McLeish out Chants / banners / protests

[andyh]

OK, for anyone who wants to defend the manager, please explain to me, a simple football fan, what is it EXACTLY that gives you cause for optimism that McLeish is developing a team and a style that bring success.
What green shoots can we grasp hold of that shows that he has a plan. It may be messy, but there is a spark there. There is something being developed that with time and resources will bear fruit.
Some saw that under Houllier, but I'm totally fucked if I can see it under McLeish.

[Ads]

Getting relegated with SHA is nothing out of the ordinary. They've done it more times than any other club.

Now winning a trophy and finishing in the top half. That be some sort of voodoo there.

[Concrete John]

OK, for anyone who wants to defend the manager, please explain to me, a simple football fan, what is it EXACTLY that gives you cause for optimism that McLeish is developing a team and a style that bring success.
What green shoots can we grasp hold of that shows that he has a plan. It may be messy, but there is a spark there. There is something being developed that with time and resources will bear fruit.
Some saw that under Houllier, but I'm totally fucked if I can see it under McLeish.

We've seen sporadic performances of better quality, such as Bolton away, parts of Sunderland away and our attacking play against Wigan, Norwich and Blackburn.  I'd also think that give time he'll get the defence right as he does have a reputation as a defensive minded coach.

You may not agree with any of that, but you did ask.

Personally, I'm 50/50 on McLeish right now, so he gets the benefit of the doubt due to the short time he's been here and limited funds he's had to work with.   

[KRS]

You're also dong what many others are, ignoring the good things and exaggerating the bad.

What good things? I'm genuinely struggling with that one.

Do you mean our lack of wins against poor opposition? or may be our inability to create chances? or even the pathetic match stats that show we are weaker than our opponents across the pitch for virtually every game and in some cases only have recorded 1 (yes ONE) shot on target? or may be that I and thousands of others feel genuinely embarrassed as Villa fans after each pathetic performance?

Please explain what good AM has brought to Villa Park.

[Clampy]

You're also dong what many others are, ignoring the good things and exaggerating the bad.

What good things? I'm genuinely struggling with that one.

I think he means keeping a clean sheet at Swansea.

[KRS]

We've seen sporadic performances of better quality, such as Bolton away, parts of Sunderland away and our attacking play against Wigan, Norwich and Blackburn.

Great! After the millions spent on playing staff and managerial changes, we can proudly say that the team has managed to play a little bit of decent football against the current bottom 4 clubs and a newly promoted team. Halle-fuckin-lujah! Praise the Lord McLeish!

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

We've seen sporadic performances of better quality, such as Bolton away, parts of Sunderland away and our attacking play against Wigan, Norwich and Blackburn.

Great! After the millions spent on playing staff and managerial changes, we can proudly say that the team has managed to play a little bit of decent football against the current bottom 4 clubs and a newly promoted team. Halle-fuckin-lujah! Praise the Lord McLeish!

Sarcasm is such an ugly trait.

[Damo70]

What disappoints me is when he was at Blues they had such a good record against the top teams. Certainly in terms of getting at least a point. I know that was mainly based on not conceding a goal but there were occasions when they came from behind and other times when they took the game to the opposition. Man City, Spurs, Man U and Liverpool this season were just no-shows. But he does need to be given more time. And money preferably.

[Concrete John]

We've seen sporadic performances of better quality, such as Bolton away, parts of Sunderland away and our attacking play against Wigan, Norwich and Blackburn.

Great! After the millions spent on playing staff and managerial changes, we can proudly say that the team has managed to play a little bit of decent football against the current bottom 4 clubs and a newly promoted team. Halle-fuckin-lujah! Praise the Lord McLeish!

You know, it's ridiculous reactions such as that that lead people like Chris and I to try and redress the balance with some more even handed views. 

Don't make the mistake of thinking everyone who isn't slashing their virtual wrists on here thinks things are going well!

[Chris Smith]

You're also dong what many others are, ignoring the good things and exaggerating the bad.

What good things? I'm genuinely struggling with that one.

Do you mean our lack of wins against poor opposition? or may be our inability to create chances? or even the pathetic match stats that show we are weaker than our opponents across the pitch for virtually every game and in some cases only have recorded 1 (yes ONE) shot on target? or may be that I and thousands of others feel genuinely embarrassed as Villa fans after each pathetic performance?

Please explain what good AM has brought to Villa Park.

No, if you're too lazy or too stupid to work it out for yourself I'm not going to waste my breath going through it again.

His record at Blues wasn't all bad, it was mixed. As my mate said at the time, "every manager gets us relegated at some point, but only one has won us a trophy".

His time here has similarly been mixed and under the circumstances that is only to be expected.

We have to get over the fact that we wre a top 6 club 2 seasons ago, those days and those  players have gone and we're now a mid table club scrambling for points like everyone else.

[Chris Smith]

What disappoints me is when he was at Blues they had such a good record against the top teams. Certainly in terms of getting at least a point. I know that was mainly based on not conceding a goal but there were occasions when they came from behind and other times when they took the game to the opposition. Man City, Spurs, Man U and Liverpool this season were just no-shows. But he does need to be given more time. And money preferably.

That might (note I said might before everyone gets all uppity) be down to having been able to sign players he wanted so he could develop a team. We've been having to mix and match in midfield all season and that's been reflected in the performances.

[Merv]

We have to get over the fact that we wre a top 6 club 2 seasons ago, those days and those  players have gone and we're now a mid table club scrambling for points like everyone else.

I genuinely think that's the best approach to take. Lower expectation considerably, in terms of performance, results and incoming/outgoing transfers, and it helps to find a bit of perspective. I've certainly been viewing Wigan, Blackburn, Bolton and Norwich matches as six-pointers and it's good that we've won those games.

[bertlambshank]

What disappoints me is when he was at Blues they had such a good record against the top teams. Certainly in terms of getting at least a point. I know that was mainly based on not conceding a goal but there were occasions when they came from behind and other times when they took the game to the opposition. Man City, Spurs, Man U and Liverpool this season were just no-shows. But he does need to be given more time. And money preferably.

That might (note I said might before everyone gets all uppity) be down to having been able to sign players he wanted so he could develop a team. We've been having to mix and match in midfield all season and that's been reflected in the performances.

He had the chance to get a midfielder in,and blew it on a crocked spud.

[Hookeysmith]

I like the bloke, i liked the bloke when he was at Blues but you cannot escape the facts that his win ratio is something akin to 14 wins in 64 premier games - that is relegation form staring at us in the face.

As a poster above said under GH there were many things that were wrong - mainly PR on his behalf but and it is a huge BUT there were the signs that football was coming back to VP - i for one was really looking forward to the close season where he would have obviously shipped out the wasters and brought in some continental talent. Cabaye was muted early doors and he has been great to watch for Newcastle, i think we would have seen a lot more of Jean II as well, a footballing MF who needed time to adjust to the pace of the prem - yet this numpty shipped him out ASAP.

You could see what GH wanted to do and there were signs the message was getting through. I am sorry but i just cannot see where AM is going to go with this - i cannot see him changing his style of play or player aquisistion

And that is the biggest problem of all

[SX150]

Alot of people could see this when McLeish was appointed. We had the big debate, decided we support "The Villa" and to get behind the team and give McLeish a chance. Worryingly all is turning out as expected. How long do you support the bloke for? I really wonder what happens in training and would love to hear what Sid Cowans makes of it all. I'm left just shaking my head watching Villa this season.

How long? You haven't even given him half a season

The period of grace a manager receives is getting shorter and shorter. At this rate the next bloke might get a week if he's lucky.

This is based on the shambles on the football field. We new what to expect and that is what has been delivered. No great shock in that, the worry is what can we see developing? He and the team look as lost as lost can be. N'Zogs free kick into the box which any one of 5 Liverpool players could have cleared and not one Villa player was within ten yards sums it all up for me. Totally leaderless and don't they look it.