AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[Eigentor]

15th place going into mid Feb? He's underperforming, whichever way you want to cut it.

But as mentioned elsewhere, his record so far is about as good as GH was at the same stage last season. And GH had Downing, Young, NRC etc. (though, granted, was less fortunate/even more unfortunate with injuries).

The difference is that GH dared to claim that he had thought of a path forward: ship out the troublemakers and well-paid slackers, and try to build a new team based on a more healthy ethic. AM has his hands tied behind his back, and lacks the team-building experience and knowledge of GH. Thus hope is reduced. But in terms of points on board, he's no worse than the Frenchman.

[pauliewalnuts]

15th place going into mid Feb? He's underperforming, whichever way you want to cut it.

But as mentioned elsewhere, his record so far is about as good as GH was at the same stage last season. And GH had Downing, Young, NRC etc. (though, granted, was less fortunate/even more unfortunate with injuries).

The difference is that GH dared to claim that he had thought of a path forward: ship out the troublemakers and well-paid slackers, and try to build a new team based on a more healthy ethic. AM has his hands tied behind his back, and lacks the team-building experience and knowledge of GH. Thus hope is reduced. But in terms of points on board, he's no worse than the Frenchman.

Don't forget, Houllier was parachuted into a club in utter disarray after the season had started.

McLeish had practically the whole summer and pre-season, and had the chance to get his own players in.

Against Man United at home last season, in the midst of the worst injury crisis in years, we were forced to start with Hogg and Bannan in the middle, but we had a right go at them. McLeish's approach would be entirely different.

[Jimbo]

Mick McCarthy has been booted out by the dogheads. Would anyone swap him for McLeish for the rest of the season?

[VinnieChase84]

The scary thought is if he were to go you just know that Steve Bruce would come in!
I also know for a fact that Bruce was desperate for the Villa job when it was available last time!

[Reuben]

Mick McCarthy has been booted out by the dogheads. Would anyone swap him for McLeish for the rest of the season?

No

If we are to get rid then I'd prefer MacDonald/Cowans to see out the season

[VinnieChase84]

I see Wolves have acted swiftly.
Now would be a perfect time to get rid of AM as we have a two week break now

[spk]

This may have been said before,I dont know and dare I say it,what about poaching Houghton from sha?

[pauliewalnuts]

This may have been said before,I dont know and dare I say it,what about poaching Houghton from sha?

If the choice were "go forward with Hughton or McLeish", I'd take Hughton every single time.

[Concrete John]

McLeish had practically the whole summer and pre-season, and had the chance to get his own players in.

That time doesn't help too much when he had no money to spend.

[spk]

Too right,his record at both nufc and sha is excellent,decent level headed ambitous young manager,would be great for us.

[mattjpa]

Great post irish, sums up how i feel as well. This is prob a post for the post match thread but ill share it here as it probably falls on McLeish to address:
It struck me early on during the game and thus I looked out for it during the match but I noticed time and time again how the players were only interested in hitting the ball forward aimlessly. This ranged from 50-50headers on the half way line to defenders playing the ball out from defence, to clearances from corners. Just time and time again forward balls to players under pressure which almost always came back. It was like they didnt want the ball and were just desperate for it not to be them that lost it so hit it in the direction of someone else. I then thought about a highlight reel (i think it was the neviller that put it together) of Swansea that showed their players dropping shoulders, defenders taking risks, passing back, forward, playing in triangles, 20-30 passes before attempting to breach a defence - anything just to hit a man in a good position and not loose the ball, to make some space and try to play football. Technically, i would say they are worse footballers than we have but have a different mindset and think this is probably down to confidence. We defend so deep, our strikers are so isolated, I cannot believe AMC sets us up to play like this.
The problem is how do you arrest a complete lack of confidence? MON has done it at sunderland and they are a completely different team. Our squad is capable of what sunderland have done of late but if the management are incapable of arresting this slide they either need to go or need an addition that is - a man motivator or sports psycologist or something.

[pauliewalnuts]

McLeish had practically the whole summer and pre-season, and had the chance to get his own players in.

That time doesn't help too much when he had no money to spend.

He managed to spend £18m, John. That's not a massive amount, and he lost two players in the summer, but it's still money.

The no money argument doesn't really stack up too well, anyway, when you consider how little he's getting out of the players he does have.

He had a £20m striker up front yesterday, who must have touched the ball about three times all afternoon.

We are just so ambitionless. Yesterday I was cringeing watching that nonsense.

[VillaAlways]

This may have been said before,I dont know and dare I say it,what about poaching Houghton from sha?

I'd love it Unfortunately the board are so stupid they wouldn't dare because they think we would hate him being from Blues

[eastie]

Wouldn't surprise me to see Steve bruce at wolves- they have acted fast and given themselves a chance to turn things around but randy I fear can't see the wood for the trees and probably thinks everything is fine and dandy if he believed mcleishs ridiculous aftermath comments yesterday.

[Concrete John]

McLeish had practically the whole summer and pre-season, and had the chance to get his own players in.

That time doesn't help too much when he had no money to spend.

He managed to spend £18m, John. That's not a massive amount, and he lost two players in the summer, but it's still money.

The no money argument doesn't really stack up too well, anyway, when you consider how little he's getting out of the players he does have.

He had a £20m striker up front yesterday, who must have touched the ball about three times all afternoon.

We are just so ambitionless. Yesterday I was cringeing watching that nonsense.

I agree to an extent, but the squad now is noticably weaker than the one that finished 9th last season.  When you take into account than none of the departures were down to him and the relatively small amount of money available to find replacements, then it is a contributing factor.