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

[Ger Regan]

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.

If being rich cured depression then the NHS would be handing out bags of cash. The "what could a footballer be depressed about" line that comes up every so often shows a remarkable lack of understanding of mental health issues. Never mind homophobia or racism, it's probably the one taboo that isn't even close to being tackled.

[Sexual Ealing]

Motivation. His teams, like MON's, always seem to give their all. It can't be easy motivating players at a club like the Rags where their fans hardly help and have an away following that could half fill a coach. They really are a poxy little club and their players must know it.

MON was at a very similar club with Leicester. Zero relegations, 2 League Cups & 100% record for top ten finishes.

They're not in the same class - as evidenced by the 2 Birmingham clubs each of them went to after their time in Scotland.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Motivation. His teams, like MON's, always seem to give their all. It can't be easy motivating players at a club like the Rags where their fans hardly help and have an away following that could half fill a coach. They really are a poxy little club and their players must know it.

MON was at a very similar club with Leicester. Zero relegations, 2 League Cups & 100% record for top ten finishes.

They're not in the same class - as evidenced by the 2 Birmingham clubs each of them went to after their time in Scotland.

MON was at Leicester 16 years ago and had 5 years there, things have moved on considerably since. If you want to compare their time in Scotland, McLeish won seven trophies, MON only four.

Given the same resources, how do you think MON would have done at the Sty, assuming of course he's stay long enough without walking out on them?

[Pat McMahon]

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.

So it really is time for Mc Leash...?

[Pat McMahon]

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.

Well said Dave. I seem to remember an identical debate this time last year with some ill-informed comments from a couple of posters. Must be an annual thing...

[pauliewalnuts]

Motivation. His teams, like MON's, always seem to give their all. It can't be easy motivating players at a club like the Rags where their fans hardly help and have an away following that could half fill a coach. They really are a poxy little club and their players must know it.

MON was at a very similar club with Leicester. Zero relegations, 2 League Cups & 100% record for top ten finishes.

They're not in the same class - as evidenced by the 2 Birmingham clubs each of them went to after their time in Scotland.

I'd also take issue with the suggestion his teams always give their all.

My dad is a nose and told me they frequently looked like they didn't give a shit. The last day of the season, playing to ensure their own survival, it was like watching 11 early season Richard Dunnes amble around the pitch

[itbrvilla]

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.

If being rich cured depression then the NHS would be handing out bags of cash. The "what could a footballer be depressed about" line that comes up every so often shows a remarkable lack of understanding of mental health issues. Never mind homophobia or racism, it's probably the one taboo that isn't even close to being tackled.

Many think people with depression are taking the piss but infact many people have no idea how much of a crippling illness it can be.  I've seen it first hand and it is a really strain on families.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Motivation. His teams, like MON's, always seem to give their all. It can't be easy motivating players at a club like the Rags where their fans hardly help and have an away following that could half fill a coach. They really are a poxy little club and their players must know it.

MON was at a very similar club with Leicester. Zero relegations, 2 League Cups & 100% record for top ten finishes.

They're not in the same class - as evidenced by the 2 Birmingham clubs each of them went to after their time in Scotland.

I'd also take issue with the suggestion his teams always give their all.

My dad is a nose and told me they frequently looked like they didn't give a shit. The last day of the season, playing to ensure their own survival, it was like watching 11 early season Richard Dunnes amble around the pitch

You should know better than to trust a nose, Queenie. (winky)
They played very well first half but the idiots thought a draw would have kept them up.

[itbrvilla]

The ginger twat thought they would be safe with a draw from the start.  Risky decision which ended very badly thankfully. 

[PeterWithesShin]

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.

Having had personal experiences with people who have had varying levels of depression I have every sympathy for anyone who suffers from it.

But, it only seemed to effect him when he was at the club he "loves". If it was me in that in situation I would have made a statement of some kind to the fans to explain things etc, or asked to be paid less etc while I was contributing nothing to the club. He just carried on taking the money for doing nothing.

Plus, I remember him scoring for the dippers in front of the Holte and taking great delight goading us, a bit like he did to the Albion fans in the 3-0 cup game.

Villa fan my arse.

[pauliewalnuts]

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.

Having had personal experiences with people who have had varying levels of depression I have every sympathy for anyone who suffers from it.

But, it only seemed to effect him when he was at the club he "loves". If it was me in that in situation I would have made a statement of some kind to the fans to explain things etc, or asked to be paid less etc while I was contributing nothing to the club. He just carried on taking the money for doing nothing.

Plus, I remember him scoring for the dippers in front of the Holte and taking great delight goading us, a bit like he did to the Albion fans in the 3-0 cup game.

Villa fan my arse.

The mistake there is that you're assuming clinically depressed people always think rationally.

They very frequently don't

[Risso]

One of my business contacts is a Blues season ticket holder, and he said their match against Fulham was one of the most disgracefully lack lustre displays he's ever seen, and obviously being a Blues fan he's seen a few.  To capitulate like they did in the last few games of the season when all they needed was a couple of points is not a mark of a team being managed by a great motivator.

[KevinGage]

I hope McLeish thinks rationally -even if RL, Faulkner and co don't- and turns down the job should it be offered.

I still cling to the hope that this is all part of the dance and we'll have a decent manager in place by early July though. The flights to Corsica at the same time Big Eck is out there, the General's supposed FB post and all the rest of it are a bit above and beyond if we want to create a diversion.

But in the last five years they've rarely let us down, so lets hope they know what they're doing on this one and Big Eck is nowhere to be seen come August.

[madirishvillain]

One of my business contacts is a Blues season ticket holder, and he said their match against Fulham was one of the most disgracefully lack lustre displays he's ever seen, and obviously being a Blues fan he's seen a few.  To capitulate like they did in the last few games of the season when all they needed was a couple of points is not a mark of a team being managed by a great motivator.

maybe he had already been tapped up by us, knowing that GH wouldnt be back?

[davevillan]

IF it is AM, he will know what he is coming into, and he will know he has to succeed to get the fans onside.
Imo, the main reason SHA went down this year, was due to the amount of injuries and suspensions they had after the cup win, especially with Dann missing the last few mths. It seems the board at blues didnt always back his judgement in getting the players in he wanted. Had they done so, again, they would probably have had enough to stay up. When he had a full squad, he certainly had blues set up and hard to beat, but with no quality up front, were never going to get enough goals. At least at Villa, he will have the players to get the goals, and hopefully he can sort our defence out after last season. He will get the backing of RL, so it could work out well for us??