How do you feel about Alex McLeish being the next manager?

[Marlon From Bearwood]

One thing I would say is that if he had done really well at Blues, I wouldn't give a shit that he'd been their manager.

He didn't, though. He got them relegated twice, and played dreadful football in the process. I suspect, though, that if they do appoint him, we'll be told we're petty in not liking him because he managed Small Heath, when that is far from the biggest objection.

Unfortunately that is the public perception, not helped by the likes of Collymore banging on last night about Villa fans needing to get over the fact that AM managed Blues, as if that is the only reason we don't want him! So frustrating!

[mazrimsbruv]

A moment please , to  consider  the facts  . As far as I can discern, McLeish left  Bloose of his own volition, just like Mark Hughes did at Fulham .
The wannabe tycoons that own that odorous little club immediately went into high snit and assumed  that Villa had tapped him up , this a few days after the Club had been praised to the high heavens for the manner in which they dealt with Wigan and the Martinez  ( non ) situation .
As we know , ‘ assume ‘ makes and ass out of u and me and the ass that is Peter Pancake over at the Sty went into hyperbolic overdrive . While  telling anyone who would listen how busy he was conducting transfer talks on the Continent ( Holland) in an effort to sign a well known  (32 yr old , out-of-contract ) Dutch striker  he also stated that  Aston Villa had  refused to answer any of a flurry of e.mails he,d sent on the topic of Mr Mcleish . When the Villa finally had had enough of his BS , their Legal Dept  sent a mildly rebuking  e.mail to the irritation that is Mr Pancake , reminding him that , should they want   to approach Mr McLeish they were perfectly within their rights to do so , as he was now a free agent .  They have not , as far as I can see , actually asked Small Heath for  such permission, they have merely stated their right to do so .
I,m in the “ it would,nt be the end of the World but I would be disappointed “  camp re the possible appointment of McLeish , solely because I feel GED took the Club on another , more Continental style , course , especially in the Fitness and Training departments .........Godzvilla

This is my take on it too. Pannu would have been feeling like a bloke whose wife has left him. A jilted man rarely thinks: "Blimey! She's really had enough of me!". He almost always thinks: "She's been sh*gging someone else!". We're the only suspect (well he wouldn't have thought 'Chelsea', would he?).

Why am I not surprised that, even though Pannu states that we were replying to their e-mail, the Media have dressed this up as a 'tentatve approach'? Having said that, making the statement that we could talk to him if we wanted to was silly in the current circumstances, however poisonous the tone of Pannu's e-mail.

I'm clinging to this hope and my only worry is the validity, or otherwise, of the General's Facebook post. A statement from him or Peltey or AVFC that this was a fake and I'll be back to a Zen-like state of tranquility(!)

[Concrete John]

As I see it, the difference between Hughes and Mcleish is that when Ailsa left we told Fulham we weren't interested.  When Big Eck left we said we can talk to him if we want to.

As far as I'm concerned that's enough to create worry, although I live in hope it was just to wind them up!

[BedsVillain]

A moment please , to  consider  the facts  . As far as I can discern, McLeish left  Bloose of his own volition, just like Mark Hughes did at Fulham .
The wannabe tycoons that own that odorous little club immediately went into high snit and assumed  that Villa had tapped him up , this a few days after the Club had been praised to the high heavens for the manner in which they dealt with Wigan and the Martinez  ( non ) situation .
As we know , ‘ assume ‘ makes and ass out of u and me and the ass that is Peter Pancake over at the Sty went into hyperbolic overdrive . While  telling anyone who would listen how busy he was conducting transfer talks on the Continent ( Holland) in an effort to sign a well known  (32 yr old , out-of-contract ) Dutch striker  he also stated that  Aston Villa had  refused to answer any of a flurry of e.mails he,d sent on the topic of Mr Mcleish . When the Villa finally had had enough of his BS , their Legal Dept  sent a mildly rebuking  e.mail to the irritation that is Mr Pancake , reminding him that , should they want   to approach Mr McLeish they were perfectly within their rights to do so , as he was now a free agent .  They have not , as far as I can see , actually asked Small Heath for  such permission, they have merely stated their right to do so .
I,m in the “ it would,nt be the end of the World but I would be disappointed “  camp re the possible appointment of McLeish , solely because I feel GED took the Club on another , more Continental style , course , especially in the Fitness and Training departments .........Godzvilla

Good post Godzvilla. I think, as much as my frazzled brain will let me, that I am feeling pretty much the same on McLeish's appointment. If it does happen, it seems to me to be a very convoluted procedure for such an under whelming appointment. On the plus side I don't think his signings have been all that bad, especially within the back 5, when you consider his employers. As mentioned before he was trying to sign the likes of N'Zogbia and Pavluwhatisname last summer. He was also the man that signed Zarate, albeit on loan, who did pretty well in the short time he was there. Lets just say his scouting network and desire to look further afield then these fair shores are miles above MON's ever where.

My main issue, besides the relegation thing, to be fair the Hibs relegation was on the cards before he joined them, is that we will likely undo all the good work towards a better style of football that seemed to be coming into fruition towards the end of last season. Our fitness seemed light years ahead of previous seasons, if anything it seemed to be geting better as the season progressed. Now it seems to me that the Blues suffered similar problems to us under MON where they would just grind to a halt post February, this has to be connected to their fitness regime.

I seriously think regardless of how successful McLeish may be, we will inevitably continue to lose our best players summer after summer, with him in charge. Downing maybe this summer, if not next. Bent next summer, then who knows? Clark, Albrighton etc etc... The board for this appointment should be looking for a man that will not only drive the proper football way forward, whilst developing the next generation, he should be an inspiration to those already established in the first team, the kind of guy that will make players sit up and say, I can be a better footballer learning from this man! I hope we do have someone better lined up than McLeish, but if it is him then i will still support the team, beacuse they will still be Aston Villa!

UTV

[Dave Cooper please]

He's definitely a Villa fan.

He treated the club like shit when he was a player here,

He had clinical depression, which you may or may not dismiss with a derisory "But he's a rich footballer, what has he got to be depressed about?" but the fact remains.

[UsualSuspect]

Clinical depression or not, IMO Collymore seriously underperformed during his time with us

[Dave Cooper please]

The thing is, it actually would be the end of the world.

It'll mean another season of going nowhere and most likely to be dwindling down at the bottom in yet again another relegation fight, negative and boring football, 4-5-1 at home, shit signings, more of our best players wanting to leave and just hope of ever getting back into the top 6.

So not actually the end of the World then?

[PaulTheVillan]

So, any news?

[Dave Cooper please]

Clinical depression or not, IMO Collymore seriously underperformed during his time with us

Yes, but you can't dismiss the issues he had out of hand. Not many people with depression mange to work to anywhere near their best no matter what job they do.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Two people I know have met him and say what a nice, genuine bloke he is.

But that doesn't make him a decent Manager, he isn't.

Has anybody trotted out the 'potential' bollocks yet, like when Martinez was being mooted?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Yes, but you can't dismiss the issues he had out of hand. Not many people with depression MANGE to work to anywhere near their best no matter what job they do.

He had the Mange as well then?
Gregory should have took him to a vet.

[PaulTheVillan]

Collymore was a let down at VP, I'm sure if his head was straight we'd have got a better return from him.

[Dave Cooper please]

Yes, but you can't dismiss the issues he had out of hand. Not many people with depression MANGE to work to anywhere near their best no matter what job they do.

He had the Mange as well then?
Gregory should have took him to a vet.

It was all that dogging.

[JJ-AV]

Two people I know have met him and say what a nice, genuine bloke he is.

But that doesn't make him a decent Manager, he isn't.

Has anybody trotted out the 'potential' bollocks yet, like when Martinez was being mooted?

Martinez is potentially a very good manager though (not that I wanted him, mind). I just don't see that with McLeish.

It makes no sense at all to me. Hughes offers a similar level of ability but won't lead to thousands of disgruntled fans and a decrease in season ticket sales.

Even if we're pushing the top 6 under McLeish next season I can't see attendances boosting.

[adrenachrome]

Yes, but you can't dismiss the issues he had out of hand. Not many people with depression MANGE to work to anywhere near their best no matter what job they do.

He had the Mange as well then?
Gregory should have took him to a vet.

It was all that dogging.

Came away with a flea in his ear.