AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[Dave]

I've rang into TS to try and get a message to Keys and Gray...

Well, that's your first mistake.

[PaulWinch again]

Is this likely to change anyone's mind?

From TalkShite:

Robbie Keane has leapt to the defence of Alex McLeish, insisting Aston Villa players are fully behind their under-fire manager.

Supporters rounded on McLeish after Saturday’s goalless draw with Wigan, a result which leaves Villa sitting 15th in the Premier League.

There have also been rumours of dressing room unrest but Keane, who has returned to LA Galaxy after a six-week loan spell at the club, insists the Scot has the squad’s backing and believes he will win the fans over, if given time.
“It’s always going to be tough when you have come from your rivals but he is a great manager”Robbie Keane

“I heard someone saying about the manager that the players are not behind him but that is totally wrong,” he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show.

“I have only been there a short space of time but I can see the players are 100 per cent behind the manager. He’s a great manager.

“It’s always going to be tough when you have come from your rivals but he is a great manager and he when he gets his own kind of players that he wants to bring in you will see a different team.

"Everyone is entitled to their opinion, that’s totally fair enough," he continued. "They pay good money and you have to respect that but you have seen the situation at Blackburn a few months ago. Every week [Steve] Kean was getting stick and all of a sudden now you don't hear too much about it and the team seem to be doing OK.

"Players do speak about what happens with the fans and singing McLeish's name. It certainly doesn't help anybody.

He's completely missed the point as well, it's got nothing to do with him coming from Blues. It is because we are fucking shit, don't win and play horrible football.

[Jimmy Smash]

Christ almighty, what a terrifying thought; we pay them compo for McLeish, this keeps them in business, McLeish gets us relegated and they get promoted. Its like a Shakespearean tragedy.

In so far as it's a work of fiction, then yes it is.

I doubt the compensation was enough to keep them going and we are real outsiders for the drop.  The most likely part of that is them coming back up, and even then they're 5th with a 7 point gap to 2nd, so a play off place is more likely.

There's plenty to complain about as it is without us inventing possible scenarios to add to the hysteria.

My post was so obviously serious I suppose. No one could ever mistake it for a joke, no way.

In that case, my apologies.

It's difficult to distinguish the p'ss taking from the genuine OTT reactions these days.

Mind you, as the Nurse says in Romeo & Juliet as she's on her way back from Wigan:

Oh pain! Oh painful, painful, painful day! The saddest day, most painful day that I ever, ever did behold! Oh day! Oh day! Oh day! Oh hateful day! There has never been so black a day as today. Oh painful day, Oh painful day!

An education can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

[TheSandman]

I think the players are generally behind him. I don't think the attacking line up we had out on Sunday had it in them by nature to play so negatively. I think the players followed his instructions and tactics to the letter so obviously they must be behind him. The only players who I reckon have any problem with him are Ireland and N'Zogbia and they have been all but frozen out.

[john e]

i think the tipping point came and went some time ago,
 even his biggest supporters know its only a matter of time, theres no comeback from here, i admire those who support the manager no matter what, but they know deep down its akin to shouting 'i'm sparticus' at the moment with an inevitable outcome.

we know he's going and so does he, we are in the same twilight zone we were in at the end of  DOL reign, just a matter of time.
i thought he would be here a while, just keep us bobbing around midtable, just keep the wheels turning, but its gone worse than bad, and its all over bar the shouting.

i think he'l be gone within 12 months

[cdward]

So Robbie Keane is telling the truth, and the players are all behind McLeish, then even more reason to get rid of McLeish. He picks the team, motivates them, makes changes etc, and it is still not good enough. No one is blaming the players, so who is left.

[Clampy]

i think he'l be gone within 12 months

I think he'll be gone at the end of the season.

[Mister E]

...  The only players who I reckon have any problem with him are Ireland and N'Zogbia and they have been all but frozen out.

The fact that he's spent £9m on Charlie and appears to have frozen him out is an indictment in itself. This is - after all - a player whom he courted for over 12 months.

[David_Nab]

With Keane gone and Bent injure if neither Ireland or N'Zogbia start then he is just cutting off his nose to spite his face.I'm not saying they are world class players but we have played our best with them in the team.

[Rick_avfc]

I voted yes the first time and voted yes again.  The guy has to go but it is not going to happen any time soon.  Unfortunately, i didnt go to the wigan game nor did I watch it via an online stream but followed via twitter and heard it was an absolute diabolical performance and to top it off, Bent is now injured.  We are really going to be in the shit especially if we cant beat blackburn next.  How he continues to bring on Heskey is beyond me as he offers nothing apart from running around and making a few tackles and winning a few headers.  Why not start with Ireland and nzogbia to try and get a couple of goals and then shut up shop to win ugly?  instead, he plays negative tactics from the off which makes it difficult to get a goal or do anything remotely attacking.
MCLEISH OUT!

[VillaAlways]

I've even started posting comments about McLeish on the Facebook AVFC Official site Even when items have nothing to do with him directly. This is what I've been reduced to

[TheSandman]

The fact that you've been reduced to posting on the club faceache page AT ALL is bad enough. Just looking at the comments on that makes my head hurt.

[VillaAlways]

The fact that you've been reduced to posting on the club faceache page AT ALL is bad enough. Just looking at the comments on that makes my head hurt.

Exactly.Although I have to confess to find some of the comments mildly amusing,in the way that every single item even if it's about booking Xmas parties is twisted round to a Mcleish out agenda

[Jimmy Smash]

...  The only players who I reckon have any problem with him are Ireland and N'Zogbia and they have been all but frozen out.

The fact that he's spent £9m on Charlie and appears to have frozen him out is an indictment in itself. This is - after all - a player whom he courted for over 12 months.

Perhaps he read some of the book "Managing People for Dummies" MON left when he was escorted off the premises?

[BallsDeep]

It's kind of funny that when you were linked with Benitez (a two time European champion) at the start of the season you were too good for him, and now you're facing possible relegation with a manager you think isn't good enough for you.