AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[Rigadon]

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?

None at all, but that we didn't ever leap frog them tells you a story of it's own doesn't it?  Sorry to jump into the debate by the way.

MON's a good manager and we were a better side with him at the helm, no question about it.  But he didn't get us into the champions league.  Whether he does so at Sunderland is a matter of debate but my guess is he won't. 

[WarszaVillan]

We were competing with Spurs and in fact getting above them till a couple of seasons ago under MON. The next step was bringing in quality. I remember during a phone in during his last season when he said he felt we were getting close to being able to attract real quality players from abroad. He openly said before his last season how he wanted Snieder but wasn't able to get him. Then Spurs go and get players like Van der Vaart. MON got us to that point where we had to then take another step. Yes he wasted some money, but he also bought some very good players as well. He built a team with characters and leaders, but it needed more. I remember walking out of Wembley after the League Cup final and feeling that this could be the end. A team needs that trophy, that bit of luck. MON may be lucky but he didn't get that bit of luck that day .

[Rip Van We Go Again]

The key moment for me was the signing of Heskey.

We were crying out for a goalscorer and he showed no nous or imagination by signing one of his ex charges, who not only wasn't a consistent goalscorer, but had gone past his peak anyway.

His dogged insistence on refusing to sign players from foreign leagues was baffling and caused us to go down the expensive British League route, the expense of which ultimately led to his man baby walkout, which incidentaly was timed with a spitefullness that defies belief.

I think in the transfer market he was a very confused person, signing the likes of Davies and Beye on top dollar and then deciding virtually straight away that he didn't want them.

Decent motivator, but found wanting in the all round role of a Manager.

[KevinGage]

Agreed Fletch.

That said, I see him at Sunderland getting the best out of young McLean and -lets be frank- some absolute dross, and I think: yes, I wouldn't mind some of that. 

He could have been a great manager for us- had he worked within certain parameters and had someone like Levy to tell him 'No!'  to blatantly shit deals like Harewood, Beye, Shorey, Heskey and co.  As it was, it was such a shock to the system for anyone at Villa to question him that when it did finally occur (four years into the job)  he took his ball home and pissed his pants.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Agreed Fletch.

That said, I see him at Sunderland getting the best out of young McLean and -lets be frank- some absolute dross, and I think: yes, I wouldn't mind some of that. 

He could have been a great manager for us- had he worked within certain parameters and had someone like Levy to tell him 'No!'  to blatantly shit deals like Harewood, Beye, Shorey, Heskey and co.  As it was, it was such a shock to the system for anyone at Villa to question him that when it did finally occur (four years into the job)  he took his ball home and pissed his pants.

You're right Kevin.

Apparently he was given free rein at the club, virtually from top to bottom.
It was necessary from Mr Lerner Sir and co's point of view at the time as they have all the footballing knowledge of Brian Sewell.

They realised too late that his spending was getting out of hand, Mr Lerner Sir has to take most of the blame for the whole sorry mess that resulted.

[Legion]

[Legion]

[Legion]

[itbrvilla]

We were competing with Spurs and in fact getting above them till a couple of seasons ago under MON. The next step was bringing in quality. I remember during a phone in during his last season when he said he felt we were getting close to being able to attract real quality players from abroad. He openly said before his last season how he wanted Snieder but wasn't able to get him. Then Spurs go and get players like Van der Vaart. MON got us to that point where we had to then take another step. Yes he wasted some money, but he also bought some very good players as well. He built a team with characters and leaders, but it needed more. I remember walking out of Wembley after the League Cup final and feeling that this could be the end. A team needs that trophy, that bit of luck. MON may be lucky but he didn't get that bit of luck that day .

you don't get any luck if you barely have 1 shot on target over 2 Wembley appearances.

[Legion]

[Legion]

[villa1]

I've tried to support McLeish as much as possible, but i've come to the point where i've had enough and I think he needs to go.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Yes.

I'd like to give him til the end of the season but I don't want my team to go down/survive playing shit football.
I've seen us play well a few times but no shape, no patterns, no ball retention, no genuine desire to create, cause problems for the opposition that might lead to something resembling pride in their performance and really wanting to win. When the manager has to tell the players to go and thank the supporters for travelling to away games and supporting them better than most teams, I wonder who's at fault!   

[pauliewalnuts]

We were competing with Spurs and in fact getting above them till a couple of seasons ago under MON. The next step was bringing in quality. I remember during a phone in during his last season when he said he felt we were getting close to being able to attract real quality players from abroad. He openly said before his last season how he wanted Snieder but wasn't able to get him. Then Spurs go and get players like Van der Vaart. MON got us to that point where we had to then take another step. Yes he wasted some money, but he also bought some very good players as well. He built a team with characters and leaders, but it needed more. I remember walking out of Wembley after the League Cup final and feeling that this could be the end. A team needs that trophy, that bit of luck. MON may be lucky but he didn't get that bit of luck that day .

You make it sound like he actually wanted to sign Sneijder rather than him just saying when asked that he was a good player and everyone needs to be interested in good players.

MON's biggest shortfall was his lazy, insular transfer policy. I don't imagine he will be any different at Sunderland.

To suggest he'd have gone on an imaginative spending spree in Europe if he hadn't flounced off strikes me as a bit fanciful.

As for Wembley, as others have said, no shots on goal means you're not going to win.

Regarding competing with Spurs, one reason we fell away from them was because while Spurs were paying Modric 20k a week, we were throwing double that at Steve Sidwell.. That says it all.

[cheltenhamlion]

Nearly treble that actually.