Downing Completes Liverpool Transfer

[SteveD]

They paid £20m too for Acquilani, so I'd say Downing is well worth that sort of money. It's a sad fact footballers these days haven't the bottle to put in transfer requests, they just let the agents do the work, maximise their income and move on, regardless of being under contract. We are a stepping stone for the better ones. I just think the wheels will quickly come off the King Kenny comedy truck.

Don't care much about loyalty (what's the point?), only that McLeish gets all the money back to spend and we get 100% from those still in Villa shirts. I don't think I'll ever see a testimonial at Villa Park again, unless it's for some old kitman or a pie seller who makes it to 100.

[curiousorange]

Seems as if people are sad about the loss of personnel rather than the quality of player next to leave. I don't give a shit about Downing going as I never really rated his input anyway but the fact remains he needs replacing, hopefully with a player that offers significantly more.

[GJH]

There is no way we will get Nzogbia, Parker or Given!

Look at it from a players point of view, the 2 best players have left, along with Carew, NRC and Friedel.

A new manager who is hated by 50% of the fans, a new backroom staff, no european campaign and an owner and chief executive who have lost the plot! No Ambition and a club definateley in crisis!

Anyone who says different should take off their rose tinted glasses!

Oneil walked - lack of funds? Benitez apparently was told there was no money and youngy and downing would be sold so he fucked us off and martinez decided to stay at a club with more ambition!

We will be avoided like the plague by these players, the money we've accumulated is more likely going towards the 80m in wages we have spent over the last couple of seasons, and of course the 10m we've paid to the managers!

[pauliewalnuts]

A new manager who is hated by 50% of the fans

Whilst I too am in the gloomy camp, that's the biggest load of nonsense I've ever read on here.

Plenty of us disapprove of his appointment, but "hate" him?

[GJH]

Ok fair enough a bit strong! Strongly dislike him as a manager?

[Dazvillain]

I dont even hate him as a manager, just where he's come from

[Legion]

I'm not in the least bit bothered about where he's come from. It's his capabilities (or lack of them) that worry me.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

A new manager who is hated by 50% of the fans

Whilst I too am in the gloomy camp, that's the biggest load of nonsense I've ever read on here.

Plenty of us disapprove of his appointment, but "hate" him?

Agreed paulie... "hate" is the wrong word for most of us. It's easy to be feeling down at the moment. The next week or so should give us a much better idea of the direction we are heading in under AM and we need to give him some time to put his new house in order. "hate" him or not, he's still Aston Villa's manager and I hope he'll be a successful one!

[GJH]

Thats the thing legion, is he a manager who can attract big names? And more importantly keep them?

It takes a long time to shake off a reputation of managing/playing boring defensive football?

[hilts_coolerking]

I don't hate McLeish.  Far from it: I actually feel a great deal of sympathy for him because of the pressure that he has been put under by Lerner in being appointed to do a job I believe he isn't equipped to do.  If this goes wrong it will be Lerner's fault, not McLeish's.

[Legion]

Thats the thing legion, is he a manager who can attract big names? And more importantly keep them?

It takes a long time to shake off a reputation of managing/playing boring defensive football?

I don't think he is and I don't think he can. As Hilts points out, Mr. Lerner Sir is far more culpable.

[PaulWinch again]

I echo what others have said, I don't hate Mcleish it's his credentials that are the concern. I've made my peace with him being manager now, it's who he can sign that's important.

[john e]

I'm not in the least bit bothered about where he's come from. It's his capabilities (or lack of them) that worry me.

and me,
his footballing DNA is negative boring football,
 no matter what players we buy or dont buy his default position is that, theres nothing we can do about it, i very much doubt he will change, so the best we can hope for is better results built on teamwork and stealth, no matter what players we have,
i remember when Allardyce had quite a few skillfull creative players in his team at Blackburn, but they were still absolute shit to watch, because his football philosophy is hoof ball.

thats the biggest problem i have with McCliesh, otherwise he seems a top guy,
i dont think randy will be able to moan about low attendances at VP mind, not after his appointment

[GJH]

fair play Hilts, i suppose if you look at it from AM's point of view, if i was offered 6m over 3 years and manage a club like ours i would have had randy's hand off aswell.

No lose situation isnt he?

Sometimes my frustration takes control of what i write ;-)

[Karl Bridges]

There is no way we will get Nzogbia, Parker or Given!

Look at it from a players point of view, the 2 best players have left, along with Carew, NRC and Friedel.

A new manager who is hated by 50% of the fans, a new backroom staff, no european campaign and an owner and chief executive who have lost the plot! No Ambition and a club definateley in crisis!

Anyone who says different should take off their rose tinted glasses!

Oneil walked - lack of funds? Benitez apparently was told there was no money and youngy and downing would be sold so he fucked us off and martinez decided to stay at a club with more ambition!

We will be avoided like the plague by these players, the money we've accumulated is more likely going towards the 80m in wages we have spent over the last couple of seasons, and of course the 10m we've paid to the managers!

What's the opposite of rose tinted glasses?