Who Should be Aston Villa Manager ? Now with new, revised poll

[mal]

I've missed a lot of the last day or so.  Could someone enlighten me whether the protest and general unhappiness is motivated by:

a) AM previous role as SHA manager; or
b) Nobody thinks he is a good choice based on ability

If its b) I have more sympathy, I certainly hoped for a more attractive candidate to lift the profile of the club.  If it's a) though, I don't really get it.  He's left them now, and of all the recent SHA managers, I can't remember any being less offensive.  He always seemed to conduct himself very well and avoided aiming insults at Villa unlike Bruce.  Unless I have missed something?  If it is just because of his previous Blues connection then I just don't get it!

It's definitely B with regards the fans but the club think its A.

I would say that that seems a reasonable assessment

If I thought that Macleish had the ability I would welcome him with open arms.
Forget the League cup - Home every time to Rochdale narrowly, Milton Keynes, Brentford (on pens), us when we bossed the game and West Ham when they threw it away doesn't make him a tactical genius. And they were lucky in the final. He was average at best in Scotland - look at Smith's Rangers record before and afterwards - awful for the national team and has relegated Birmingham TWICE. It's not that he hasn't had money either. He is at best a manager for the championship and if we are that desperate there are a host of other candidates. Smith is clearly the better man, and O'Neill better again. Look at their respective win % in Scotland and England. Even if 'uckin' 'eck was coming from outer space with his record I'd be saying NO, NO, NO! I'd rather have Holloway.

[fbriai]

I'll bet they gone and asked Ferguson for advice - naively, as if another manager is going to give you impartial advice - and he has bigged up his former captain. The board have then gone all swoony and swallowed it, hook, line and sinker.

I wouldn't be surprised if you are right, Paulie.

[Maradona10]

MatKendrick Mat Kendrick
#avfc fully intend to appoint McLeish in next 36 hours despite fans' and #bcfc objections

The final nail is near guys!

[N'ZMAV]

I got pissed. That helped.

That sounds like the best idea.

[N'ZMAV]

MatKendrick Mat Kendrick
#avfc fully intend to appoint McLeish in next 36 hours despite fans' and #bcfc objections

The final nail is near guys!

I haven't renewed yet. Not sure what to do.

[davevillan]

Just back from a weekend in Miami and haven't the will to read the latest 100+ pages. Not out to "convince "anyone just giving my $0.02.

Was very successful at Rangers and for a short time with the Scottish national team. Goes to small heath too late to save them from relegation in his first season. Gets promotion at the first attempt and they then finish 9th in the premier league. Wins a trophy the next year and then loses key players through injury and gets relegated again. From day 1 he inherited a shit team with no real money to change things overnight so takes the pragmatic route and makes them difficult to beat, ( for a while). I'm pretty sure that if he had the players to get it down and pass it, that's what he would do. Why is he perceived as being such an awful manager when he's already won a heap of trophies yet people would piss their pants with excitement at the prospect of Moyes taking over who has so far won jack shit with a team who dont exactly play free flowing , beautiful football? I couldnt give a toss whether he's managed the filth or not, if he's appointed then he's the Aston Villa manager, he will need our support and has just as much chance of being succesful as any of the other names that have been bandied about. If you think standing on the North Stand car park shouting at empty offices and fuelling more negative publicity will help then good luck.

Agree with most of that except the bit about Moyes (but I take your point) who I feel like Eck could do a decent job with the right resources. 

A year ago I'd have preferred him to Ged as a manager. The subsequent relegation and dour football have tainted his reputation a bit but as you say injuries and resources may well have been a factor. And if you can win a trophy with the Blues who knows what you can do at Villa? I say that about a guy who has managed two of the clubs I hate most i.e. Rangers and Blues. Having said that I've always quite liked him. Also he's never come across as anti-Villa as say Bruce when he was at the Sty. If he's the choice I'll support him like I do every manager and player in claret and blue at B6.

Just a personal story. I currently live in the Caribbean and a couple of years ago McCleish was on holiday here at the same time as Big Sam. There were some FIFA fundraisers in aid of local grassroots football. McCleish spoke at the main dinner and donated some Blues items for the raffle (admittedly they didn't raise much). Big Sam didn't want to know.  I didn't meet him but a couple of good friends of mine had dinner with him. They've kept in contact and met up with him in South Africa during the WC. In short he seems a decent guy so it's sad to see people reacting as if he's the anti-Christ or Marlon King.

Overall then I can understand why some here have their reservations as indeed people have had about pretty much every name mentioned in the past week or so (God it seems like an eternity).  He's not my first choice but my preferred choices aren't interested in coming to VP. However the level of vitriol aimed towards him both on a personal and professional level (and at the Board) has been completely over the top and embarrassing. If nothing else it is feeding the media frenzy and in danger of making us a laughing stock.

The only positive I can see from the overreaction to this from the usual attack dogs is that if he is appointed then Randy will back him with substantial cash to prove he was right to appoint him.

My sentiments entirely! If he comes, then he is proving he has got bottle as he must back himself to be successful. If we get behind the team and him, then who knows what can happen. Lets face it, if he can win us a cup or 2, who will then care what he did at blues. Ultimately, results will judge him. I support Aston Villa, and the manager will have no effect on me going to VP.

[UsualSuspect]

Goes to small heath too late to save them from relegation in his first season.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What??!!

Didn't he join them in errrr September?

He had 6 months with them before they got relegated for the first time under him.

More than enough time to save those bastards.

Exactly

[davevillan]

I've missed a lot of the last day or so.  Could someone enlighten me whether the protest and general unhappiness is motivated by:

a) AM previous role as SHA manager; or
b) Nobody thinks he is a good choice based on ability

If its b) I have more sympathy, I certainly hoped for a more attractive candidate to lift the profile of the club.  If it's a) though, I don't really get it.  He's left them now, and of all the recent SHA managers, I can't remember any being less offensive.  He always seemed to conduct himself very well and avoided aiming insults at Villa unlike Bruce.  Unless I have missed something?  If it is just because of his previous Blues connection then I just don't get it!

It's definitely B with regards the fans but the club think its A.

I would say that that seems a reasonable assessment

If I thought that Macleish had the ability I would welcome him with open arms.
Forget the League cup - Home every time to Rochdale narrowly, Milton Keynes, Brentford (on pens), us when we bossed the game and West Ham when they threw it away doesn't make him a tactical genius. And they were lucky in the final. He was average at best in Scotland - look at Smith's Rangers record before and afterwards - awful for the national team and has relegated Birmingham TWICE. It's not that he hasn't had money either. He is at best a manager for the championship and if we are that desperate there are a host of other candidates. Smith is clearly the better man, and O'Neill better again. Look at their respective win % in Scotland and England. Even if 'uckin' 'eck was coming from outer space with his record I'd be saying NO, NO, NO! I'd rather have Holloway.

The same Holloway who got Leicester relagated from the Championship to league 1???

[LeeB]

I've been looking for the positives in every manager we've been linked with.

But, this is such a shit appointment, on so many levels, that I think I'm in a bit of shock and denial. I can't actually picture him in the press conference, as our manager.

If Beadle were still alive, at least I'd have that possibility to cling to.

[Maradona10]

MatKendrick Mat Kendrick
#avfc fully intend to appoint McLeish in next 36 hours despite fans' and #bcfc objections

The final nail is near guys!

I haven't renewed yet. Not sure what to do.

I've renewed and to be honest can't be assed to go through the whole migramole of getting a refund.

[Dave P]

It's going to happen isn't it?  Nobody wants him but the least we can do is show a bit of support.  I know people will have strong feeling about not wanting him as I do, but we don't want a scenerio of him being booed to the dugout in his first game.  That will help nobody.

[Jimbo]

I'll bet they gone and asked Ferguson for advice - naively, as if another manager is going to give you impartial advice - and he has bigged up his former captain. The board have then gone all swoony and swallowed it, hook, line and sinker.

I wouldn't be surprised if you are right, Paulie.

If they did - and I think something was mentioned about 'Sir Alex' in the General's facebook message - then they are even more foolish than I thought.

[Dave P]

MatKendrick Mat Kendrick
#avfc fully intend to appoint McLeish in next 36 hours despite fans' and #bcfc objections

The final nail is near guys!

I haven't renewed yet. Not sure what to do.

I've renewed and to be honest can't be assed to go through the whole migramole of getting a refund.

I've renewed and dont want to go through the whole rigmarole of getting a refund.  They could put Gaddafi in charge and I'm sure most if not all fans will still go.

[LeeB]

I didn't renew last year, due to personal circumstance rather than the club. I'm still strapped for cash but things are looking better, so I was looking for something to give me the nudge to find that extra money from somewhere for next season.

Cheers.

[Malandro]

I wonder what the odds are that the ideal managerial candidate is less than four miles away?

How can his record get him a job at a club that really should be at least in the top 7.

I also don't understand, with their stated requirements, why wasn't Martin Jol considered - premiership experience and at the right end of the table.