Open advice to AM

[Risso]

Risso, you're starting to sound like her that does that "Am I bovvered" rubbish!

I just think it's a bit rich to go an at Greg for something "he always does" when Chris is doing "what he always does", ie blindly support the manager no matter how miserable the performance.  Only in this instance, at least Greg saw the game whilst Chris was off showing people around the Mailbox!

[not3bad]

Risso, you're starting to sound like her that does that "Am I bovvered" rubbish!

It is a fair point though.  It's all very well to say we were bad on Monday but we were especially bad.  I was at my local running track last night and people were shouting "oi!  Villa were shit on Monday!" at me.  I'm glad to say that doesn't normally happen.

[Chris Smith]

Risso, you're starting to sound like her that does that "Am I bovvered" rubbish!

I just think it's a bit rich to go an at Greg for something "he always does" when Chris is doing "what he always does", ie blindly support the manager no matter how miserable the performance.  Only in this instance, at least Greg saw the game whilst Chris was off showing people around the Mailbox!

Without realising it you're making my point for me. It's irrelevant who saw the game or not as it's just one game, it's not representative.  Yet you, Greg and others are trying to turn it into something far more significant. If we have a good win on Sunday will you all suddenly be convinced that everything is rosy? Of course not, because it would be wrong to see it as any more than just one game.

It was Brindley Place by the way. ;-)

[Risso]

As we've seen all too frequesntly, there have been several turning points in the past, which often follow a moment of utter capitulation from the manager, eg Moscow for O'Neill, Man City for Houllier, which lead to a run of defeats and more importantly, even more negativity from the fans.

[Toronto Villa]

Chris, I think you're right to a large extent. One game doesn't make or break a season, and shouldn't dictate how things have gone or will go. My issue with Monday was the manner of the approach to the game, the tactical set up, the overall mindset of the manager towards playing that level of competition. I don't think we should be naive here. At this moment we're not as good as Spurs. But going there with an ultra defensive, stifling formation as opposed to using the talented players we have on our books to go at them is a direction I don't want to see us go. If we go down fighting, then so be it. If we go down trying to score goals, then so be it. If we go down because that's all we were trying to avoid and ultimately failed is entirely different.

I think most people whether privately or publicly accept this is a transition phase. That like it or not, AM isn't going anywhere and as such he needs time to create his own squad and team. What many will want is that given that is the case, we'd like to see the mindset of the manager and club is to be expressive and creative as part of that process. I'd rather we we played the likes of N'Zogbia, Albrighton, Bannan, Ireland etc, than Hutton and Heskey in midfield. That's what gets on people's nerves because it is obvious what we are trying to do for 90 minutes.

One game doesn't tell you everything. I agree entirely with you there. But for me at least, it caused me concern that this is a strategy AM might employ to ensure survival. I think that is a very dangerous game to play.

[PaulWinch again]

Chris, I think you're right to a large extent. One game doesn't make or break a season, and shouldn't dictate how things have gone or will go. My issue with Monday was the manner of the approach to the game, the tactical set up, the overall mindset of the manager towards playing that level of competition. I don't think we should be naive here. At this moment we're not as good as Spurs. But going there with an ultra defensive, stifling formation as opposed to using the talented players we have on our books to go at them is a direction I don't want to see us go. If we go down fighting, then so be it. If we go down trying to score goals, then so be it. If we go down because that's all we were trying to avoid and ultimately failed is entirely different.

I think most people whether privately or publicly accept this is a transition phase. That like it or not, AM isn't going anywhere and as such he needs time to create his own squad and team. What many will want is that given that is the case, we'd like to see the mindset of the manager and club is to be expressive and creative as part of that process. I'd rather we we played the likes of N'Zogbia, Albrighton, Bannan, Ireland etc, than Hutton and Heskey in midfield. That's what gets on people's nerves because it is obvious what we are trying to do for 90 minutes.

One game doesn't tell you everything. I agree entirely with you there. But for me at least, it caused me concern that this is a strategy AM might employ to ensure survival. I think that is a very dangerous game to play.

I think that more or less perfectly expresses my view on the situation, and what the game on Monday indicated.

[AV82EC]

Chris, I think you're right to a large extent. One game doesn't make or break a season, and shouldn't dictate how things have gone or will go. My issue with Monday was the manner of the approach to the game, the tactical set up, the overall mindset of the manager towards playing that level of competition. I don't think we should be naive here. At this moment we're not as good as Spurs. But going there with an ultra defensive, stifling formation as opposed to using the talented players we have on our books to go at them is a direction I don't want to see us go. If we go down fighting, then so be it. If we go down trying to score goals, then so be it. If we go down because that's all we were trying to avoid and ultimately failed is entirely different.

I think most people whether privately or publicly accept this is a transition phase. That like it or not, AM isn't going anywhere and as such he needs time to create his own squad and team. What many will want is that given that is the case, we'd like to see the mindset of the manager and club is to be expressive and creative as part of that process. I'd rather we we played the likes of N'Zogbia, Albrighton, Bannan, Ireland etc, than Hutton and Heskey in midfield. That's what gets on people's nerves because it is obvious what we are trying to do for 90 minutes.

One game doesn't tell you everything. I agree entirely with you there. But for me at least, it caused me concern that this is a strategy AM might employ to ensure survival. I think that is a very dangerous game to play.

Spot on tv.  I'm usually supportive of Chris as i tend to agree with the bigger picture view he takes.  Howver in this instance there were some alarming and detailed errors made on Monday which we hadn't seen from Mcleish before which started ringing alarm bells for me.  Its not time to say the sky is falling in but a small crack appeared on Monday, lets hope the next few weeks don't see that getting any bigger.

[nick harper]

We made absolutely no attempt to get back into the game in the second half. It was like a practice game in with Spurs taking pity on us as our sole objective was  to keep it at 2-0. Even the disasters at Anfield and Man City last season had injuries and a decision to play a weakened team as a backdrop.

This was a complete capitulation seen by the football world. Completely humiliating in my opinion. I hope it is a watershed for McLeish and he is aware of the depth of feeling amongest supporters.

[Iago]

I think most people whether privately or publicly accept this is a transition phase. That like it or not, AM isn't going anywhere and as such he needs time to create his own squad and team. What many will want is that given that is the case, we'd like to see the mindset of the manager and club is to be expressive and creative as part of that process.

History tells us that this defensive style is AM's preferred. I do not see the style improving or progressing under his leadership, and our recent performance supports that claim.

There was tangible evidence that it was a transitional period under GH, due to his winter purchases. But AM backs a lot of our current squad and they sadly do not reciprocate his belief in them.

[WA Villan]

Mcleish has inherited a few donkeys, players not playing to their potential, some average overpaid benchwarmers and a bunch of talented kids. The sooner the likes of Heskey, Collins, Beye, Warnock,Cuellar, Dunne, Petrov are gone the better. Not one of these players is above average, not one is a game changer, 7 very ordinary players. We need to throw some of these talented kids in their and stop wrapping them up in cotton wool and putting them out on loan. All this bollocks that their not ready for the premiership. Apart from the top 5 clubs in the premiership, the premiership is not that much better than the championship. If these kids can play in the championship then they can play in the premiership. Sick and tired that Villa are associated with players your granny would invite for tea. We need a bit of attitude, mongrel whatever you want to call it down Villa Park, feels like the sleeping giant is going back to sleep.

[pauliewalnuts]

We made absolutely no attempt to get back into the game in the second half. It was like a practice game in with Spurs taking pity on us as our sole objective was  to keep it at 2-0. Even the disasters at Anfield and Man City last season had injuries and a decision to play a weakened team as a backdrop.

Spurs in the second half were a bit like the way i play FIFA12 when I realise I'm up against someone who really isn't very good and has no chance of beating me. I start over-elaborating and attempting to walk every goal in, or lob them all.

This was a complete capitulation seen by the football world. Completely humiliating in my opinion. I hope it is a watershed for McLeish and he is aware of the depth of feeling amongest supporters.

Embarassing is the word I'd use.

[not3bad]

The other worrying indication is that fact that Mcleish defended his tactics after the game.

[DB]

The other worrying indication is that fact that Mcleish defended his tactics after the game.

Well he's going to in public. How many managers after a defeat come out and say they got it wrong? I just hope in private he learns from it and sorts it out.

[Phil from the upper holte]

The thought of mcleish building his own team scares the shit out of me, also if we have to replace 7 players who the hell are we going to replace them with? I can't see us replacing them with quality.!

[Chris Harte]

Which quality players would come to Villa now anyway?

With O'Neill at the club he at least had a good reputation (at the time). That and the euphoria of the new owners was a draw for talented players.

Meanwhile, McLeish has a reputation for getting Birmingham relegated.