Are We Alex McLeish's Claret & Blue Army Now?

[not3bad]

Got to admit when I look ahead I cannot see the association between Alex Mcleish and Aston Villa ending well.  At that point I guess Dazzy and Compass will be very happy and expecting people to thank them when they say "I told you so".

[philthebar]

A few periods of decent football during matches we lost and AM is now the right manager for us.   We are a fickle bunch.

That's certainly told me. How dare I support my club.

It seems like a large proportion of those in the anti-mcleish camp simply cannot accept that there have been ANY positives so far. Very hard to have a reasonable debate with anyone that is so blinkered.

It works both ways. There are plenty of people in the pro McLeish camp who seem unable to not resort to "you just don't like him because he managed Blues", as if that is behind all (rather than some) criticism of him.

I can think of positive things (as I could under Houllier when he was getting roundly slated) and I can think of negative things. I'm not a fan of the manager, and I suspect it is going to go to tit soon (it certainly will if we don't start winning more matches soon), but I'm not about to start going on protest marches or setting web sites up, and nor am I going to start throwing abuse at him or the players during matches, because that achieves nothing at all.

Nor do I give a flying fuck that he used to manage Blues, and it annoys me to get tarred with that ill thought-out brush.

As Damon said, ultimately our opinion counts for nothing, it is what the chairman thinks that really matters. We can talk about and debate it as much as we like - and that's what this place is for - but if anyone thinks they're going to get the chairman to sack the manager by waving a few placards and trudging down the Trinity Road looking annoyed, they're living in dream world.

Hardly adds to the debate, but I totally agree

[Concrete John]

Got to admit when I look ahead I cannot see the association between Alex Mcleish and Aston Villa ending well.  At that point I guess Dazzy and Compass will be very happy and expecting people to thank them when they say "I told you so".

When the last time a manager's Villa career did end well?

[Legion]

Sir GT Mk I?

[pauliewalnuts]

Got to admit when I look ahead I cannot see the association between Alex Mcleish and Aston Villa ending well.  At that point I guess Dazzy and Compass will be very happy and expecting people to thank them when they say "I told you so".

When the last time a manager's Villa career did end well?

Hardly any of them go on to anything bigger.

SGT is the obvious example, but who else?

I don't know if that reflects well on us ("there aren't many places bigger to go") or badly ("you're finished, mate")

[pauliewalnuts]

It works both ways. There are plenty of people in the pro McLeish camp who seem unable to not resort to "you just don't like him because he managed Blues", as if that is behind all (rather than some) criticism of him.

I can think of positive things (as I could under Houllier when he was getting roundly slated) and I can think of negative things. I'm not a fan of the manager, and I suspect it is going to go to tit soon (it certainly will if we don't start winning more matches soon), but I'm not about to start going on protest marches or setting web sites up, and nor am I going to start throwing abuse at him or the players during matches, because that achieves nothing at all.

Nor do I give a flying fuck that he used to manage Blues, and it annoys me to get tarred with that ill thought-out brush.

As Damon said, ultimately our opinion counts for nothing, it is what the chairman thinks that really matters. We can talk about and debate it as much as we like - and that's what this place is for - but if anyone thinks they're going to get the chairman to sack the manager by waving a few placards and trudging down the Trinity Road looking annoyed, they're living in dream world.

Agree with a lot of what you said, but it's pretty obvious that there are people out there who can't look beyond his blues connection. Not rating him as a manager is a valid viewpoint, and I'm struggling to think of anyone who supports McLeish (myself included) who hasn't accepted that there have been mistakes made so far (or that he wouldn't have been many people's first choice for the job). I don't think you, or any of the other more reasonable posters on this site, are actually getting tarred with the Jizzy G brush.

I just don't get the Blues thing at all (I am referring to those who are bothered by it).

If he does really well with us, isn't that a bonus that we took him from them?

Also, if he'd done an amazing job there, I'd consider it a *bonus* not a negative that he came from there, as it would have pissed them off in the process.

[dave.woodhall]

The fact that only one of our managers has ever resigned to take another job is a telling one.

[Concrete John]

Sir GT Mk I?

Last one I can think of, so that's 20 years and 9 managers since it happened.

No, Mcleish's tenure won't end well, whenever it happens.  I'm more concerned with what he does between now and then!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Agree with a lot of what you said, but it's pretty obvious that there are people out there who can't look beyond his blues connection. Not rating him as a manager is a valid viewpoint, and I'm struggling to think of anyone who supports McLeish (myself included) who hasn't accepted that there have been mistakes made so far (or that he wouldn't have been many people's first choice for the job). I don't think you, or any of the other more reasonable posters on this site, are actually getting tarred with the Jizzy G brush.

There's been a lot of prejudgement regarding McCleish that now looks unwarranted, the main one for me being that his teams play dull football. Whilst I'm encouraged by the signs of a more technical style, it's still far too early to hang out the bunting. The hoofing has stopped, we do try and play it now more on the deck but until we start putting points on the board there's always going to be an unease about his management.

Obviously some will never give him a chance but most I imagine will be more than happy if he makes a success of the challenge - and it most certainly is a challenge. He's having to operate under restrictive conditions but that's still not an excuse considering the talent available to him. After 25 games into the season he needs to find a settled team that play to our strengths. As somebody mentioned earlier, if he can sort out the defence, we really could be a very decent team. It's been frustrating because despite the progress made we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot, something we can't hold McCleish responsible for but on something he will be ultimately judged.

My confidence in him is based more on those that surround him rather than just the man himself. In Kevin MacDonald and Sid, we have two exceptional coaches that can help turn McLeish into a Villa man and his team play the way we all long to see.

[WarleyWonder]

Compass, do you honestly believe that marches, protests, banners, websites etc from a small minority will have one tiny bit of influence on the board? Do you really think it will make them suddenly "come to their senses" and reconsider their decision? Or is it possible that it will only help create a more tense atmosphere during what will already be a very difficult game? Your actions and proposals are nothing but counterproductive. You and the likes of that other tool dazzyg have never given him a chance. And you never will.

And then what? Let's look at the remote possibility that your wishes come true and he does get fired. You and your merry bunch will be stroking each other in joy and glee. Do you think the board will then consult the "told you so" crowd and ask you who should be next? You'll be as irrelevant then as you are now. Get used to it.

Are you reading this Dave Woodhall? I thought offending a fellow forum member was not allowed? Or is it a case of one rule for one and one rule for another.

In answer to Toronto Villa why have you suddenly piped up out of the blue? Your right I have never given him a chance but how much longer are you and the rest of the clan prepared to give him? What is it with some fans you really get narked when anyone has a pop at AM there are far more fans off this site who cannot wait to see the back of him you must be blinkered if you think me and a few others are the only one's.

[Ger Regan]

Agree with a lot of what you said, but it's pretty obvious that there are people out there who can't look beyond his blues connection. Not rating him as a manager is a valid viewpoint, and I'm struggling to think of anyone who supports McLeish (myself included) who hasn't accepted that there have been mistakes made so far (or that he wouldn't have been many people's first choice for the job). I don't think you, or any of the other more reasonable posters on this site, are actually getting tarred with the Jizzy G brush.

There's been a lot of prejudgement regarding McCleish that now looks unwarranted, the main one for me being that his teams play dull football. Whilst I'm encouraged by the signs of a more technical style, it's still far too early to hang out the bunting. The hoofing has stopped, we do try and play it now more on the deck but until we start putting points on the board there's always going to be an unease about his management.

Obviously some will never give him a chance but most I imagine will be more than happy if he makes a success of the challenge - and it most certainly is a challenge. He's having to operate under restrictive conditions but that's still not an excuse considering the talent available to him. After 25 games into the season he needs to find a settled team that play to our strengths. As somebody mentioned earlier, if he can sort out the defence, we really could be a very decent team. It's been frustrating because despite the progress made we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot, something we can't hold McCleish responsible for but on something he will be ultimately judged.

My confidence in him is based more on those that surround him rather than just the man himself. In Kevin MacDonald and Sid, we have two exceptional coaches that can help turn McLeish into a Villa man and his team play the way we all long to see.

Some of the goals scored in the last few months are amongst the best quality that I can recall at villa in quite some time. The second against arsenal and the first against QPR being two examples. If he continues getting them playing like that, then I'll be happy.

[WarleyWonder]

Got to admit when I look ahead I cannot see the association between Alex Mcleish and Aston Villa ending well.  At that point I guess Dazzy and Compass will be very happy and expecting people to thank them when they say "I told you so".

I will never ever say "I told you so " but I tell you what that day cannot come quick enough. The feeling amongst a large section of fans is nearing boiling point . I don't know who is arranging the protest on Sunday or where exactly it is etc but do people on here not realise that this is really happening becuase I honestly think that some fans think it's a minority of fans it really isn't.

[VillaAlways]

 The feeling amongst a large section of fans is nearing oiling point .

A Squeaky protest then ?

[pauliewalnuts]

The feeling amongst a large section of fans is nearing oiling point

That's pretty slick.

[WarleyWonder]

The feeling amongst a large section of fans is nearing oiling point

That's pretty slick.

Glad to see that schooling wasn't wasted pauliewalnuts