AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[pauliewalnuts]

That large quote doesn't change the fact that he said he'd like him not to be sacked because he's 'one of the nice guys in football.' Lawro is putting the blame of the supporters for hounding him out, rather than focussing on the awful job he's done. Either way whatever gets him out of the club is fine by me.

People who have met Mcleish do think he's a nice guy, and, especially if they are not Villa fans, will feel sympathy for him.  As you say what difference does it make to us as long as he goes?  We don't want nice guy managers who perform badly and I don't think we want the title as 'nicest fans' either, so who cares?

Because Lawrenson isn't just saying he's a nice guy (which I am sure he is), end of. He's saying he hopes he stays in place as our manager.

So, in other words, ignore the fact we've only won 7 games all season, the fact we've had our worst home season since 1888, all that stuff, ignore that, McLeish is a nice bloke so here's hoping he keeps his job.

It is patronising bollocks, and he wouldn't dare come out with stuff like that for one of the "big" teams they slaver over.

[Risso]

Most non-Villa fans I speak to would have no sympathy if he was sacked, as they too rightly see that he's an awful boss with a horrible atitude towards the way football should be played.

[LeeB]

Football would be great for all those making a living out of it, if it wasn't for those moaning twats like us who expect something in return for the money we're expected to shell out on it.

[not3bad]

I've long since made the observation that these guys sit around making bland platitudes and sticking up for their own (especially if it's likely they'll be sharing a sofa with them as pundits at any time in the future, which they probably will be).  I really couldn't give a stuff what they say or think over this issue.

[SteveD]

There is a smug, matey, inner circle of ex-players/pundits, the manager pool and some journalists, who share rounds of golf and mutual support.

McLeish appears to be a decent man, by all accounts personable, who has kept his dignity. Not surprised at all he has friends in football.
I just think the Villa job is beyond him, as it probably would be some others. Not just down to his abilities and limitations, but he's dealing with a club financially contracting and going into its shell, while he will always carry the burden with some of where he came from for the failings. He's also probably also the unluckiest manager we've had regarding injuries etc for many seasons.
I just wish some pundits would see beyond the protesters. It's not because he's blue, it's because he hasn't got a clue.

[SteveD]

sticking up for their own

None worse than "Kenny". He's always "Kenny" to all the pundits (ex-teammates) and those hacks he keeps close. He hasn't got a surname. Editorial rigour out of the window.

[rob_bridge]

Lawro's prediction of this weekends game seems to be the standard media thing of, 'I hope he keeps his job because he's one of football's nice guys.' I'm sorry, but being a nice guy has nothing to do with whether someone should keep their job. It should be down to performance, and he has proven himself to be utterly incompetant. The idea of 'ah he's a nice chap, he can't be fired' is absolutely fucking mental.

Maybe you should focus on this quote of Lawrenson's:

"Villa will stay up but, regardless of that, I think McLeish will leave because the problem is, if he does stay and Villa make a poor start to next season then the fans are going to be chasing him out.

The Villa fans put that advert in the local paper last week calling for McLeish to be sacked and, once the supporters have decided you are not the man for them, that is that. They might as well make a clean break at the start of the summer. "

That large quote doesn't change the fact that he said he'd like him not to be sacked because he's 'one of the nice guys in football.' Lawro is putting the blame of the supporters for hounding him out, rather than focussing on the awful job he's done. Either way whatever gets him out of the club is fine by me.

I am getting peeved that a good chuck of the television media seem to be blaming us for Villa's crap season. Do we train, coach and motivate? Do we pass, dribble, shoot, block?
The fact that 32,000+ souls continue to pay (not necessarily) turn up on an average basis means that the fans are the 1 bleeding positive thing.

I don't care is he is Joseph Stalin or the Virgin Mary. He is out of his depth and shouldn't be here beyond Sunday evening.

[David_Nab]

Coming from the Blues has actually helped him ! Any criticism from fans he gets is attributed to fans not accepting where he came from ..which has meant by and large he has got away scot free (no pun intended) from what a poor job he has done.

[N'ZMAV]

McLeish's record isn't good enough, it show, regardless of his past club(s) that he shouldn't be a Premier League manager.

[PaulWinch again]

There is a smug, matey, inner circle of ex-players/pundits, the manager pool and some journalists, who share rounds of golf and mutual support.

McLeish appears to be a decent man, by all accounts personable, who has kept his dignity. Not surprised at all he has friends in football.
I just think the Villa job is beyond him, as it probably would be some others. Not just down to his abilities and limitations, but he's dealing with a club financially contracting and going into its shell, while he will always carry the burden with some of where he came from for the failings. He's also probably also the unluckiest manager we've had regarding injuries etc for many seasons.
I just wish some pundits would see beyond the protesters. It's not because he's blue, it's because he hasn't got a clue.

I wouldn't say he's been any more unlucky than Houllier with injuries, if anything he's had it better. He had plenty of time with a full squad and he still set the team out for pathetic surrenders, Spurs away comes to mind. He's just completely out of his depth and can't set a team up to attack and he has to go.

[pauliewalnuts]

I also think the fans - at the matches - were extraordinarily patient with him.

This nonsense about how we all hate him becasue of where he came from ..... he got less hassle than Houllier got.

Maybe we just didn't like where Houllier came from, either. France.

Not in my name, btw, I fucking love France, especially the food.

[PaulWinch again]

He's had a very easy ride and when he is fired next week(i'm going with the positive) he will leave and claim he never had a chance as we never accepted him as he came from blose. The media and most of football will believe him, and he'll walk into another job and more fool the idiots who hire him.

[OzVilla]

I'd agree the McMinge got a very easy ride considering his record this season and the mindnumbing football that we've played.

What these TV twats don't understand is that barring a small minority most of us wanted him to work out precisly because of where he came from.  Nothing would have given us greater pleasure than to have had him come from the Dogshitters and lead us to an FA Cup or something.

But after a few months, when the surrendering, insipid displays really started in earnest, the talking down of the whole Club, refusing to accept any responsibility, lack of home wins, points or even purpose to our play, we began to call him out on it. 

It took 86 minutes of the penultimate game of the season whilst losing against a side that'll likely get relegated before he finally got any serious vocal stick.

I think the home support has been unbelievably patient considering, I can think of many Clubs where that hasn't/wouldn't be the case at all.

[PaulWinch again]

I'd agree the McMinge got a very easy ride considering his record this season and the mindnumbing football that we've played.

What these TV twats don't understand is that barring a small minority most of us wanted him to work out precisly because of where he came from.  Nothing would have given us greater pleasure than to have had him come from the Dogshitters and lead us to an FA Cup or something.

But after a few months, when the surrendering, insipid displays really started in earnest, the talking down of the whole Club, refusing to accept any responsibility, lack of home wins, points or even purpose to our play, we began to call him out on it. 

It took 86 minutes of the penultimate game of the season whilst losing against a side that'll likely get relegated before he finally got any serious vocal stick.

I think the home support has been unbelievably patient considering, I can think of many Clubs where that hasn't/wouldn't be the case at all.

Pretty much spot on.

[Ozzjim]

His comments from todays press conference are as bizarre as they come.

Apparently he is unaware there is even discussion about his future and sully expects to be in charge next season.