Alex McLeish confirmed as manager

[Chris Smith]

Mark, I've said he isn't the man I wanted. However, he's here now so I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. That means looking for the positives and backing him positively rather than saying that I will but still sniping from the sidelines.

Whichever way you look at it, winning a cup with that lot is a good achievement. My Nose mate says that competing in both cups over stretched a thin squad and they had nothing left for the run in once injuries hit. He accepted that for the opportunity to see them win something before he dies and plenty on here have said they'd accept relegation in return for a cup

[Chris Smith]

I wonder if Ian Holloway was discussed at all, he seemed to do a similar kind of job to McLeish and would have been marginally more popular amongst the fan base whilst costing roughly the same sort of wages.

I'd imagine calling us a 'half arsed club' counted against him.

[Legion]

That used to be famous. Wanker.

[PeterWithe]

I'd have thought that too a week ago but he must have entered the equation surely, he seems to tick all the boxes that McLeish and Martinez did and we know the board aren't scared of making 'brave' choices.

[Legion]

Or insane ones.

[PeterWithe]

What does McLeish offer that Holloway didn't?

[andyh]

We all know what type of football his team played at the Rags.
What type was played at Rangers ? Was is fast flowing, exciting footy or was it more reserved and defensive ?
Given what was served up at the Rags I wonder if thats his natural approach to the game, and thats what we should expect to see gracing Villa Park,. I fear though, that a leopard can't change its spots.

[citizenDJ]

What does McLeish offer that Holloway didn't?

You could argue that he puts together a defence more successfully than Holloway.

[Chris Smith]

What does McLeish offer that Holloway didn't?

You could argue that he puts together a defence more successfully than Holloway.

He's also won more and doesn't make a twat of himself in the press every other week.

[Big Dick Edwards]

What does McLeish offer that Holloway didn't?

An unassuming dignity?

[The Situation]

Haha the fact that he used to manage Blues is all to convienent for the media.

Some media outlets have been a disgrace in how they've reported the hype of the last few days.

They've tricked neutrals into thinking that Villa fans are morons on how we've gone about reactions towards McLeish.

90% didn't want him because his Premier League record is poor and his negative tactics failed miserably - not because he was a 'Bluenose bastard', but lets not get facts in the way of a good story!

I'll compliment McLeish on signing players like Foster, Dann, Johnson, Gardner (I don't know whether Gardner has improved that much or he's just played well in a poor team) and managing to get the best out pretty average players... I don't think he'll be as negative with us as he was with Blues (please God) and maybe with better players at his disposal already maybe he can add quality?

The players his signs this summer might give us a bit of a clue on what he'll do with the team.

Even Gabby has already signaled a warning to Big Eck already about his negative style. Not directly, but he's giving Big Eck a little hint.

[The Situation]

Oh and here is exactly what I was talking about, lazy journalism at it's finest... actually no, it's not even lazy, it's downright talking nonsense.

The Guardian at its finest:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/jun/19/alex-mcleish-aston-villa-birmingham

It's actually quite disturbing someone has written up this article. I think they're just looking to wind up Villa fans - not make a good article.

[Eigentor]

I spoke to a couple of the Scottish fellas in the Blarney Stone last night, one a Morton fan and one a hun. Whilst sober, they thought it was hilarious and they just didn't grasp the logic of the board. After a few drinks they reckoned we are doomed, though the Rangers fan says he was ok for them in a grinding out results kind of way and did a good job in exactly the same manner for Scotland.

We will be hard to beat and well organised. Don't waste your money betting on the third goal scorer was their best advice...

Which is just what we'd have got with Benitez yet many on here would gave wet themselves at the prospect.

I, for one, am happy that we didn't appoint Benitez. I don't see why Villa fans should have to put of with the kind of dull, defensive football which produce a 4-1 win at Old Trafford or a 4-0 win against Real Madrid, and turns around a 3-goal deficit against AC Milan in a Champions League final.

Seriously, you're not pretending that you can't spot the difference between Benitez' and McLeish's tactics?

[Risso]

I spoke to a couple of the Scottish fellas in the Blarney Stone last night, one a Morton fan and one a hun. Whilst sober, they thought it was hilarious and they just didn't grasp the logic of the board. After a few drinks they reckoned we are doomed, though the Rangers fan says he was ok for them in a grinding out results kind of way and did a good job in exactly the same manner for Scotland.

We will be hard to beat and well organised. Don't waste your money betting on the third goal scorer was their best advice...

Which is just what we'd have got with Benitez yet many on here would gave wet themselves at the prospect.

I, for one, am happy that we didn't appoint Benitez. I don't see why Villa fans should have to put of with the kind of dull, defensive football which produce a 4-1 win at Old Trafford or a 4-0 win against Real Madrid, and turns around a 3-goal deficit against AC Milan in a Champions League final.

Seriously, you're not pretending that you can't spot the difference between Benitez' and McLeish's tactics?

Well, quite.  How McLeish does at Villa remains to be seen, but his record in the Premier League is poor.  As for the League Cup win, it's good of course, but they had an extremely easy run to the final.

[Big Dick Edwards]

Well, quite.  How McLeish does at Villa remains to be seen, but his record in the Premier League is poor.  As for the League Cup win, it's good of course, but they had an extremely easy run to the final.

Just as we did the season before. Then we underperformed in the final whereas Blues played out of their skins.