AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[PaulWinch again]

Benitez is the most over-rated manager in recent memory.  He might have won a Champions League medal with Liverpool but he got to the final by playing such defensive football that it would make McLeish look like Keegan. Then when he got to the final, it was his tactics (leaving Hamann out of the side which meant there being a gaping hole between defence and midfield) that led to them being 3-0 down at half-time and it really could have been 5 or 6 if Inzaghi had been more prolific. It was only the combination of bringing Hamann on and Gerrard doing the business that they were able to get back into the game and then momentum carried them through.

Benitez wouldn't inspire me and you could guarantee that the football would continue to be dour, defensive and passionless. So more of the same. For a much improved style of play I would much rather we get an AVB, Rodgers or Martinez. For a shrewd tactician, Lambert.

Nobody plays football that makes Mcleish look like Keegan. Also Liverpool played some good stuff in his time there, I remember them crushing Madrid. I'd be happy with the others too, but I'd be delighted to take Benitez over Mcleish.

[LeeB]

Are you seriously saying we're too good for a manager who has won La Liga and the Champions League? Christ. I'd be ecstatic if Benitez took charge at Villa.

I'd be pissed off if we appointed Benitez, because his teams are dull as ditchwater and he's a bellend.

He took Liverpool no further forward in his time there, and spunked a whole load of money doing it, and he only got that long on the job because he'd somehow found himself in charge for the spunkiest cup win of all time.

[eastie]

Stan james make martinez favourite for the villa job with lambert and neil lennon 2nd and 3rd in the betting at present.

[LeeB]

Neil Lennon?

The only person putting money on Lennon would be Lennon himself.

[DB]

Benitez is the most over-rated manager in recent memory.  He might have won a Champions League medal with Liverpool but he got to the final by playing such defensive football that it would make McLeish look like Keegan. Then when he got to the final, it was his tactics (leaving Hamann out of the side which meant there being a gaping hole between defence and midfield) that led to them being 3-0 down at half-time and it really could have been 5 or 6 if Inzaghi had been more prolific. It was only the combination of bringing Hamann on and Gerrard doing the business that they were able to get back into the game and then momentum carried them through.

Benitez wouldn't inspire me and you could guarantee that the football would continue to be dour, defensive and passionless. So more of the same. For a much improved style of play I would much rather we get an AVB, Rodgers or Martinez. For a shrewd tactician, Lambert.

Nobody plays football that makes Mcleish look like Keegan. Also Liverpool played some good stuff in his time there, I remember them crushing Madrid. I'd be happy with the others too, but I'd be delighted to take Benitez over Mcleish.

OK, he's not my first choice, thatw ould be Lambert. But in Benitez's defence - did you see what he did with Valencia too? Yes, he's a bit of a bellend, but as someone else mentioned, the best managers are usually not liked. We had...sorry...have a nice guy, look where that has got us.

[garyshawsknee]

Neil Lennon?

The only person putting money on Lennon would be Lennon himself.

I think we've had our fill of mangers who have been at the Glasgow clubs.

[TheSandman]

For me, the anger has began to bubble over. I have started to loathe McLeish. I hate him even more than I disliked O'Leary. Considering that I quite liked him before this season that is quite some turnaround.

He is such a woefully shit manager I wouldn't wish him on a club I hated. No fan deserves this man at their club. Inept, defeatist, arrogant, deluded. He is a man who leeches away almost every bit of hope you hold in your team. By a country mile the worst manager I've seen in charge at Villa (though I'm too young to remember the likes of Docherty, McNeill and Turner which is a big qualification). 

The only bit of hope I hold is that he will be gone by Monday. I'll genuinely take any manager over him next season and give them my full support. Even Curbishley or Lennon.

[dave shelley]

If he spends the summer pruning roses they better put the Accident Hospital Digit Microsurgery Unit on high alert.

Given the amount of horse shit he's been spouting lately; there will be no shortage of manure to put on them.

[LeeB]

If he spends the summer pruning roses they better put the Accident Hospital Digit Microsurgery Unit on high alert.

Given the amount of horse shit he's been spouting lately; there will be no shortage of manure to put on them.

You could put that twat in charge of Kew Gardens and everything there would wither and die inside six months.

He reminds me of William H. Macy's character in The Cooler, if anyone's seen it.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

By a country mile the worst manager I've seen in charge at Villa (though I'm too young to remember the likes of Docherty, McNeill and Turner which is a big qualification). 

If he was 30 years younger I would have The Doc back tomorrow. He would tell everybody we are the biggest club in the land, 40,000 plus every game, 20,000 on wash day, have us top of the league by the turn of the year and relegated by Easter. Never a dull moment.

[Legion]

Dear Alex...

[Damo70]

A few of the national papers are making excuses for AM. Apparently for most of the season we have had a side full of players barely out of the youth team.

Lichaj and Herd 23, Bannan, Albrighton and Clark 22.
1980/81 Cowans 22, Gibson 21, Williams 20, Shaw 19.

And amongst the players who missed a 'large chunk' of the season is Shay Given apparently.

[danlanza]

Remind me of the "large chunk" that Given missed?

[garyshawsknee]

Shame they don't blame him for Bent,Nzogbia,Gab,Albrighton missing a large chunk of the season,even though they were playing.

[brian green]

Tommy Doc was alright.   For those of you too young to remember him imagine BFR without a sense of humour.