It's hit or bust for McLeish next season. So, what's his plan?

[mal]

Nothing wrong with that as long as there's a set of creative outlets encouraged to go for it.

With all due respect, have you seen who is sat in the dugout pretending to be a manager?

We may have escaped the drop this year but I can see no light at the end of the tunnel.  Given the brief he was given and the deal F'Eck is on there will be no sacking, not even next Christmas, unless we are 10 points adrift at the foot of the table.
I said when he was appointed if not relegated this year then next year, and the only brightness I can see on the horizon is that the promoted clubs will not be as good a vintage as this year's crop and we may have just enough to escape by the skin of our teeth again.

[cheltenhamlion]

Next season will see a changing of the guard in the squad, more of the same tactically and a mid table finish but with less worry over our league position than we have had this season.

[Concrete John]

I said when he was appointed if not relegated this year then next year, and the only brightness I can see on the horizon is that the promoted clubs will not be as good a vintage as this year's crop and we may have just enough to escape by the skin of our teeth again.

The 'skin of our teeth' this year being an 11 point gap at present.

[Mazrim]

I think the mood after Fulham is one of relief and also of resignation and acceptance that he's going to be around next season so we may as well hope he gets the shithouse squad sorted. Basically, McLeish is the overseer whilst we are flushing the O'Neill era largesse through the system and that's just how it is.
I don't like it now and I didn't when he was appointed but all you can do is make the best of it. Once we're financially strong again we can hopefully use the money far more wisely and also get some footballing expertise on the board to aid that.

What I'd do considering the money likely to be available (and the fact that Randy may be cautious in throwing resources at a manager with the sword of Damocles hanging over him) is what is probably going to happen. Weed out some high earning dross and get some motivated quality bosmans in with an eye on how they will compliment the youngsters. Like it or not, the youngsters are going to be the bedrock of the squad. I think a lot of them are up to it so the thought pleases me.

[mal]

I said when he was appointed if not relegated this year then next year, and the only brightness I can see on the horizon is that the promoted clubs will not be as good a vintage as this year's crop and we may have just enough to escape by the skin of our teeth again.

The 'skin of our teeth' this year being an 11 point gap at present.

Watch that gap disappear over the next few games. Blackburn will probably overhaul us; Bolton may well. The final table will probably see us in the bottom five making us  bottom or next bottom to the 'middle of the table' bloc. A far cry from competing for top or next top of the 'middle of the table' bloc and the possibility of Champions league football.
Fizzy Pop anyone?

[Concrete John]

I said when he was appointed if not relegated this year then next year, and the only brightness I can see on the horizon is that the promoted clubs will not be as good a vintage as this year's crop and we may have just enough to escape by the skin of our teeth again.

The 'skin of our teeth' this year being an 11 point gap at present.

Watch that gap disappear over the next few games. Blackburn will probably overhaul us; Bolton may well. The final table will probably see us in the bottom five making us  bottom or next bottom to the 'middle of the table' bloc. A far cry from competing for top or next top of the 'middle of the table' bloc and the possibility of Champions league football.
Fizzy Pop anyone?

Do you walk around Bath with one of those big cardboard signs that says "The end of the world is nigh!"

[N'ZMAV]

I thought McLeish's plan was to win nil nil?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Fizzy Pop anyone?

No ta, don't drink Carling.

[cheltenhamlion]

That's a mighty powerful crystal ball you have there, mal.

[Monty]

Yes, the relegation quagmire which, at one point, we were doing our best to be dragged into has been sidestepped comfortably. But is that enough? Finishing 12th-15th having largely played some of the worst football in the division?

If McLeish picks certain players, we do look a better team. But that's the players, deciding that for themselves, and they can't do that alone without the rest off the tactics being geared and designed to attack, and attack fluently. Besides, as Bielsa said once "a team who relies on its soloists is no good, because when God doesn't turn them on they're useless". With that approach, the absolute best we can hope for is to be as good as the sum of some of our parts, and never more. That, to me, is the impact of a substandard manager.

[mal]

That's a mighty powerful crystal ball you have there, mal.

We are 5 pts ahead of Blackburn. We face Arsenal and Liverpool away and Chelsea at home. They have Bolton and the Baggies away and ManUre at home. It is not inconceivable that they will have overhauled us after the next three games. The end of the world is not nigh but the end of the tunnel is a long way away.

[N'ZMAV]

Fizzy Pop anyone?

No ta, don't drink Carling.

I like Carling.

[Vanilla]

There seems be a confusing volte face stance concerning McLeish on the basis of one good game against Fulham.

Agreed. Now who was it though that said Villa fans were fickle?

[Mazrim]

All football fans are fickle.

But for the record I haven't noticed a volte face, just a slight relaxing of tension.
"Football fans in relieved their struggling team won a game shocker!"

[DB]

All football fans are fickle.

But for the record I haven't noticed a volte face, just a slight relaxing of tension.
"Football fans in relieved their struggling team won a game shocker!"

After 93rd min long range speculative shot, rebound of 'keeper, bungled in.....