AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[covvilla-gonetodevon]

Not sure where to post this but lambert is latest comment in here...

I am feeling underwhelmed with it all!

I think we are a mess and we need a 12 month transition period with whoever is in charge, even if mcleish stays, I cant see us improving next year, he would need 12 months (dont get me wrong i dont want that his philosophy does not map to Aston Villa's)

I get the feeling with lambert we will back to square one, improve after 12 months, start climbing the leagure then peak at us getting to around top 6 playing football we are not happy with in 4 to 5 years time!

Its a long road ahead and i think we need someone who sets the club up the right way from top to bottom, like a wenger...

Houllier did set up Liverpool to have the success they had under Benetiz and in my opinion we should of stuck... but the past is the past

Martinez did set up swansea to be the success they are today so of all the names he is the only one that interests me as a long term fan appeasing prospective...

Truth is I dont know who that person is, the problem - The board dont either!

We need someone with a proven record of working with young, talented players, 'cos that's the material available to next season's manager. And McLeish has no record in realising the potential of young talent ...

... I'm beginning to wonder whether RL has been smarter than we reckoned. How about this for a scenario?

Step 1: bring in an experienced manager (manager A) to deal with the older / opinionated professionals with 12-18 months left on their contract. See how the season goes.
Step 2: after offloading the older / opinionated professionals, review firstly how the season went and assess whether manager A has the ability to work with what's left of the playing squad and can unearth some inexpensive gems in the transfer market.
Step 3: if manager A cannot meet the new needs (work with what's left of the playing squad and unearth some inexpensive gems in the transfer market), get rid and get someone in who is better suited - manager B.

McLeish = manager A
  ? = manager B

Maybe this is just bollocks but it does seem  to answer the needs of the owner - to reduce costs and offload MON's player-legacy - and play to the strengths of the Academy. Maybe McLeish is even aware of this strategy and collusive with it?

Nah, probably bollocks!

Yeah, bollocks. You forgot about the 3 year contract!!!

[Concrete John]

Sorry I don't buy that, as it doesn't make any sense. Also the skating very very close to relegation can't be part of a 'plan'.

Agree, although they obviously took a gamble on 'the skating very very close to relegation' by making the appointment they did and selling two of the players that kept us up last season.

I'm sure that were that scenario accurate then manager B would want to pick and choose who he could work with from the senior squad himself anyway.

[Fergal]

Jems Nursery, the mirror

No future: Villa's McLeish stops planning for next season as relegation looms larger

Scheduled meetings with agents about potential signings are shelved as under-fire boss battles to avoid the drop - and the sack


Oh Eck: Aston Villa fans' anger towards McLeish is soaring
Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has put planning for next season on the back burner as he battles to save his job.

Tuesday’s home defeat by Bolton has left Villa just three points above the relegation zone.

The club have pledged their full support for McLeish ahead of Villa’s three remaining fixtures.

But the fury of the fans, who have never taken to the Scot because he managed their hated rivals Birmingham City, has soared to new levels.

Now, McLeish has stopped planning for next season to concentrate on saving Villa – and his own skin.

He has already snapped up AZ Alkmaar’s Australian midfielder Brett Holman, but this week aborted further scheduled talks with agents about new players.

Some rare good news for Big Eck is that Richard Dunne will be fit to return for Saturday's crunch clash with West Brom.

The Republic of Ireland centre-half said: “It will be terrible if we were to get relegated, it will be a disaster for the whole club.

“I’ve been through it before with Manchester City. It’s tough on the players, the fans and the other people around the club who work there.

“But it’s still in our own hands and we’ve got a good enough squad to get out of it.”

I thought we had sorted that out.  It's not where he came from it's what he is.

[JUAN PABLO]

Peter Withes on TS now talking about Villa 1981/82 and modern Villa

[NiiLamptey]

We need someone with a proven record of working with young, talented players, 'cos that's the material available to next season's manager. And McLeish has no record in realising the potential of young talent ...

... I'm beginning to wonder whether RL has been smarter than we reckoned. How about this for a scenario?

Step 1: bring in an experienced manager (manager A) to deal with the older / opinionated professionals with 12-18 months left on their contract. See how the season goes.
Step 2: after offloading the older / opinionated professionals, review firstly how the season went and assess whether manager A has the ability to work with what's left of the playing squad and can unearth some inexpensive gems in the transfer market.
Step 3: if manager A cannot meet the new needs (work with what's left of the playing squad and unearth some inexpensive gems in the transfer market), get rid and get someone in who is better suited - manager B.

McLeish = manager A
  ? = manager B

Maybe this is just bollocks but it does seem  to answer the needs of the owner - to reduce costs and offload MON's player-legacy - and play to the strengths of the Academy. Maybe McLeish is even aware of this strategy and collusive with it?

Nah, probably bollocks!

Makes sense to be fair, only thing I dont get is not getting Eck on, on a 12month Contract, surely a bloke who has releagated a team twice getting a PL job offer would of accepted a 12month contract, if he really believes he is good, then he knows he would be extended...

[damon loves JT]

What we *need* is a win and a draw. The manager thing can wait till after that, as far as I'm concerned.

[James]

What we *need* is a win and a draw. The manager thing can wait till after that, as far as I'm concerned.

The problem is that, if you look at the pre-match thread, more than 70% of us don't think we can even beat the Baggies with McLeech in charge!

[pauliewalnuts]

What we *need* is a win and a draw. The manager thing can wait till after that, as far as I'm concerned.

The problem is that, if you look at the pre-match thread, more than 70% of us don't think we can even beat the Baggies with McLeech in charge!

True, but that doesn't really change anything. Regardless of what we think we'll get, we have to get the most we can.

[SX150]

We are spiraling out of control. Each game, each week, things just get worse. We have sat back and seen the points difference dwindle. I really hope I am wrong but can't see us picking another point up as things are now. That leaves us relying on a miracle to survive. I really thought we would see his exit in the week. Get Sid & Co in now we have absolutely nothing to lose in my eyes.
If nothing gives then I look forward to Spiderman, a Banana and Ghandi throttling a certain Alex McLeish in the technical area at Carrow Road.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

What we *need* is a win and a draw. The manager thing can wait till after that, as far as I'm concerned.

The problem is that, if you look at the pre-match thread, more than 70% of us don't think we can even beat the Baggies with McLeech in charge!

True, but that doesn't really change anything. Regardless of what we think we'll get, we have to get the most we can.

I want more than that though.

[pauliewalnuts]

What we *need* is a win and a draw. The manager thing can wait till after that, as far as I'm concerned.

The problem is that, if you look at the pre-match thread, more than 70% of us don't think we can even beat the Baggies with McLeech in charge!

True, but that doesn't really change anything. Regardless of what we think we'll get, we have to get the most we can.

I want more than that though.

Would 120 percent effort be enough?

[WarleyWonder]

What we *need* is a win and a draw. The manager thing can wait till after that, as far as I'm concerned.

The problem is that, if you look at the pre-match thread, more than 70% of us don't think we can even beat the Baggies with McLeech in charge!

True, but that doesn't really change anything. Regardless of what we think we'll get, we have to get the most we can.

I want more than that though.

So what do you want Rt Hon?

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

So what do you want Rt Hon?

1. I want World peace and an end to famine.
2. I want my family to be happy and healthy.
3. I want Villa to avoid relegation and to get back to where we belong.
4. I want to push you into the path of a bus.

[pauliewalnuts]

So what do you want Rt Hon?

1. I want World peace and an end to famine.
2. I want my family to be happy and healthy.
3. I want Villa to avoid relegation and to get back to where we belong.
4. I want to push you into the path of a bus.

Ha ha ha, brilliant.

[CJ]

So what do you want Rt Hon?

1. I want World peace and an end to famine.
2. I want my family to be happy and healthy.
3. I want Villa to avoid relegation and to get back to where we belong.
4. I want to push you into the path of a bus.

Excellent - genuinely laughed out loud at that!