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

[Brian Taylor]

more pot stirring from F365..sorry if posted already
McLEISH MEETS VILLA AT SECRET PLACE

 Aston Villa were meeting managerial target Alex McLeish at a secret location in London on Wednesday, as their bitter battle with the Scot's former club Birmingham continued.
 
Press Association Sport understands that City are talking to their lawyers to decide what course of action to pursue against Villa, with McLeish having resigned from his post with them via email on Sunday and then opening talks with their fierce rivals.
 
Villa remain confident McLeish will still become Gerard Houllier's successor - despite the protests from some sections of their fans - and he could be unveiled before the weekend.
 
But Blues officials were meeting with their legal representatives at St Andrew's on Wednesday to see how best to combat Villa's plans.
 
They announced their intention to lodge a complain with the Premier League after believing Villa were guilty of "tapping up" McLeish although this has still to be firmed up.
 
Villa believe McLeish is a "free agent" but may be reflecting on an overall £20 million managerial outlay if he puts pen to paper on a four-year contract.
 
First Villa had to reach agreement with former manager Martin O'Neill who claimed constructive dismissal after parting company with the club last summer.
 
Then Villa thrashed out a financial package for O'Neill's replacement Houllier who ended his Villa reign two weeks ago because of concerns over his health.
 
Birmingham are also looking for £5.4 million compensation to cover the remaining two years of McLeish's contract and have yet to formally accept his resignation.
 
In addition Villa may have to compensate Blues should McLeish's backroom team of coaches Peter Grant as well as Andy and Dave Watson follow him out of St Andrew's and be reunited with their former boss.
 
Then McLeish's own contract with Villa would be worth in the region of £2 million a year at a conservative estimate.
 
But Villa owner Randy Lerner believes McLeish is the right man to revive Villa's fortunes despite the backlash from some sections of the club's supporters.
 
A protest has been planned by some of them at Villa Park later on Wednesday while a spray-painted message reading, 'Bluenose scum not welcome' was quickly removed from the wall outside the club's Bodymoor Heath training ground.
 
The Scot is a tough character and knows how high emotions can run between rival fans from his spell in Glasgow in charge of Rangers.
 
He also witnessed the unpalatable scenes when Blues fans stormed the pitch to confront Villa supporters after the Carling Cup quarter-final between the clubs last season.
 
Alan Curbishley was playing for Birmingham when Ron Saunders moved from Villa to take charge of Blues nearly 30 years ago and is unsurprised feelings are running high.
 
He told Sky Sports: "When Ron Saunders went from Villa to Birmingham there was uproar. I can understand the furore that is going to happen if Alex McLeish goes to Villa.
 
"I think people outside of the city of Birmingham don't understand the rivalry between the two clubs. It is massive.
 
"Perhaps Alex, if he does go to Villa, has not thought that bit out and it is a big situation he is going into. If it does happen, there will be some tricky times ahead."
 
But Lerner has noted the success McLeish has brought to Blues during the past three years despite being relegated last month.
 
He guided them to promotion in his first full season, a highest-ever top-division placing of ninth two years ago and then the Carling Cup in February - their first major trophy for nearly 50 years.

[Malandro]

I keep hearing about big balls, was that a requirement too?

[Monty]

They surely, surely, surely can't appoint a man with this level of antipathy towards him, quite apart from the fact that he's the totally wrong man for the job. This isn't just a few keyboard warriors, this is a mass protest.

[not3bad]

Does anyone else think that the General's posts suggest the new manager will have little or no money to spend?

And that may be why we seem to be scraping round the bottom of the barrel?

No.

Haven't the General's recent posts placed plenty of emphasis on compatability with current players and developing youngsters, and made no mention of the new man having to be good at signing proven top quality players?

Isn't asking permission to speak to Martinez scraping the bottom of the barrel?

The general said whoever was the new manager would be backed 110% by Randy Lerner, as RL has always backed the Villa manager.

Okay. It's the other stuff that had me worried, even though at face value it's quite sensible. Anyway, we'll see soon enough.

Is it soon enough yet?

Well, as regards money all the words from the General seem to point to it still being available.  One of his defenses of Mcleish was that at Birmingham he was not on a decent budget.  That implies he will be on a decent budget at Villa.  *shrug*

[achilles]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/jun/15/alex-mcleish-aston-villa-birmingham

Guardian's take on us at the moment.

Thats a very good take on the mess we find ourselves in!

[Iago]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/jun/15/alex-mcleish-aston-villa-birmingham

Guardian's take on us at the moment.

Thats a very good take on the mess we find ourselves in!

Hogwash. The media are printing rubbish about us because they know nothing at all. The ambition is still the same IMO.

[TheEgo]

Ouch 20 odd people outside VP chanting "we don't want Mcleish" a little small time if you ask me...........

[Witton Warrior]

I am now entering a state of Bliss - I have pierced the veil of hate and disbelief percieving it for the illusion it is;
If McLeish had not been Blues manager would we be acting like this? We might be disapointed Ancelloti is not coming but it would not have.

I also remember his comments about the differing ambitions of the two clubs after the 5-1 - rather perceptive of him I thought.

The Rangers thing - meh! We had an ex-Celtic manager and look what comments their fans get on here.

Let us rage and storm now and then roar our Lions on when the season re-commences.

I look forward to the Cup draws with keen anticipation

WW

[Risso]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/jun/15/alex-mcleish-aston-villa-birmingham

Guardian's take on us at the moment.

Thats a very good take on the mess we find ourselves in!

Hogwash. The media are printing rubbish about us because they know nothing at all. The ambition is still the same IMO.

Champions League?  You're having a laugh.

[Steve67]

The mass protest that is:  Some dickhead defacing the walls of Bodymoor Heath and about 25 people at Villa Park singing "we don't want McLeish". How very sad and ultimately, futile.  I'd prefer Mark Hughes but we don't want him for some reason but what Randy wants, Randy gets.  Its his club.

[eastie]

Well 20 or so people have turned up so the joke is on them!

[Iago]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/jun/15/alex-mcleish-aston-villa-birmingham

Guardian's take on us at the moment.

Thats a very good take on the mess we find ourselves in!

Hogwash. The media are printing rubbish about us because they know nothing at all. The ambition is still the same IMO.

Champions League?  You're having a laugh.

I still believe they will back AM greatly to achieve success. Champions League is the dream and I believe we have a chance.

[TonyD]

Well 20 or so people have turned up so the joke is on them!

Hats off to them.

[Percy McCarthy]

My mate text me earlier 'are you going to the protest'.

I replied 'Nah it will be embarrassing'.

How wrong can one be? I should have said 'cringeworthy'.

Anybody want to be a steward? There's a vacancy.

[DB]

Well 20 or so people have turned up so the joke is on them!

Hats off to them.

Isn't it supposed to start at 6pm?