AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[Dave]

well 2004 is not a few years ago Dave. To me anyway the recession has kicked in big time. I'd say only Citeh in this league have a vastly better side than they did 3 or 4 years ago. The likes of chelsea and United, as well as the also rans all seem weaker to me

No, you're right Greg. It's clearly a lifetime ago.

Alright then, in 2008 a side regularly featuring Lee Carsley, James McFadden, Tony Hibbert and Alan Stubbs finished fifth. Where would a side featuring their equivalents finish now? Higher or lower?

I'd quite happily agree that Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool are weaker than they were then. But when your original point was that the majority of the league is weaker now than it was then, it's not particularly relevant.

[Greg N'Ash]

my point is it seeps down from the top. United don't replace Ronaldo, Arsenal don't replace Fabregas, chelsea stop buying top names (Torres i suppose). maybe i've missed it but who have wigan spent the N'Zogbia money on? where's bolton's cahill money gone? Same with us (though admittedly we know where that money's gone) There seems to be a general tightening of the belts across the league and a general lowering of standards, and i reckon MON's best side could have sneaked 4th this season.  without the catastrophic heskey purchase obv.

[Dave]

So you point isn't that the league is getting weaker, your point is that teams don't spend as much money as they used to?

Which isn't the same thing at all.

[Greg N'Ash]

yeah there's absolutely no correlation between spending money and how good your team is...........

bottom line is say liverpool, Newcastle or chelsea, all were we were a few years ago. Now to my mind the Villa team of 3 or 4 years ago would beat them now, and in fact would give Manu and Citeh a game. Back then that wasn't the case.

[Dave]

The first point - not particularly. The biggest factor in the success of a team is the amount you pay in wages, not what you pay in transfer fees.

And that Villa team of three or four years ago managed to 'give a game' and even beat all those teams even when they were the superstar-laden teams whose demise you are mourning.

[Greg N'Ash]

The first point - not particularly. The biggest factor in the success of a team is the amount you pay in wages, not what you pay in transfer fees.

And that Villa team of three or four years ago managed to 'give a game' and even beat all those teams even when they were the superstar-laden teams whose demise you are mourning.

The first point is just ridiculous as chelsea outspent the mancs in wages year after year and yet the mancs seem to be holding thier own. Likewise we outspent tottenham

As for the 2nd point I'm not mourning their demise. Just stating the obvious (to me anyway) that the Villa side of 3 or 4 years ago would be a shoe-in for a top 4 place today which say's to me anyway that the standards have fallen seeing it would have to finish above 6th. We have of course declined seriously since then but so have everyone else as well

[olaftab]

There seems to be a general tightening of the belts across the league and a general lowering of standards

This is rubbish. If you used the same analysis in the housing market than a fall in house prices would mean that quality of houses has gone down. This is not the case. It's a normalisation in the market place.

[Dave]

The first point - not particularly. The biggest factor in the success of a team is the amount you pay in wages, not what you pay in transfer fees.

And that Villa team of three or four years ago managed to 'give a game' and even beat all those teams even when they were the superstar-laden teams whose demise you are mourning.

The first point is just ridiculous as chelsea outspent the mancs in wages year after year and yet the mancs seem to be holding thier own. Likewise we outspent tottenham

It's fortunate then that I said 'the biggest factor' not 'the only factor' then isn't it?

And as that's what actual research, statistics and data analysis seems to suggest - I'll take that over the gregnash 'paranoia and fuzzy logic theory'.

[Greg N'Ash]

Don't really care Dave. Its obvious you came into this discussion with you own agenda and just wanted to score points while being unpleasant and abusive at the same time, but meh i'm used to you. I stand by my point. If you think the Milner, Young, Barry, pre-old age petrov side would be battling it out currently for 6th with Newcastle i'd say you were mad. 3 or 4 years ago, the current newcastle side would be about 10th

[JUAN PABLO]

Just watched his interview again .

He said we were unlucky today , Richard got a bad  injury .  In the last few seconds you moron , whats that got to do with the other 88 minutes you could not be bothered to score a goal .

The other thing he said was we were unlucky not to take the chances we had in the first half . What game was he watching?

[Fergal]

Just watched his interview again .

He said we were unlucky today , Richard got a bad  injury .  In the last few seconds you moron , whats that got to do with the other 88 minutes you could not be bothered to score a goal .

The other thing he said was we were unlucky not to take the chances we had in the first half . What game was he watching?

That interview nailed his coffin lid for me.  It shows how he sees the game and our place in it.

[Ian.]

McLeish meant we were unlucky with the result and then we had further bad luck with Dunne at the end. Not for one minute did he think it had a bearing on the match.

Its funny as when I went to work everyone said we were unlucky and could have nicked a point at the end. So its not only McLeish who watched it with that view point.

[villadelph]

McLeish meant we were unlucky with the result and then we had further bad luck with Dunne at the end. Not for one minute did he think it had a bearing on the match.

Its funny as when I went to work everyone said we were unlucky and could have nicked a point at the end. So its not only McLeish who watched it with that view point.

The fact of the matter is, we shouldn't be voluntarily taking an 88 minute beating and then depend on scrapping an undeserved point at home. If we don't score we won't win.

If we don't win 3 of our next 4 heads will roll.

[Rigadon]

To paraphrase Dave Woodhall's latest article, every time he turns a corner he seems to balls it up for himself.

The performance wasn't acceptable and the interview showed him in rabit-in-the-headlights mode a la Spurs away and Utd / Liverpool at home.

His game plan whenever we start with Heskey is defend, defend, defend.  Not at all wise when you have a fucking shit defence. 

Running out of patience with him.

Either his first team coach isn't up to it or it's AM himself (or both). 

[PaulWinch again]

McLeish meant we were unlucky with the result and then we had further bad luck with Dunne at the end. Not for one minute did he think it had a bearing on the match.

Its funny as when I went to work everyone said we were unlucky and could have nicked a point at the end. So its not only McLeish who watched it with that view point.

We weren't remotely unlucky we got exactly what we deserved for showing absolutely no ambition at home.