AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[SoccerHQ]

McLeish couldn't believe his luck when he saw managers like Martinez turn us down and heard we were interested in him.

Remember when SHA went down and Carson Yeung came out straight away and basically said he'd be sacked if SHA didn't get promoted straight away.

I get the feeling McLeish wouldn't have done as well as Hughton there this season and he'd have been out of a job by now. I think he thought that aswell and saw a chance to manoueveve out of there (remember he resigned by email) and came here with a more patient owner.

[pauliewalnuts]

Yes, but last week it was disappointing, and this week, it was a bit fortuitous.

The thing i'd like to know is, those who think he's the man for the job (and I can't really think of many), why do you think that way?

Not the "don't want to sack him / he needs support as he's got the job / give him a chance" people, but those who think he was th right appointment.

[PeterWithe]

The team yesterday played a lot more like I suspected we were going to set up at the start of the season, not an awful lot of quality but commitment, energy and organisation but lets remember for 90mins we didn't get anywhere near breaking down a pretty ropey Fulham team.

A pretty ropey Fulham that 22% of our own supporters thought we would beat.

And the majority had weighed it up pretty accurately, even though the performance was much improved it took a pretty horrendous keeping mistake to deny them the draw they had set up for.

Still, I'm not complaining, any port in a storm.

They weren't accurate at all, they were wrong.  Last week we conceded a late equaliser and it seemed the world was coming to an end. This week we get a late winner and it's lucky, fortunate, down to a mistake by the opposition.

For the first time in a while we got what we hoped we'd get out out of a McLeish team, organisation, endeavour and work rate. Still though, little sign of much creativity to break down an average team who'd come for a draw. I'm very happy with the win but saw didn't see too much to go anywhere near changing my overall view of the manager.

[Villanation]

McLeish couldn't believe his luck when he saw managers like Martinez turn us down and heard we were interested in him.

Remember when SHA went down and Carson Yeung came out straight away and basically said he'd be sacked if SHA didn't get promoted straight away.

I get the feeling McLeish wouldn't have done as well as Hughton there this season and he'd have been out of a job by now. I think he thought that aswell and saw a chance to manoueveve out of there (remember he resigned by email) and came here with a more patient owner.

McLiesh,realised the desperation at Villa, took advantage, Lerner in turn cast his net just a short distance from the doors of Villa park and reeled in the first thing he could catch, those 2 circumstances where significant in the appointment of Alex McLiesh in my opinion, how else could anybody possibly explain why you would take a rival club manager with all the flack and with an appalling history of relegation to his name and then turn him into one of the highest paid managers in the world, not to mention any future severance pay he will get.

Question is, not is McLeish a decent bloke, are any of them decent when it comes to friggin about with Aston Villa.

[dave.woodhall]

For the first time in a while we got what we hoped we'd get out out of a McLeish team, organisation, endeavour and work rate. Still though, little sign of much creativity to break down an average team who'd come for a draw. I'm very happy with the win but saw didn't see too much to go anywhere near changing my overall view of the manager.

In the circumstances you can't ask for much more. We always seem to get the shitty stick of any luck that's going so the ball bouncing our way for a change isn't to be sniffed at.

[Dante Lavelli]

It's pretty criminal that Jol did come for the draw against a club in as much turmoil as we are.

[PeterWithe]

I'm not going to argue with that, as I was saying in the pub beforehand we need a winner to go in off someones arse, Albrightons nose, anything..I'm just not having anyone saying 'The McLeish out lot have gone quiet' as on that performance not a lot has changed, other, hopefully, than our luck.

[Villanation]

It's pretty criminal that Jol did come for the draw against a club in as much turmoil as we are.

I was thinking to myself when looking at the game and witnessing the total lack of tactics and a real will to win from both sides, thought, well with the imminent departure of McLiesh we certainly don't want to be knocking up Jol, both as bad.

[PeterWithe]

As an aside the lad who came on at HT was immense, on a free as well I understand.

[SoccerHQ]

First half I thought we were good, pressing the ball high up the pitch, passing the ball well.

Second half was much more like we've seen this season, sitting back, not looking like scoring etc but we got a win that helps to forget that.

Hopefully a commanding win against Bolton will follow but after that a very tough run of games begins at Arsenal so bit early to say things have changed under McLeish.

[silhillvilla]

My real concern is, if they did sack McLeish, I've no confidence in their decision making to get the next appointment right.

[villan from luton]

Villanation, Ron Saunders was not a Villa fan when he was appointed Villa manager. I am not a McLeish fan after performances at Spuds, at home to Liverpool and Man City, far too negative. However, he does come across as a decent guy and the bollocks about him having a dig at the fans last night is just that. Why did he take the job, maybe because Villa are a better team than the noses and he would not get a better job than Villa with his CV. As for us being a top club now, whoever is in charge has a massive task if the chairman is not backing him and can you honestly say he has been backed by Leerner.

I still say his move was motivated, as motivated as Lerner's move was to take him in the first place, Lerner being caught between a rock and a hard place after both the shock of MON and then the health issue forcing Houllier out the door a short period after MON, this prompting almost panic in the recruitment of McLiesh by Lerner, that is why that bloke "the General" knew nothing of it and when being pestered by fans on the eve of the McLiesh appointment still stated there was no truth in the rumor of McLiesh coming to Villa.

For me I think Lerner is allowing a period of settlement in the club after a period of to much change, I think Lerner knows precisely what the next move is, can I honestly say that Lerner has backed McLiesh, I think that's obvious, but then again I don't think he ever intended to, otherwise he would have done it by now.

Do I think McLiesh is a decent guy, as I have only ever seen the man during interviews on TV how would I know, when doing his TV stuff he's doing what he's supposed to do and that's put a face on, what I base my opinion on are the actions of not just McLiesh but also Lerner and in both case I personally think the are both duplicitous and motivated.

Now you have changed the subject, I merely said he came across as a decent person. Lerner brought him in, why I dont know, but when the likes of Martinez turn us down, makes you wonder who would want to come

[PeterWithe]

When you look at that list of the top paid managers in Europe, you'd wonder who wouldn't fancy the pay increase.

[charlie]

Ok. Eck is a nice bloke, kind to kids, good to old ladies, charitable, decent etc etc. a likeable man. IS HE RIGHT FOR ASTON VILLA.?  In my book .....nooooooooooooo.
Should we hang on as we may not get anything better>? noooooooooooooo.
Will there be young, bright , capable managers out there? yesssssssssssssssss.
Just look at the sty, broke, owned by [alleged] 'dishonest folk', and they get a man who did well at Barcodeland with an arse[allegedly], like Ashley, and now produces a nose team with no money against the odds. The future of Eck is to rescue Rangers, preferably yesterday. The future of Villa does not need Eck...... no matter how decent etc etc he may well be.

[villan from luton]

So who do you suggest Charlie, and I happen to agree I dont think Eck is the future, but what good manager is going to come to us at the moment?