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

[maidstonevillain]

Oh dear. Even the Graun gets it.

Two weeks ago I would have dismissed the article, and put it with all the other Villa-bashing reports by the ignorant pro-MON press. I am now coming to the view that the press were right all along, and that the fans and supporters have been taken for complete mugs.

[thecraft]

The Guardian article only highlights what's been evident for a while now. Two words define the Aston Villa board's strategy: expectation management. The Mcleish appointment - if it happens - would be the next logical stage for them. They're not looking for an ambitious manager, rather a stable one. As Houllier remarked when he left, they are still in trauma over MON's departure.

That has scarred them so severely that what they now want in place is a man who is not likely to jump ship at the first opportunity of something better. If you're too ambitious and you let the world know it - like Mark Hughes - you're off the shortlist. After all, you could be gone of your own volition in a year. However, if you're willing to come in and steer a team to mid-table respectability, while respecting the traditions and ethos of the club (one of fair play, and doing things 'the right way'), and you're unlikely to be flashing a bit of managerial thigh when you go to Old Trafford, then you're a top candidate.

McLeish fits the bill, partly because he can't believe his luck at being selected by Villa. He'll promise loyalty, perhaps because he knows deep-down this is the biggest job he'll ever get. If the club want him to, and he achieves its reasonable objectives, McLeish will build something here in the board's eyes. The hope is that over time the club matures into something special, like Fergie's Man Utd - an institution that shares the same vision from top to bottom. At the very least it will mean that Randy will be working with someone unlikely to inflict scars of disloyalty, yet it may well cause all kinds of other ignominious damage.

Sometimes our board forgets how passionate and irrational English football can be. They will discover the hard way with this appointment, I fear.

Good post, for me this.

[PeterWithe]

I still keep telling myself this doesn't make sense. RL won't do this surely.

[E I Adio]

Think I'll buy the next issue of Private Eye. Ron Knee could be making a surprise comeback.

Look no further than our next manager. Tight lipped, ashen faced......

[The Laughing Policeman]

Think I'll buy the next issue of Private Eye. Ron Knee could be making a surprise comeback.

Look no further than our next manager. Tight lipped, ashen faced......

Yes we're beginning to look a lot like Neasden FC.
By the way were you really "our man in the stand"?

[TheEgo]

Where does this BS about McCleish improving our defensive capabilities come from? They conceded ONE less goal than us, yes that's ONE and scored the lowest in the entire league. So even though he set his team up to be defensive they still conceded only ONE fewer than we did. That's with one up front at home and boring spoiling tactics. That is one of the resons why I don't want him anywhere near our club. Don't get me started on the rest................

[jibba81]

Where does this BS about McCleish improving our defensive capabilities come from? They conceded ONE less goal than us, yes that's ONE and scored the lowest in the entire league. So even though he set his team up to be defensive they still conceded only ONE fewer than we did. That's with one up front at home and boring spoiling tactics. That is one of the resons why I don't want him anywhere near our club. Don't get me started on the rest................

Couldn't agree more.

[Barney74]

Let's hope the interview goes something like this.....

RL. Can you change the style of football you like your teams to play?
AM. Ermm, I'm not sure.
RL. Thank you, please close the door as you leave.

I'm hoping its more like:

RL to Secretary: Can you send Mr McLeish in please?
AM knocks at door.
RL: Come in Alex.
AM: So kind of you to see me, Mr Lerner.
RL: Thank you Alex. Now run along and make Mr Rijkaard a cup of tea will you?

 

[E I Adio]

[/quote]

Think I'll buy the next issue of Private Eye. Ron Knee could be making a surprise comeback.

Look no further than our next manager. Tight lipped, ashen faced......

Yes we're beginning to look a lot like Neasden FC.
By the way were you really "our man in the stand"?

No, me and the wife (Doris) are really just supporters.

[taylorsworkrate]

In case the board are going ahead with this farce purely because they think its their only option, here's a hint:

It starts with M and ends with ark Hughes.

[RonBurgundy]

Oh dear. Even the Graun gets it.

Two weeks ago I would have dismissed the article, and put it with all the other Villa-bashing reports by the ignorant pro-MON press. I am now coming to the view that the press were right all along, and that the fans and supporters have been taken for complete mugs.

Exactly how i feel right now - still hoping against hope that the board can pull a rabbit out of a hat, but now that rabbit is ginger and Scottish and the trick is him proving 90% of supporters wrong.

[Toronto Villa]

Where does this BS about McCleish improving our defensive capabilities come from? They conceded ONE less goal than us, yes that's ONE and scored the lowest in the entire league. So even though he set his team up to be defensive they still conceded only ONE fewer than we did. That's with one up front at home and boring spoiling tactics. That is one of the resons why I don't want him anywhere near our club. Don't get me started on the rest................

Couldn't agree more.

Since they lost Scott Dann they were never the same defensively.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Where does this BS about McCleish improving our defensive capabilities come from? They conceded ONE less goal than us, yes that's ONE and scored the lowest in the entire league. So even though he set his team up to be defensive they still conceded only ONE fewer than we did. That's with one up front at home and boring spoiling tactics. That is one of the resons why I don't want him anywhere near our club. Don't get me started on the rest................

Couldn't agree more.

Since they lost Scott Dann they were never the same defensively.

A bit worrying that their whole survival strategy revolved round keeping Dann and Johnson fit.
They were a negative, sterile side with no nous on how to win a game.
When they went behind, despite their negative tactics, they had little or no clue as how to fight back.

I'm dreading having him manage us.

[avfcpg]

Asked my blue nose mate what we can expect if he comes here...

"expect one up front, defensive displays and forget about any free flowing football with pace'

Didn't exactly lighten my mood much. He did go on to say he was pretty badly treated at blose.

Am hoping he will be like a kid in a sweet shop when he realises the calibre of players he can work with. Oh this is all so depressing.

[VillaAlways]

Where does this BS about McCleish improving our defensive capabilities come from? They conceded ONE less goal than us, yes that's ONE and scored the lowest in the entire league. So even though he set his team up to be defensive they still conceded only ONE fewer than we did. That's with one up front at home and boring spoiling tactics. That is one of the resons why I don't want him anywhere near our club. Don't get me started on the rest................

Couldn't agree more.

Since they lost Scott Dann they were never the same defensively.

A bit worrying that their whole survival strategy revolved round keeping Dann and Johnson fit.
They were a negative, sterile side with no nous on how to win a game.
When they went behind, despite their negative tactics, they had little or no clue as how to fight back.

I'm dreading having him manage us.

Good fight back against West Ham in the CC semis...........