What would it take to get you back on side?

[Fuse]

Firstly I have no problem with AM. He is an honest guy, a nice man and I will be giving him my support (I didn;t want him though).

As far as getting me onside my problem is with the board and the appalling way they have managed things in the last 12 months. My view is that we lack leadership and this stems from Randy not being involved enough in my opinion and his unwllingness to talk to the fans directly (whetehr via AVTV or the website, I am not syaing it has to be the press). What I think we need is for him to articulate what his vision is over the coming seasons, why he sees AM as being the right man to help deliver that and letting the fans know that he still has the passion and resources to support the club.

I would hope that Randy sees this as being needed and that he changes his approach and speaks tot he supporters more regularly

[Diablo]

1.  Front up the fans.  The last thing they should do is hide away and limit themselves to press conferences and club statements.  In a past life I ran a call centre and when doing training I always said "If someone wants to complain - let them!"  They'll get angrier if you try to tell them they're wrong and it's therapeutic to be able to get it off your chest.  So arrange some kind of fans forum and have AM there to explain his ideas, what he plans to do and answer our questions and doubts.  This will show he's a strong and honourable man and start the him on the road to actually being liked.

This is apparently what Sir Graham did when he took over at Wolves, had a meeting with the Wolves fans (that called the club to complain - 32 apparently) and spoke to them face to face. A great idea but it might mean AM would be busy all summer if he did the same. 

[Billy Walker]

He doesn't need to front up the fans.

He's been appointed by the owner of the club. To him, it doesn't matter what we think, it is what Lerner thinks that counts, so why on earth would he feel he had to justify himself to us?

Besides, the only justification for this appointment we really need to see is performances on the pitch, surely?

I think he does, Paulie.  And I think Randy needs to as well.   

We need to be told just what the game plan is for our club.  We need to know our targets and ambitions and the vision and philosophy behind getting there.  Now whether they choose to do this through a large forum or (in my view a better way) through a meeting with maybe half a dozen representatives of the fans who could report back to us, I don't mind.  Either way, morale would be much better if we all knew where we stood.  This would go a long way towards us getting rid of the rudderless, leaderless stench that has set in these past fifteen or so months.

[madirishvillain]

unfortunatley,

it will take a top4 finish to get me onside 


tbh,i feel shafted by Lerner and co, it was obviously just empty talk

and when i see all the deadwood from last year that GH was going to get rid off all starting a fresh again, we are in for a very long season next year


maybe randy is trying to do a newcastle and recoup all his losses before he gets shot of us

if eck is our new manager, i think i will give this place a miss

[brian green]

I particularly agree with your point MIV about having to start all over sorting out the deadwood and the troublemakers.   Those tasks alone are enough to test the mettle of a good manager and McLeish is far from that.

The only thing I am looking forward to next season is coming on here in November and December and trying to smoke out all these days' proclaimers of the new dawn and exciting future McLeish is going to bring to Villa Park.

The ones brave enough to put their heads above the parapet will get it right between the eyes.

[l_mckay]

get a few decent signings onboard,keep downing and then win as many games as we can next season,thatl do me!

[achilles]

As the board don't give a flying f**k about the fans, I don't see how they can get me onside!

[Chris Smith]

I particularly agree with your point MIV about having to start all over sorting out the deadwood and the troublemakers.   Those tasks alone are enough to test the mettle of a good manager and McLeish is far from that.

The only thing I am looking forward to next season is coming on here in November and December and trying to smoke out all these days' proclaimers of the new dawn and exciting future McLeish is going to bring to Villa Park.

The ones brave enough to put their heads above the parapet will get it right between the eyes.

Looking forward to it already!

[taylorsworkrate]

I'm always onside in terms of wanting the team to do well.  I would love nothing more than to be able to say what an idiot I, and many others have been come May.

I'm struggling though to find any sort of optimism for the forthcoming season.  Best players leaving again, decent but not as good players coming in, a manager whose track record is mediocre at a very large push with a football philosophy that makes Sam Allardyce seem like Pep Guardiola.

It is imperative we get of to a good start, as things could turn even uglier come October.

[CJ]

I was really enthused when Randy and co took over from Doug but the last few weeks, culminating in the probable appointment of McLeish, have made them and us look amateurish. I've now lost all faith in the board to make good footballing decisions, and the 'Bright Future' seems tarnished. I think the annual exodus of our quality players will continue and we'll struggle to attract players of similar quality. Mid table at best this season while we've still got Downing and Bent, but I really fear for next season. I'll still go to the games and support the team but I will have huge difficulty supporting McLeish. I sincerely hope I'm wrong.

For all the good work Randy has done neither he or Faulkner are footballing men and one way they could start to get me back onside is to recognise they could have done things better, and appoint a proper footballing man on the board, someone who really understands the game and the passions it arouses in the fans. Someone like SGT (but not necessarily him). Hopefully next time they get the opportunity to make a statement of this magnitude they won't repeat the ham-fisted debacle we've just witnessed.

[Ger Regan]

Steve Stride is perfect for the role, as others have mentioned before.

[villa `cross the mersey]

Have been watching the Villa since 1962  and have witnessed many ups and downs - obviously relegation to the third was the major low alongside the boardroom dramas of the late 1960`s . Within 11 years of winning the 3rd Division we were European Champions - we never capitalised upon that and ever since we have beem mediocre with the odd League Cup and visits to Wembley. The arrival of Lerner et al was a breathe of fresh air displacing the stagnacy of the latter Ellis years.Like most of us I was swept along with all the " Proud History, Bright Future" talk. Some doom mongers at the time were shouted down and criticised for being negative.........Were they right all along?
I currently feel like I have been suckered in by the hype - What will take for me to be brought back on side - Easy, an appointment of a top quality manager, followed by the signing of several high quality players of the Bent ilk.
Does not look like that will happen - until then I will wait and see. As for season ticket renewal - I have until July 15th.   

[TheSandman]

I'm willing to give McLeish a chance and my support so I'm not sure if they need to get me back onside.

I have reservations and am not happy with it but I have to give him a chance.

What would go a long way to generate happiness and eradicate these reservations is some good signings and once the season starts decent results.

[Claret trim]

From the football perspective:

A statement of intent with regard to existing players and new signings.

From the Club/fans perspective:

An acknowledgement of the fact that the process has been handled poorly. The most obvious move would be to shift Faulkner out.

I’m going to spend the summer pretending that nothing happens at Villa Park, cross my fingers for positive results in August and hope secretly that this is not a huge mistake but an inspired appointment – like all Villa fans worth their salt.

[Fingers]

A last minute winner away at The Sty in the cup, followed by running onto the pitch giving the 'double wankers' to the Tilton and kissing the lion on his chest.