If McLeish was sacked, who would you want in?

[tarzansbrother]

Not according to N'Zogbia's comments today.

“I have spoken to the manager, he has dealt with it and we have no problem. We are in this together, so we just move on. I will work hard to get back in the team.

Fined and dropped for no reason then

For missing a physio appointment and now it's been dealt with.

Come on Chris, there's more to this. Nzogbia has stunk the place out and been played out of position. Manager wants him fit and desperately wants to have him available, player has more important things to do. And this is a Macliesh signing

[Chris Smith]

There's no evidence to suggest he's lost the players that's pure speculation based on what appears to be wishful thinking. It's always trotted out by fans when they want easy answers. It then gets repeated and suddenly it's a fully formed theory.

So the players completely ignore his instructions for the Manure game and the Captain can be seen arguing with him. The team are exhibiting exactly the same body language as they did under Houllier and MacAlister. I can't believe that it's a happy place to be at the moment.

As I said, speculation. Under Houllier there were all sorts of stories in the press about players being unhappy but there has been nothing of the sort this season.

[Dante Lavelli]

There's no evidence to suggest he's lost the players that's pure speculation based on what appears to be wishful thinking. It's always trotted out by fans when they want easy answers. It then gets repeated and suddenly it's a fully formed theory.

In a way, it would kind of be a good thing if he HAD lost the players as it would suggest that the problem could be fixed.  With Houllier there was "hope" that once the perceived bad eggs were removed then the club could move forward.  If this is how they approach matches when they're backing McLeish and following his orders then the future is definitely not bright.

[TheSandman]

The quote about us one day beating Manure as though we are Stockport County, pretty much sums up the managers mind set of inferiority that is taken onto the pitch by the players.

No, as though we are Aston Villa who haven't beaten them at Villa Park since 1996 hence why he was asked about it.

And we beat them at Old Trafford just the other season. It may feel like that was fifteen years ago too but it wasn't. It showed that it could be done. Christ we got a draw against them last season with a squad ravaged by injury.

Moving on, it is really quite distressing. Usually, journalists and pundits are the first to demonise supporters for complaining about and having problems with their manager, yet, they are criticising him rather than us. When a team rocks up playing negative football you get a lot of negativity and hatred about them from neutrals and rival supporters (a bit like the almost Albion-esque sour grapes we see on here about Stoke). However, speaking to neutrals they don't feel that hate because we're not even the party poopers that Stoke or Allardyce sides are, who nick points with their alehouse football, we are no threat at all. Rather than that hate all I hear is that they pity us!

I don't think McLeish will be fired. I don't think we will be relegated (I ran the numbers being quite conservative and after our horrible December I have us in 14th). What it will be is grim, dull and downright depressing. I just hope we get points against Stoke and Bolton this month, else things will get really heated towards McLeish and the board. 

[ez]

I reckon he'll be with us at the end of the season and i reckon we'll finish low but survive relegation. I am worried that if he's still with us next season he'll complete the decline.

[Chris Smith]

There's no evidence to suggest he's lost the players that's pure speculation based on what appears to be wishful thinking. It's always trotted out by fans when they want easy answers. It then gets repeated and suddenly it's a fully formed theory.

In a way, it would kind of be a good thing if he HAD lost the players as it would suggest that the problem could be fixed.  With Houllier there was "hope" that once the perceived bad eggs were removed then the club could move forward.  If this is how they approach matches when they're backing McLeish and following his orders then the future is definitely not bright.

Perhaps but all of that could also be down to low confidence. The so called bad eggs have performed pretty well, the problem has been in midfield abd I don't think Herd, Delph, Bannan or Albrighton are likely to be trying to cause trouble.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think the defence contribute to the midfield's problems.  Far too often the ball sails over the midfield's heads so they have limited opportunity to try and retain possession.  I realise that "fact" is a bit of an easy cliche but Herd appears quite keen to take the ball off the defence and I'd imagine Bannan would be too.

With regard to Bannan, does anyone think he is playing a bit too far forward?  His game has always been as an attacking MF but I think (at the moment) the attacking areas are a bit too frantic for him.  I would be interested to see him playing as a sort of quarterback, playing with the game in front of him and where he'll have a nano second more time.  The move worked for Modric.  But this will only work if Collins/Dunne's first instinct is to slide a ball to feet.

[NeilH]

There's no evidence to suggest he's lost the players that's pure speculation based on what appears to be wishful thinking. It's always trotted out by fans when they want easy answers. It then gets repeated and suddenly it's a fully formed theory.

In a way, it would kind of be a good thing if he HAD lost the players as it would suggest that the problem could be fixed.  With Houllier there was "hope" that once the perceived bad eggs were removed then the club could move forward.  If this is how they approach matches when they're backing McLeish and following his orders then the future is definitely not bright.

 I do not think he has lost the dressing room, but there are clearly some communication problems between what he wants and what the players are doing on the field, the halftime finger pointing and shoulder shrugging of Dunne demonstrating this.

The only way to alleviate this is to have a massive summer clearout of the ‘bad eggs’ which will not only reduce the wage bill but will also reduce the tension. Of course that the presupposes that AM can be trusted to bring in better replacements for the deadwood that is Dunne, Warnock, Collins, Petrov, Heskey etc. Trusting AM to find adequate replacements is where my niggling doubts begin once more

[Holte L2]

Mark Hughes.

My number one choice in the summer. And still is.

[Clampy]

Mine was Martin Jol. They're worse off than us point wise, but i'm sure the football is a lot bloody better.

[Chris Smith]

Mine was Martin Jol. They're worse off than us point wise, but i'm sure the football is a lot bloody better.

Jol had easy job though all he had to do was carry on doing what you were doing last year. If, for instance, he'd lost Dempsey and Murphy then he'd have more of a job on his hands. That said, there's something likeable about him so I'd have been happy with it.

[villadelph]

Mine was Martin Jol. They're worse off than us point wise, but i'm sure the football is a lot bloody better.

Jol had easy job though all he had to do was carry on doing what you were doing last year. If, for instance, he'd lost Dempsey and Murphy then he'd have more of a job on his hands. That said, there's something likeable about him so I'd have been happy with it.

I think we have to give Martin Jol a little more credit than that. Fulham was playing some pretty sharp football on Monday night. They were calm on the ball, everyone on the field got touches in the build up, and they could create at least a half chance every time up the pitch.

You would think that would be the case for us to. All a manager has to do is go in and get the ball to some quick wingers and feed Bent. They'll score, he'll score.. there will be tons of goals!

Martin Jol has an actual footballing brain. He can conceive an offensive game plan. McLeish has not a clue how to coordinate an offense. He has great character and really wants to prove us wrong. However, his lack of football intuition will ultimately bar him from success at this high level.The fans don't want him Randy and the club can do better, let's change Aston Villa for the good.

[pauliewalnuts]

Martin Jol has a likeable Muttley-ish look to him.

Mark Hughes has an annoying Ailsa from Home and Away look.

I know its stupid, but these things are key in my evaluation of managers.

[villadelph]

Martin Jol has a likeable Muttley-ish look to him.

Mark Hughes has an annoying Ailsa from Home and Away look.

I know its stupid, but these things are key in my evaluation of managers.

ha! McLeish is a top bloke, I'm just not sure that he's a top Prem manager.

[Iago]

I would have Mark Hughes.