Relegation Watch

[hawkeye]

 Not many people could see us actually winning a game, the omens looked pretty bad. We have stayed up by drawing. Hardly convincing stuff.

[PeterWithesShin]

We've managed to stay up by winning 1 of our last 15 games. We've won 3 games in 2012. And one of those was against Bristol Rovers. It's not really surprising people started fearing the worst.

If someone told me after the Fulham game that it was our last win of the season i would have told them don't be daft.

If someone had told me after the Norwich game "make sure you enjoy bonfire night as Villa will only win one more home this season, and that will be courtesy of an injury time goal by Weimann on his hands on knees" i'd have had the men in white coats onto them.

[Dave]

Not many people could see us actually winning a game, the omens looked pretty bad. We have stayed up by drawing. Hardly convincing stuff.

Not convincing at all.

But people were saying that we wouldn't do that. That we would lose to West Brom. And lose to Spurs. And then lost to Norwich. And then get relegated.

And it was always very unlikely that that was going to happen.

[Risso]

Not many people could see us actually winning a game, the omens looked pretty bad. We have stayed up by drawing. Hardly convincing stuff.

Not convincing at all.

But people were saying that we wouldn't do that. That we would lose to West Brom. And lose to Spurs. And then lost to Norwich. And then get relegated.

And it was always very unlikely that that was going to happen.

Great.  We could end up staying up on goal difference, as the other teams have generally won games that you said they wouldn't, so I think it's all probably best left isn't it?

[danlanza]

Not many people could see us actually winning a game, the omens looked pretty bad. We have stayed up by drawing. Hardly convincing stuff.

Not convincing at all.

But people were saying that we wouldn't do that. That we would lose to West Brom. And lose to Spurs. And then lost to Norwich. And then get relegated.

And it was always very unlikely that that was going to happen.

Great.  We could end up staying up on goal difference, as the other teams have generally won games that you said they wouldn't, so I think it's all probably best left isn't it?

In my view yes. Lets move on and end this nightmare.

[Dave]

Not many people could see us actually winning a game, the omens looked pretty bad. We have stayed up by drawing. Hardly convincing stuff.

Not convincing at all.

But people were saying that we wouldn't do that. That we would lose to West Brom. And lose to Spurs. And then lost to Norwich. And then get relegated.

And it was always very unlikely that that was going to happen.

Great.  We could end up staying up on goal difference, as the other teams have generally won games that you said they wouldn't, so I think it's all probably best left isn't it?

I didn't say that at all.

I said that we wouldn't lose all our games and that other teams wouldn't win all their games. I fully expected Bolton to beat us for example and expected us to stay up in spite of it.

We can all be completely silent and not discuss Villa's results and performances if you'd prefer.

[Billy Walker]

Drama queenery or not, everyone at the club from top down should be utterly ashamed at the speed with which we have become a shambling wreck of a club.

Limping over the line with a week to go is truly unacceptable. I don't think there's much dramatic about that.

We will probably change manager now but, lets be honest, how many of us trust Randy and th Boy Wonder to get it right this time, given how mindbendingly wrong they got it last time?

Absolutely correct, it's been pathetic. Although they'd struggle to bollocks up the managerial appointment as much as they did this time.

I thought and said the same thing to myself last year when it was clear Houllier was on his way out. 

[Ian.]

I must admit I thought we could have gone, but then I did keep thinking there is no way Blackburn, Bolton, Wigan and QPR could all sustain their good form together. But as the point gap narrowed it did become a tad worrying.

We have a had lucky escape. Lucky that Wolves threw in the towel so early on and that Blackburn lost a lot of ground so early on.

[Louzie0]

You know, this premiership survival has been a bit skin of our teeth, either way. (Yes, I know, Bolton still have to score 17 to deny survival. At least, and then there are the other results, yadda, but we should be through, now.)

I find myself a bit torn.  There are the absolutely dreadful stats for AMcL.  Lowest, worst, for over 100 years etc.

 Then there's the abject (at times) performance of key players during the season, also quoted on here.  And the serious injuries of some senior players, keeping them out for months, which is incredibly bad luck.

So, is AMcLeish the worst prospect for the new season?  Could he sell, and buy better?
If he did, could the football get better? God, I hope so.
 
I find myself thinking, maybe, but I don't know how Randy is thinking.  He might sack the bloke next week after Norwich, in which case this is academic.
If he doesn't, how long should Alex be given to prove that he has a plan? I'd say, Christmas.

Before a 2013 relegation watch kicks in.   But as a Villa fan in this scenario I'd be expecting significant improvement by then.  Mid-table at least, home wins and, ideally, in the Cups.

What are the parameters of success for a Villa Manager if they don't include wins at Villa Park?


oops I started this a couple of pages ago it's moved on since then. sorry 

[pauliewalnuts]

What are the parameters of success for a Villa Manager if they don't include wins at Villa Park?   

They're a lot lower after a year of McLeish, which is what gives me hope.

An ambitious young manager like Lambert will be thinking "I don't have to do much there to be considered a success, given what they've just been through".

Very much like MON will have in 2006.

[VillaAlways]

I have to admit I was in the we'll definitely get relegated camp.I think that he relegated Blues from a practically impossible position last season was constantly on my mind and I  lost all sense of perspective

[PeterWithe]

We've come within a gnats cock of relegation, hardly a loss of perspective.

[Louzie0]

I know.  The wins at VP - 4?  Absolutely dreadful.
Away - 3.  Worse.


All I can think of is that there is a chance that he has been sorely tried by the lack of performance from players.

But I am not a coach and have no experience.

[Chipsticks]

What are the parameters of success for a Villa Manager if they don't include wins at Villa Park?   

They're a lot lower after a year of McLeish, which is what gives me hope.

An ambitious young manager like Lambert will be thinking "I don't have to do much there to be considered a success, given what they've just been through".

Very much like MON will have in 2006.

This is one of the few things that gives me hope.

The way I see it, we're currently going through another O'Leary situation, which means another glorious MON era chasing cups and 4th place is just around the corner.

...right?

[hawkeye]

You know, this premiership survival has been a bit skin of our teeth, either way. (Yes, I know, Bolton still have to score 17 to deny survival. At least, and then there are the other results, yadda, but we should be through, now.)

I find myself a bit torn.  There are the absolutely dreadful stats for AMcL.  Lowest, worst, for over 100 years etc.

 Then there's the abject (at times) performance of key players during the season, also quoted on here.  And the serious injuries of some senior players, keeping them out for months, which is incredibly bad luck.

So, is AMcLeish the worst prospect for the new season?  Could he sell, and buy better?
If he did, could the football get better? God, I hope so.
 
I find myself thinking, maybe, but I don't know how Randy is thinking.  He might sack the bloke next week after Norwich, in which case this is academic.
If he doesn't, how long should Alex be given to prove that he has a plan? I'd say, Christmas.

Before a 2013 relegation watch kicks in.   But as a Villa fan in this scenario I'd be expecting significant improvement by then.  Mid-table at least, home wins and, ideally, in the Cups.

What are the parameters of success for a Villa Manager if they don't include wins at Villa Park?


oops I started this a couple of pages ago it's moved on since then. sorry 

You make some valid points, I think what has really caused the anger against Mcliesh is that he has lived up to his stereotype of being a very negative manager and this has looked like surrender. Winning at Villa Park is important if you want to get the fans on side and he hasnt.
The parameters for success would be conslidating a mid table position, putting out a team and game plan that looks like they are trying to win. I dont believe Mcliesh is capable of this.