Club Statement

[Villanation]

Yes, he has to hit the ground running (as I think our more "sensitive" fans won't give him any honeymoon period at all), no he shouldn't have to go the extra mile, whatever that means. Coming up with the goods to me means winning football matches consistently, and improving on the previous season. This is EXACTLY what I'm (and, I presume, Chris is) giving him the opportunity to do. What's so difficult to understand about that?

EDIT: I've just realised that using the phrase "giving him the opportunity" sounds a bit pretentious, but you know what I mean. We can hardly start calling for his head when he hasn't even had a chance to start winning matches yet, can we?

Ger: The point I'm making is in 1 slight humour but 2 mainly that whether we like it or not right from the first whistle of this season McLiesh will be given no time, we lose our opener, and i think we will v Fulham under Jol, the pressure will be immediate for the 2nd game, he will feel it, the fans will apply it and worse still the players will feel it.

I may love Alex Mac, fact is unless this fella starts chalking up the wins from day 1 (hits the ground running) he's a goner. Not the most astute appointment if you wanted to avoid turmoil.

[hilts_coolerking]

I didn't want him as manager.

What was that view based on?

[Toronto Villa]

I really cannot see the point of beating the shit out of this. Are people who are still staunchly against him being manager, for whatever reason going to do anything other than continuously analyze and moan for the rest of the season? The only fuel you have to continue to your argument and position is if he actually fails. Otherwise, it's over and done with. Had the club employed any other employed manager we'd have paid some form of compensation so that part in my opinion is a pointless argument. They identfied a candidate, did what they had to do and now he's in place.

You are now either going to refocus and get behind the club and hope the manager succeeds or you're going to keep on with complaining about it which is getting so exhausting. Look, almost none of us wanted him, but he's here now. Give him a chance to win you over. Is that really so much to ask?

[Mazrim]

Not at all. And a convincingly argued point.

We'll give the useless ginger ****** a fair crack.

[Villanation]

I really cannot see the point of beating the shit out of this. Are people who are still staunchly against him being manager, for whatever reason going to do anything other than continuously analyze and moan for the rest of the season? The only fuel you have to continue to your argument and position is if he actually fails. Otherwise, it's over and done with. Had the club employed any other employed manager we'd have paid some form of compensation so that part in my opinion is a pointless argument. They identfied a candidate, did what they had to do and now he's in place.

You are now either going to refocus and get behind the club and hope the manager succeeds or you're going to keep on with complaining about it which is getting so exhausting. Look, almost none of us wanted him, but he's here now. Give him a chance to win you over. Is that really so much to ask?

Only if he gets his head down and works hard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hilts_coolerking]

I really cannot see the point of beating the shit out of this. Are people who are still staunchly against him being manager, for whatever reason going to do anything other than continuously analyze and moan for the rest of the season? The only fuel you have to continue to your argument and position is if he actually fails. Otherwise, it's over and done with. Had the club employed any other employed manager we'd have paid some form of compensation so that part in my opinion is a pointless argument. They identfied a candidate, did what they had to do and now he's in place.

You are now either going to refocus and get behind the club and hope the manager succeeds or you're going to keep on with complaining about it which is getting so exhausting. Look, almost none of us wanted him, but he's here now. Give him a chance to win you over. Is that really so much to ask?

There's always an off button, tv.  What you have to accept is that there are a significant number of fans, not least on H&V, who don't share your almost Timmy Mallet levels of enthusiasm and perkiness.  In fact, speaking for myself, I haven't felt quite so dispirited about a forthcoming season since before O'Neill arrived.  If, in the face of the McLeish appointment and the lowering of expectations, you still find reason to be incredibly positive then I salute you.  But it's unreasonable to expect everyone else to share that view, or to refrain from posting about how they do feel.  And if that means there are threads you feel you don't want to contribute to, then steer clear of them.  As much as you can't see the point in some threads, you have to accept that others do.

[Stu]

I really cannot see the point of beating the shit out of this. Are people who are still staunchly against him being manager, for whatever reason going to do anything other than continuously analyze and moan for the rest of the season? The only fuel you have to continue to your argument and position is if he actually fails. Otherwise, it's over and done with. Had the club employed any other employed manager we'd have paid some form of compensation so that part in my opinion is a pointless argument. They identfied a candidate, did what they had to do and now he's in place.

You are now either going to refocus and get behind the club and hope the manager succeeds or you're going to keep on with complaining about it which is getting so exhausting. Look, almost none of us wanted him, but he's here now. Give him a chance to win you over. Is that really so much to ask?

What constitutes failure and success then? There doesn't seem to be any way of knowing what direction the club is taking other than by judging the managerial appointment and statements McLeish has made subsequently. These all point to a few years of puttering around in mid-table, and not challenging for anything. Is that success or failure?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Had the club employed any other employed manager we'd have paid some form of compensation so that part in my opinion is a pointless argument.

I don't see it as a pointless argument at all.
You accept coughing up compensation for a quality manager, but I and many others object to stumping up for a manager with a sub-standard record.

Due to his below par record people ARE going to analyse his methods to a higher degree than they would normally.

If that's 'exhausting', lay the blame at the feet of the board who made this baffling appointment.

[Villanation]

I really cannot see the point of beating the shit out of this. Are people who are still staunchly against him being manager, for whatever reason going to do anything other than continuously analyze and moan for the rest of the season? The only fuel you have to continue to your argument and position is if he actually fails. Otherwise, it's over and done with. Had the club employed any other employed manager we'd have paid some form of compensation so that part in my opinion is a pointless argument. They identfied a candidate, did what they had to do and now he's in place.

You are now either going to refocus and get behind the club and hope the manager succeeds or you're going to keep on with complaining about it which is getting so exhausting. Look, almost none of us wanted him, but he's here now. Give him a chance to win you over. Is that really so much to ask?

There's always an off button, tv.  What you have to accept is that there are a significant number of fans, not least on H&V, who don't share your almost Timmy Mallet levels of enthusiasm and perkiness.  In fact, speaking for myself, I haven't felt quite so dispirited about a forthcoming season since before O'Neill arrived.  If, in the face of the McLeish appointment and the lowering of expectations, you still find reason to be incredibly positive then I salute you.  But it's unreasonable to expect everyone else to share that view, or to refrain from posting about how they do feel.  And if that means there are threads you feel you don't want to contribute to, then steer clear of them.  As much as you can't see the point in some threads, you have to accept that others do.

Prozac!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Simba]

I will give him a chance. Of course I will.

BUT by Christ this a brave appointment- not because he was Blues- but because of his reputation for defensive football.

Will he be more positive because of more mature management and a better squad?

If he fails to produce immediate results, and decent positive footie, his, Lerner/Faulkner's, and our reputation as a Club will be buggared. We are not Wimbledon- but they won an FA Cup. Then what?

I can't remember a braver owner decision in English Football.

All we can do is touch wood.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

The oft repeated comment from some quarters

'Oh, you only object to him because he managed the Blues'
Is lazy and inaccurate.

It might apply to the 500 or so goons who stormed the Witton Lane gates, but to the vasts majority of Villa supporters, they're more concerned about his managerial record.

[Villanation]

Had the club employed any other employed manager we'd have paid some form of compensation so that part in my opinion is a pointless argument.

I don't see it as a pointless argument at all.
You accept coughing up compensation for a quality manager, but I and many others object to stumping up for a manager with a sub-standard record.

Due to his below par record people ARE going to analyse his methods to a higher degree than they would normally.

If that's 'exhausting', lay the blame at the feet of the board who made this baffling appointment.

Precisely, in the history of the world you couldn't orchestrate a more contentious appointment, it is done, and that is that, doesn't change the fact of how fast the do do's will hit the fan if this campaign gets of to a bad start, we all know how losing becomes a habit for any team, my point would be if I was optimistic about this appointment, I would catch myself up a little, bite my tongue, and wait to see how this pans out, rather than be a little to over optimistic at this stage, that would be my opinion.

Put it another way, if this goes well, then so be it, but, if this goes wrong it won't just be a failed manager and a sacking, IMO, this will bring massive harm to the club and real vitriol, we are on a knife edge, you only have to look at this thread and across the wide world of Villa message boards to see how this is still sooooo prominent.

[cdward]

Not at all. And a convincingly argued point.

We'll give the useless ginger c*** a fair crack.

you forgot to add "bluenose"

[Chris Smith]

I didn't want him as manager.

What was that view based on?

Blind prejudice.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I didn't want him as manager.

What was that view based on?

Blind prejudice.

Is that true Chris, or did you think he was not good enough for the Villa job?