AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[VWBelgian]

It was a bad idea all written over it to appoint him in the first place....

[Concrete John]

I'm in the 'no' camp as I think he's been poor, but not poor enough to get the sack.  He inherited a mess and has been give very little money to try and put it right, but rather been told to cut wages.  We were always going to be somewhere in mid-table, but when you consider the snippets we've heard about some player's attitudes, player's who he couldn't get shot of, then our lower mid-table position becomes more understandable.

Obviosuly, that doesn't take into account the 'style' of play, which seems most peoples biggest gripe.   

[Percy McCarthy]

We were lucky to finish 9th last year, since when we've lost half that team, including the best players, so to do worse is probably about par. No excuses for the lack of entertainment though. I'd wait and see how he starts next season with more of his own team.

[PaulWinch again]

I've been trying to reconcile in my mind whether it's the style or the results which have really turned me against Mcleish. Obviously the two aren't mutually exclusive, but I genuinely think that the main reason is the style for me. If we were getting the results we have been, but were trying to play good football I think I'd be a lot more patient. As it is even if we survive, I don't see how we'll ever improve if we don't try to adopt a more ambitious approach. Also on a basic level I'd like to be entertained watching Villa, rather than feel like I'm watching us just out of obligation.

[N'ZMAV]

He needs a whole season at least, or a few transfer windows. That still doesn't excuse 4 months (or whatever it is) without a home win....

[Mazrim]

It's a bit unfair to judge the limits of his ability before he's had a chance to build his own team here.
However, I dont trust him, would rather he didn't have the use of any precious resources we may have and besides which, he built his own team at Blose and they were relegated. He also won their first trophy for a million years, true and relegation is par for the course for them.

Still, cut our ties at the end of the season and get a better manager as part of a new long term plan, which shouldn't be too taxing I would imagine.

[Concrete John]

We were lucky to finish 9th last year

I don't think that after 38 games you're final league position is ever 'lucky'.  Our for post the Bent signing was top 6 level, but then we lost our three most creative players in Young, Downing and Walker.  I had hoped Albrighton and N'Zogbia would largely compensate for that, but they haven't.

[Percy McCarthy]

Fair enough John, but even if we weren't lucky (and I still think we were, if you can ever consider GH's health problems as 'lucky'), but the fact remains we've got worse players, so a dip is perhaps to be expected unless we'd got a really good manager.

[Concrete John]

Fair enough John, but even if we weren't lucky (and I still think we were, if you can ever consider GH's health problems as 'lucky'), but the fact remains we've got worse players, so a dip is perhaps to be expected unless we'd got a really good manager.

Yes, getting 9th again was always doubtful, but to me that's because of the players attitude, which they put aside in the latter part of 10/11.  The ability is there in the squad, but the desire isn't. 

[dave.woodhall]

Fair enough John, but even if we weren't lucky (and I still think we were, if you can ever consider GH's health problems as 'lucky'), but the fact remains we've got worse players, so a dip is perhaps to be expected unless we'd got a really good manager.

Yes, getting 9th again was always doubtful, but to me that's because of the players attitude, which they put aside in the latter part of 10/11.  The ability is there in the squad, but the desire isn't. 

"There is a very good living to be made at Villa Park provided the team never looks in danger of being relegated."
Martin Swain, some time in the last century.

[Merv]

I've been trying to reconcile in my mind whether it's the style or the results which have really turned me against Mcleish.

It's both, for me. McLeish isn't doing one or the other. We're not 'winning ugly' - while I wouldn't want to see that, if he had a certain approach to games and we were getting results by being effective and organised, fair enough. And if we were playing some encouraging, progressive football but perhaps not always getting results, I'd be able to see the way forward and accept that, long term, we were moving in the right direction. But I don't see that.

There seems to be a point of view that, given time and the opportunity to build his own squad, McLeish will improve. I don't see that. I don't see us as improving. I fear we're now getting into the start (we've perhaps already started) of a negative cycle. We'll finish about where we are now, be a less attractive proposition for potential new players, one or two other key players will look to move on. The manager has a massive influence on the way a club is viewed and perceived. I don't think, with McLeish as the figurehead, Villa will carry that positive image.

[NeilH]

Fair enough John, but even if we weren't lucky (and I still think we were, if you can ever consider GH's health problems as 'lucky'), but the fact remains we've got worse players, so a dip is perhaps to be expected unless we'd got a really good manager.

Yes, getting 9th again was always doubtful, but to me that's because of the players attitude, which they put aside in the latter part of 10/11.  The ability is there in the squad, but the desire isn't. 

"There is a very good living to be made at Villa Park provided the team never looks in danger of being relegated."
Martin Swain, some time in the last century.

It remains one of the most painfully succinct descriptions of Villa that I've ever read.

[dave.woodhall]

Fair enough John, but even if we weren't lucky (and I still think we were, if you can ever consider GH's health problems as 'lucky'), but the fact remains we've got worse players, so a dip is perhaps to be expected unless we'd got a really good manager.

Yes, getting 9th again was always doubtful, but to me that's because of the players attitude, which they put aside in the latter part of 10/11.  The ability is there in the squad, but the desire isn't. 

"There is a very good living to be made at Villa Park provided the team never looks in danger of being relegated."
Martin Swain, some time in the last century.

It remains one of the most painfully succinct descriptions of Villa that I've ever read.

With respect to his peers, Martin regularly summed up life at Villa Park better than anyone else has for years. 

[Monty]

I've been trying to reconcile in my mind whether it's the style or the results which have really turned me against Mcleish.

It's both, for me. McLeish isn't doing one or the other. We're not 'winning ugly' - while I wouldn't want to see that, if he had a certain approach to games and we were getting results by being effective and organised, fair enough. And if we were playing some encouraging, progressive football but perhaps not always getting results, I'd be able to see the way forward and accept that, long term, we were moving in the right direction. But I don't see that.

There seems to be a point of view that, given time and the opportunity to build his own squad, McLeish will improve. I don't see that. I don't see us as improving. I fear we're now getting into the start (we've perhaps already started) of a negative cycle. We'll finish about where we are now, be a less attractive proposition for potential new players, one or two other key players will look to move on. The manager has a massive influence on the way a club is viewed and perceived. I don't think, with McLeish as the figurehead, Villa will carry that positive image.

Two or three bang-on points there, Merv.

[itbrvilla]

I can't stand him and every week i dislike him more. He is really doing his best to stop me giving a shit about my club. I love Villa but am rapidly loosing interest and am worried I won't be able to rekindle it.