take them down! Did he have less money than say Bolton or West Brom?
I haven't got the figures, have you ?
I'd also wager that Wigan, Blackburn and Wolves all spent less than Birmingham in the last couple of seasons. Fulham too. The Sty owners reckon they've forked out about 40 mill since taking over. That may be horseshit, but they have spent more than other clubs, who've managed to stay up having outlayed less. Wolves have stayed up two seasons running amazingly.
That aside though, it's not just the money he had an issue with it seems, but he and the board just didn't gel. Randy's always backed his managers thus far, so I'll be curious to see how McLeish does. Though my gut feeling still tells me he'll fail dismally. Hope he proves me wrong.
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This sort of cherry picking the bits of his career that suit and dismissing those that don't suggest that it's all about the Small Heath connection but you're embarrassed to admit it.
His PL record, which is by far the best guide to how he might fare with us, isn't very good. Two relegations suggests his preferred method isn't effective in this league. The league cup win was a fine achievement but I don't think it really balances the two relegations.
Interesting.
How do you think SAF would do on a Blose budget under a Blose board at the sty ?
He wouldn't take them down! Did he have less money than say Bolton or West Brom?
I haven't got the figures, have you ?
I've read somewhere that Small Heath had the biggest net spend of anyone in the league apart from Chelsea and Man City.
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Why has there not been a prress conference yet ?
Who is he bringing with him to coach, will sid still figure on the bench this year?
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as an alternative, a hibs fan on another forum i visit was singing his praises after getting them to a cup final and apparently playing some great football (for a scottish club)...
i think even jebus himself would struggle to polish the small heath turd...
thats not to say i want him as manager, as his record in the premier league is shit at best, and thats what really counts, but just chucking that thought out there to la la land...
I asked Hearts fan friend and he say he play shit defensive football for Rangers, Scotland, Hibs as well Small Heath Alliance.
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Think of it as fans wanting to be Waitrose and would accept Sainsbury's but now we are not going to to be Tesco's or even Costcutter, but could be Lidl with a bit of luck...then Lidl do nice bits and pieces you never considered buying in the first place. It is just a marketplace but we'll never be M&S never mind Fortnum and Masons.
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I spoke to a couple of the Scottish fellas in the Blarney Stone last night, one a Morton fan and one a hun. Whilst sober, they thought it was hilarious and they just didn't grasp the logic of the board. After a few drinks they reckoned we are doomed, though the Rangers fan says he was ok for them in a grinding out results kind of way and did a good job in exactly the same manner for Scotland.
We will be hard to beat and well organised. Don't waste your money betting on the third goal scorer was their best advice...
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I forgot to add to my above post - fuzzy Sunday head - that my riposte to the Scots boys was that McLeish has not managed with a supportive board and a squad like Villa's before. Many managers adopt a pragmatic style because it suits their personnel and budget. With our current squad, a couple of promising youngsters and a supportive chairman I think he has a chance of surprising a few people
Good luck Alex and let's get behind him.
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Interesting.
How do you think SAF would do on a Blose budget under a Blose board at the sty ?
Amazingly, now that he's Villa manager, McLeish's tenure at SHA has become a brave struggle against all odds.
You'd best get used to that sort of revisionism.
It's called 'The Harewood effect'
Had McLeish been on the verge of managing Spurs, every poster on here would have laughed and derided the prospect.
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I spoke to a couple of the Scottish fellas in the Blarney Stone last night, one a Morton fan and one a hun. Whilst sober, they thought it was hilarious and they just didn't grasp the logic of the board. After a few drinks they reckoned we are doomed, though the Rangers fan says he was ok for them in a grinding out results kind of way and did a good job in exactly the same manner for Scotland.
We will be hard to beat and well organised. Don't waste your money betting on the third goal scorer was their best advice...
Since when are we taking football advice from 2 Scottish drunks in a chinesevboozer seriously?
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Interesting.
How do you think SAF would do on a Blose budget under a Blose board at the sty ?
Amazingly, now that he's Villa manager, McLeish's tenure at SHA has become a brave struggle against all odds.
You'd best get used to that sort of revisionism.
It's called 'The Harewood effect'
Had McLeish been on the verge of managing Spurs, every poster on here would have laughed and derided the prospect.
No, it's called having an open mind. He's our manager now so instead of being one-eyed anti-Blues you look at his record and see the whole rather than just the relegations.
It seems perfectly natural to me to want to see the positives for your club.
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I spoke to a couple of the Scottish fellas in the Blarney Stone last night, one a Morton fan and one a hun. Whilst sober, they thought it was hilarious and they just didn't grasp the logic of the board. After a few drinks they reckoned we are doomed, though the Rangers fan says he was ok for them in a grinding out results kind of way and did a good job in exactly the same manner for Scotland.
We will be hard to beat and well organised. Don't waste your money betting on the third goal scorer was their best advice...
Which is just what we'd have got with Benitez yet many on here would gave wet themselves at the prospect.
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I spoke to a couple of the Scottish fellas in the Blarney Stone last night, one a Morton fan and one a hun. Whilst sober, they thought it was hilarious and they just didn't grasp the logic of the board. After a few drinks they reckoned we are doomed, though the Rangers fan says he was ok for them in a grinding out results kind of way and did a good job in exactly the same manner for Scotland.
Paul, I reckon we'll do OK. I'm over it now. I'm backing Randy and I'm backing McLeish. Nothing we can do about it now, so lets get behind them. Geeeeeddddintoem, fuck em up. I'd like to see what happens with keeping our good players and new signings coming in. At least we have a full pre-season this time.
We will be hard to beat and well organised. Don't waste your money betting on the third goal scorer was their best advice...
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I spoke to a couple of the Scottish fellas in the Blarney Stone last night, one a Morton fan and one a hun. Whilst sober, they thought it was hilarious and they just didn't grasp the logic of the board. After a few drinks they reckoned we are doomed, though the Rangers fan says he was ok for them in a grinding out results kind of way and did a good job in exactly the same manner for Scotland.
We will be hard to beat and well organised. Don't waste your money betting on the third goal scorer was their best advice...
Since when are we taking football advice from 2 Scottish drunks in a chinesevboozer seriously?
I've always set far too much store in what I'm told by blokes in pubs so I prepared to accept this as being something akin to being set in tablets of stone.
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I spoke to a couple of the Scottish fellas in the Blarney Stone last night, one a Morton fan and one a hun. Whilst sober, they thought it was hilarious and they just didn't grasp the logic of the board. After a few drinks they reckoned we are doomed, though the Rangers fan says he was ok for them in a grinding out results kind of way and did a good job in exactly the same manner for Scotland.
We will be hard to beat and well organised. Don't waste your money betting on the third goal scorer was their best advice...
Which is just what we'd have got with Benitez yet many on here would gave wet themselves at the prospect.
You're not really trying to pretend that Benitez wouldn't have been a much better appointment are you Chris? I mean, Man U are always well organised, and they're certainly hard to beat as well, but that's only half the story. The Blues obviously weren't THAT hard to beat anyway, or they wouldn't have been relegated.
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I spoke to a couple of the Scottish fellas in the Blarney Stone last night, one a Morton fan and one a hun. Whilst sober, they thought it was hilarious and they just didn't grasp the logic of the board. After a few drinks they reckoned we are doomed, though the Rangers fan says he was ok for them in a grinding out results kind of way and did a good job in exactly the same manner for Scotland.
We will be hard to beat and well organised. Don't waste your money betting on the third goal scorer was their best advice...
Since when are we taking football advice from 2 Scottish drunks in a chinesevboozer seriously?
So they were the two "advisors" that landed us with him.
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Benitiez played defensive football that got him to two European Cup finals, McLeish's version got him relegated.
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Risso - the way I see it... fuck all any of us can do about it now. Maybe just give the fella a bit of support and see what happens? We can be like spoilt kids that don't get what they want and spit the dummy, or we can at least get behind the man thats took a big decision to have a go, and see where it takes us.
I reckon we'll do OK next season, probably no worse than last. Have to admit I was stunned when we were even linked with McLeish, but now its done, fuck it, get behind him. We just look like cvnts otherwise, if we don't give him a fair go.
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Risso - the way I see it... fuck all any of us can do about it now. Maybe just give the fella a bit of support and see what happens? We can be like spoilt kids that don't get what they want and spit the dummy, or we can at least get behind the man thats took a big decision to have a go, and see where it takes us.
I reckon we'll do OK next season, probably no worse than last. Have to admit I was stunned when we were even linked with McLeish, but now its done, fuck it, get behind him. We just look like cvnts otherwise, if we don't give him a fair go.
Oh absolutely Robbo. Now he's here, there's no alternative to what you say, but it doesn't stop it being a bad decision, and there's no point in pretending that his Premier League record and style of play is anything than other than poor because he's a Villa manager now. Hope he's able to change at his age, because he needs to. People will give him a chance now, but his honeymoon period is going to be non-existent because of the Blues connection, but more importantly if he serves up the style of football we witnessed at Blues, it's not going to matter where he came from before.
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Oh and as for Benitez, the season they finished runners up they were top scorers in the division by quite a way.
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Now he's here, there's no alternative to what you say, but it doesn't stop it being a bad decision, and there's no point in pretending that his Premier League record and style of play is anything than other than poor because he's a Villa manager now. Hope he's able to change at his age, because he needs to. People will give him a chance now, but his honeymoon period is going to be non-existent because of the Blues connection, but more importantly if he serves up the style of football we witnessed at Blues, it's not going to matter where he came from before.
I reluctantly accept that he is here, and we will have to see how it goes- I am certainly not willing him to fail, and will be delighted if he leads us into Europe.
I really think the Blues connection is being over-played, the problem is that he is not good enough.
What we will have is a period of suspendid animation while wait for his inevitable departure. That Lerner gave him a 50% pay increase is just madness - Faulkner needs to go, now.
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What we will have is a period of suspendid animation while wait for his inevitable departure. That Lerner gave him a 50% pay increase is just madness - Faulkner needs to go, now.
By which time he would have spunked millions up the wall and all the better players have done one and we'll have to start from scratch. It's the fact that we have missed a great chance to appoint a decent name in the game who could have got bums an seats and attracted decent players. They've messed up by setting the employment criteria as they did and then appointing someone who flies in the face of that.
If the board wanted him at the start I could have begrudgingly accepted it but to have dismissed so many better candidates is very foolish indeed.
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Interesting.
How do you think SAF would do on a Blose budget under a Blose board at the sty ?
Amazingly, now that he's Villa manager, McLeish's tenure at SHA has become a brave struggle against all odds.
You'd best get used to that sort of revisionism.
It's called 'The Harewood effect'
Had McLeish been on the verge of managing Spurs, every poster on here would have laughed and derided the prospect.
No, it's called having an open mind. He's our manager now so instead of being one-eyed anti-Blues you look at his record and see the whole rather than just the relegations.
It seems perfectly natural to me to want to see the positives for your club.
It's not 'Anti Blues' at all, that's the convenient excuse the media are using, he's not good enough for us and why shouldn't we look at the relegations?
It's pretty poor stuff and we were being told how great Martinez was as he'd escaped relegation twice, by the skin of his teeth.
I'd love to have heard your 'open mind' opinion of McLeish before we were ever involved with him.
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I wonder if Ian Holloway was discussed at all, he seemed to do a similar kind of job to McLeish and would have been marginally more popular amongst the fan base whilst costing roughly the same sort of wages.
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Mark, I've said he isn't the man I wanted. However, he's here now so I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. That means looking for the positives and backing him positively rather than saying that I will but still sniping from the sidelines.
Whichever way you look at it, winning a cup with that lot is a good achievement. My Nose mate says that competing in both cups over stretched a thin squad and they had nothing left for the run in once injuries hit. He accepted that for the opportunity to see them win something before he dies and plenty on here have said they'd accept relegation in return for a cup
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I wonder if Ian Holloway was discussed at all, he seemed to do a similar kind of job to McLeish and would have been marginally more popular amongst the fan base whilst costing roughly the same sort of wages.
I'd imagine calling us a 'half arsed club' counted against him.
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That used to be famous. Wanker.
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I'd have thought that too a week ago but he must have entered the equation surely, he seems to tick all the boxes that McLeish and Martinez did and we know the board aren't scared of making 'brave' choices.
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Or insane ones.
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What does McLeish offer that Holloway didn't?
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We all know what type of football his team played at the Rags.
What type was played at Rangers ? Was is fast flowing, exciting footy or was it more reserved and defensive ?
Given what was served up at the Rags I wonder if thats his natural approach to the game, and thats what we should expect to see gracing Villa Park,. I fear though, that a leopard can't change its spots.
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What does McLeish offer that Holloway didn't?
You could argue that he puts together a defence more successfully than Holloway.
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What does McLeish offer that Holloway didn't?
You could argue that he puts together a defence more successfully than Holloway.
He's also won more and doesn't make a twat of himself in the press every other week.
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What does McLeish offer that Holloway didn't?
An unassuming dignity?
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Haha the fact that he used to manage Blues is all to convienent for the media.
Some media outlets have been a disgrace in how they've reported the hype of the last few days.
They've tricked neutrals into thinking that Villa fans are morons on how we've gone about reactions towards McLeish.
90% didn't want him because his Premier League record is poor and his negative tactics failed miserably - not because he was a 'Bluenose bastard', but lets not get facts in the way of a good story!
I'll compliment McLeish on signing players like Foster, Dann, Johnson, Gardner (I don't know whether Gardner has improved that much or he's just played well in a poor team) and managing to get the best out pretty average players... I don't think he'll be as negative with us as he was with Blues (please God) and maybe with better players at his disposal already maybe he can add quality?
The players his signs this summer might give us a bit of a clue on what he'll do with the team.
Even Gabby has already signaled a warning to Big Eck already about his negative style. Not directly, but he's giving Big Eck a little hint.
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Oh and here is exactly what I was talking about, lazy journalism at it's finest... actually no, it's not even lazy, it's downright talking nonsense.
The Guardian at its finest:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/jun/19/alex-mcleish-aston-villa-birmingham
It's actually quite disturbing someone has written up this article. I think they're just looking to wind up Villa fans - not make a good article.
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I spoke to a couple of the Scottish fellas in the Blarney Stone last night, one a Morton fan and one a hun. Whilst sober, they thought it was hilarious and they just didn't grasp the logic of the board. After a few drinks they reckoned we are doomed, though the Rangers fan says he was ok for them in a grinding out results kind of way and did a good job in exactly the same manner for Scotland.
We will be hard to beat and well organised. Don't waste your money betting on the third goal scorer was their best advice...
Which is just what we'd have got with Benitez yet many on here would gave wet themselves at the prospect.
I, for one, am happy that we didn't appoint Benitez. I don't see why Villa fans should have to put of with the kind of dull, defensive football which produce a 4-1 win at Old Trafford or a 4-0 win against Real Madrid, and turns around a 3-goal deficit against AC Milan in a Champions League final.
Seriously, you're not pretending that you can't spot the difference between Benitez' and McLeish's tactics?
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I spoke to a couple of the Scottish fellas in the Blarney Stone last night, one a Morton fan and one a hun. Whilst sober, they thought it was hilarious and they just didn't grasp the logic of the board. After a few drinks they reckoned we are doomed, though the Rangers fan says he was ok for them in a grinding out results kind of way and did a good job in exactly the same manner for Scotland.
We will be hard to beat and well organised. Don't waste your money betting on the third goal scorer was their best advice...
Which is just what we'd have got with Benitez yet many on here would gave wet themselves at the prospect.
I, for one, am happy that we didn't appoint Benitez. I don't see why Villa fans should have to put of with the kind of dull, defensive football which produce a 4-1 win at Old Trafford or a 4-0 win against Real Madrid, and turns around a 3-goal deficit against AC Milan in a Champions League final.
Seriously, you're not pretending that you can't spot the difference between Benitez' and McLeish's tactics?
Well, quite. How McLeish does at Villa remains to be seen, but his record in the Premier League is poor. As for the League Cup win, it's good of course, but they had an extremely easy run to the final.
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Well, quite. How McLeish does at Villa remains to be seen, but his record in the Premier League is poor. As for the League Cup win, it's good of course, but they had an extremely easy run to the final.
Just as we did the season before. Then we underperformed in the final whereas Blues played out of their skins.
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Surely Mcleish isn't the one to be held responsible if things go tits up after all he took a job he probably thought was out of his reach, it must be the people who took the decision to appoint him.The problem the Villa board had is they hadn't got a clue who to appoint so they asked so called experts for their opinion, could you see spurs or Liverpool asking SAF his opinion, or having potential candidates in for interviews, it just shows how out of touch and inexperienced in how to run a premiership side they are. If things go badly i won't be blaming Mcleish.
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I really hope he likes Makoun, because I think he could be an excellent player for us.
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In the lead up to the appointment I came to what I thought was an informed opinion of Alex McLeish and Alex McLeish becoming the manager of Aston Villa. Both of those points were important to me.
Being manager of Blues, I have knowledge of his time at that club due to them being a local club, friends who are season tickets there etc. To be honest, I had to investigate the detail of his previous experience north of the border. I took this right back to the start of his management at Motherwell 17 years ago.
I always try to look behind a persons achievements or failures to see under what conditions they were achieved in. In my job I look at many CV's and you have to make a judgement on what you read before coming to a short list for interview. Obviously, a CV will always put forward the positives and so you have to dig deeper than the words. So, in looking at AM's record in Scotland, I also considered the football landscape throughout his time there. What were his successes built on and why did he fail at times. Was he consistent or was it boom and bust. What was the strength of other teams at the time and in that context, how good were the successes.
I came to the conclusion, in my opinion, that he started as a bright manager wanting to play an open game but as time went on and he moved up the ladder he became more cautious. His successes at Rangers were no more than should be expected from a manager at Rangers, in that it was pretty even with Celtic over that period of time. At times there was quite a bit of negative reaction from the fans. His time with Scotland was limited and as with any other national team job, it is one game at a time with the importance of getting something out of each game.
So to Blues and I have not been able to gloss over what I believe to have been a failure. People have been saying that they were already down when he arrived but they were not in the relegation zone and usually a new manager gives a team a lift. People have said he has not had the support of the club but over the last two years he has had a net spend of £36m. I have thought about the comments that some of the players were not his own but how much is true and how much speculation, I do not know.
What is fact from his time at Blues was that he went down twice, promoted once after a year, finished 9th one year and won a cup. As ever, I looked into how each was achieved and have mentioned the first relegation above. The promotion at the first attempt is something other clubs have not achieved but from my Blues mates, far from exciting and they were expecting them to go straight back down. The 9th position, they believed was an over achievement but was based on him being able to bring in some new players.
On to the last season, I believe they should not have been relegated as they had better players than the results they achieved. Credit where it is due, they are battlers but they lost the will to do that. I believe a very good manager would have got them to perform. Some people have commented about the injuries they had and, sure, it did affect them but that was because it was primarily to one of their main defenders and their whole game was based on defence. If they had some form of attacking option, they may have been able to carry the loss.
I compared Blues season to our own and saw in our case, a team in turmoil with a manager that had to overcome injuries, lack of preparation and bad attitude from some players but eventually overcame that to finish 9th. Blues on the other hand, coming off the back of a 9th position finish (although an over achievement), more players brought in and a confidence for the season ahead went downhill and the manager not being able to turn it around.
The above is what went into my consideration of Alex McLeish as a manager. Next I went on to look at Alex McLeish as manager of Aston Villa. It is clear that Randy Lerner does not have the financial clout now to match Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and now, possibly, Liverpool but I am still open on this one. Therefore, to achieve CL we need something different to what has gone before. That has to be building a club with a good style of play that can be built on so as to challenge with predominantly home developed players.
From everything considered, I do not believe AM has the track record to build the type of club style of play that will give us a chance of challenging for CL. Likewise, with some of the other candidates, we do not have the financial clout to support them.
Correctly, in my opinion, there has been criticism of the board for lack of football experience but I do not agree with some that have said Randy Lerner should sell out to somebody that does have that experience. Show me an owner with the right type of football experience that does have the financial clout, they do not exist now.
Having said all of that, I want Alex McLeish to succeed with Villa as it is my club and it does not matter how much I think he is the wrong man for the job, Villa comes first. However, I will not accept negative football to achieve a mid table finish as Villa are better than that and there are managers out there that were realistically gettable and could have at least achieved that and built something for the future. I will not be one that has a constant dig if things do not go right by saying "I told you so" but I will give him a reasonable time to show what he can do.
Alex McLeish, please prove me wrong.
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That's an interesting, considered post OMVF.
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There's a piece in today's Sunday Times by David Walsh. I don't subscribe to the online version so there isn't a link.
It's Headlined "McLeish will silence critics".
Walsh first talks about McLeish being a decent man and then gets down to his management career. Some of which I will quote verbatim.
"His record in management stands up to close scrutiny. He did well at Hibernian to get his chance at Glasgow Rangers and though his arrival at Ibrox coincided with the end of the crazy spending of the Dick Advocaat era,he survived well enough, winning the Treble in his first full seasonand lifting a second Scottish championship in his third.
He managed Scotland for a short time, winning seven out of ten matches,which is not exactly the Scottish average, and though his time at Birmingham saw the club twice relegated from the Premier League, it was distinguished by an excellent Carling Cup final win over Arsenal in February."
Walsh then goes on to talk about the Villa fans reaction.
"Many Villa fans don't want McLeish simply because he managed Birmingham City, others claim not to like his style of football, forgetting or perhaps not realising that his Glasgow Rangers played very differently to Birmingham City."
He then writes about McLeish's differences with the Blues board and then goes on to talk about the job in hand. He says the first part , winning over the fans will be done with calmness and dignity.
"The second part of the job,improving Villa, will be rather more difficult and McLeish will already have a good idea why Roberto Martinez was the clubs first choice.......they believed thathe would buy decent players for relatively small amounts of money and that with his energy and enthusiasm, he would create a more professional environment around the first team squad than currently exists. This is something that certainly needs to happen.
Martinez might or might not have been able to achieve these things but it is now left to McLeish to create a better Aston Villa. The least he deserves is the opportunity."
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What does McLeish offer that Holloway didn't?
You could argue that he puts together a defence more successfully than Holloway.
He's also won more and doesn't make a twat of himself in the press every other week.
I was thinking more of the 'selection criteria' that Faulkner talked about and McLeish met, clearly not making a twat of yourself everytime there is microphone about wasn't one of the criteria or Rafa wouldn't have been considered. Being deeply unpopular and evidently undeserving of a crack at managing Villa also wasn't a criteria so I was just pondering why he wasn't in the frame, or perhaps he was?
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There's a piece in today's Sunday Times by David Walsh. I don't subscribe to the online version so there isn't a link.
It's Headlined "McLeish will silence critics".
Walsh first talks about McLeish being a decent man and then gets down to his management career. Some of which I will quote verbatim.
"His record in management stands up to close scrutiny. He did well at Hibernian to get his chance at Glasgow Rangers and though his arrival at Ibrox coincided with the end of the crazy spending of the Dick Advocaat era,he survived well enough, winning the Treble in his first full seasonand lifting a second Scottish championship in his third.
He managed Scotland for a short time, winning seven out of ten matches,which is not exactly the Scottish average, and though his time at Birmingham saw the club twice relegated from the Premier League, it was distinguished by an excellent Carling Cup final win over Arsenal in February."
Walsh then goes on to talk about the Villa fans reaction.
"Many Villa fans don't want McLeish simply because he managed Birmingham City, others claim not to like his style of football, forgetting or perhaps not realising that his Glasgow Rangers played very differently to Birmingham City."
He then writes about McLeish's differences with the Blues board and then goes on to talk about the job in hand. He says the first part , winning over the fans will be done with calmness and dignity.
"The second part of the job,improving Villa, will be rather more difficult and McLeish will already have a good idea why Roberto Martinez was the clubs first choice.......they believed thathe would buy decent players for relatively small amounts of money and that with his energy and enthusiasm, he would create a more professional environment around the first team squad than currently exists. This is something that certainly needs to happen.
Martinez might or might not have been able to achieve these things but it is now left to McLeish to create a better Aston Villa. The least he deserves is the opportunity."
I was going to post the very same.
I get some confidence from reading this - people who know him rate highly his commitment, ability and personal bearing.
His recent experience at the Sty doesn't bear it out tho'.
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Link (http://www.thefootyblog.net/?p=3595)
So Aston Villa have finally appointed a new manager, problem is he was Birmingham City’s last boss Alex McLeish. Since 1994, when Alex took his first managers job at Motherwell I have been following his career with interest. So I feel more qualified than most to let the Villa fans know just what kind of man they have now got at the helm, leading their club.
Now I have heard a lot of questions by some disgruntled ‘Villans’ on Sky Sports News, Twitter and Newspapers, I will try and answer as many of these queries as possible if I miss anything leave a question in the comments section or ask it on twitter.
But McLeish has never managed at a big club like Villa?
Ok seriously we have big teams outside of England, Big Eck managed at Rangers. They are a very big team in Scotland, the pressure managing one of Old Firm is huge and unlike any other team in Britain just ask ex Villa boss Martin O’Neill. Martin was manager of a healthier, wealthier Celtic side at the same time as McLeish was battling away with limited funds at Ibrox. But Eck had a better record over O’Neill at this time, yet no Villa fan asked ‘Has O’Neill managed a big club before?’. Plus before Man Utd Sir Alex Ferguson was managing Aberdeen, who were great at the time but not classed as a huge team. Oh and Pep Guardiola has not managed any other team than Barcelona. So for me the answer to the question is, yes McLeish has managed at a big club like Villa but the question isn’t really relevant.
McLeish plays a boring defensive style of play that Villa fans wont like?
Ok he does have that reputation but a lot of that is down to circumstances. At Rangers he was on limited funds and he was under the huge pressure of win titles.. which he did. Even with that in mind Rangers still played some good stuff especially when you consider the 2002-03 team that had Michael Mols, Ronald De Boer, Mikel Arteta, Barry Ferguson & Shota Averladze. Then he brought in Dado Prso and Nacho Novo which again brought attacking success to Ibrox.
When at Scotland where he enjoyed a 70% success rate, they played with a freshness and attacking style that the Scots national team were not used to. At Birmingham the first season was not totally down to him as took over in November. Last season he will have to hold his hands up to the relegation that Birmingham suffered but he did make purchases that were seen as fine attack minded purchases like Jean Beausejour, Alex Hleb, Nikola Zigic and loanee signings David Bentley and Obafemi Martins. These signings added to box to box man Craig Gardner, Seb Larsson and James McFadden show a creative side but the problem was no 20 goals a season striker! That won’t be a problem at Villa with Darren Bent and Gabriel Agbonlahor in the squad.
I would also say that Birmingham were not a long ball team as such, in the 2009-10 season no player in the EPL made more passes than City’s Barry Ferguson in midfield!
But if you look at McLeish’s days at Hibs, then you will see he can get exciting football played where he got the ball down on the deck and had Russell Latapy and French star Frank Sauzee. Don’t get me wrong, he might come in at Villa Park looking at strengthening his defence as Richard Dunne and James Collins may leave. Plus he will be looking at bringing in a new number one as Brad Friedel has left for Tottenham. So expect a lot of Ben Foster and Allan McGregor links in the papers till someone comes in.
Big Eck only does well with inherited sides?
Well what is wrong with that? At Rangers that showed that his man management style obviously means he gets more out of his players than other mangers. Surely what Aston Villa have been missing since O’Neill left. Yes, if Stewart Downing and Ashley Young both leave then new creative reinforcements will be needed. But I think he can get more from Fabian Delph, Barry Bannan, Marc Albrighton and maybe even Stephen Ireland.
Thing is at the end of the day, McLeish is a winner. He won everything in Scotland as a player and as a manager. He has won four league titles and six cups in two different countries. He is also not stupid, he knows Villans want him to fail and want to see attacking football, he will want to prove them wrong and do that by trying attractive football first. He will only resort to defensive tactics if his side start to struggle.
Now as an Old Firm fan I get where some Villa fans are coming from, its hard to trust a person you have learned to dislike and slag off but we have to remember their was always a bias there. In my humble opinion Alex McLeish can work well at Villa Park given some decent funds, he will get the players onside as that has never been an issue. So if the fans can get behind Big Eck they might find they have a successful manager who can get them back into the top seven of the Epl and maybe even a trophy or two.
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I spoke to a couple of the Scottish fellas in the Blarney Stone last night, one a Morton fan and one a hun. Whilst sober, they thought it was hilarious and they just didn't grasp the logic of the board. After a few drinks they reckoned we are doomed, though the Rangers fan says he was ok for them in a grinding out results kind of way and did a good job in exactly the same manner for Scotland.
We will be hard to beat and well organised. Don't waste your money betting on the third goal scorer was their best advice...
Since when are we taking football advice from 2 Scottish drunks in a chinesevboozer seriously?
So they were the two "advisors" that landed us with him.
OK I'll come clean - I was guzzling with Fergie and Dalglish last night.
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Surely Mcleish isn't the one to be held responsible if things go tits up after all he took a job he probably thought was out of his reach, it must be the people who took the decision to appoint him.
True enough.
The blame will lie with Mr Lerner Sir and his board.
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We'll definitely get better press with McLeish than with Houllier. For a start, they like him.
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We'll definitely get better press with McLeish than with Houllier. For a start, they like him.
Maybe, but I think they'll be like circling vultures, waiting for it all to wrong and leaping on the slightest dissent from supporters.
I think we're going to get an awful lot of media coverage and most of it will be even more negative than last season.
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They only like Big Eck because he's Scottish and played under Alex Ferguson when he was manager at Aberdeen.
Anyone can be likable with the media, I think there is someone called Martin O'Neill who is highly thought of.
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How come there hasn't been an officioal press conference unveiling McLeish as our new manager?
Or have I missed it?
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How come there hasn't been an officioal press conference unveiling McLeish as our new manager?
Or have I missed it?
Tomorrow
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How come there hasn't been an officioal press conference unveiling McLeish as our new manager?
Or have I missed it?
Cheers.
Tomorrow
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I think it is fair to say, with McLeish's record over the years, you can make it sound good or bad by what you leave out in the arguement. He is not brilliant and he is not the opposite, he is an average manager that has not, as yet, shown in the PL he is good enough for Aston Villa.
Let us hope that changes with us and he gets back to playing with some adventure and thinks beyond his 3 year contract.
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How come there hasn't been an officioal press conference unveiling McLeish as our new manager?
Or have I missed it?
Cheers.
Tomorrow
Any ideas what time? I've got a quiet day tomorrow and I might get on telly as the only man there to welcome him.
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2pm
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Although I've been dead against this appointment, the realisation has finally set in. Alex Mcleish - Aston Villa Manager.
Best of Luck to him and the team, I really hope he proves me wrong and we have a good season.
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Although I've been dead against this appointment, the realisation has finally set in. Alex Mcleish - Aston Villa Manager.
Best of Luck to him and the team, I really hope he proves me wrong and we have a good season.
Exactly the same feelings here.
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Although I've been dead against this appointment, the realisation has finally set in. Alex Mcleish - Aston Villa Manager.
Best of Luck to him and the team, I really hope he proves me wrong and we have a good season.
Can't argue with any of that.
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2pm
Shit, I hope Eastie doesn't miss it.
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2pm
Shit, I hope Eastie doesn't miss it.
Me too, I doubt it though. I'm at work so I'm hoping he'll take notes
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2pm
Shit, I hope Eastie doesn't miss it.
If they remake Charlie and the Chocolate Factory again, eastie can play Mike TV. He'd be watching Sky Sports 24-7.
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I read that the press conf. is at Bodymoor Heath, is that correct ?
If so, is there any significance in that ?
How will the hoards of adoring fans welcome the new boss all the way out there ?
I can't imagine why its not at Villa Park.
The club has the courage of its own convictions...doesn't it ?
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I wonder if Lerner will have the bottle to turn up?
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http://yfrog.com/h2n0niyj
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AVFC official have just tweeted a pic of McLeish outside the Holte End with a villa kit.
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I wonder if Lerner will have the bottle to turn up?
He's never done press conferences it's not his style but what has bottle got to do with it?
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I wonder if Lerner will have the bottle to turn up?
He's in America.
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http://yfrog.com/h2n0niyj
Arrgh. I know he's our manager, give him a chance etc., but that just feels really really wrong.
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The tie suits him
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I wonder if Lerner will have the bottle to turn up?
He's never done press conferences it's not his style but what has bottle got to do with it?
I'm sure we'd all like to hear from him. It was his decision.
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(http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg614/scaled.php?tn=0&server=614&filename=n0niy.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640)
It's plain weird.
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It would be nice to hear it from the man himself. Guess that's too much to ask.
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Looks like the new goalie is sorted. Gosh these cut backs are hitting home! ;)
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(http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg614/scaled.php?tn=0&server=614&filename=n0niy.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640)
It's plain weird.
Yes. I don't think he'd be any good in goal.
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(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/2586/bigeck.png)
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Chelsea have shown Lerner how to appoint a quality manager that you really want. Pay the money.
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http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/aston-villa-fc/2011/06/20/villa-compensation-bill-reaches-7m/
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(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/2586/bigeck.png)
Jesus Christ, Villa!!!
He is Ginger and Scottish AND the sun is out.
Get him inside QUICKLY before he burns!
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Haha.
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Chelsea have shown Lerner how to appoint a quality manager that you really want. Pay the money.
Yes but any decent manager would want money to spend on players. This awful, awful manager will just be happy to be in such a cushy job. When he is sacked he'll get a huge pay off, but at least the board will have saved money on transfer fees.
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(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/2586/bigeck.png)
I hope he doesn't get into trouble for biting the photographer's hand off.
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Chelsea have shown Lerner how to appoint a quality manager that you really want. Pay the money.
Yes but any decent manager would want money to spend on players. This awful, awful manager will just be happy to be in such a cushy job. When he is sacked he'll get a huge pay off, but at least the board will have saved money on transfer fees.
Yes, of course he will. He's got no interest in being a success or his reputation in the game it's all about earning a pay off.
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(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/2586/bigeck.png)
I hope he doesn't get into trouble for biting the photographer's hand off.
Perhaps the photographer offered him a 150% pay rise. Wouldn't any "brave" man bite someone's hand off for that?
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(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/2586/bigeck.png)
I wondered what the fuck happened to Jimmy Somerville.
Ironically, I've been singing 'Tell me why' since he's been appointed.
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Chelsea have shown Lerner how to appoint a quality manager that you really want. Pay the money.
Yes but any decent manager would want money to spend on players. This awful, awful manager will just be happy to be in such a cushy job. When he is sacked he'll get a huge pay off, but at least the board will have saved money on transfer fees.
Yes, of course he will. He's got no interest in being a success or his reputation in the game it's all about earning a pay off.
His reputation in the game you say? Hmmm.
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(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/2586/bigeck.png)
Thats not an arm! It is the back of Peter Pannu's head.
He popped his head in (side on) to see if they could sue for any more if he is caught with a Villa scarf!
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Chelsea have shown Lerner how to appoint a quality manager that you really want. Pay the money.
Yes but any decent manager would want money to spend on players. This awful, awful manager will just be happy to be in such a cushy job. When he is sacked he'll get a huge pay off, but at least the board will have saved money on transfer fees.
So now they don't want to win games or be successful, they just want to save money. They may not be covering themselves in glory at the moment, but some of the stuff that's being said is just pathetic.
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Chelsea have shown Lerner how to appoint a quality manager that you really want. Pay the money.
Yes but any decent manager would want money to spend on players. This awful, awful manager will just be happy to be in such a cushy job. When he is sacked he'll get a huge pay off, but at least the board will have saved money on transfer fees.
Yes, of course he will. He's got no interest in being a success or his reputation in the game it's all about earning a pay off.
His reputation in the game you say? Hmmm.
What the fuck does "Hmmm" mean?
Yes, his reputation in the game. Have you read any of the stuff written about him recently, by people in the game, or have your specs been too steamed up from being permanantly outraged?
No, of course you haven't, you're not interested in balance only that he used to manage 've scum'.
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(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/2586/bigeck.png)
I wondered what the fuck happened to Jimmy Somerville.
Ironically, I've been singing 'Tell me why' since he's been appointed.
Small town boy springs to mind...Or should that be 'Small club boy'...
'Pushed around and kicked around
You were the one
That they'd talk about around town
As they put you down
And as hard as they would try
They'd hurt to make you cry'
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Chelsea have shown Lerner how to appoint a quality manager that you really want. Pay the money.
Of course anyone would choose us over Chelsea wouldn't they!
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Chelsea have shown Lerner how to appoint a quality manager that you really want. Pay the money.
Of course anyone would choose us over Chelsea wouldn't they!
If we'd have taken as long as Chelsea to appoint a manager, most people on this forum would've imploded.
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Chelsea have shown Lerner how to appoint a quality manager that you really want. Pay the money.
Yes but any decent manager would want money to spend on players. This awful, awful manager will just be happy to be in such a cushy job. When he is sacked he'll get a huge pay off, but at least the board will have saved money on transfer fees.
Yes, of course he will. He's got no interest in being a success or his reputation in the game it's all about earning a pay off.
His reputation in the game you say? Hmmm.
Have you considered for second that he had a good reputation coming out of Scotland? That he might be incredibly motivated to rebuild that reputation on a bigger stage. Harry Redknapp rebuilt his reputation at Portsmouth and Spurs despite having a less than spectacular reputation at Bournemouth, Southampton and West Ham. Yet we'd all pretty much agree he's a very good manager now. Don't you think those experiences helped him?
When the red mist clears try and ignore for a second the fact that he managed that lot, and give him a chance to prove himself to us.
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http://t.co/7GeVDRO well McCleish is doing it alone at the PC nice of the board to leave him to it.
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Are SSN gonna show it? Interested in watching it.
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Answer myself, they just confirmed it's next. Two seats at the table too, not one.
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IT IS ON SSN. FFS.
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Is it on SSN?
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noW.
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on now
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Ain't you sweet (but a little late), thanks sugar.
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it's also free on the OS right now
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http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/TV/LiveInterview/ (http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/TV/LiveInterview/)
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Cowans will be a first team coach.
Nice.
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I read that the press conf. is at Bodymoor Heath, is that correct ?
If so, is there any significance in that ?
How will the hoards of adoring fans welcome the new boss all the way out there ?
I can't imagine why its not at Villa Park.
The club has the courage of its own convictions...doesn't it ?
It's because of the Take That gig. Villa Park is a building site for the next week.
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As much as I love randy, times like this really are the right time to speak to the fans and media
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Very good press confrence.
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Well, I like him. Said all the right things and I'm confident in his appointment.
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F'ing Eck did ok at the Press Conference.Sensible answers, sure footed - amazed as f*** that he is with a top PL side rather than in the Champ , as we all are.
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Didn't really say much. It's nice that he wants to be here and I like the positivity, I just can't help but think it's all going to go horribly wrong.
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Can anybody recap for me as I couldn't pick up any sound? Thanks
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A lot of mentions of 'trading carefully." By which, we can understand harsh budget constraints and no ambitious signings.
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Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending. I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.
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Is it me or do sky always cut away from the conference they did it with Houlier just to talk about some Chelsea story
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came across well.
ashley young is a done deal. downing less so.
focus on youth.
goalkeeper is the top priority.
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Can anybody recap for me as I couldn't pick up any sound? Thanks
Didn't realise it was free to air on AVTV so same here please! Thanks.
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He didn't slip up at all, and was very Aston Villa in not talking about finances. Randy will back him as he has with all three former managers. Good to see that the goalkeeper should be sorted out soon. He was quite guarded which is to be expected on a few topics given the stuff going on with the 'draggers. Overall a decent introduction.
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He has come across well, wasn't totally against him at the start, i am now 100% with him. Got a feeling this will turn into something very good. Good luck Eck.
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No manager is ever going to come out and say we are going to spend big.
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Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending. I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.
I think that was always going to be the case following RL splashing out for DB in January!
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Damn, I missed it. Hope it's uploaded somewhere soon.
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Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending. I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.
Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. In fact Villa led the media a merry dance about sell to buy and similar bollocks. We can always revisit this in September, but Randy has always found funds for his manager. I see no reason that we cannot continue to spend responsibly. That includes buying proven talent that provides quick returns like a Darren Bent as the opportunity arises.
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No manager is ever going to come out and say we are going to spend big.
Of course not. However, it was the suggestion that some academy players might be having a 'big season' that points towards reigning in of spending. I'm all for our own talent obviously, but not to the detrement of buying decent players to replace big losses.
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Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending. I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.
Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. .
Nobody thought that we'd be in a full on relegation scrap.
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No manager is ever going to come out and say we are going to spend big.
Of course not. However, it was the suggestion that some academy players might be having a 'big season' that points towards reigning in of spending. I'm all for our own talent obviously, but not to the detrement of buying decent players to replace big losses.
As we know, we have some good promising younger players. Time for Clark, Albrighton to be first team regulars & Bannan & Gardner to get a real chance.
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Chelsea have shown Lerner how to appoint a quality manager that you really want. Pay the money.
Obviously money comes into it to a certain extent, but Quique Sánchez Flores is out of contract and made approaches to Villa (according to an agent whose company represents him), but apparently wasn't even considered. Deep down most of us can admit that Ancelotti was extremely unlikely, but there were other good candidates available, so there can be no excuses. Can it really be the case that the best man for the job happened to be in employment a couple of miles away?
A lot of the posters on here who are disappointed with McLeish as a signal of intent, would probably have been happy with Flores - a young, well regarded manager with some tangible top level success. What we have to reconcile ourselves with, is that either it really was a terribly bungled chaotic appointment process, or they did really want McLeish. This is the only way to make sense of the fact that they will probably end up paying compensation, and will inevitably appear hypocritical in terms of their business ethics. For me it seems like a decision made by people who have very little football knowledge/ experience, and no imagination.
I'm deeply disappointed with McLeish's appointment but have gradually accepted the reality of it. I can't imagine him raising the bar from what MON achieved. Having said all that, there is no guaranteed route to success, and a Flores type appointment could have gone the way that Ramos went at Spurs.
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Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending. I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.
Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. .
Nobody thought that we'd be in a full on relegation scrap.
doesn't change the fact that money was made available to sign arguably the PL very best striker. If money was so tight Randy could just as easily said here's 5 million. The outlay was above and beyond and then some.
I'm not suggesting for a second that he'd sanction another one of those, but to justify this appointment and to keep us in the upper reaches of the league it isn't going to be cheap. One thing that can't ever be levelled at RL is that he understands that attaining and retaining players in sport is expensive and he's shown that he's willing to spend the money. Be it here or with the Browns. There's a ceiling with us obviously based on where we are but I still believe that if McLeish was adamant about a player, and we could get him, he'd be backed in that request.
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The thing I like about him and possibly what makes him stand out as the best candidate for where we are now is that he comes across as genuine unlike his predecessors.... too good for this place (DO'L), I'm still in love with another (GH), when will the Liverpool job be vacant (MON)'.
Determination for the challenge ahead is all well and good, let's hope he has the necessary ability and nous to pull it off. I can see the players warming to him.
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The thing I like about him and possibly what makes him stand out as the best candidate for where we are now is that he comes across as genuine unlike his predecessors.... too good for this place (DO'L), I'm still in love with another (GH), when will the Liverpool job be vacant (MON)'.
Determination for the challenge ahead is all well and good, let's hope he has the necessary ability and nous to pull it off. I can see the players warming to him.
As far as I can see he's no more loyal than the next man and has moved on anytime a bigger job has come up.
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Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending. I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.
Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. .
Nobody thought that we'd be in a full on relegation scrap.
doesn't change the fact that money was made available to sign arguably the PL very best striker. If money was so tight Randy could just as easily said here's 5 million. The outlay was above and beyond and then some.
I'm not suggesting for a second that he'd sanction another one of those, but to justify this appointment and to keep us in the upper reaches of the league it isn't going to be cheap. One thing that can't ever be levelled at RL is that he understands that attaining and retaining players in sport is expensive and he's shown that he's willing to spend the money. Be it here or with the Browns. There's a ceiling with us obviously based on where we are but I still believe that if McLeish was adamant about a player, and we could get him, he'd be backed in that request.
We'll see I guess.
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chelsea to apoint that Villa-Boas .. no hughes then
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chelsea to apoint that Villa-Boas .. no hughes then
I think Hughes has received some very poor advice indeed.
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Not sure why everyone is down on him ... He cares about cup competitions and helped relegate the Blues twice! It's like he reads these forums. :P
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No manager is ever going to come out and say we are going to spend big.
Of course not. However, it was the suggestion that some academy players might be having a 'big season' that points towards reigning in of spending. I'm all for our own talent obviously, but not to the detrement of buying decent players to replace big losses.
It might, but then it also might point to the fact that these kids are good enough and ready so SHOULD be used.
As it goes I think we'll still spend, but if we say need two £5m players and one of the kids can take one of those spots, we can then just go an buy a £10m player for the other one.
Basically, what is there to be spent will be spent, but if we can focus that on less numbers, thereby increasing the quality, then that's a good thing!
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chelsea to apoint that Villa-Boas .. no hughes then
I'd love to know the real reason we didn't speak to Hughes, he seemed the ideal candidate.
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AM refused to say - for legal reasons - at what point he became a candidate for the Villa job. It's looking more and more as though we tapped him up, isn't it?
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Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending. I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.
Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. In fact Villa led the media a merry dance about sell to buy and similar bollocks. We can always revisit this in September, but Randy has always found funds for his manager. I see no reason that we cannot continue to spend responsibly. That includes buying proven talent that provides quick returns like a Darren Bent as the opportunity arises.
We've balanced the books on transfers since summer 2009 i.e. sell-to-buy.
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Any mention of bathroom staff ?
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The thing I like about him and possibly what makes him stand out as the best candidate for where we are now is that he comes across as genuine unlike his predecessors.... too good for this place (DO'L), I'm still in love with another (GH), when will the Liverpool job be vacant (MON)'.
Determination for the challenge ahead is all well and good, let's hope he has the necessary ability and nous to pull it off. I can see the players warming to him.
As far as I can see he's no more loyal than the next man and has moved on anytime a bigger job has come up.
I didn't mention loyalty, I did say genuine though. If he makes a good job of it it is only natural he will be linked with bigger clubs not that there are much bigger. If he does the business he will get a contract extension then we will know more about his loyalty.
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Any mention of bathroom staff ?
Houllier will be offering assorted mens fragrances and a paper towel.
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Any mention of bathroom staff ?
Sid is going to remain as our deluxe heated 1st team coach.
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Any mention of bathroom staff ?
Yeah. He's bringing in Paul Tait to clean the toilets and Robert Hopkins to plumb a new shower at Bodymoor Heath.
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AM refused to say - for legal reasons - at what point he became a candidate for the Villa job. It's looking more and more as though we tapped him up, isn't it?
Yes he did swerve all those questions well didn't he Frank ? I'm sure we tapped him up.
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Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending. I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.
Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. In fact Villa led the media a merry dance about sell to buy and similar bollocks. We can always revisit this in September, but Randy has always found funds for his manager. I see no reason that we cannot continue to spend responsibly. That includes buying proven talent that provides quick returns like a Darren Bent as the opportunity arises.
We've balanced the books on transfers since summer 2009 i.e. sell-to-buy.
have we actually set in place a policy that we can only buy if we sell or is that a really convenient media spin on things? Because if that was really the case, we'd have sold Ashley Young in January to fund Darren Bent. That would have been the embodiment of sell to buy. Spending responsibly is not the same as sell to buy.
You're now going to say that that the Bent money came from Milner, and I would argue that we would have spent that money in August had he had a commited manager. I still believe that Darren Bent would have been acquired because the opportunity arose, and it provided us with a player of proven quality and well worth the investment. MON's transfer dealings too often had players that weren't involved despite major outlays and had little or no return on that investment. The board are done with those days.
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Any mention of bathroom staff ?
You noticed my freudian slip! Could've been worse and predicted texted backside staff.
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Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending. I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.
Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. In fact Villa led the media a merry dance about sell to buy and similar bollocks. We can always revisit this in September, but Randy has always found funds for his manager. I see no reason that we cannot continue to spend responsibly. That includes buying proven talent that provides quick returns like a Darren Bent as the opportunity arises.
We've balanced the books on transfers since summer 2009 i.e. sell-to-buy.
I'd be interested to see your figures on that but, even if that's true, I don't think that's what 'sell-to-buy' means.
Sell-to-buy means transfer money has to generated from player sales before being used for player purchases, i.e. the manager generates his own transfer pot.
I don't think it applies to up-front investment from the owner under the vague understanding that the books will eventually be balanced at some indeterminate point in the future.
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Our curtailed transfer dealings since January 2009 are more to do with wages, as we all know. Randy will give his manager £20m to buy a new playerif it's needed and makes sense, but he'll expect a reasonable wages/turnover ratio to be maintained.
Our ability to buy Darren Bent wasn't due to the Milner fee as much as it was to the saved wages for Gardner, Shorey, Davies, Sidwell, Carew and anyone else I've forgotten who's left recently.
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Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending. I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.
Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. In fact Villa led the media a merry dance about sell to buy and similar bollocks. We can always revisit this in September, but Randy has always found funds for his manager. I see no reason that we cannot continue to spend responsibly. That includes buying proven talent that provides quick returns like a Darren Bent as the opportunity arises.
We've balanced the books on transfers since summer 2009 i.e. sell-to-buy.
have we actually set in place a policy that we can only buy if we sell or is that a really convenient media spin on things? Because if that was really the case, we'd have sold Ashley Young in January to fund Darren Bent. That would have been the embodiment of sell to buy. Spending responsibly is not the same as sell to buy.
You're now going to say that that the Bent money came from Milner, and I would argue that we would have spent that money in August had he had a commited manager. I still believe that Darren Bent would have been acquired because the opportunity arose, and it provided us with a player of proven quality and well worth the investment. MON's transfer dealings too often had players that weren't involved despite major outlays and had little or no return on that investment. The board are done with those days.
Yes your right, the Milner money paid for Darren Bent. You can keep thinking up hypothetical scenarios and I'll keep totting up the amount of money raised and spent in the transfer market.
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A nice look of steely determination about him. He has the look of a man who is out to prove a lot of people wrong and, of course, we all hope that is the case
He also called my beloved Villa 'a massive, massive club'. I like that, always wins me over.....easy catch me!
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I still imagine there will be quite a bit of money to spend (Young's fee, this season's budget, any other outgoing players) but the real limiter is in the form of the wage bill, which suggests young players to me, either brought through from the academy or from outside the club. And that would fit in well with the moves Houllier was making apparently, so it just seems an extension of the policy last year, which is absolutely fine by me. McLeish has a very good track record at buying cheap talent doesn't he?
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The way I understand it with wages is they want an end to forty grand a week reserves who aren't likely to sniff first team action.
After all the hassle they went through to appoint McLeish it would be barking mad not to back him with a decent transfer budget.
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I think players like Beye, Heskey will be replaced in the squad with younger players & saving money there.
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I watched it on SSN in the pub, until the wa**ers decided that speculation on who the Russian gangster will sack at the end of next season was more important.
To me it came across that he has a steely determination, not to prove us doubters wrong, but to prove to himself that he's up to the job.
Don't forget that Mr. Saunders was well into building his third team at the Villa before he got it right.
A little more patience than looking at the first few results may be required.
As John Lennon may have been trying to say...."Give McLeish a chance".
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Go on then, you ugly bugger. Prove me wrong.
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Give Alex AtLeast a chance!
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I think players like Beye, Heskey will be replaced in the squad with younger players & saving money there.
And if those replacements are the likes of Lichaj/Baker and Delfouneso/Weissman, then there's no transfer fee outlay, which is good.
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Going to be interesting how the club deals with the sales of Young and potentially Downing. We are going to need to positive stories, and hopefully signings, to improve the atmosphere.
Fingers crossed!
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Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending. I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.
Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. In fact Villa led the media a merry dance about sell to buy and similar bollocks. We can always revisit this in September, but Randy has always found funds for his manager. I see no reason that we cannot continue to spend responsibly. That includes buying proven talent that provides quick returns like a Darren Bent as the opportunity arises.
We've balanced the books on transfers since summer 2009 i.e. sell-to-buy.
have we actually set in place a policy that we can only buy if we sell or is that a really convenient media spin on things? Because if that was really the case, we'd have sold Ashley Young in January to fund Darren Bent. That would have been the embodiment of sell to buy. Spending responsibly is not the same as sell to buy.
You're now going to say that that the Bent money came from Milner, and I would argue that we would have spent that money in August had he had a commited manager. I still believe that Darren Bent would have been acquired because the opportunity arose, and it provided us with a player of proven quality and well worth the investment. MON's transfer dealings too often had players that weren't involved despite major outlays and had little or no return on that investment. The board are done with those days.
Yes your right, the Milner money paid for Darren Bent. You can keep thinking up hypothetical scenarios and I'll keep totting up the amount of money raised and spent in the transfer market.
Your argument, if I read it correctly, is a hypothesis too, as you seem to be saying that there was a policy shift in 2009. That since then Lerner has kept an eye on the transfer defecit and has sold players at the next opportunity to balance the books. This may be true but it's still a hypothesis. And an unlikely one since it would be difficult for Randy to convince our best players to leave if they didn't want to.
It might just as easily be true that our best players have been tapped up, or had their egos inflated by their agents and have instigated these transfers themselves and that Villa offered them bumper deals to stay, which they still refused.
If that's the case then your 'sell-to-buy' hypothesis goes out the window, and the fact that books balance at this particular point in time is mere coincidence.
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Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending. I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.
Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. In fact Villa led the media a merry dance about sell to buy and similar bollocks. We can always revisit this in September, but Randy has always found funds for his manager. I see no reason that we cannot continue to spend responsibly. That includes buying proven talent that provides quick returns like a Darren Bent as the opportunity arises.
We've balanced the books on transfers since summer 2009 i.e. sell-to-buy.
have we actually set in place a policy that we can only buy if we sell or is that a really convenient media spin on things? Because if that was really the case, we'd have sold Ashley Young in January to fund Darren Bent. That would have been the embodiment of sell to buy. Spending responsibly is not the same as sell to buy.
You're now going to say that that the Bent money came from Milner, and I would argue that we would have spent that money in August had he had a commited manager. I still believe that Darren Bent would have been acquired because the opportunity arose, and it provided us with a player of proven quality and well worth the investment. MON's transfer dealings too often had players that weren't involved despite major outlays and had little or no return on that investment. The board are done with those days.
Yes your right, the Milner money paid for Darren Bent. You can keep thinking up hypothetical scenarios and I'll keep totting up the amount of money raised and spent in the transfer market.
I think you remain the only person on here that is convinced that the club have a policy of the manager must sell players in order to buy them, and that the books are being balanced based on the club steadfastly adhering to those principles. I think there is a lot more to it than that, and that spending wastefully and irresponsibly is what is being curtailed.
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All clubs that think about finances are by those definition sell-to-buy clubs. So that leaves Chelsea and Man City (and the 2 spanish clubs).
Of course you don't let all players go on a free, and let the sulk the last year of the contracts. And when "silly" money comes into it - why say no. It can build a better foundation. To many FootballManagers on cheat codes here.
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I can't understand why some people get irate about wthe idea of a sell-to-buy policy. If we had got ourselves into a situation where it was necessary then what's the problem? I don't think it necessarily has to be a slight on the club if such a policy were in place and, given the excessive money spent on acquiring and paying some mediocre players under O'Neill, it wouldn't surprise me if there was.
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It will all come out in the wash. They would be totally stupid if they did not give him adequate backing as he would be on to a hiding to nothing.
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I can't understand why some people get irate about wthe idea of a sell-to-buy policy. If we had got ourselves into a situation where it was necessary then what's the problem? I don't think it necessarily has to be a slight on the club if such a policy were in place and, given the excessive money spent on acquiring and paying some mediocre players under O'Neill, it wouldn't surprise me if there was.
In fact, looking at the wages/turnover wotsit, I'd say a more pragmatic outlook on expenditure is a bloody good idea.
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My guess is that we'll see decent money spent and appropriate wages paid to the top players but that we'll look to make up the squad with younger, less expensive lads. That seems perfectly sensible to me, whether it's enough to take us where we'd like to go is another matter.
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...
Your argument, if I read it correctly, is a hypothesis too, as you seem to be saying that there was a policy shift in 2009. That since then Lerner has kept an eye on the transfer defecit and has sold players at the next opportunity to balance the books. This may be true but it's still a hypothesis. And an unlikely one since it would be difficult for Randy to convince our best players to leave if they didn't want to.
It might just as easily be true that our best players have been tapped up, or had their egos inflated by their agents and have instigated these transfers themselves and that Villa offered them bumper deals to stay, which they still refused.
If that's the case then your 'sell-to-buy' hypothesis goes out the window, and the fact that books balance at this particular point in time is mere coincidence.
I don't think we're trying to actively sell players to reduce a deficit, I think we have stopped investing more money in the squad.
When asked if he was buying a striker during the Jan 2010 transfer window Martin O'Neill said "We are not looking at players at this minute because we have to sell. Do I have to sell to buy? We wouldn't be the only club in that position.'' Some time later Lerner was asked about it and said there is to an extent a sell-to-buy policy in every organisation.
The club made a big deal out of Alex Ferguson recommending McLeish and Ferguson couldn't have been clearer about why he thought McLeish was the right man for the job - "By the time Alex took over at Rangers they weren't spending the kind of money which they previously had, so he did a great job. In all his jobs he's had to deal with that kind of situation of making do with what you have and making the best of it, and that's a quality. Villa represent the same type of challenge."
If what you are saying is that sell-to-buy is not an openly stated policy then I agree. The fact remains that we have balanced the books in the transfer market since Summer 2009.
If we spend significantly more than we raise in sales during this window I'll happily agree that I was wrong in my interpretation (or maybe I'll argue that the policy has changed again ;-) ). In the meantime, if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I'll call it a sell-to-buy policy.
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If we spend significantly more than we raise in sales during this window I'll happily agree that I was wrong in my interpretation (or maybe I'll argue that the policy has changed again ;-) ). In the meantime, if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I'll call it a sell-to-buy policy.
Out of interest, what would you class as 'significant'?
By my reckoning, this is what we've done since that quote from MON in Jan 2009, which ignores loans and the Ireland end of the Milner deal to keep life simple:-
In
Bent - £18m
Makoun - £8m
Total - £26m
Out
Gardner - £3.5m
Shorey - £1.5m
Milner - £18m
Sidwell - £0.25m
Davies - £2.5m
Total - £25.75m
So, it does balance, unless you take Bent at the £24m , which means it's a still modest £6.25m.
So, would £20m+ net spending this summer convince you?
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Sorry if its already been asked. I didnt expect Randy to be sitting next to AM atr the press conference today, although he probably should have been, but where was the CEO? It looked like AM was all on his tod apart from some PR suit. As it happened AM handled potentially difficult questions very well but you would have thought that the club should have come out and faced the press.
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I can't understand why some people get irate about wthe idea of a sell-to-buy policy. If we had got ourselves into a situation where it was necessary then what's the problem? I don't think it necessarily has to be a slight on the club if such a policy were in place and, given the excessive money spent on acquiring and paying some mediocre players under O'Neill, it wouldn't surprise me if there was.
I've got no problem with what we're doing. To me, it makes perfect sense to review your squad, move on the players who are nowhere near the first team (and earning good money), release or sell those nearing the end of their contracts. With the 25-man squad limits, all clubs will be doing the same. Even City off-loaded players not in the picture last season; Chelsea reportedly offering Essien as part of the deal for Modric - they're making room in the squad for one player by releasing another.
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My guess is that we'll see decent money spent and appropriate wages paid to the top players but that we'll look to make up the squad with younger, less expensive lads. That seems perfectly sensible to me, whether it's enough to take us where we'd like to go is another matter.
i fully expect the club to back mcleish big time. whether the phrase enough to take us to where we want to go to is appropriate is another matter?
i want us to be top of the league but with a club who are about 7-8th in every department of wages, transfers, attendances, prices of tickets and merchandising revenue, i think we return round about the right order.
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If we spend significantly more than we raise in sales during this window I'll happily agree that I was wrong in my interpretation (or maybe I'll argue that the policy has changed again ;-) ). In the meantime, if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I'll call it a sell-to-buy policy.
Out of interest, what would you class as 'significant'?
By my reckoning, this is what we've done since that quote from MON in Jan 2009, which ignores loans and the Ireland end of the Milner deal to keep life simple:-
In
Bent - £18m
Makoun - £8m
Total - £26m
Out
Gardner - £3.5m
Shorey - £1.5m
Milner - £18m
Sidwell - £0.25m
Davies - £2.5m
Total - £25.75m
So, it does balance, unless you take Bent at the £24m , which means it's a still modest £6.25m.
So, would £20m+ net spending this summer convince you?
The average net spend in the four years prior to last summer was £20m per year, so anything approaching that in net spend terms would convince me I was wrong.
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Sorry if its already been asked. I didnt expect Randy to be sitting next to AM atr the press conference today, although he probably should have been, but where was the CEO? It looked like AM was all on his tod apart from some PR suit. As it happened AM handled potentially difficult questions very well but you would have thought that the club should have come out and faced the press.
Im pretty sure that I read on here somewhere that Mr Faulkner got married on Sat just gone so he is on his honeymoon
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If we spend significantly more than we raise in sales during this window I'll happily agree that I was wrong in my interpretation (or maybe I'll argue that the policy has changed again ;-) ). In the meantime, if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I'll call it a sell-to-buy policy.
Out of interest, what would you class as 'significant'?
By my reckoning, this is what we've done since that quote from MON in Jan 2009, which ignores loans and the Ireland end of the Milner deal to keep life simple:-
In
Bent - £18m
Makoun - £8m
Total - £26m
Out
Gardner - £3.5m
Shorey - £1.5m
Milner - £18m
Sidwell - £0.25m
Davies - £2.5m
Total - £25.75m
So, it does balance, unless you take Bent at the £24m , which means it's a still modest £6.25m.
So, would £20m+ net spending this summer convince you?
The average net spend in the four years prior to last summer was £20m per year, so anything approaching that in net spend terms would convince me I was wrong.
Aye.
The Times totted it up and they had net spend since Mr Lerner Sir took charge - £78m.
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I think Marzimsbruv is right.
We’ve not really had a lot of choice with regards to Barry, Milner and now Young. This is football, heads will be turned.
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Good luck Mr McLeish.
Oh, and while we're at it, can we stop calling him "Eck"? I think those duffers at BRMB and WM started it.
For God's sake, how difficult is "Alex"?
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We have to settle on something. Not a fan of Eck, but it is much faster to type.
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We can call him Al.
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No, it's lazy-arse typing. Let's settle on Alex.
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No. Alex is too much like he is a kid, not a manager. They need abbreviations or nicknames. Alex is, well, boring.
BAM - Big Alex McLeish
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Alexander?
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Sandy?
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Mandy?
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Randy mk2
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How about "what the f**k" as its what we will all be mostly using soon.
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How about "Mac"?
Seriously, anything but Eck.
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BAM sounds good to me.
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We can call him Al.
He'd better not start calling me Betty...
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No. Alex is too much like he is a kid, not a manager. They need abbreviations or nicknames. Alex is, well, boring.
BAM - Big Alex McLeish
Thanks muchly!
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We can call him Al.
He'd better not start calling me Betty...
If a bloke with a fizzog like that calls you Betty..................run!!!!
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I like Flipping Eck.
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or Feck!
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We can call him Al.
He'd better not start calling me Betty...
It's OK, I'll be your bodyguard.
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I'll be your long lost pal then.
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or Feck!
That's my favourite.
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McGaffer ?
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Big Mc.
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or Feck!
Uncle Feck.
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DRINK! FECK! ARSE! GIRLS!
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How about Big Mac ? Then Barry Frys going to want to join him as assistant.
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How about Big Mac ? Then Barry Frys going to want to join him as assistant.
Dunne would eat him alive.
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Good luck Mr McLeish.
Oh, and while we're at it, can we stop calling him "Eck"? I think those duffers at BRMB and WM started it.
For God's sake, how difficult is "Alex"?
Pretty difficult. It's ''Alec'' (as in ''Gilroy'', the tight-fisted shortarse that was married to Beth Lynch for a few years).
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Now you're here, best of luck Alex. Spoke well at the Press conference - here's to a good season.
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Good luck Mr McLeish.
Oh, and while we're at it, can we stop calling him "Eck"? I think those duffers at BRMB and WM started it.
For God's sake, how difficult is "Alex"?
It's his long standing nickname from his days at Aberdeen. He has said "people called me Alec and I had the Al taken away, so it was Eck".
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That's that sorted then.
Eck it is.
Eck Eck Eck Eck
Suppose it'll do....
Eck.
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It was "Big Eck" when he was at Aberdeen.
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McLeish move stuns O'Leary
Former Aston Villa manager David O'Leary was astonished by the appointment of Alex McLeish to his old job.
The 52-year-old McLeish broke a footballing taboo by crossing the city of Birmingham, resigning from his job with relegated Blues before taking up the post at Villa soon after.
The move has been greeted with animosity on both sides of the city, and nobody was more surprised than O'Leary, who was in charge at Villa for three years from 2003.
"I just couldn't believe it," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I never thought anybody would cross the city like this.
"It's a big, brave step. I hope it goes well because Villa is really a good club.
"The three years I was there it was a great derby - I wouldn't say hatred but it was a very intense derby and there was always a feeling that it was very hard for players to cross, and the same manager-wise - very seldom it happens.
"The feeling has always been it's something you never do.
"With Birmingham going down as well I think the fans feel he owes it to them to bring them back up again and to actually walk out on them and then to cross to Villa has caused, from what I've read and seen, big hostilities in the city."
He added: "The big thing Alex will have to do is get a good start. Winning games shuts everybody up and that's what he'll be judged on - and he'll have to do it probably quicker than other managers, who might have a honeymoon period.
"The fans are very demanding. They can be very vocal, but it's a very good club."
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/aston-villa/news/1061551/McLeish-move-stuns-O-Leary
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Sorry if the Odreary thing was posted earlier- just noticed its from earlier this evening.
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If o'leary is offering his views for free, there is a shallow pit by my patio I'd like him to have a look at
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Is anyone like me getting just a little peeved at being labelled a furious villa fan? The Guardian is at it again this morning. And every other title has had its say. I'm not furious. A little surprised maybe, even a tad disappointed, after all the high flyers allegedly in the frame during this process. But I didn't protest, I didn't abuse, I didn't post expletive-ridden messages on forums expressing my fury. I just thought, oh well, maybe our board members were impressed by something they saw and heard, either from the man himself or from others and, let's face it, it's their job to make these decisions, not mine. So we move on and look forward to the first home game with a stadium crammed full of furious Villa fans. I don't think so.
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Classic case of the press thinking the vocal minority speak for us all and not bothering to look any deeper.
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Classic case of it being a quiet time of the year and the press not having anything to fill pages with.
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Classic case of the press thinking the vocal minority speak for us all and not bothering to look any deeper.
Unless other voices speak up though how are they going to know?
I didn't think the protest was a good idea but was surprised at the numbers that turned up. That sort of turn out on a Wednesday night is bound to make an impression.
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Is anyone like me getting just a little peeved at being labelled a furious villa fan? The Guardian is at it again this morning. And every other title has had its say. I'm not furious. A little surprised maybe, even a tad disappointed, after all the high flyers allegedly in the frame during this process. But I didn't protest, I didn't abuse, I didn't post expletive-ridden messages on forums expressing my fury. I just thought, oh well, maybe our board members were impressed by something they saw and heard, either from the man himself or from others and, let's face it, it's their job to make these decisions, not mine. So we move on and look forward to the first home game with a stadium crammed full of furious Villa fans. I don't think so.
Yep, I'm not a bit furious. I'm not actually all that disappointed either. I've always rated Eck and was a bit gutted when he went to that shower of shit. I'm not surprised he got relegated twice but I'm f*cking staggered he managed to win a trophy while he was there. I'll try to be a bit furious if we have a bad start to next season. Cant promise though
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Is anyone like me getting just a little peeved at being labelled a furious villa fan? The Guardian is at it again this morning. And every other title has had its say. I'm not furious. A little surprised maybe, even a tad disappointed, after all the high flyers allegedly in the frame during this process. But I didn't protest, I didn't abuse, I didn't post expletive-ridden messages on forums expressing my fury. I just thought, oh well, maybe our board members were impressed by something they saw and heard, either from the man himself or from others and, let's face it, it's their job to make these decisions, not mine. So we move on and look forward to the first home game with a stadium crammed full of furious Villa fans. I don't think so.
Yep, I'm not a bit furious. I'm not actually all that disappointed either. I've always rated Eck and was a bit gutted when he went to that shower of shit. I'm not surprised he got relegated twice but I'm f*cking staggered he managed to win a trophy while he was there. I'll try to be a bit furious if we have a bad start to next season. Cant promise though
And neither am I furious. In fact, I'm more than ever looking forward to next season to see how it all pans out. I can understand the fury of fans in as much as there would have been fury who ever we had given the job to.
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I've calmed down a bit since rumours were becoming a reality last week.
I'm looking forward to pre-season and hoping we sign some good players. I'm going to give Eck a fresh start and see what he does.
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I wasn't furious last week, just mortified.
Now I've accepted the appointment and, obviously, I'm hoping McLeish does well. Looking forward to him winning me over.
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McLeish move stuns O'Leary
Former Aston Villa manager David O'Leary was astonished by the appointment of Alex McLeish to his old job.
Stunned ? Id like to stun him !
Now I am bloody furious ! What makes him think he has the right to open his mouth and say anything about anything even vaguely related to our club ?
Just because the rich arab man took away your bucket and spade and sent you back to your big house in Yorkshire, just because your sitting there bored with nothing to do, and starting to worry that everybody in football is forgetting about you, is no good reason to start pontificating about events surrounding us. Yes O'Leary almost everybody in football has forgot you apart from tens of thousands of Villa fans who still quite rightly start to foam at the mouth at the mere mention of your name. O'Leary O'Leary..........aghhhhhhhhh see ? its just gets you so angry doesnt it ?
Protests ? If I ever hear that bastard is coming anywhere near Villa Park, be it with another club, for the media, or hes just dropping his kids to that bloody Take That concert, I will be the first one down there with a banner on the steps outside The Holte
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The O'Leary comments may just as well have been.
'I'm still here, don't forget me, i'm a great Manager.'
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(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/avfcboy93/bigeck.jpg)
Edit: hold on, I'll try and knock one up with a recent pic.
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What the ups and downs of our beloved club over past months, one thing remains constant: DOL = Bellend.
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The O'Leary comments may just as well have been.
'I'm still here, don't forget me, i'm a great Manager.'
I'm still here. I'm great. I'd manage the Blues.
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I'm getting more and more optimistic by the day. McLeish seems very driven and determined and will do everything in his power to prove himself. Id rather that than a half-hearted Ged or stroppy MO'N waiting for a bigger job.
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I like the fact he seems based in some sort of realism too, improve last seasons position is the only target he is setting, so not trying to build expectation too high. I think we could have a decent run, and 55 plus points would be a good season league wise.
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I think he'll make us hard to beat, exactly the opposite of many games last season.
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Much better...
(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/avfcboy93/65.jpg)
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I don't get it?
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I'm trying to make a meme.
Remember when Carson Yeung infamously said at his first press conference saying Blues would have £40-80 million to spend on players?
That's why McLeish is smiling/lauging in the picture.
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It's not going too well so far, is it?
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If you say so.
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but he did give him £40m to spend on players?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2011/06/mcleish_arrives_at_villa.html
Presume this has already been posted, but I can't be bothered trawling through. Interesting point about the lack of senior executives at the presser though!
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Zigic 6 million
Gardner 3.5 million
Foster 6 million
Beausjour 4 million
Michel 3 million
Total 22.5 million
Edit: urgh, I see Villas-Boas has resigned :(
He could of really made a name of himself next season in the Champions League, but he'll be given 2 years max at Chelsea, if he doesn't win the European Cup he'll be fired and his repuatation will be diminished.
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And Davies was £3m, but to be fair it is reported that Zigic was a 'present' from the chairmen.
In the way getting a turd through the letterbox is a 'present'.
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he'll be given 2 years max at Chelsea, if he doesn't win the European Cup he'll be fired and his repuatation will be diminished.
And he 10s of millions of pounds better off. Don't know about him, but I'd live with that!
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Zigic 6 million
Gardner 3.5 million
Foster 6 million
Beausjour 4 million
Michel 3 million
Total 22.5 million
Edit: urgh, I see Villas-Boas has resigned :(
He could of really made a name of himself next season in the Champions League, but he'll be given 2 years max at Chelsea, if he doesn't win the European Cup he'll be fired and his repuatation will be diminished.
This guy could be the next special one,but seems a risk as he's only had one full season,no champion league experience and as you say hell only get two years to win it or he'll be out
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Zigic 6 million
Gardner 3.5 million
Foster 6 million
Beausjour 4 million
Michel 3 million
Total 22.5 million
Edit: urgh, I see Villas-Boas has resigned :(
He could of really made a name of himself next season in the Champions League, but he'll be given 2 years max at Chelsea, if he doesn't win the European Cup he'll be fired and his repuatation will be diminished.
Sorry, my mistake. McLeish spent £40m in the last 2 seasons but some of it was in the summer before the takeover was complete.
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Zigic 6 million
Gardner 3.5 million
Foster 6 million
Beausjour 4 million
Michel 3 million
Total 22.5 million
Edit: urgh, I see Villas-Boas has resigned :(
He could of really made a name of himself next season in the Champions League, but he'll be given 2 years max at Chelsea, if he doesn't win the European Cup he'll be fired and his repuatation will be diminished.
Sorry, my mistake. McLeish spent £40m in the last 2 seasons but some of it was in the summer before the takeover was complete.
Didn't the total deals including wages equal over £40mil. Someone recently posted that the Zigic deal is almost £20mill including wages of approx £80000 pw for 4 years. If that is true it makes MON look restrained.
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I can only imagine how horrendous Zigic's basketball skills are for him to be playing football at 6'8''.
I bet he's like Darko Milicic on roller skates.
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Did I see that McLeish really said the words "I don't think Birmingham played bad football"? Now there's defending yourself and there's just being plain wrong. Of course they played bad football, and if he doesn't see that I don't know what's wrong with his eyes. "The main problem was with the lack of goals" - yeah, thanks to the bad football - "it didn't help that...Nikola Zigic didn't play again after the Carling Cup final". Yeah, because over-reliance on a vaguely talentless Big Man doesn't scream bad football. I really hope he changes, but the proof will be in those first 7 games of the season up until Man City away in October (and in fact, in most games until what looks like a tricky Christmas period), winnable games in which we should be looking to take the game to the opposition. If he tries to play mostly on the counter, I feel my fears would be justified.
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Did I see that McLeish really said the words "I don't think Birmingham played bad football"? Now there's defending yourself and there's just being plain wrong. Of
And there's attempting to apply an objective judgement to a subjective topic.
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Did I see that McLeish really said the words "I don't think Birmingham played bad football"? Now there's defending yourself and there's just being plain wrong. Of
And there's attempting to apply an objective judgement to a subjective topic.
And there's a pedantic contradiction for the sake of argument. None of the top teams in any major league in Europe play football like Birmingham did under AM. I accept that Blues weren't trying to be one of the top teams, but the best football is at the very least defined as the most successful, and no successful team in any league plays like Blues did. Even Man City regularly dominate possession, play the ball short and occasionally play thrilling stuff (usually against us, the bastards).
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Blues played to their strengths
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The thing that bugs me is there's always an excuse for when he screws up. It never seems to be his fault at all and I'm seeing those same excuses put forward by Villa fans now (the very same ones that were laughing at him sending his club to the Championship a couple of weeks ago).
And what really gets me is if it goes tits up at Villa, he'll get off scot free yet again as it's us fans that'll take the blame for not giving him a chance.
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Blues played to their strengths
You can create your own strengths with your transfer policy. Blues strengths were such that they went down.
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Did I see that McLeish really said the words "I don't think Birmingham played bad football"? Now there's defending yourself and there's just being plain wrong. Of
And there's attempting to apply an objective judgement to a subjective topic.
And there's a pedantic contradiction for the sake of argument. None of the top teams in any major league in Europe play football like Birmingham did under AM. I accept that Blues weren't trying to be one of the top teams, but the best football is at the very least defined as the most successful, and no successful team in any league plays like Blues did. Even Man City regularly dominate possession, play the ball short and occasionally play thrilling stuff (usually against us, the bastards).
Define "successful". Winning a cup maybe?
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Define "succesful". Winning a cup maybe?
I said successful in the league, as in finishing in high position, and consistently over a few years as well. The sheer number of games is a better way to statistically judge the success of a style as the sample is bigger. Also, even though you can 'fluke' your way to a cup, the cup competitions are dominated by the teams who finish high up in the league anyway.
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It is all semantics now. I don't expect an awful lot. Good cup runs and middle to upper end of table. Any less is unacceptable.
I don't like it but this is The Villa and we, the fans, are stuck with it.
Villa Boas cost £12.5m and we pay £7m for McLeish...great stuff..shheesh. I hope he is at least half as good!
This is The Villa we're talking about!
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Define "succesful". Winning a cup maybe?
I said successful in the league, as in finishing in high position, and consistently over a few years as well. The sheer number of games is a better way to statistically judge the success of a style as the sample is bigger.
We've seen with Burnley, The Baggies and Blackpool what happens when promoted teams try to play pretty football in this division against teams with much better players. He built a side based on a strong defence and but for an injury to Dann would probably have seen them stay up and win a cup. By their standard that would be success.
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Define "succesful". Winning a cup maybe?
I said successful in the league, as in finishing in high position, and consistently over a few years as well. The sheer number of games is a better way to statistically judge the success of a style as the sample is bigger.
We've seen with Burnley, The Baggies and Blackpool what happens when promoted teams try to play pretty football in this division against teams with much better players. He built a side based on a strong defence and but for an injury to Dann would probably have seen them stay up and win a cup. By their standard that would be success.
As has been stated he spent a reasonable amount of money (more than Burnley and Blackpool, certainly, and quite possibly Baggies) on clearly sub-standard players. With that money you should be playing better football than that.
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It is all semantics now. I don't expect an awful lot. Good cup runs and middle to upper end of table. Any less is unacceptable.
I don't like it but this is The Villa and we, the fans, are stuck with it.
Villa Boas cost £12.5m and we pay £7m for McLeish...great stuff..shheesh. I hope he is at least half as good!
This is The Villa we're talking about!
Where have you got the £7m figure from?
As it stands we haven't paid a penny as he resigned and s claiming constructive dismissal. They are claiming £5.4m but he appears to have a strong case.
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Define "succesful". Winning a cup maybe?
I said successful in the league, as in finishing in high position, and consistently over a few years as well. The sheer number of games is a better way to statistically judge the success of a style as the sample is bigger.
We've seen with Burnley, The Baggies and Blackpool what happens when promoted teams try to play pretty football in this division against teams with much better players. He built a side based on a strong defence and but for an injury to Dann would probably have seen them stay up and win a cup. By their standard that would be success.
As has been stated he spent a reasonable amount of money (more than Burnley and Blackpool, certainly, and quite possibly Baggies) on clearly sub-standard players. With that money you should be playing better football than that.
Their problem was they had no depth. A reasonable first team but they struggled to cope with injuries. My mates reckon the two cup runs took it out of them and they had nothing left by the end if the season A similar thing happened to Bolton but they had enough in hand although no trophy.
You must do nothing but watch football, Monty, such is your knowledge of how every team in the world plays.
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McLeish has said....
"I know there is interest from Rangers, but it may be we will have to keep Carlos and he has to fight for his place again. Every player will start with a clean slate."
So that's answers the questions about Warnock, Dunne & Ireland.
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McLeish has said....
"I know there is interest from Rangers, but it may be we will have to keep Carlos and he has to fight for his place again. Every player will start with a clean slate."
So that's answers the questions about Warnock, Dunne & Ireland.
It wont take them long to dirty it ...
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The worrying thing for me is that McLeish was unable to arrest the post-League Cup slide and didn't even attempt to change their style at a time when wins were clearly needed and his Plan A wasn't working. It's one thing to argue that circumstances weren't in his favour, which they may or may not have been, but he manifestly wasn't getting the best out of his players when he most needed to.
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The worrying thing for me is that McLeish was unable to arrest the post-League Cup slide and didn't even attempt to change their style at a time when wins were clearly needed and his Plan A wasn't working. It's one thing to argue that circumstances weren't in his favour, which they may or may not have been, but he manifestly wasn't getting the best out of his players when he most needed to.
That's the way I see it. Poor manager in every sense. Still got no choice but to back him.
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The worrying thing for me is that McLeish was unable to arrest the post-League Cup slide and didn't even attempt to change their style at a time when wins were clearly needed and his Plan A wasn't working. It's one thing to argue that circumstances weren't in his favour, which they may or may not have been, but he manifestly wasn't getting the best out of his players when he most needed to.
Exactly like MON after our League Cup final. Come to think of it, just like MON after Feb every season!
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Now that some of the dust has settled and we are getting some of the excruciating PR cliches - the scarf over the head, the name on the shirt, the standard wonderful club great history parrottings out of the way, the impression seems clearer to me that Randy Lerner became so fed up and bored with the process he said to Paul Faulkner "I want somebody cheap, I want somebody healthy, I want somebody who will do as they are told." That is how we come to have Alex McLeish as our manager.
The only metaphor I can use will be understood by the fathers of daughters. It was like being in a shoe shoe trying to find back-to-school shoes. You eventually finish up saying. "They have to be size 5, black with laces. I am going down the pub".
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When I was younger, I used to get taken round all the shoe shops in Brum by my Mom. We then ended up back at the first one to get my new pair of school shoes. I'd long since given up and I'm beginning to think that this is the same way Mr. Lerner Sir now feels.
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Define "succesful". Winning a cup maybe?
I said successful in the league, as in finishing in high position, and consistently over a few years as well. The sheer number of games is a better way to statistically judge the success of a style as the sample is bigger.
We've seen with Burnley, The Baggies and Blackpool what happens when promoted teams try to play pretty football in this division against teams with much better players. He built a side based on a strong defence and but for an injury to Dann would probably have seen them stay up and win a cup. By their standard that would be success.
I'm sure the comparison has been made before but Stoke got promoted the year McLeish took over at the Blues. They've got no real budget, don't play great football, and have steadily progressed. They may not have won a trophy but they weren't far off. I'd say that in very similar circumstances to the Blues Tony Pulis has performed much better than McLeish. Stoke look like a side that is now comfortable in the top flight whereas the Blues clearly weren't.
That said, I don't think Pulis could cut it if he had money to spend. And I'm not alone or I think he would be managing a bigger club now. The hope is that McLeish knows how to spend money better. My concern is that the only success McLeish has actually had was with Rangers, and let's be honest, most of us typing on here could be successful as manager of Rangers.
The conclusion therefore is that I don't think McLeish's record is good enough to be Villa manager and the evidence of his style of play at the Blues worries me unless he knows how to play more attractive football with better players. Time will tell.
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It is all semantics now. I don't expect an awful lot. Good cup runs and middle to upper end of table. Any less is unacceptable.
I don't like it but this is The Villa and we, the fans, are stuck with it.
Villa Boas cost £12.5m and we pay £7m for McLeish...great stuff..shheesh. I hope he is at least half as good!
This is The Villa we're talking about!
Where have you got the £7m figure from?
As it stands we haven't paid a penny as he resigned and s claiming constructive dismissal. They are claiming £5.4m but he appears to have a strong case.
And they probably have a strong case on tapping up as Randy and Alex happened to be in the same area of Europe at the same time and we were interviewing him less then 48 hours after he quit. In the end we will probably pay something towards what they requested with him not pressing the constructive dismissal side of it.
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Now that some of the dust has settled and we are getting some of the excruciating PR cliches - the scarf over the head, the name on the shirt, the standard wonderful club great history parrottings out of the way, the impression seems clearer to me that Randy Lerner became so fed up and bored with the process he said to Paul Faulkner "I want somebody cheap, I want somebody healthy, I want somebody who will do as they are told." That is how we come to have Alex McLeish as our manager.
Possibly those two and "I want somebody who is hungry to prove themselves and who doesn't think they're bigger than the club".
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Now that some of the dust has settled and we are getting some of the excruciating PR cliches - the scarf over the head, the name on the shirt, the standard wonderful club great history parrottings out of the way, the impression seems clearer to me that Randy Lerner became so fed up and bored with the process he said to Paul Faulkner "I want somebody cheap, I want somebody healthy, I want somebody who will do as they are told." That is how we come to have Alex McLeish as our manager.
Possibly those two and "I want somebody who is hungry to prove themselves and who doesn't think they're bigger than the club".
The thing is, any manager would've said the exact same cliches wouldn't they. Same with players.
Villa are a massive club with a rich history, I just want to kick on now and do the very best I can to help the lads achieve something special.
Blah blah.
I'd say it's better to go by the look in the eye of the incoming employee and he looked pretty determined and hungry for it from my perspective.
Not sure how you can use this in particular as a stick to beat McLeish or indeed Lerner for that matter.
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I lasted about 4 minutes through his press conference. Sorry.
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Possibly those two and "I want somebody who is hungry to prove themselves and who doesn't think they're bigger than the club".
Which could mean "is ambitious but not that ambitious". Whatever criteria we used this time, next time I'd like us to go for the very best we can possibly get. Until we do, the progress we make, assuming we make any, is likely to be minimal.
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I lasted about 4 minutes through his press conference. Sorry.
No need to apologise. It's all a load of bollocks really and if you're over 20 (I'm 36) you will have seen this parade a few times and realised it's just a PR exercise.
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I lasted about 4 minutes through his press conference. Sorry.
No need to apologise. It's all a load of bollocks really and if you're over 20 (I'm 36) you will have seen this parade a few times and realised it's just a PR exercise.
I'm 40. Thanks. I agree.
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I lasted about 4 minutes through his press conference. Sorry.
No need to apologise. It's all a load of bollocks really and if you're over 20 (I'm 36) you will have seen this parade a few times and realised it's just a PR exercise.
I'm 40. Thanks. I agree.
I thought as much Legion. The cynicism is a dead give away.
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I lasted about 4 minutes through his press conference. Sorry.
No need to apologise. It's all a load of bollocks really and if you're over 20 (I'm 36) you will have seen this parade a few times and realised it's just a PR exercise.
I'm 40. Thanks. I agree.
I thought as much Legion. The cynicism is a dead give away.
I haven't even bothered watching it heard it all before.
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It is all semantics now. I don't expect an awful lot. Good cup runs and middle to upper end of table. Any less is unacceptable.
I don't like it but this is The Villa and we, the fans, are stuck with it.
Villa Boas cost £12.5m and we pay £7m for McLeish...great stuff..shheesh. I hope he is at least half as good!
This is The Villa we're talking about!
Where have you got the £7m figure from?
As it stands we haven't paid a penny as he resigned and s claiming constructive dismissal. They are claiming £5.4m but he appears to have a strong case.
Villa compensation bill reaches £7m
expressandstar.com - Jun 20, 2011
Alex McLeish will be unveiled as the club's new manager today, with Villa still locked in a cash row with Birmingham over how much the Scot will cost. The former Glasgow Rangers chief made the controversial switch to Villa Park on Friday and Blues are ...
It was mentioned elsewhere in major Daily's...
As you say he may get 'constructive dismissal' just like MON's unspecified award.
Still if you want the best you gotta pay..Villa Boas was never a realistic target for us...and we definitely do not have Chelsea's oil funds to call on, or their chairman.
We'll end up with half the Scottish National team, rather than the Portugese/Brazilian etc and they'll have to be acceptable..as long as it does not include the goalie.
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The worrying thing for me is that McLeish was unable to arrest the post-League Cup slide and didn't even attempt to change their style at a time when wins were clearly needed and his Plan A wasn't working. It's one thing to argue that circumstances weren't in his favour, which they may or may not have been, but he manifestly wasn't getting the best out of his players when he most needed to.
Exactly like MON after our League Cup final. Come to think of it, just like MON after Feb every season!
In 1994 we picked up just 8pts from 27 available after winning the League Cup, and in 1996 7pts from 21. Small Heath took 9pts from 36 in their 12 league games after Wembley and even Arsenal managed just three points more in their 12.
It's a common theme with League Cup winners that once they've peaked they drop away, although the likes of ManU and Chelsea have been able to keep their seasons going afterwards, probably as they don't see the League Cup as being such a big deal.
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It is all semantics now. I don't expect an awful lot. Good cup runs and middle to upper end of table. Any less is unacceptable.
I don't like it but this is The Villa and we, the fans, are stuck with it.
Villa Boas cost £12.5m and we pay £7m for McLeish...great stuff..shheesh. I hope he is at least half as good!
This is The Villa we're talking about!
Where have you got the £7m figure from?
As it stands we haven't paid a penny as he resigned and s claiming constructive dismissal. They are claiming £5.4m but he appears to have a strong case.
Villa compensation bill reaches £7m
expressandstar.com - Jun 20, 2011
Alex McLeish will be unveiled as the club's new manager today, with Villa still locked in a cash row with Birmingham over how much the Scot will cost. The former Glasgow Rangers chief made the controversial switch to Villa Park on Friday and Blues are ...
It was mentioned elsewhere in major Daily's...
As you say he may get 'constructive dismissal' just like MON's unspecified award.
Still if you want the best you gotta pay..Villa Boas was never a realistic target for us...and we definitely do not have Chelsea's oil funds to call on, or their chairman.
We'll end up with half the Scottish National team, rather than the Portugese/Brazilian etc and they'll have to be acceptable..as long as it does not include the goalie.
Didn't the £7m estimate include paying off Houllier and McAllister, and settling with MON? On that basis you'd have to include Ancelotti's pay off along with what Chelsea have to pay Porto for Villas Boas.
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Where have you got the £7m figure from?
Villa compensation bill reaches £7m
expressandstar.com - Jun 20, 2011
Alex McLeish will be unveiled as the club's new manager today, with Villa still locked in a cash row with Birmingham over how much the Scot will cost. The former Glasgow Rangers chief made the controversial switch to Villa Park on Friday and Blues are ...
It was mentioned elsewhere in major Daily's...
The original story of £7mil was for MON, Houllier and the potential payment to Blues altogether with the figures working out as about £2mil for Alex, £3.5 for Houllier and the rest to MON as tribunal payments.
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It is all semantics now. I don't expect an awful lot. Good cup runs and middle to upper end of table. Any less is unacceptable.
I don't like it but this is The Villa and we, the fans, are stuck with it.
Villa Boas cost £12.5m and we pay £7m for McLeish...great stuff..shheesh. I hope he is at least half as good!
This is The Villa we're talking about!
Where have you got the £7m figure from?
As it stands we haven't paid a penny as he resigned and s claiming constructive dismissal. They are claiming £5.4m but he appears to have a strong case.
Villa compensation bill reaches £7m
expressandstar.com - Jun 20, 2011
Alex McLeish will be unveiled as the club's new manager today, with Villa still locked in a cash row with Birmingham over how much the Scot will cost. The former Glasgow Rangers chief made the controversial switch to Villa Park on Friday and Blues are ...
It was mentioned elsewhere in major Daily's...
As you say he may get 'constructive dismissal' just like MON's unspecified award.
Still if you want the best you gotta pay..Villa Boas was never a realistic target for us...and we definitely do not have Chelsea's oil funds to call on, or their chairman.
We'll end up with half the Scottish National team, rather than the Portugese/Brazilian etc and they'll have to be acceptable..as long as it does not include the goalie.
Didn't the £7m estimate include paying off Houllier and McAllister, and settling with MON? On that basis you'd have to include Ancelotti's pay off along with what Chelsea have to pay Porto for Villas Boas.
Villa Boas payment of 15m euros was to release him from contract.
£7m may include the others as you say but they gave a large pay-off to GED and not sure what MacAllister's is. If Birmingham want £5.4 as quoted then cannot include GED's amount. It may be that he will walk away for little or nothing. We did not make and approach for Villa Boas that is for sure.
I saw it in papers, but strangely the article is no longer there on E&S site, only the heads from Google.
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I saw it in papers, but strangely the article is no longer there on E&S site, only the heads from Google.
See here. (http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=43940.0)
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It is all semantics now. I don't expect an awful lot. Good cup runs and middle to upper end of table. Any less is unacceptable.
I don't like it but this is The Villa and we, the fans, are stuck with it.
Villa Boas cost £12.5m and we pay £7m for McLeish...great stuff..shheesh. I hope he is at least half as good!
This is The Villa we're talking about!
Where have you got the £7m figure from?
As it stands we haven't paid a penny as he resigned and s claiming constructive dismissal. They are claiming £5.4m but he appears to have a strong case.
Villa compensation bill reaches £7m
expressandstar.com - Jun 20, 2011
Alex McLeish will be unveiled as the club's new manager today, with Villa still locked in a cash row with Birmingham over how much the Scot will cost. The former Glasgow Rangers chief made the controversial switch to Villa Park on Friday and Blues are ...
It was mentioned elsewhere in major Daily's...
As you say he may get 'constructive dismissal' just like MON's unspecified award.
Still if you want the best you gotta pay..Villa Boas was never a realistic target for us...and we definitely do not have Chelsea's oil funds to call on, or their chairman.
We'll end up with half the Scottish National team, rather than the Portugese/Brazilian etc and they'll have to be acceptable..as long as it does not include the goalie.
It's still not a like for like comparison, their guess for us was based on MON, Houllier and McLeish. What would the Chelsea figure be if you also include Ancellotti and Scolari not to mention Mourinho and Grant.
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The worrying thing for me is that McLeish was unable to arrest the post-League Cup slide and didn't even attempt to change their style at a time when wins were clearly needed and his Plan A wasn't working. It's one thing to argue that circumstances weren't in his favour, which they may or may not have been, but he manifestly wasn't getting the best out of his players when he most needed to.
Exactly like MON after our League Cup final. Come to think of it, just like MON after Feb every season!
In 1994 we picked up just 8pts from 27 available after winning the League Cup, and in 1996 7pts from 21. Small Heath took 9pts from 36 in their 12 league games after Wembley and even Arsenal managed just three points more in their 12.
It's a common theme with League Cup winners that once they've peaked they drop away, although the likes of ManU and Chelsea have been able to keep their seasons going afterwards, probably as they don't see the League Cup as being such a big deal.
but contrary to Dan's point, we took 19 points after the League Cup final in O'Neill's final season. It was a pretty decent end to the season for a LC finalist, although not an excellent one.
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The worrying thing for me is that McLeish was unable to arrest the post-League Cup slide and didn't even attempt to change their style at a time when wins were clearly needed and his Plan A wasn't working. It's one thing to argue that circumstances weren't in his favour, which they may or may not have been, but he manifestly wasn't getting the best out of his players when he most needed to.
Exactly like MON after our League Cup final. Come to think of it, just like MON after Feb every season!
In 1994 we picked up just 8pts from 27 available after winning the League Cup, and in 1996 7pts from 21. Small Heath took 9pts from 36 in their 12 league games after Wembley and even Arsenal managed just three points more in their 12.
It's a common theme with League Cup winners that once they've peaked they drop away, although the likes of ManU and Chelsea have been able to keep their seasons going afterwards, probably as they don't see the League Cup as being such a big deal.
but contrary to Dan's point, we took 19 points after the League Cup final in O'Neill's final season. It was a pretty decent end to the season for a LC finalist, although not an excellent one.
Quite right, my point was more the fact that a lot of teams tend do poorly after the League cup final and that after Feb our record was pretty awful under MON. We could probably pick hundreds of faults with Mcleish there is probably hundreds of counter arguments, after all he has won more trophies than Wenger in the last 5 years! I don't think he was anywhere near most peoples first choice but he's been appointed and should be allowed the chance to prove himself. To write him off before he's started seem's a bit ridiculous to me.
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The worrying thing for me is that McLeish was unable to arrest the post-League Cup slide and didn't even attempt to change their style at a time when wins were clearly needed and his Plan A wasn't working.
No different than MON then.
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The worrying thing for me is that McLeish was unable to arrest the post-League Cup slide and didn't even attempt to change their style at a time when wins were clearly needed and his Plan A wasn't working.
No different than MON then.
Which is a further shock on why we employed McCleish?
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To write him off before he's started seem's a bit ridiculous to me.
Are you new to this following-the-Villa lark? It's a B6 tradition!
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Who knows what the board will compensate SHA for? Whatever Randy negotiates I suppose, if anything? They did not consult the fans on who was wanted, and we have got who was appointed. We did not get our wish-list and we are stuck with who the board chose. Plus ca change..plus ca change..another thirty years of mediocrity and muggins fans money through the turnstiles! My kids are grown up enough to make their own decisions now! I know what I know based on past management indifference to fan-based opinion. Good luck for next era of remorse and regret...
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Sorry Brian, but since when have the fans ever had a say in who gets appointed manager?
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Sorry Brian, but since when have the fans ever had a say in who gets appointed manager?
I remember that lots of people were gutted when we appointed Ron Saunders rather than Brian Clough, particularly when Saunders had a reputation for playing dull, defensive football and Cloughie had issued a 'Come and get me' plea via the media. Funny how things turn out
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Sorry Brian, but since when have the fans ever had a say in who gets appointed manager?
I remember that lots of people were gutted when we appointed Ron Saunders rather than Brian Clough, particularly when Saunders had a reputation for playing dull, defensive football and Cloughie had issued a 'Come and get me' plea via the media. Funny how things turn out
True that - though let's not forget what Clough then went on to achieve at Forest. But to his eternal credit Villa were both generally entertaining and successful under Saunders. McLeish won't be able to emulate his success but if he makes the team watchable - which he'll have to to get the fans on his side and bums on seats - and win us something, anything (lord knows we'd be happy with a league cup after all this time) then for most fans the animosity will be forgotten.
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New Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has held a "positive" meeting with a number of the club's supporters.
McLeish has come under fire from a section of Villa fans unhappy at him being appointed as Gerard Houllier's successor due to his time as manager of bitter city rivals Birmingham City.
But he is determined to tackle the issue and this lunchtime half a dozen prominent Villa followers spoke with him at the club's Bodymoor Heath training ground.
McLeish outlined his plans for the club and listened to any issues the group wanted raise in a meeting lasting more than an hour.
Jonathan Fear, editor of the Vital Villa fans' website, said: "It was a good positive, open meeting and I don't think anyone left with long faces.
"Some people might look at this as a cynical PR exercise but Alex McLeish wanted to meet some of the fans and put his points across and listen to what people had to say.
"He asked for the meeting and he is going to ask for more fans' forums.
"We all asked everything we felt was relevant and he answered it and wanted to be open and honest.
"He could have hidden away and it would have been easier not to front up to things."
Fear believes it is time for everyone to pull in the right direction at Villa.
He said: "The whole club needs it. Everyone has had their opinions and now everyone should support the club.
"Let everyone give the manager the chance to
Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2011/06/22/aston-villa-fans-hold-positive-meeting-with-alex-mcleish-97319-28925137/#ixzz1Q1NczH2m
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Is it me or is it hard to escape jonathon fear, he seems to be absolutely everywhere!
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It has to be said that this is a positive initiative from the club / McLeish. Again, he wasn't anywhere near the top of my list of managers to go for, but you have to admire him at least trying to tackle the issue with the fans.
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Agreed.
It would have been easier for him to hide, or play down the issue.
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That's encouraging to hear.
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I liked the bit when he said If David Villa ever comes avaliable , we will be definitely in for a quality player like him ...
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To write him off before he's started seem's a bit ridiculous to me.
Are you new to this following-the-Villa lark? It's a B6 tradition!
No mate 25 years worth of up's and downs. I'll put the positivity down to hayfever!
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MYSTERYMAN wrote:
It was arranged late last night others were invited including my pal Head of Sutton Coldfield Lions who couldn't make it didn't know who was going to be there till I got there . The others could have made more of an effort I might add in terms of their dress code
Maradona10 wrote:
Dave Woodhall perhaps?
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/MrViviIGN/23r4vsz-1.gif)
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Lessons on how to support the Villa from Mr.Fear - Marvellous.
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He speaks for all of us, you know.
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He speaks for all of us, you know.
Of all the site heads, he was the most vocal in his condemning of McLeish.
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Alex has my full support because he's Aston Villa's manager.
I showed my disapproval of his proposed appointment last Wednesday on the steps of The Holte and wonder if he'd ever have been appointed if more of our posters had done the same. I was uncomfortable being there to be honest; and stood, mostly in silence, as I knew not what else I could do to challenge the appointment of a twice relegated man into a position so important to me and those that I love.
I'm still stunned to think that with Gerrard so poorly and unlikely to return that Randy either didn't line up a replacement, did line up someone who to the rest of football appears inadequate or who panicked and poached from our neighbours.
I hope I'm wrong about Alex I really do - I hope I get the opportunity to one day tell him how wrong I was to doubt him; in the meanwhile - whilst he's in charge of my football club he has my full support.
Just wanted to nail my colours to the mast on that; re-newing next week when I'm back off holiday.
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Alex has my full support because he's Aston Villa's manager.
I showed my disapproval of his proposed appointment last Wednesday on the steps of The Holte and wonder if he'd ever have been appointed if more of our posters had done the same. I was uncomfortable being there to be honest; and stood, mostly in silence, as I knew not what else I could do to challenge the appointment of a twice relegated man into a position so important to me and those that I love.
I'm still stunned to think that with Gerrard so poorly and unlikely to return that Randy either didn't line up a replacement, did line up someone who to the rest of football appears inadequate or who panicked and poached from our neighbours.
I hope I'm wrong about Alex I really do - I hope I get the opportunity to one day tell him how wrong I was to doubt him; in the meanwhile - whilst he's in charge of my football club he has my full support.
Just wanted to nail my colours to the mast on that; re-newing next week when I'm back off holiday.
This pretty much sums it up for me, I did'nt want him as our manager, im still shocked he's the best we could come up with but while he's here he and the team will have my total support.