Relegation Watch

[Zhong Yi]

think it will be a last gasp hurrah as seen on a few occasions down the years and will beat West Brom and Norwich and that should be enough to stay up, however in an earlier comparison of seasons from either this thread or another one recently, it provoked a recollection of how it was back in 86/87. One could argue that if Villa go this season it would be even more of a genuine shock to the system - given that in the 1980's, the Villa management decided on patenting the original 'project' and dismantling a proven winning formula, replacing the players with inferior quality and putting an inenpt manager in place (well two actually if you consider the actual relegation season).

This time around, we have the bulk of a squad that was for at least a few seasons, finishing in the top half of the table. Now albeit minus 2 key players this term, it is the nucleus of that team plus a 24million striker and it has not resembled anything like the project of Turner and Doug. TBH this at the moment feels like classic West Ham....one season top ten, next season relegated.


So, if we are relegated, and I voted no, surely this season will be regarded as the biggest balls up since we went to the old 3rd Division.

[Holtenderinthesky]

It was awful.
Take it from me, he won't be sacked, relegation or not.
Even if they did sack him, they'd have to cough up 2 years of his contract -
£4m, money we haven't got.
That's what sickens me about the modern game, it rewards failure.

If we go down we'll go the way of Sheff Wed.

We have no money, N'Zogbia, Gabby, Bent, Given, Ireland will leave and we'll be
left with kids, many of whom are not good enough - Albrighton is simply not up
to scratch, Bannan is hopeless.

Although I agree that our kids are not at the level required to succeed under McLeish, I have to say that a few of them could well turn out to be good players given the right management.  Under KMac they have got used to playing a positive attacking style of football which, although at a lower level, they have excelled at.  Being thrown into McLeish's 'defend at all costs' strategy and given the negativity around the club it's no wonder they are struggling to step up to the next level.  I wonder how the likes of Neville, Scholes and Beckham would have done trying to make the grade under our current management.  I'm not suggesting that our kids are as good as them, just that young players are more likely to thrive in a positive environment.  Alex McLeish does not provide that in any way whatsoever.

[remy]

I have supported Mcleish since the beginning of the season but over the course his tactics and quotes has slowly eroded my confidence in the man's ability to motivate and coach this football team.

We now have the worst home record in the history of our club.

Our defending from set pieces has invited ridicule from the entire football fraternity (considering we have an ex-defender coaching us).

Pretend we are not villa fans for a moment on the outside looking in and we would think, what a hopeless bunch, horrible football, dire tactics, crap players, they DESERVE to go down.

Messi missed a penalty last night. At that level, with that much at stake you have to take your chances or you will be punished. We HAD to win last night's game and we failed, so we pay the penalty - 3 points off the drop with the last 3 games of zero chance (based on previous form) of winning or even drawing them.

I think the fans have shown (those that have turned up) incredible patience for the poor quality football on display. Encouraging that so many of our academy are in the first team but they dont have enough experience to pull us out of the mess.

I am resigned that we will be in the Championship next season which hopefully will be the end of Mcleish's term as Aston Villa manager but not our descent into the lower league tiers ala sheff weds / leeds.

2 years ago we are chasing Champions league, and now we are heading for the Championship. Perhaps all the deadwood will be cleared, our scouting will improve for finding diamonds in the lower leagues and playing regularly on a Tuesday might blood some more kids.

If Ellis was in charge our ire would have fired upon him in equal measure and he would have pulled the trigger earlier. I can only assume that this is all Faulkner's idea to have Mcleish and he has to live or die by this crazy decision by Randy who has his faith in him on football matters.

We've had a poor season and there is no escaping the relegation with this team and this manager.

[Ger Regan]

Wolves are already gone. Blackburn as good as imo. QPR have to play Stoke, Man City and Chelsea. Wigan have some tough games as well. The odds are in our favour, but it's by no means certain we'll survive.

[pbavfckuwait]

Ger I cant see where the next goal is coming from, never mind 3 points and our games if the opposition show up and the way we are playing are just as hard as any of the other teams, because at least they are showing some fight.

[David_Nab]

Wigan have Wolves last day ..just a win then and us losing the next 3 would see them go ahead of us.

QPR can lose against City and Chelsea a win against Stoke would put them above if we lose all 3

Both teams have won games in recent weeks they are more likely in current form to win one out of 3 than we are.

[Dave]

I would be extremely surprised if we lost all three games.

I don't expect us to win any of them, but I'm pretty sure we won't lose all of them.

[Clampy]

I would be extremely surprised if we lost all three games.

I don't expect us to win any of them, but I'm pretty sure we won't lose all of them.

I did'nt expect us to pick up just 1 point out of the last 2 home games against beatable opposition, but we have.

[Rick_avfc]

I would be extremely surprised if we lost all three games.

I don't expect us to win any of them, but I'm pretty sure we won't lose all of them.

I did'nt expect us to pick up just 1 point out of the last 2 home games against beatable opposition, but we have.

I didnt expect us to be in a relegation fight this season but we are.

[PeterWithe]

Many more performances like the second half last night and I'll begin to question Alex's suitability for the job.

[Dave]

I would be extremely surprised if we lost all three games.

I don't expect us to win any of them, but I'm pretty sure we won't lose all of them.

I did'nt expect us to pick up just 1 point out of the last 2 home games against beatable opposition, but we have.

I absolutely expected us to pick up one point from those games. In that order as well.

I didn't expect us to pick up any points against Liverpool, but we did that as well.

[VillaAlways]

I would be extremely surprised if we lost all three games.

I don't expect us to win any of them, but I'm pretty sure we won't lose all of them.

Blues lost all 3 games last season and picked up one point in 5 games

[Legion]

Many more performances like the second half last night and I'll begin to question Alex's suitability for the job.

Begin!?

[DB]

Watching last night, we were awful, then we got the goal and I thought great, a bit of breathing space - now push on and get another. Instead we lost 2 goals and that was it. I couldn't sleep last night at the thought of being relegated - I just cannot see us getting another point. This is the worst I've felt as supporting the Villa.

[Dave]

I would be extremely surprised if we lost all three games.

I don't expect us to win any of them, but I'm pretty sure we won't lose all of them.

Blues lost all 3 games last season and picked up one point in 5 games

We're not them. We've not lost more than twice in a row all season and I still don't think that's going to change in the next three matches.