McLeish could be the manager to take this club forward

[N'ZMAV]

I'm not the biggest AMC lover in the world, but he identified the problem and made the changes, so, Ok, Gabby was ill, but he made the change and shuffled the pack and got the result. Fair play to him. I think that might have made a few people sit up and take notice that he does actually watch the game.

 Can't remember MON making too may effective changes.

I do miss Martin's take off Shorey and put Harewood on and move the whole team around.

[Merv]

It's one we can debate for ages:

Moving Clark from a midfield role that he's performed very well in for weeks
Dropping an out-of-form Warnock
Playing Clark, not a regular left-back, against a side with two lively wingers
Putting Gardner in for his full debut
The switch at half-time, forced though it was upon him

There are all sorts of plusses and minuses in there, but at least there was some decisive action at half time and it worked!

[Concrete John]

Thing is, if he had made that half time switch and Warnock had had a mare and we lost, the fact Gabby was ill and the change was forced on him wouldn't be accepted as a defence by his critics.

[N'ZMAV]

It's a difficult situation, some fans will not be won over. No matter what.

[stubbsyandy]

It seems to me that with Gabby ill and Ciaran not looking comfortable at full back ( and i thought he may have done a job there, but he is definately a central player) there was far too much room for Kightley to play, especially as he ws back in the team and desperate to make an impression. So at half time AM had to change something. we would all have been happy at Warnock being dropped as he has been poor, but he is a capable right back when he plays well, so to shuffle things around was an intelligent, and successful, decision. Thank goodness Warnock gave a good performance.
I think we have a potential gem in Clark, either in central midfield or probably at centre back, and any lack of pace is offset by his intelligence. AM is giving the boy a run; how many times did we cry out for MON to give our good young players a run in the team?

[not3bad]

there was some decisive action at half time and it worked!

Isn't that enough?

[Merv]

I think so. That's why I said it.

[Monty]

Just as one defeat doesn't make a manager rubbish, one victory doesn't make him good enough. As for the specifics of the change which worked, of the changes of his that have worked a decent number could be said to have been forced on him. I'm not saying he would have made him, just that many of the managers who are good at making these changes are seldom overshadowed by doubt.

I'm still not totally convinced, though the last game was fun and a bit mental, so more of that and I won't even mind if he's tactically very there. Just as long as it's a) successful, b) fun or c) both, I'm happy.

[Merv]

That's about where I am too, Monty. Sometimes it's nice to take a break from worrying and just enjoy Robbie Keane lashing one into the top corner in the final minutes.

[Dave Clark Five]

Today's Guardian football weekly podcast contains a good 10 mins discussion of the
Villa-Arsenal game, including one of the journos having a right old go at McLeish.

What does that pillock know about Villa? We see every game. He goes when allocated. These people need reporting to the Club so that they get barred from the Press Box
and all its trappings.

What a draconian attitude, just because he doesnt share your  opinion of mr mcleish.

If Dalglish passes comment on us, he is a twat. So is this reporter, by the sound of it.

[pauliewalnuts]

The reporter is paid to pass comment on us, though, that's the difference.

[Dave Clark Five]

The reporter is paid to pass comment on us, though, that's the difference.

...and enjoy the Club's hospitality. I know that I can't win on this. However, I would do a Fergie and ban him. It is probably something that McLeish doesn't care about. He might just ask him to repeat it next time he sees him.

[Merv]

Good idea. That's what some clubs do to journalists from local newspapers, until the journalist plays ball and ends up churning out a series of lame PR pieces, not a hint of any constructive writing whatsoever.

[Dave]

The reporter is paid to pass comment on us, though, that's the difference.

...and enjoy the Club's hospitality. I know that I can't win on this. However, I would do a Fergie and ban him.

And look utterly pathetic.

Should journalists only be allowed to write positive things?

[DB]

The reporter is paid to pass comment on us, though, that's the difference.

...and enjoy the Club's hospitality. I know that I can't win on this. However, I would do a Fergie and ban him.

And look utterly pathetic.

Should journalists only be allowed to write positive things?

A lot of the posters on here who comment on the Villa don't go to the games, are you going to ban them too when they don't say something favourable?