AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[andyh]

At last, the local paper has a decent comment on the situation.

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2012/04/26/birmingham-mail-message-for-aston-villa-fans-forget-alex-mcleish-for-now-your-team-needs-you-97319-30842061/3/

[PaulWinch again]

Let's face it we are an utter shambles from top to bottom at the moment. Mcleish has to go in the summer whatever happens, that is an absolute must. Randy then needs to realise he's going to have to invest again if he wants improved financial figures in the long run. We need a new manager who understands the modern game is based on possession of the football. We then need a major overhaul of the squad. There is significant work to be done, but it must be done starting with the removal of the manager and replacing him with a quality candidate.

[mr underhill]

and therein lies the problem. in two years we've gone from (almost) heroes to zeroes. if ever there was a poisoned chalice we are it. Skint, lots of overpaid journeymen, no footballing strategy at board level, etc etc. What have we done to deserve this? The only thing that matters for now is to get behind the club, put our thoughts about the manager to one side and pray we can avoid the drop, even though i'm struggling to make a convincing argument against us not deserving it.

[Vanilla]

Let's face it we are an utter shambles from top to bottom at the moment. Mcleish has to go in the summer whatever happens, that is an absolute must. Randy then needs to realise he's going to have to invest again if he wants improved financial figures in the long run. We need a new manager who understands the modern game is based on possession of the football. We then need a major overhaul of the squad. There is significant work to be done, but it must be done starting with the removal of the manager and replacing him with a quality candidate.

We have become the joke we did at the end of DOL's tenure. If we don't have the money available for grandstand signings, then at least a positive move on the managerial front will give everyone a lift

[villajk]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/aston-villa-shelve-planning-for-next-808011

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere.

[villajk]

Jems Nursery, the mirror

No future: Villa's McLeish stops planning for next season as relegation looms larger

Scheduled meetings with agents about potential signings are shelved as under-fire boss battles to avoid the drop - and the sack


Oh Eck: Aston Villa fans' anger towards McLeish is soaring
Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has put planning for next season on the back burner as he battles to save his job.

Tuesday’s home defeat by Bolton has left Villa just three points above the relegation zone.

The club have pledged their full support for McLeish ahead of Villa’s three remaining fixtures.

But the fury of the fans, who have never taken to the Scot because he managed their hated rivals Birmingham City, has soared to new levels.

Now, McLeish has stopped planning for next season to concentrate on saving Villa – and his own skin.

He has already snapped up AZ Alkmaar’s Australian midfielder Brett Holman, but this week aborted further scheduled talks with agents about new players.

Some rare good news for Big Eck is that Richard Dunne will be fit to return for Saturday's crunch clash with West Brom.

The Republic of Ireland centre-half said: “It will be terrible if we were to get relegated, it will be a disaster for the whole club.

“I’ve been through it before with Manchester City. It’s tough on the players, the fans and the other people around the club who work there.

“But it’s still in our own hands and we’ve got a good enough squad to get out of it.”

[Concrete John]

You get the feeling the club hired the manager in the same way you would hire a dodgy cowboy builder i.e. you aren't 100% sure how to do the job yourself, but you've heard about a builder who's a friend of a friend of a friend, who's supposed be able to do a half decent job on a limited budget. However, even though you start to hear concerns about him from other friends, you bite the bullet and give him the job to do.

After three weeks you realise you should have listened to the warnings when the wall he's knocked down has given you an en suite to the garden.

I still maintain Vanilla, that it was his charming and sociable behaviour after the 5-1 mauling against us that led them to believe he the man for them.

By all accounts the board were very impressed with his attitude that day.

I can't remember who said it, but "Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser." 

All the best managers would have been seething after that with a face like thunder.  Didn't someone once say that everybody in the club gave MON a wide berth for a few days after a defeat?

Alex is a nice guy.  SAF is an utter arsehole.  It's no coincidence one does a lot better than the other.

[VillaAlways]

Now, McLeish has stopped planning for next season to concentrate on saving Villa – and his own skin.

He has already snapped up AZ Alkmaar’s Australian midfielder Brett Holman, but this week aborted further scheduled talks with agents about new players.

So if this is true they really had no intention of sacking him then

[TonyD]

He has no FUTURE at this club.

[villajk]

James Nursery just tweeted:

Regarding Paul Lambert of NCFC to AVFC there's been no contact from Villa but I have heard he would take Villa post if offered job.

[Risso]

James Nursery just tweeted:

Regarding Paul Lambert of NCFC to AVFC there's been no contact from Villa but I have heard he would take Villa post if offered job.

What a load of rubbish.  Who on earth would he have made that statement to?  And without knowing anything about what money would be available, or even what division we'd be in?

[Rick_avfc]

James Nursery just tweeted:

Regarding Paul Lambert of NCFC to AVFC there's been no contact from Villa but I have heard he would take Villa post if offered job.

Just read that tweet.  Makes me think that if its true, then theres everyc chance we could get 3 points against them on the last day to secure premiership status so he has a chance to manage us in the prem and not the championship.

[Irish villain]

James Nursery just tweeted:

Regarding Paul Lambert of NCFC to AVFC there's been no contact from Villa but I have heard he would take Villa post if offered job.

Please be true! Who knows what's going on behind the scenes.

[Percy McCarthy]

Great. That's all we need - the press winding Norwich up before we play them last game. We might have had a chance if they had nothing to play for.

[CJ]

Paul Lambert has done a fantastic job at Carrow Road. Took them to the Championship as Division 1 winners in his first season, followed by automatic promotion to the PL in his second, and consolidated Norwich in the Prem this season. Plays a good style of football too. Not sure how he deals in the transfer market but his credentials as a manager are pretty good. Certainly a better prospect than our current idiot