McLeish could be the manager to take this club forward

[JUAN PABLO]

It Villa carry on playing this dull home football , the will struggle to get 25,000  in the near future.

[Merv]

I'm not being naive, I'm just totally guessing at a scenario that may or may not have existed. You'd think it would have been considered... but I'm not sure. An unpopular managerial choice, key players sold again, scant funds available to strengthen, fans unhappy... did the club give much thought to how it would affect attendance and matchday revenue? Maybe they did. You'd hope they did.

[NeilH]

It Villa carry on playing this dull home football , the will struggle to get 25,000  in the near future.

I honestly believe that no matter the circumstances there will always be enough season ticket holders and fans wanting to see Premiership football to maintain us around the 28k mark, especially when you factor in full houses for the glory teams.

[Duncan Shaw]

It's just so depressing though how quickly the pruning and dumbing down the ambition has happened.  The bright future stuff seems all so far away now.  It does make we wonder what the trigger was to make Randy the philanthropist fall out of love with it all.

[Simba]

I agree that we are 'treading water' and think this is a strategic decision from RL.  The parlous financials and especially the well discussed wage bill /revenue issue being presented as the reason for non investment which forced the club into this holding pattern.

Risso. "treading water " was a quote from a previous poster. I agree and I hope I made it clear: we are in a commercial vicious spiral and in my honest humble opinion (we don't have facts) we have created for ourselves a massive strategic mistake.

In short; by trading downwards utilising accountants models we can only fail. That is what I am saying. It needs a brave new start and for the first time I am doubting RL. Why? Because I don't like what I am seeing in Aston and we can also see what has happened across the pond. The Browns fans feel exactly the same. Exactly.

They however, do not have relegation and all it brings.

Neil H: I am sure you right and these accountants have factored in falling attendances whilst we re build - but relegation ? TV. EPL payments? We have to survive this season and perhaps next if not this. Attendances are actually not a massive income stream in comparison.

I am one of the calm ones but I am really concerned.

[Simba]

Sorry I buggared up my comment - see previous. In a rush to go out, on a promise.

[pav]

All then scarfs....all seemed so perfect at sheff utd game , now its all ..well ....er ..shit

[TheSandman]

RE the crowds: the important number is not where they are now, but where they will be next season if nothing changes.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

It Villa carry on playing this dull home football , the will struggle to get 25,000  in the near future.

I don't think Villa fans are that bothered about the dull football at Villa Park, they seem to care more about the final result. How else could you explain MON's popularity?

[pauliewalnuts]

It Villa carry on playing this dull home football , the will struggle to get 25,000  in the near future.

I don't think Villa fans are that bothered about the dull football at Villa Park, they seem to care more about the final result. How else could you explain MON's popularity?

Yeah, but this is dull football without the results.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

It Villa carry on playing this dull home football , the will struggle to get 25,000  in the near future.

I don't think Villa fans are that bothered about the dull football at Villa Park, they seem to care more about the final result. How else could you explain MON's popularity?

Yeah, but this is dull football without the results.

Exactly. So all McLeish needs to do is win games and not worry about how we do it.

[Hoppo]

The question really should be Is Randy the owner to take us backwards? Big Eck hasnt got a chance at the moment..

[Eigentor]

It Villa carry on playing this dull home football , the will struggle to get 25,000  in the near future.

I don't think Villa fans are that bothered about the dull football at Villa Park, they seem to care more about the final result. How else could you explain MON's popularity?

Yeah, but this is dull football without the results.

Exactly. So all McLeish needs to do is win games and not worry about how we do it.

The reason why MON was so popular, was that he happened to be manager at a time when Villa looked like maybe breaking into the top four. McLeish hasn't got a chance, as mentioned above. He has a reputation for playing poor football: as a result, people will perceive the football played under McLeish as worse than it actually is (note: I'm not saying that the standard of football is great at the moment).

[Rudy Can't Fail]

It Villa carry on playing this dull home football , the will struggle to get 25,000  in the near future.

I don't think Villa fans are that bothered about the dull football at Villa Park, they seem to care more about the final result. How else could you explain MON's popularity?

Yeah, but this is dull football without the results.

Exactly. So all McLeish needs to do is win games and not worry about how we do it.

The reason why MON was so popular, was that he happened to be manager at a time when Villa looked like maybe breaking into the top four. McLeish hasn't got a chance, as mentioned above. He has a reputation for playing poor football: as a result, people will perceive the football played under McLeish as worse than it actually is (note: I'm not saying that the standard of football is great at the moment).

Villa only ever looked like breaking into the top 4 due to the league position. The football was at best, midtable. The results, especially away from home were fantastic but we were still, just like now, pretty dull at Villa Park. You're right though, McLeish doesn't stand a chance but it would be interesting to see how different he'd be perceived if he had the same kind of money MON had to spend. What made MON's time exciting was more about what was happening all around the club due to Lerner's investment.

Given the same financial conditions, I really don't see a great deal of difference between the two managers. Neither were/are good enough for Aston Villa but only one is a selfish, egotistical twat.

[Legion]

You're too kind to him.