AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[Dave]

And with what he spent, and the shite he signed and didn't play, they were right.

Actually, I think it was those who whilst aware of his limitations, warned against who he might be replaced with were he to be fired who were right.

[sid1964]

So McLeish is off to a learning excercise with the Browns staff.....as anyone seen how poor the Browns did this season!!!

If McLeish is still our manager next season, then I wont be renewing my season ticket...If I decide to go to any games I will pick and choose my matches and look for the special deals for games.

I reckon I will have no problem getting seats for games as I cant see many turning up to the games

I think the only time that the Board will take notice of us 'FANS' is if Season Ticket sales drop dramatically, we will then see how much Lerner backs his MAN.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

So McLeish is off to a learning excercise with the Browns staff.....as anyone seen how poor the Browns did this season!!!
 

Just read that load of old nonsense on the OS.

Waste of money sending him and his bone headed lickspittles there.

[mr underhill]

I fear that that McLeish's position is unassailable, irrespective of relegation. Why? Because Lerner publically stuck two finger's up to the fans when he appointed him after bowing to pressure not to interview McClaren and nothing is going to deflect him from sticking to his man now for fear of totally losing face - the billionaire business man lording it over the humble plebians who will pay their hard earned come what may. I didn't want him (because of his record, not because of where he came from), don't want him, and never will want him, but we're stuck with him for three years.

[mattjpa]

I just don't think McLeish will make our team better over the long haul. He can't seem to get the best out of players who need to be making an impact in order for this club to flourish. He got Ireland to come around but cant keep him happy, never fully sorted out the backs and can't design a free-flowing offense that can successfully build the ball up to one of the most prolific strikers in the Prem. Its becoming increasingly difficult to support.

This is my first time saying this but the things I would do to have Hou back..

I honestly felt like there were about 10 of us on here who could see the wood through the trees with GED and could see what he we trying to achieve. I remember arguing with people wanting him gone after every game, who were blinded by crap like the Liverpool incident and results regardless of performance. This club would have done well under him and grown but I think randy pulled the plug due to fans wishes and the rebel squad members who had their lives inconvenienced by him He should have moved houllier up and lessened the load whilst installing someone like hughton to work with the squad. I'd like to flick all those people the bird and say u got what u wished for but they are probably all out protest marching against mcleish

[ozzjim]

I fear that that McLeish's position is unassailable, irrespective of relegation. Why? Because Lerner publically stuck two finger's up to the fans when he appointed him after bowing to pressure not to interview McClaren and nothing is going to deflect him from sticking to his man now for fear of totally losing face - the billionaire business man lording it over the humble plebians who will pay their hard earned come what may. I didn't want him (because of his record, not because of where he came from), don't want him, and never will want him, but we're stuck with him for three years.

I fear you are spot on. Most chairmen would finding the red button now with his record and our stature. Lerner has put himself in a position and essentially buried his head.

[ozzjim]

I just don't think McLeish will make our team better over the long haul. He can't seem to get the best out of players who need to be making an impact in order for this club to flourish. He got Ireland to come around but cant keep him happy, never fully sorted out the backs and can't design a free-flowing offense that can successfully build the ball up to one of the most prolific strikers in the Prem. Its becoming increasingly difficult to support.

This is my first time saying this but the things I would do to have Hou back..

I honestly felt like there were about 10 of us on here who could see the wood through the trees with GED and could see what he we trying to achieve. I remember arguing with people wanting him gone after every game, who were blinded by crap like the Liverpool incident and results regardless of performance. This club would have done well under him and grown but I think randy pulled the plug due to fans wishes and the rebel squad members who had their lives inconvenienced by him He should have moved houllier up and lessened the load whilst installing someone like hughton to work with the squad. I'd like to flick all those people the bird and say u got what u wished for but they are probably all out protest marching against mcleish

Agree 100%. Miss GH and could see his plan, there is not one now at all.

[Rick_avfc]

If McLeish is still our manager next season, then I wont be renewing my season ticket...If I decide to go to any games I will pick and choose my matches and look for the special deals for games.

I reckon I will have no problem getting seats for games as I cant see many turning up to the games

Ditto! No way am I parting with my cash on a season ticket if that man is still in charge.  I can think of a million different ways of using that money

[Merv]

Given the fact that Randy is not exposed to the negativity and apathy of Villa Park these days and is no doubt being spun a positive picture of the Saturday 3pm atmosphere, I suspect we’ll be seeing McLeish’s face for quite a while.

Absolutely. Three days on, and many on here are beginning to believe we were unlucky not to get something against City, and that anyone critical of McLeish is only reacting to a single defeat, not what they've seen over the course of the whole season so far.
I'm sure Lerner's been assured we were desperately unlucky to lose against the league leaders. It was the league leaders, after all. Everything's fine, really.

[KevinGage]

I do have some sympathy for AM as others have said he has been hung out to dry with an unbalanced squad from the previous overspend.My worry is next season if he stays and does get money his natural instincts are towards caution and in a years time I can see us playing the same way but with the right negative defensive players for his system.

He had the likes of Bentley, Hleb and Martins on the books at B-lose last season, and was still more comfortable defending deep and punting the ball up to Cameron Jerome to chase.  So you might be right.

[ktvillan]

Another agreement on Houllier.  For all his faults, especially his appalling PR gaffes, on the pitch he seemed to be taking us in the right direction, and had sussed out the bad apples.  His signings last January probably saved us from relegation, and he had also supposedly targetted some decent players for the summer as well that would not have cost the earth in wages or transfer fees. 

I also fear we are stuck with AM even if we go down.  The argument then will be that he has experience of getting teams promoted from the Championship.

[ktvillan]

I just had a flashback to the time when many on hear were calling for 'MON Out'.

I hope you're all happy.

Although I wasn't calling for his head, I am not unhappy MON has gone, couldn't stand the man or his football.  Sure in a way it's a case of "be careful what you wish for" but obviously people (probably rightly) thought we could do better than persistent 6th place with a better manager and the same backing, or at least maintain that and play more entertaining football.   Unfortunately the backing wasn't possible due to MON's excesses, and Lerner's singularly unique take on a better manager/better football ended up being the anti-football himself, McLeish.  I doubt anyone could have imagined that bizarre scenario unfolding when criticising MON.  You can't legislate for an owner as utterly clueless as RL seems to be.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Personally, I'm not about to join the 'McLeish is a disaster, so Houllier couldn't have been that bad' camp yet.
Both were apalling appointments by an owner and board who have demonstrated an embarrasing lack of football knowledge.

[adrenachrome]

It was ugly to watch but effective for the most part.

'Effective for the most part' doesn't get you a result.
The approach failed, and as a spectacle, it was as dull as dishwater.

That said, the real culprit still get's off lightly whilst McLeish has to weather the shit storm.

The fracking shit barometer is rising.

[KevinGage]

Given a straight choice -and ignoring the fact that HE walked out on us (which often gets lost in these dewy eyed reflections) I'd rather have MON than McLeish. 

Better yet, I'd rather have neither.