AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[not3bad]

I think he really might go if Villa lose tomorrow, but I think he'll hang on for a while if we win.  If we draw I haven't got a clue what will happen.

[not3bad]

I can confirm that McCleish has purchased a rather big house in Welford-Upon-Avon just down from The Shakespeare. Not the actions of a man who thinks he might be out of a job anytime soon.

It takes ages for these house purchases to go through.  A contractor where I work did this, then his contract ended and he had to move on.  It happens.

[paul_e]

I know the 2 above sentences are slightly contidicting in that a win tomorrow proves RL and PF right anyway but I think they will have to act because even though he has done the job that he was brought into do (survive), he has done it in the most abysmal way with negative, defensive and boring football.

Can we please dispense with this myth.  He was not bought in with the aim being to survive.  I doubt it ever crossed the minds of Lerner and Faulkner that we'd be down where we are, they certainly didn't give him a remit of survival being enough.  It's something that a lot of fans have made up to justify him getting the job with 0 evidence that it's the case.  Look at the comments the manager and club made early in his time with us, as deluded as it seemed at the time (and has subsequently proven to have been) they were talking about europe.  Why talk about europe if the goal is survival and consolidation.

We've underperformed against every possible measure, don't diminish his culpability by suggesting the club expected us to be as shit as we have been, it's not true.

[john e]

Totally agree with Paul e post above

[Risso]

I can confirm that McCleish has purchased a rather big house in Welford-Upon-Avon just down from The Shakespeare. Not the actions of a man who thinks he might be out of a job anytime soon.

Like it matters to football players and managers where their house is.  It was probably a cash purchase, and even if he gets the push he's hardly going to worry about meeting the mortgage payments.

[dave.woodhall]

He'll end up at Wolves. I'm telling you.

[Risso]

He'll end up at Wolves. I'm telling you.

Good, they deserve each other.

[PeterWithesShin]

They'd love him at Wolves. His record of getting teams to average 1 goal a game will have them feeling like Barcelona.

[Toronto Villa]

He'll end up at Wolves. I'm telling you.

Good, they deserve each other.

It wouldn't shock me either if he brought them back at the first go. It's his level. They'll just need to get rid as soon they've achieved promotion though because the rest of it will be inevitable.

[PeterWithesShin]

Would they be able to cope with averaging a goal a game though? They'll think they've turned into Barcelona with that kind of ratio.

[dave.woodhall]

Wolves have never gone down that 'rather lose 4-3 than win 1-0' road. If he got them back up they'd love him and they probably are about his level. He's not a bad manager, he's just not good enough for us.

[villanic]

I know the 2 above sentences are slightly contidicting in that a win tomorrow proves RL and PF right anyway but I think they will have to act because even though he has done the job that he was brought into do (survive), he has done it in the most abysmal way with negative, defensive and boring football.

Can we please dispense with this myth.  He was not bought in with the aim being to survive.  I doubt it ever crossed the minds of Lerner and Faulkner that we'd be down where we are, they certainly didn't give him a remit of survival being enough.  It's something that a lot of fans have made up to justify him getting the job with 0 evidence that it's the case.  Look at the comments the manager and club made early in his time with us, as deluded as it seemed at the time (and has subsequently proven to have been) they were talking about europe. Why talk about europe if the goal is survival and consolidation.

We've underperformed against every possible measure, don't diminish his culpability by suggesting the club expected us to be as shit as we have been, it's not true.

Selling 2 of your best players (both wingers who provide service when you’ve just sign a top striker) in the close season and only buying 1 player (who's proven himself average to Downing let alone Tom Daley oh sorry Ash Young) to replace them and relying on the kids to be good enough for a whole premier league season as well as publicly stated that we are cutting costs and looking to significantly change the way we operate in regards to financial prudence proves, in my opinion, that the club where just looking to survive in the prem this season and maybe even for a couple of seasons.

As for the point of the club (mainly PF) talking about European qualification, The majority of clubs in the premier league will say that European competition qualification in there aim for the season, It's talked up to persuade fans to by season tickets and to give to impression that the club is aiming for higher goals than they actually are, the clubs are businesses after all and remember that 2 seasons ago Steve Kean said he would have Blackburn in the champions league within 4 season, he may still have 2 seasons to do it but I cant see it happening somehow.

Don't buy into all the PR crap the club comes out with, remember 'proud history, bright future', that’s well and truly gone out the window now.

[villadelph]

[Monty]

Reading the article in the Telegraph it's hard not to sympathise with him. I'm starting to feel like it wouldn't just have been better for us if he'd never been appointed, it'd have been better for him too. It can't be easy to have so many people calling you incompetent. Vulgar abuse you can brush off, but people questioning how good you are at what you've devoted your life to, that can't be pleasant. Especially when, as is sadly the case here, that questioning is justified.

[TheSandman]

I agree Monty. It's just all an appalling mess now.