Alex McLeish confirmed as manager

[Risso]

Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending.  I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.

[mrfuse]

Is it me or do sky always cut away from the conference they did it with Houlier just to talk about some Chelsea story

[placeforparks]

came across well.

ashley young is a done deal. downing less so.

focus on youth.

goalkeeper is the top priority.

[Simon Ward]

Can anybody recap for me as I couldn't pick up any sound? Thanks

Didn't realise it was free to air on AVTV so same here please! Thanks.

[Toronto Villa]

He didn't slip up at all, and was very Aston Villa in not talking about finances. Randy will back him as he has with all three former managers. Good to see that the goalkeeper should be sorted out soon. He was quite guarded which is to be expected on a few topics given the stuff going on with the 'draggers. Overall a decent introduction.

[Newquay_AVFC]

He has come across well, wasn't totally against him at the start, i am now 100% with him. Got a feeling this will turn into something very good. Good luck Eck.

[PaulTheVillan]

No manager is ever going to come out and say we are going to spend big.

[Simon Ward]

Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending.  I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.

I think that was always going to be the case following RL splashing out for DB in January!

[Irish villain]

Damn, I missed it. Hope it's uploaded somewhere soon.

[Toronto Villa]

Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending.  I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.

Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. In fact Villa led the media a merry dance about sell to buy and similar bollocks. We can always revisit this in September, but Randy has always found funds for his manager. I see no reason that we cannot continue to spend responsibly. That includes buying proven talent that provides quick returns like a Darren Bent as the opportunity arises.

[Stu]

No manager is ever going to come out and say we are going to spend big.

Of course not. However, it was the suggestion that some academy players might be having a 'big season' that points towards reigning in of spending. I'm all for our own talent obviously, but not to the detrement of buying decent players to replace big losses.

[Risso]

Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending.  I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.

Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. .

Nobody thought that we'd be in a full on relegation scrap.

[PaulTheVillan]

No manager is ever going to come out and say we are going to spend big.

Of course not. However, it was the suggestion that some academy players might be having a 'big season' that points towards reigning in of spending. I'm all for our own talent obviously, but not to the detrement of buying decent players to replace big losses.

As we know, we have some good promising younger players. Time for Clark, Albrighton to be first team regulars &  Bannan & Gardner to get a real chance.

[FatSam]

Chelsea have shown Lerner how to appoint a quality manager that you really want. Pay the money.

Obviously money comes into it to a certain extent, but Quique Sánchez Flores is out of contract and made approaches to Villa (according to an agent whose company represents him), but apparently wasn't even considered. Deep down most of us can admit that Ancelotti was extremely unlikely, but there were other good candidates available, so there can be no excuses. Can it really be the case that the best man for the job happened to be in employment a couple of miles away?

A lot of the posters on here who are disappointed with McLeish as a signal of intent, would probably have been happy with Flores - a young, well regarded manager with some tangible top level success. What we have to reconcile ourselves with, is that either it really was a terribly bungled chaotic appointment process, or they did really want McLeish. This is the only way to make sense of the fact that they will probably end up paying compensation, and will inevitably appear hypocritical in terms of their business ethics. For me it seems like a decision made by people who have very little football knowledge/ experience, and no imagination. 

I'm deeply disappointed with McLeish's appointment but have gradually accepted the reality of it. I can't imagine him raising the bar from what MON achieved. Having said all that, there is no guaranteed route to success, and a Flores type appointment could have gone the way that Ramos went at Spurs.

[Toronto Villa]

Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending.  I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.

Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. .

Nobody thought that we'd be in a full on relegation scrap.

doesn't change the fact that money was made available to sign arguably the PL very best striker. If money was so tight Randy could just as easily said here's 5 million. The outlay was above and beyond and then some.

I'm not suggesting for a second that he'd sanction another one of those, but to justify this appointment and to keep us in the upper reaches of the league it isn't going to be cheap. One thing that can't ever be levelled at RL is that he understands that attaining and retaining players in sport is expensive and he's shown that he's willing to spend the money. Be it here or with the Browns. There's a ceiling with us obviously based on where we are but I still believe that if McLeish was adamant about a player, and we could get him, he'd be backed in that request.