AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[VillaAlways]

ALEX McLEISH’S job as Aston Villa boss is safe  according to the sun

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4265180/Aston-Villa-give-their-backing-to-under-fire-boss-Alex-McLeish.html






                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 



The club rubbished reports they will axe him to bring in a new man and a sporting director this summer.
 
Injury-hit Villa have been dragged into the relegation battle but McLeish is sure his youthful squad will stay up.
 
And SunSport can reveal he still has the backing of owner Randy Lerner, who has no intention of destabilising the club further.
 
A club source said: “There is no foundation to this. The club believes in continuity. We are putting in foundations on which to move the club forward. Alex remains an integral part of that.”
 
Kevin MacDonald, Gerard Houllier, Gary McAllister and McLeish have all been in charge since Martin O’Neill left Villa Park in 2010.
 
McLeish, 53, faces O’Neill’s Sunderland on Saturday and has challenged youngster Nathan Baker, 20, to make himself too difficult to drop.
 
The defender has impressed in Richard Dunne’s absence.
 
McLeish said: “He could be a male model but he’s got to be an ugly centre-half for us.
 
“I’d like to think Nathan is targeting that position to be his own. Why not? It creates healthy competition.”

[villasjf]

Oh dear I hope this is not true. Not renewing if it is. Edit "a club source" if it was true why isnt it on the OS, there is still hope.

[David_Nab]

In some ways I hope he does survive the summer and gets to bring in his own players ..then when he does fail ,which he will there will be no excuses left for him

[itbrvilla]

In some ways I hope he does survive the summer and gets to bring in his own players ..then when he does fail ,which he will there will be no excuses left for him

And give us another season to forget.  I hope not!!!

[Rick_avfc]

In some ways I hope he does survive the summer and gets to bring in his own players ..then when he does fail ,which he will there will be no excuses left for him

I believe that even if he does bring in his own players and survives in the prem every year (even if we are in the same position as now, the board wont sack him.  I have no faith in this board what so ever.  Credit to Doug, when a manager was not performing then he was shown the door.  Here, it seems like they dont care about the fans and are happy for this idiot to continue managing the team.

[PaulWinch again]

I don't care whether he has excuses or not, he has to go. Continuity is only good if it's sensible and not if it's just for the sake of it. Mcleish bringing in his own players will only mean another dreadful season and trying to get rid of those players later down the line. He has to go.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I hate the fooking sun

[NiiLamptey]

This is also int he news today...

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/04/19/3044731/aston-villa-ready-to-sack-mcleish-in-summer-and-overhaul?

Makes it sound like board want to get rid but are begrudging the payout to mcliesh adding to the 12mil they have paid out to MON, Houiller & Mcliesh so far...

Add on compensation for say Martinez as he still has 2 yeasr ona  contract and Whelan wont let him go for free as he knows we paid 2mil for mcliesh...

Randy has created a rod for his own back on this one and needs to bite the bullet...

[Irish villain]

Continuity? Does that mean, another shit season?

[itbrvilla]

This is also int he news today...

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/04/19/3044731/aston-villa-ready-to-sack-mcleish-in-summer-and-overhaul?

Makes it sound like board want to get rid but are begrudging the payout to mcliesh adding to the 12mil they have paid out to MON, Houiller & Mcliesh so far...

Add on compensation for say Martinez as he still has 2 yeasr ona  contract and Whelan wont let him go for free as he knows we paid 2mil for mcliesh...

Randy has created a rod for his own back on this one and needs to bite the bullet...

Perhaps in future they should do some research and look beyond the end of their clueless noses.  Only go themselves to blame.

[levico]

I don't think Lerner will have the luxury of getting in a good new manager if we get relegated. Its like at Wolves they sacked McCarthy too late and will now pay the penalty. Im still not convinced that we won't also.

[not3bad]

In some ways I hope he does survive the summer and gets to bring in his own players ..then when he does fail ,which he will there will be no excuses left for him

I believe that even if he does bring in his own players and survives in the prem every year (even if we are in the same position as now, the board wont sack him.  I have no faith in this board what so ever.  Credit to Doug, when a manager was not performing then he was shown the door.  Here, it seems like they dont care about the fans and are happy for this idiot to continue managing the team.

Looks like the board need some 'Deadly' lessons.

[PaulWinch again]

The only thing continuity will bring with this management team is continued and worsening failure. Sometimes continuity is a bad thing when it's clear that the person is the wrong man for the job. It will only get worse under Mcleish and crowds will dwindle further. It might be painful paying out compensation again, but it'll be a lesson learned that they need some sort of footballing knowledge on the board. Mcleish has to go if they want to improve crowds and lift the general atmosphere of hopelessness around the club.

[David_Nab]

Intresting comments from Hleb

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2012/04/19/former-birmingham-city-star-alexander-hleb-slams-tactics-of-alex-mcleish-97319-30794672/

Alexander Hleb who played 19 times for Birmingham City under Alex McLeish has criticised the tactics of his former manager.

Hleb said on Russian website Rianovosti of playing in England: "you can get little pleasure out of it."

"At Birmingham, the team played the long-ball game, practically bypassing midfield. To get into the game you had to play up front or linger at the back with the defenders to get hold of the ball, which more often than not flew right past me."

Hleb, described then-Birmingham boss Alex McLeish as "not a bad bloke" but wasn't impressed with his tactics.

"The day before a game he would come onto the pitch and show us what to do: 'You stand here, the goalkeeper will give you the ball here, kick it as far as you can and don't pass to anyone nearby. And we all run.'"

[PaulWinch again]

Intresting comments from Hleb

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2012/04/19/former-birmingham-city-star-alexander-hleb-slams-tactics-of-alex-mcleish-97319-30794672/

Alexander Hleb who played 19 times for Birmingham City under Alex McLeish has criticised the tactics of his former manager.

Hleb said on Russian website Rianovosti of playing in England: "you can get little pleasure out of it."

"At Birmingham, the team played the long-ball game, practically bypassing midfield. To get into the game you had to play up front or linger at the back with the defenders to get hold of the ball, which more often than not flew right past me."

Hleb, described then-Birmingham boss Alex McLeish as "not a bad bloke" but wasn't impressed with his tactics.

"The day before a game he would come onto the pitch and show us what to do: 'You stand here, the goalkeeper will give you the ball here, kick it as far as you can and don't pass to anyone nearby. And we all run.'"

Well that's pretty obvious, but not good to hear from someone who played for him. Shows that Mcleish is totally clueless tactically.