How would you feel if we appointed Steve McClaren?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Lest we forget

[Outcast2006]

I see Mclaren and I think Graham Turner

[KevinGage]

McClaren has (or had) some innovative ideas as coach, first at Derby and then at Man U. I think he was one of, if not the first to use prozone to assess players performances and his stock was high when he got the Boro job in 2001.

You would think on the back of getting Boro to a Euro final and winning a cup, managing his country and having a degree of success aboard it would be even higher. But it isn't.

He was seen as something of a joke figure by players as far back as his Derby days (despite decent work there) according to McGrath. He was largely unpopular throughout his time at Boro, with fans and players. His England stint was mostly woeful. Even if it was somewhat of a poisoned chalice, being the worst England manager for over 20 years takes some doing. He had an infinitely better calibre of player available to him than Graham Taylor had too. Yet he seemed to be more concerned with being one of the lads, referring to 'Lamps' 'Stevie G' and all the other abbreviated muppets as if they were his mates.

This, the OTT England press conferences when he desperately tried to get the media onside, the comedy Dutch/ German accents and all the rest of it paint a picture of a people pleaser, someone always trying to fit in and be liked. Probably a nice enough guy. But weak. And players can see that.

He might still have enough to offer working for a smaller club abroad, or maybe one of the promoted sides if they lose a manager at some stage of the season. Any decent sized club that values it's reputation and doesn't want to be seen as a joke should give him the swerve though.

[barrysleftfoot]

  How would. i feel.....uninspired and disappointed.

  Technically a good coach, but for me not a good manager

[montague]

Rather him than Steve Staunton (as per the rumour I've heard) is the only positive spin I can think of.

It really is silly season now. If you are looking for a former player then Simon Grayson possibly springs to mind, but would be a risky appointment and doesnt tick the managed in the PL box.

If the Board does appoint McClaren then I wont like it but will have to put up with him, give him the benefit etc. They would have to realise of course that he will have absolutely no honeymoon period.

[Damo70]

I see Mclaren and I think Graham Turner

I think it would be our worst appointment since Turner. Huge credibility problem with the media, Villa fans and fans in general. I am in the majority of totally against it but would have to put up with it unless your prepared to turn your back on the Villa. He had started to rebuild his reputation in Holland then went back to square one in Germany. He's probably better off staying abroad, he will never get the benefit of the doubt over here.

[SteveN]

Underwhelmed

[Nelly]

Feck... I'd somehow managed to miss his German accent. Ugh.

[montague]

Feck... I'd somehow managed to miss his German accent. Ugh.

Not forgetting his Cockney phase:

[Nelly]

So, he's decent with youth - we could hire him to sing to Marc Albrighton and Andreas Wiemann?

[ez]

Let down. Wasted opportunity. Statement of non-intent.

[Legion]

On the Facebook thing, personally I think it is more constructive to start a protest group, have a bit of a moan and get it off your chest, then back whoever is appointed than cancel your season ticket after 30 odd years as some have threatened to.

Which is how it should have been put across. A little apology for last night. A combination of alcohol and boredom which caused a rush of blood to the head with regards to the McClaren group formation and subsequent multiple adding of people. Very sorry indeed.

[gervilla]

On the Facebook thing, personally I think it is more constructive to start a protest group, have a bit of a moan and get it off your chest, then back whoever is appointed than cancel your season ticket after 30 odd years as some have threatened to.

Which is how it should have been put across. A little apology for last night. A combination of alcohol and boredom which caused a rush of blood to the head with regards to the McClaren group formation and subsequent multiple adding of people. Very sorry indeed.

Well I asked to join so no worries.

[JUAN PABLO]

Like I had lost my million pound lotto ticket ..

[holtepaul]

Legion - I have said this time and time again, and your stance I am now finding disrespectful. I cannot see why you just cannot get this fact. So I am going to have to spell this out to you (apologies to everyeone for the long post coming up)

In this economic climate there is more that I need to spend my money on than Aston Villa.

I am 40 - I have had a season ticket since I was 12 ! - now to put that another way, my first game as a season ticket holder was Didier Six's debut !. I then left school and got a job and at that stage Aston Villa was my be all and end all. I travelled to every away game. Spending my entire budget on the Villa.

Prices went up, but I still went.

Then kids came. And away games had to be knocked on the head. I couldn't justify spending £100 going to Blackburn when my wife earnt £55 a week maternity pay.

Then as a loyal fan, I introduced my kids to Villa - and started to take them. Then I bought them a ST to share, then they both wanted one. At the time, kids ST's were £60 so I bought two.

But my ST started to rise and rise - and the kids rose and rose and rose. It will now cost me £900 to buy the three tickets this year.

I have lots I have to spend money on. I had to stop my sons drums lessons (£20 a week) and my daughters guitar lessons (£20 a week) last year to pay for the tickets - a fact they understood as I have good kids,   but I didnt like doing it.

We then had the season we had, and I still believed in the dream - coz I believed the stuff the general came out with about O'Neill and thought "Keep the faith " we were told "Randy wants the best - we will get there" - and I believed (in fact, I believe them).

It was then my daughters birthday and instead of inviting all her friends to a party - she wanted to go to an away game - so Man City in the cup it was - and the Villa DESTROYED my daughters birthday. She is 12 - even she can take losing, but she knows when she has been taken for a mug - and she was !.

But I STILL thought the club cared - and believed it when the General said The board knew how the fans felt.

So here we are - up to date.

I have £900 in my bank awaiting the clubs decision. If we get someone who shows the club "still want to get there" I will still back them and will pay it, knowing, even if it goes wrong (as it can, look at Scholari at Chelsea) at least they tried to give the fans what we crave.

IF IT IS MCLAREN - IT WILL SHOW THE CLUB HAVE NOT ONLY TOOK THE PEE OUT OF THE FANS NOW, THEY HAVE DONE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS SPINNING THESE LINES

and THAT is why I will not renew my ST - do you know why - because instead of spending £900 - I will make a stand - which is the only way things will change (not just Vila but football) - and I will instead take my kids to our other passion. The Monaco Grand Prix , and the Valencia Grand Prix with the money.

However,saying all that - I am pretty sure this will never happen, because I trust what the owners have said to us - they want the bext for Villa - and therefore I trust them that the only McLaren they are considering is a company car for the new manager !