AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[rob_bridge]

Apologies if this has been mentioned before.
Early March in MON's first season:
P28 W7 D12 L9 Goals for 29 Goals against 34 GD-5 Points 33
Today
P28 W7 D12 L9 Goals for 31 Goals against 35 GD-4 Points 33

The task for AM, as for MON, is stability in the first season, then progress in the next.

Although I agree with the last sentence, that comparison is quite mi-leading given the strengths of the respective squads each manager had at the time.

Although in fairness that equals out post-Jan in MON's first season, when he had then bought Ash and Carew.

For that 28th game in MON's first season he had Mellberg, Laursen, Bouma, Carew, A Young, Barry and Petrov in the side.

As I said, it got more balanced after we did our Jan 2007 spending, but prior to that, so for most of the 28 games, our front line was from a very raw Gabby, Luke Moore, Angel, Baros and Chris Sutton.

Much weaker than a 5 year older Gabby, plus Bent, Ireland, N'Zogbia and Albrighton.

No comment on emile Heskey.

And just to point out that's not a criticism of AM, I'm still in the "Don't sacj him" camp, but just trying to judge it as fairly as possible

In my mind I had 50 points as benchmark for this season as we got 49 last year which was an poor return return based on the resources available and the fact the Premier League quality has been reducing over last 3 seasons. This was as a result of going from a brilliant man manager (yes I know the circumstances and his other limitations) to an appaling one and he had other non footballing limitations.

Also remember Petrov had a very difficult / poor first season.

So Eck needs to match O'Neills points return in the last 10 games to break even.

He also (as others have pointed out) needs to remove the shackles from the team and be true to his word (albeit make a complete break with his tradition and record) by letting them play more expansively and have a go at the 'super' clubs.

[frank]

He also (as others have pointed out) needs to remove the shackles from the team and be true to his word (albeit make a complete break with his tradition and record) by letting them play more expansively and have a go at the 'super' clubs.

Perhaps he will. Perhaps the Weimann goal will be for AM what Mark Robins' goal was for Fergie!

[Brend'Watkins]

"McLeishian in its dullness".

I am picturing a barometer with the arrow pointing to dull and the unsmiling head of said person right on the end of the dull scale.

[Ger Regan]

He has had a go at the "super" clubs, and more than once. Yes, he's gone down the defensive route as well (more than once), but when people try to paint it as if he's only been negative against the big teams, then they're undoing their own argument.

[rob_bridge]

He has had a go at the "super" clubs, and more than once. Yes, he's gone down the defensive route as well (more than once), but when people try to paint it as if he's only been negative against the big teams, then they're undoing their own argument.

We have been dull in the main in most of our games, not just 'Super'Clubs . The approach v Spurs, Man U and Liverpool was absolutely unacceptable. The Arsenal performance in League and win at Chelsea gave him some breathing space but it does not in any way excuse what went before. Let's see how we do when we play the'reverse' fixtures against those 5. My money is certainly on a roll over and die to Man Utd.

[pedro25]

The two Man City approaches/performances were pretty pathetic too.

[Ger Regan]

Disagree about City away. We were thoroughly outplayed by a much better team, yes, but that happens. It wasn't a particularly defensive-minded side.

[Fergal]

Apologies if this has been mentioned before.
Early March in MON's first season:
P28 W7 D12 L9 Goals for 29 Goals against 34 GD-5 Points 33
Today
P28 W7 D12 L9 Goals for 31 Goals against 35 GD-4 Points 33

The task for AM, as for MON, is stability in the first season, then progress in the next.

Although I agree with the last sentence, that comparison is quite mi-leading given the strengths of the respective squads each manager had at the time.

Although in fairness that equals out post-Jan in MON's first season, when he had then bought Ash and Carew.

For that 28th game in MON's first season he had Mellberg, Laursen, Bouma, Carew, A Young, Barry and Petrov in the side.

As I said, it got more balanced after we did our Jan 2007 spending, but prior to that, so for most of the 28 games, our front line was from a very raw Gabby, Luke Moore, Angel, Baros and Chris Sutton.

Much weaker than a 5 year older Gabby, plus Bent, Ireland, N'Zogbia and Albrighton.

No comment on emile Heskey.

And just to point out that's not a criticism of AM, I'm still in the "Don't sacj him" camp, but just trying to judge it as fairly as possible

I will, he is not a centre forward.

[Villanation]

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

Not changing the subject, what I'm saying is, I have no real knowledge as to what kind of man that McLiesh is, I do know of a case where someone met him in a supermarket and claimed he hadn't a good word for Villa or the players, the word joke was used.

However, that's just gossip, I base my opinion of the individual on his actions and deeds and not how he appears on or after game interviews, and as far as I'm concerned this is a man that jumped ship on one side of the city and took a job on the other side knowing full well the vitriol that it would cause, and we have to assume he was told there would be no investment into the squad, and we have to assume he knew full well that 2 of his star players had pissed of, we have to also assume having been manager of Rangers and the rivalry that consumes that city with Celtic that he would know what he was in for if he failed with the fans backs up already.

So he knows all this and then he still takes the job and that the only positive point as far has he's concerned is it projects him into one of the highest paid managers in both the Premiership and Europe, so there you have the motivation and there you have the man and then in addition we have to remember the shenanigans that took place over a matter of days with his emailed resignation and then the accusation that Villa tapped him up and later paying a fee for a friggin manager, you can only imagine what took place just previous to all that coming to light.

Thing is, I don't blame the bloke if it is that this about money and I don't blame the bloke if it was a bit shady, the whole friggin country is shady these days, why should he be any different, and he'e not the first and won't be the last either.

So is he a decent bloke.............haven't a clue, but one thing I can tell you, his football is crap. 

[Dave Clark Five]

His football has got worse since Saturday, that's for sure.

[woody4866]

Mcleish is a poor manager, end of.
The substitutions made on Saturday were not of tactical brilliance but brought on due to tiredness and/or injury, basically a last throw of the dice to try and avoid another draw (or worse) and luckily for him it worked (and us I suppose).
The fact that he came from SHA only adds fuel to the fire for those who want him sacked, but his record speaks for its self regardless of where or who he has managed.
As someone back in history once said "Dont bring me good generals, bring me lucky generals" or something like that - the same can be said for managers, and on Saturday, AM got lucky, very lucky.

[Percy McCarthy]

My goodness you're a keen student of history aren't you? Ever thought of going on Mastermind?

John Humphries: Who said 'Bring me lucky generals' or something like that?

Woody: Someone, once.

JH: Correct!

[Mister E]

Mcleish is a poor manager, end of.
The substitutions made on Saturday were not of tactical brilliance but brought on due to tiredness and/or injury, basically a last throw of the dice to try and avoid another draw (or worse) and luckily for him it worked (and us I suppose).
The fact that he came from SHA only adds fuel to the fire for those who want him sacked, but his record speaks for its self regardless of where or who he has managed.
As someone back in history once said "Dont bring me good generals, bring me lucky generals" or something like that - the same can be said for managers, and on Saturday, AM got lucky, very lucky.

So presumably, you're happy that he's in situ then?
Splendid.

[OzVilla]

When we used to beat Blose when AML was there he used to routinely remark that we had a 'different agenda' to them.  It was great to hear and was perfectly true at the time.

This season when we've played the Top 6 teams teams it's been pretty much the same situation as it was then but the roles are reversed.  I think AML may even have elouded to agendas again.

Whoever sets these 'agenda's' needs to be the one held most accountable and that, in my book, is our present owner.  We can't win the League and are probably not currently capable of a push for Champs League qualification but we can as a Club set ourselves up to have a go - we don't.

[Clampy]

As good as win as it was on Saturday, i'm still convinced he's the right bloke for us. If Schwarzer holds onto that shot instead of parring it, then it's another draw and another blank in front of goal. Don't get me wrong, i was delighted it went in (well i was bloody ecstatic actually) but as for Alex, in the long run i just feel we'd be better off with someone else.