AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[PaulWinch again]

"It's probably one of the toughest jobs in the Premier League.''

Get out to fuck, Duracell bollocks.

Yep bye bye.

[Concrete John]

The question is where the tipping point is for RL.

That's a very good point.

I think it's pretty much relegation or a very real threat of relegation.  In all fairness, with the bunch on players we have any manager getting us into that position would deserve the bullet anyway.

[PaulWinch again]

I would say that comparative to resources and quality of players available that Mcleish is doing the worst job of any manager in the league. I know Chelsea and Arsenal aren't doing great, but they are still up and around there.

[Mazrim]

I was prepared to give him a chance. That is no longer the case.
I can't accept such lack of endeavour and ambition. We should have gone to Wigan hungry for the points and we were insipid and lacklustre again. I've no doubt the players are as much to blame but the manager should be doing better with them.

So that's it now for me. Time to sever ties. Another costly error. We paid compensation for him and will have to pay up a lot more again to pay up his contract. That sticks in the craw.
There is a fundamental problem upstairs too. Something drastic has to happen soon. I have almost zero faith in the board. All Randy's vast credit with me is gone and it would take something unimaginably amazing to restore any of it.

Please, for the love of Optimus Prime, let there be some subtance to the takeover rumours, because just like it was in 05/06, Villa just fill me with a sense of dread and hopelessness now. That really shouldn't be the case with our resources.

[Stu]

"I need the fans. I need those guys and the team needs them."

The fans don't want you though Alex, that's the problem.

He could have helped himself by going for it against Wigan, but he didn't and had the team playing defensive against the worst team in the league. I think that performance was the last straw for many who backed the manager and wished him well. It certainly seems that way judging by the comments of previous McLeish backers on here anyway.

[The Laughing Policeman]

I voted 'no' in the first poll mainly out of fairness to the man, and thinking that we ought to wait 'till the autumn for him to get rid of the slackers and bring in some of his own players.
Now I've voted yes. I didn't see any of the game on Sat and to be honest from what I've heard from some who were there I'm glad I didn't see it.
Away to the team with the worst home record in the PL and we play five across the midfield wtf is that all about? We should have gone there set up to beat them not hope for a draw.
I'm sorry but I just can't see things getting any better in the next twelve games. We're likely to lose to Blackburn, who have had some decent results lately and I can only see us getting a draw against Fulham.
Kevin Mac and Sid get ready to be told you have ten games to save us from relegation, because if the next two results go the way I think they will then I reckon AM will be gone.

[KevinGage]

The question is where the tipping point is for RL.

That's a very good point.

I think it's pretty much relegation or a very real threat of relegation.  In all fairness, with the bunch on players we have any manager getting us into that position would deserve the bullet anyway.

As Paulie and a few others have mentioned though, there is a very real possibility that if we go down the board will think they've already got a promotion expert at the helm. Job done!

However unattractive the job was last summer, multiply that by a factor of 10 if relegation bites.  The Villa job should never be unattractive, of course.  It takes a special level of fuckwittedry to clear the field so emphatically that McLeish, McLaren and Curbs are the only realistic/ gettable candidates.

[Stu]

The question is where the tipping point is for RL.

That's a very good point.

I think it's pretty much relegation or a very real threat of relegation.  In all fairness, with the bunch on players we have any manager getting us into that position would deserve the bullet anyway.

As Paulie and a few others have mentioned though, there is a very real possibility that if we go down the board will think they've already got a promotion expert at the helm. Job done!

However unattractive the job was last summer, multiply that by a factor of 10 if relegation bites.  The Villa job should never be unattractive, of course.  It takes a special level of fuckwittedry to clear the field so emphatically that McLeish, McLaren and Curbs are the only realistic/ gettable candidates.

This is where the boards lack of experience shows. If they only want candidates with prem experience, then they're narrowing the field to such a degree as to make the selection process a farce. See last summer. They need someone on board who knows football, because they just do not have a clue.

[Simon Ward]

I've resisted the temptation to vote or comment on this thread until now, thinking that I would give AM the benefit of the doubt and also believing that we probably wouldn't attract a managerial candidate with sufficient skill or experience if he left. But after due consideration and reviewing the performances over the season culminating in Saturdays abject failure to beat Wigan and dreading the upcoming match at Blackburn the time is now for Mr Lerner to act. AM must be relieved of his duties today! 

[Mister E]

I wonder - in the absence of the General - who from the club is reading all of this and able to make the right sort of representation to RL to articulate the depth of feeling (and the fact that all this is not just a reaction to Saturday's shambles)?

[VillaAlways]

From the OS


By Paul Brown

Alex McLeish has vowed to win over the fans and turn their jeers to cheers.

McLeish was criticised by the travelling claret and blue army in the second half at Wigan.

McLeish admitted it wasn't nice to be the subject of disapproval but promised to get the supporters onside as he aims to write a successful chapter in Villa's history.

The boss insisted it was a big challenge to face but one he's determined to succeed in.

He said: "I'm delighted to be here and I'm confident I can get the Villa fans cheering instead of jeering.

"To be fair to the Villa fans they've been fantastic on their away travels, so I can't start criticising them for one particular game.

"We have a huge challenge ahead of us. We've spoken with the players, we've said we've all got to be together and there's got to be a bit of a siege mentality.

"We've worked our socks off, we've got two young kids in that midfield, Stan's out, Gabby's just back after four weeks absence, Albrighton's just had the baby this week and we've had other players out for even longer.

"Chris Herd's come back after three or four months and he's just broken into the team this season.

"So there's got to be a wee bit of patience.

"I have a great challenge here - it's a tough one but I'm up for it.

"It's probably one of the toughest jobs in the Premier League. But I am willing to take that challenge on. And I still believe we will prosper.

"I need the fans. I need those guys and the team needs them."

McLeish also hailed Gabby Agbonlahor for taking on the skipper's role in the absence of Stan Petrov.

The boss was considering experienced duo James Collins or Shay Given but opted for the star striker because of his claret and blue longevity.

He added: "I don't think you need to be too analytical about it, I could have given it to Shay or James, but it might have given me a headache with who to choose.

"So I thought I'd give it to the guy who is the longest serving experienced player like they do on the continent and Gabby was thrilled to get it. It was great.

"I didn't think he could play the whole game. I said you might have to pass the armband on during the game."



 

In short he aint going anywhere.Get used to it

[Colhint]

Thing is, Under McLeish I cant ever see us playing the sort of football that gets you into the top 6, regardless of the players

[Mister E]

I wonder - in the absence of the General - who from the club is reading all of this and able to make the right sort of representation to RL to articulate the depth of feeling (and the fact that all this is not just a reaction to Saturday's shambles)?

Does Pelty have any leverage at all?

[DerHammer]

Lose Lerner, sack AM, sack all first team bar Gabby & Given (not including the youngsters like Bannan, Albrighton etc..) & start afresh

[Legion]

The marketing department, for starters.