AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[WarszaVillan]

No we would have finished 7th or 8th...maybe even 6th

If as rumoured he was planning on spending the Milner money on Parker and Keane as well as Ireland we may have been top four. Parker is exactly the player we've needed and would shore up our defence no end.

[cheltenhamlion]

The links to Parker suddenly surfaced when he was back in work.

In reality, we hadn't enquired about Parker at all whilst he was still here.

[Matt C]

McGeady and Keane were the principal targets at the time weren't they? The former being touted around for circa £10m.

[WarszaVillan]

in actual fact noone knows who he was after, despite many people spending lots of time ridiculing him for wanting to sign Keane. That one seems to have gone away now.

The fact remains he was a good Villa manager who will undoubtedly do well at other clubs. People should get over it. The way he left was a shame, but if it had just been him walking out without a reason then he wouldn't have won compensation and we'd know all the details.

For over two years now this club has been a shambles, the buck falls with Learner.

[ktvillan]

MON will always get teams to top 6-8.  That's his level. When you are below that level it looks fantastic.  When you've been at that level for a few seasons, you will inevitably ask "what's next"?.   In MON's case it looked like more of the same was the best we could have hoped for.  That's what Sunderland will get, which will suit them fine for 3-4 years I would think.  Obviously some Villa fans were and still would be quite happy with that, despite the shiteball we were playing.  I wasn't, and the only reasons there are any regrets over his leaving is that the owner revealed himself to be utterly clueless as to how to replace him with a better option, and he'd allowed MON to empty the piggy bank before doing one. 

[DB]

Just heard from TalkSport that Alex Mc has 4 lowest win ratio of any Manager in the Prem, past or present. Great!

Are the other three Barnsley, Swindon and Derby managers?  (move to Football trivia thread)

If I recall, it was McCarthy, Bassett and Megson - so you wern't far off!

[Fingers]

MON will always get teams to top 6-8.  That's his level. When you are below that level it looks fantastic.  When you've been at that level for a few seasons, you will inevitably ask "what's next"?.   In MON's case it looked like more of the same was the best we could have hoped for.  That's what Sunderland will get, which will suit them fine for 3-4 years I would think.  Obviously some Villa fans were and still would be quite happy with that, despite the shiteball we were playing.  I wasn't, and the only reasons there are any regrets over his leaving is that the owner revealed himself to be utterly clueless as to how to replace him with a better option, and he'd allowed MON to empty the piggy bank before doing one. 

Absolutely and in 3-4 years when Sunderland reach their ceiling and questions are being asked, he'll spit his dummy out and walk away again.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Just heard from TalkSport that Alex Mc has 4 lowest win ratio of any Manager in the Prem, past or present. Great!

That would be the Premiership experience that Mr Lerner Sir and Faulkner held so much store by.

[KevinGage]

The links to Parker suddenly surfaced when he was back in work.

In reality, we hadn't enquired about Parker at all whilst he was still here.

I do recall speculation at the time (during the long drawn out Milner saga)  linking us with Parker.

But MON wanting Parker doesn't automatically mean we'd have been able to get him - even if the powers that be tried to support that decision.

Parker was West Ham's best player, and this was the summer before they went down so there was no need to sell.  In fact the Smut Peddlers had made a pledge to the fans that he definitely wouldn't be sold.  So if we had wanted to do business, it wouldn't have been a cut price deal anywhere near the figure Tottingham eventually paid 12 months later.

[KevinGage]

Just heard from TalkSport that Alex Mc has 4 lowest win ratio of any Manager in the Prem, past or present. Great!

That would be the Premiership experience that Mr Lerner Sir and Faulkner held so much store by.

Aye.

Bad Prem experience is better than good experience in a league of equal (or superior) standing abroad, it seems. Well done to all involved for coming up with that criteria.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

If Fucking Eck does go in the next few games, there will be a good chance of us ending up with Alan 'Birminham' Curbishley.
He's just pulled out of the running for the Wolves job.

[Neil Hawkes]

No we would have finished 7th or 8th...maybe even 6th

Don't agree and I'll say it again - I believe one of the reasons he walked was he knew the squad he was leaving behind could not reach the same heights as the previous season, he could not bring in replacements until the deadwood was gone and no-one wanted the deadwood.
He left to preserve his reputation as a top 6 manager - if he could have kept replenishing on an unsustainable budget, he would still be here.
One thing Randy Lerner is not, is disloyal.

[Rigadon]

If Fucking Eck does go in the next few games, there will be a good chance of us ending up with Alan 'Birminham' Curbishley.
He's just pulled out of the running for the Wolves job.

Don't even joke.

[Apyadg]

MON will always get teams to top 6-8.  That's his level. When you are below that level it looks fantastic.  When you've been at that level for a few seasons, you will inevitably ask "what's next"?.   In MON's case it looked like more of the same was the best we could have hoped for.  That's what Sunderland will get, which will suit them fine for 3-4 years I would think.  Obviously some Villa fans were and still would be quite happy with that, despite the shiteball we were playing.  I wasn't, and the only reasons there are any regrets over his leaving is that the owner revealed himself to be utterly clueless as to how to replace him with a better option, and he'd allowed MON to empty the piggy bank before doing one. 

Absolutely and in 3-4 years when Sunderland reach their ceiling and questions are being asked, he'll spit his dummy out and walk away again.

Why would they ask questions? Top 6 for Sunderland, consistantly, season after season, is fantastic. He'll be idolised there as he was at Leicester, and if he plays his cards right he'll get a much better job for achieving such success there (When have Sunderland ever consistantly been a team in the top 6, or there abouts?

He'll have problems, I think, if he moves on to a team that have tasted a bit more success and want to move on from there.

[kippaxvilla2]

MON will always get teams to top 6-8.  That's his level. When you are below that level it looks fantastic.  When you've been at that level for a few seasons, you will inevitably ask "what's next"?.   In MON's case it looked like more of the same was the best we could have hoped for.  That's what Sunderland will get, which will suit them fine for 3-4 years I would think.  Obviously some Villa fans were and still would be quite happy with that, despite the shiteball we were playing.  I wasn't, and the only reasons there are any regrets over his leaving is that the owner revealed himself to be utterly clueless as to how to replace him with a better option, and he'd allowed MON to empty the piggy bank before doing one. 

Absolutely and in 3-4 years when Sunderland reach their ceiling and questions are being asked, he'll spit his dummy out and walk away again.

So we had a right to expect better than 6-8th.  And who amongst Manure, Arse, Liverpool, Spuds, Citeh, Chavski were we going to leapfrog on a regular basis to achieve the greatness we so richly deserve based on past records?