AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[VillaAlways]

It's heartening to at least see that the national press are getting the real picture.

Shame the people that can actually do something about it arent

[Vanilla]

It's heartening to at least see that the national press are getting the real picture.

MOTD didn't yesterday. They still banged on about the manager having a hard time because of his Blues connection.

[Pete3206]

Spot on Supertom. I'd go as far to say that we'd finish bottom with McLeish next season. I'm confident that he's off though and I think he already knows that, despite his ridiculous comments about being at Villa next season. Money is only thing keeping him glued to that bench.

[LeeB]

It's heartening to at least see that the national press are getting the real picture.

MOTD didn't yesterday. They still banged on about the manager having a hard time because of his Blues connection.

That's why I said 'press'.

[OzVilla]

Good job it's only 38 games these days.  With 42 we'd have gone down for sure.

I was heartened by the Club statement last week as I thought there was a genuine inference that the Board acknowledged that this ewasn't good enough but wanted to get us to the end of the season still in the PL.

Maybe it was my heart and not my head reading the statement, but Randy will be making a massive mistake if he doesn't make a change.  Anything other will be dereliction of duty imo.

We just dodged a bullet this time.   

[claret and blue blood]

From the Guardian:

Staying up is not something Aston Villa fans should be celebrating

One of the great joys of the league format is that surviving relegation is so often celebrated like a championship trophy. Despite a creditable 1-1 draw with Spurs, there was no such jubilation at Villa Park. Perhaps the overwhelming emotion was simple, inglorious relief, as the home side secured their Premier League status, barring a mathematical miracle. The sense of a narrow escape is borne out by the statistics: Villa were dominated, scraping 37% possession, and creating four chances to Spurs' 22.

Despite the footballing gods apparently being with their team today, Villa capitulated. With Spurs reduced to 10 men, Richard Dunne's needless challenge gave Spurs an easy route back into the game, following Ciaran Clark's fortunate opener. Villa have now dropped 22 points from winning positions this season. Had they never relinquished a lead, Alex McLeish's side would be one point behind Chelsea. If that were the case, furiously daubed banners would be in short supply in the Holte End.

The reality is that Villa have scored fewer than all but Stoke, and have won fewer games than doomed Blackburn. It is possible they will fail to reach 40 points, surviving only by others' shortcomings. McLeish has been fighting an uphill battle since his move across the second city, yet he has done little to stem the tide of ill feeling. He has introduced several young, promising players, yet they have transferred from a vibrant, successful youth team to a dispirited first XI that is ritualistically set up simply to avoid defeat.

One protest sign unveiled at full time summed the fans' feelings up: "It's not where you came from, it's where you're taking us." For now at least, the destination seems to be nowhere, rather than down. There may be hope for renewal somewhere amidst the frustration and recriminations, but McLeish seems the wrong man to lead the recovery

What a fantastic summing up of our plight,don't they read unbiased comments from the national press?

[Surrey Villain]

It looks like we've got another 7 days of hope before the truth gradually takes our body and soul like a cancer - he is not being sacked.

[LeeB]

I'm not one for mindless protest, but I think now we're safe those going next week should dedicate the entire 90 minutes to leaving the club with no doubt as to what course of action they should take following the final whistle.

[Clampy]

You would hope that Randy and Paul will be sitting down in the next couple of days to discuss who to bring in next. McLeish has made an absolute pigs ear of things this season and keeping him on would make no sense on or off the pitch. He did sound too confident for my liking on WM yesterday, but let's hope it was nothing more than the fact that with a microphone shoved in front of his face, he could'nt really say much else.

[OzVilla]

Well if Randy really needs telling any more other than what he's already heard and the seaosn record then he's more clueless than I think.

[VillaAlways]

He's getting the sack in the same way that Randy was never going to give him the job in the first place

[Legion]

We're safe, barring a miracle, this season, so...McLeish out. A truly incompetent, clueless manager.

[TonyD]

Don't buy season tickets. Simple

[olaftab]

It's heartening to at least see that the national press are getting the real picture.

Yes very good article.

[CJ]

Good summary of our plight in that Guardian article. For me the most telling bit is: "He has introduced several young, promising players, yet they have transferred from a vibrant, successful youth team to a dispirited first XI that is ritualistically set up simply to avoid defeat." McLeish in a nutshell.

I've been saying all season that he was given 2 objectives - get the wages down and keep us in the PL.  Lerner and Faulkner will be happy he's achieved those targets regardless of what he's destroyed along the way, and the horror is that he'll still be here come August.  Probably with Heskey on a contract extension just to rub it in the faces of us fans.