AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[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. 

"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.

I seems to me that when we have done well in recent times is when a manager gets the team motivated enough to go beyond that, but then we don't actually achieve anything and the malaise sets in again.

[dave.woodhall]

I seems to me that when we have done well in recent times is when a manager gets the team motivated enough to go beyond that, but then we don't actually achieve anything and the malaise sets in again.

I don't think there's one consistent reason why we regularly get so far and no further. Sir Graham got the England job, BFR's team got old together, time has proved Brian was never capable of reversing a problem, O'Neill ran out of money. 

[Boz]

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.

Have to agree, I don't see building his own squad will improve anything based on the players he's been linked with. This as well as his approach to matches and style of play will satisfy no one. He also seem totally inept and lacking in any ability to motivate or keep the team playing for 90 minutes.

[paul_e]

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.

I would agree with this if it wasn't for the fact that a very average fulham team are in 8th currently, just ahead of a very average stoke team in 9th.  We're only 6 points behind Fulham and those points could easily have been made in games where we haven't even tried to compete.  MON and GH were vilified for 'throwing games' by poor selection, AM needs to be equally vilified for throwing games due to tactical decisions.  That he then justifies these by suggesting that we can't compete with those teams so trying to hold on for 0-0 is the only option is sickening.

If he hadn't completely fluffed the tactics against wigan and blackburn (2nd half) we could be 2 points behind 8th.  The reason for sacking him now is we're not likely to go down but if the fans get behind a new guy we could win the next 2 and suddenly we can start looking at the top half and try to make a push for it.

Yeah we'll have to pay him compensation but 5-6 places in the league will make up for that.

The reality is he has lost a large section of the support, whatever the reasons for that he's now never going to get all the fans onside unless we make the top4 or win something, can you see either of those happening in the next 2 years?

It was a terrible appointment and was doomed to fail as soon as we spent any significant time outside the top8, we need to cut our losses and get rid.  I can understand people arguing to leave it until the summer, I have no idea what is in the minds of people who want him to have more time than that, he's done nothing to deserve that kind of support.

[pauliewalnuts]

The most disappointing thing is the lack of continuity. Houllier, though he failed to do it mostly, at least wanted us to start to play more football, to understand the importance of keeping the ball. There were signs towards the end of the season when we began to do that a little.

McLeish, for all his faults / benefits, and even ignoring the results he's had so far, is an old school British style manager, very very different from Houllier. What he is doing now is what he "does".

I thought the approach to Martinez was mental at the time, and still do and am not suggesting we should have appointed him, but if he had done, you could - if you looked hard enough - make out some continuity in styles of football. That wasn't the case with McLeish, which is why it's so puzzling.

[Concrete John]

I seems to me that when we have done well in recent times is when a manager gets the team motivated enough to go beyond that, but then we don't actually achieve anything and the malaise sets in again.

I don't think there's one consistent reason why we regularly get so far and no further. Sir Graham got the England job, BFR's team got old together, time has proved Brian was never capable of reversing a problem, O'Neill ran out of money. 

And after all those things, the players that remained 'went throught he motions' when they tought we were finished challenging.  We're not unique in that, but if we were to change manager I'd be looking for a man with great personal ambition, which would rub off on the players and change their expectations of being a Villa player.   

[pedro25]

Since we last finished 6th we have lost Milner, Young and Downing and gained Ireland, Bent and N'Zogbia.  The money made has gone on Huton, Given, Makoun etc replacing players who left on frees and on compo for the last 3 managers.  We should still be within touching distance of 6th/7th imo, but under the current boss we are light years behind.  I wont shed a tear if he goes.

[N'ZMAV]

I don't think there's one consistent reason why we regularly get so far and no further. Sir Graham got the England job, BFR's team got old together, time has proved Brian was never capable of reversing a problem, O'Neill ran out of money. 

and Mr O'Leary? ...

[N'ZMAV]

Since we last finished 6th we have lost Milner, Young and Downing and gained Ireland, Bent and N'Zogbia.  The money made has gone on Huton, Given, Makoun etc replacing players who left on frees and on compo for the last 3 managers.  We should still be within touching distance of 6th/7th imo, but under the current boss we are light years behind.  I wont shed a tear if he goes.

add to that a very promising crop of youngsters...

[Legion]

He was a pig-nosed numpty.

[NiiLamptey]

About 3 weeks ago, i thought to myslef, he has inherited a weaker squad that GH's, no money etc and was coming round to supporting him as Villa Manager....

However anyone who plays Heskey over  N Zogbia & Ireland, our current best players, does not have a clue!

He also appears to have a team with no determination or fight...

People say we have a weak squad etc, we must have one of the best squads outside the top 6, so to be where we are just shows how bad McLeish really is!

The quicker he is out the better... But only if the replacement is on the PL Usual Suspect list (Curbs, Bruce etc)

We need to chance a new up and coming manager who plays good football with a desire, and a playing career that the players can respect and look up to!

[pauliewalnuts]

The squad is strong in parts, weak-ish in some other parts.

It's not a top six squad, but then again it's not a bottom six squad either.

One thing I will say is that he hasn't had the horrific injury bad luck Houllier had. I struggle to remember a season more screwed by injuries than last season.

[NiiLamptey]

Its defo not a top 6 squad, but it is one of the best squads outside the top 6 surely!

[itbrvilla]

We should be comfortably top half minimum with what we have.

[pauliewalnuts]

We should be comfortably top half minimum with what we have.

That's about right, I reckon.