AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[Eigentor]

Maybe AM was so confident that tackling expert Fabian Delph would make the midfield role his own that there was no way he would need Makoun.

[Greg N'Ash]

  But who do you appoint?

  Do you go down the route of having an up and coming manager, and take the risk that the current players treat him with as much contempt as they did the previous two managers, or do you go for a big name, but did'nt we have that in MON and Hou?

   

I think we can forget a big name. They're not gonna risk their reputation trying to run a premiership side on a championship side's resources. You only have to see where things are going with Mcleish's comments about looking in the Bosman bargain bins for players- so after all this arse about getting the wage bill down, we now are in the market for older players on big wages but who don't cost a transfer fee. the exact opposite to what they were telling us about the wage bill. They just haven't got any money full stop whether its transfer fee's or wages, and the next guy will have exactly the same problem. i'd give it to Cowans if he can be persuaded  because at least he'll have the fans on-side and would probably get a season before everyone turned on him.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

This "Makoun can't tackle"nonsense seems to be based entirely on one bad challenge at Blackpool that got him a red card.  Ludicrous to write him off on the basis of one challenge.

This "nonsense" is based on the fact he only made one tackle in 7 appearances and yes he got sent off for it. Nobody is writing him off for that tackle. Do keep up.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Makoun would be a very good player for us and the decision was fucking mental. Actually no it wasn't, it was very in keeping with the general decisions made by Mcleish.

I would imagine Sid Cowans had a major voice in the decision, having worked with the player since his signing. Makoun certainly had the potential to be a very decent PL player but his type are a luxury in a team that constantly give the ball away. Houllier obviously saw something in him but my guess is he was too similar to Petrov, very good at keeping the ball but too many short, squared/backward passes. Given more freedom to bring the ball forward, he looked the business but then we had plenty of more attacking midfielders in the squad.

[pauliewalnuts]

If you have a team which constantly gives the ball away, how is a player that can pass the ball decently a luxury?

Isn't he potentially the solution?

[Greg N'Ash]

I think Makoun was shown the door because someone wanted him frankly. Same as Carlos would have been off in the summer despite us offering him a new deal now. The whole club's transfer strategy is being run by the bean counters.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

If you have a team which constantly gives the ball away, how is a player that can pass the ball decently a luxury?

Isn't he potentially the solution?

Not when every other player gives the ball away and we rely on our defensive midfielders to win it back again.

I guess we'll never know fully what Houllier had in mind for our midfield and maybe Makoun was just part of the rebuilding which would have allowed us to play to his strengths. Technically, he's a very good player and for me, the central midfield has for too long been our weak point, even when we had Barry and Milner. I can only see a real solution once we've replaced Stan.

[Villanation]

  But who do you appoint?

  Do you go down the route of having an up and coming manager, and take the risk that the current players treat him with as much contempt as they did the previous two managers, or do you go for a big name, but did'nt we have that in MON and Hou?

  For me, from the front 4 yday, you have 2 who put in 70% effort at most, Gabby and Ireland, Albrighton who has gone backward, N'Zog, who seems to be struggling with confidence, and wants too much time on the ball, and no decent quality replacements.On top of that you have a midfielder who is 2 years past his sell by date, with no competition, a LB who does'bt want to be here., and a manager who has'nt been able to bring his own players in but gets all the blame.

 McL was/is a bad appointment, but with modern players, we either go down the route of having cheaper, but more industrious, but less quality players with an up and coming manager, or have players like Ireland, who should be at a top 4 club on ability, but a division 2 team on professionalism.

Said it before at least a dozen times, Quique Sanchez Flores, one of the best managers out there and an advocate of real attacking football, but better than all of that, this bloke went on record saying, when for some unbelievable reason we appointed McLiesh, "I want the Villa job".

He's now on an open contract coaching in the middle east and guess what, he's the hotty for the Chelsea job and its being reported that Abramovich has already contacted him.

What more does Randy Lerner need to know when a manager of that quality says come and get me.

[Villanation]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Aston-Villa-news-Quique-Sanchez-Flores-who-lead-Atletico-Madrid-to-Europa-League-triumph-2010-wants-job-if-fan-anger-keeps-Alex-McLeish-out-article747872.html

[TonyD]

I thought Makoun was good at passing.  But normally about 8 yards away pretty fast as if he were playing 5 aside against the clock. Not quite what the PL needs. 

[TonyD]

Flores wanted the job.  But AM got it. Says all you need to know about the mess the club is in and will continue to be under the the present custodians. 

[Jimmy Smash]

Looking at how MJ has got Fulham playing, essentially with the same level players as we have, I fine myself looking ruefully at another manager who might have done a job for us, and probably would have come if asked. Is there anyone similar out there? We'd have hit the roof if Alan Pardew was appointed, but look at him now. Maybe we should be looking at a similar appointment? Having said that McL would fit the bill that type of manager, a very underwhelming few PL seasons, and no one can deny that his few months in charge have been a disaster. I'm not going to suggest anyone, as I'll just be shot down in flames. It's going to need a massive exercise in thinking outside the box however. Of course all this is all just a moot point, as McL is going nowhere.

[Villanation]

Flores wanted the job.  But AM got it. Says all you need to know about the mess the club is in and will continue to be under the the present custodians.

Agree with your comments about how the club is being run, however we have reached that tipping point, my point would be nobody in there right mind, including Lerner can say there is nobody out there that is either a) good enough, b) we could get now) or, c) wants the job, there is a class manager sitting out there in the desert saying piss McLiesh of and get me.

Unlike McLiesh this bloke has genuine pedigree and IMO would transform Villa, another point is, he works closely with one of the best No2's out there and claims he would also come.

Doesn't need me to say the obvious.

[Greg N'Ash]

"Here's the key's to Villa Park Quique. I'd imagine you want to start straight away turning us into the Barca of the midlands, and as you know we have a crop of players here well versed in the sort of free-flowing technically advanced football you're renowned for like Richard Dunne.  Remember, you have to sell to buy and anything you raise in sales i'll pocket half of it. I take it the salary of the last mug is fine? Let me know when we win the league"


*hums Mission Impossible theme*

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Quique Sanchez Flores managed to get Benfica to finish third in a two horse race. His spell at Atletico Madrid wasn't great either. Maybe given time he could have done a job but as Gregory mentions, the squad and budget were hardly going to make his life easy.

I'd still like us to go Dutch and Frank Rijjkard will be looking for a job this summer.