Sir Graham has his say

[Whiney MacWhineface]

If it looks like shit, smells like shit and tastes like shit.
Then it probably is shit.

Could be cat food. Though in this instance you're right.

[Hoppo]

90% right Sir Graham. Ron Saunders is happily retired in Knowle. Have seen him in One Stop on occasions. He is more likely to comment on milk prices..

[cheltenhamlion]

I wasn't keen on his football when we signed him up but was determined to give him a chance.

Th early fixtures were easy and we did OK. Very few of us were demanding his removal then.

It all went to ratshit from December though and has never recovered. I gave up on him after Wigan away when he played for a nil nil at a team that couldn't score for toffee at the time.

I am still agog at the decision to appoint him in the first place mind. I well recall having an incredulous Woodhall on the phone in the summer when I told him who was headed for the hot seat.

[eastie]

GT is spot on with much of what he says in this article.

[Eigentor]

At the risk of being repetitive, the one thing that made me more patient with Houllier than McLeish is that the former at least seemed to have an idea of what he wanted to do. GH was criticised for trying to change things too fast, but at least he tried to change things when it was bloody obvious that we needed to change things.

It's still obvious that we need to change things, but I get the feeling that McLeish is just planning more of the same. And that's the main reason why I'm starting to give up on him. This season is almost gone: results have been shit, and the football largely dire. If he could somehow make a convincing case that next season will be different, then I'd might just be willing to see if he could do that -- if only for the sake of continuity. No successful club change their manager every season.

[Mister E]

I read into that article as much criticism of McL as a man of GT's integrity would make in public.
- he criticised the team's set-up;
- he implied that McL was looking for draws / damage limitation;
- he implicitly criticised his man-management;
- he effectively attacked his 'starman signing', N'Zog; criticism by proxy.

He softened his comments with the lead about the players and the Blues connections, but essentially this is a critical article about the manager.

I would like to think it might have some traction with more influential people around B6, but maybe it's too subtle for them.

[Mazrim]

'I have in my hand a letter' would trump any criticism of McLeish anyway, no doubt.

You'd hope they wouldn't need any other proof than their own eyes and ears but... well, who knows.
I agree with most of SGT's comments anyway apart from the slant that we don't like or accept him because of his Blose connections, rather than for being shite.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I agree with most of SGT's comments anyway apart from the slant that we don't like or accept him because of his Blose connections, rather than for being shite.

It's plain to all of us, but when (if) he finally departs, the media and Ferguson will forever bleat that we just couldn't get over the Dog Shit connection.

[Mazrim]

And he can keep his big red nose (and poison pen) out of our affairs.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

And he can keep his big red nose (and poison pen) out of our affairs.

Could do with him sending another letter, the original one is drenched in Lerner's fuckmuck.
If he can laminate it, so much the better.

[Vanilla]

I read into that article as much criticism of McL as a man of GT's integrity would make in public.
- he criticised the team's set-up;
- he implied that McL was looking for draws / damage limitation;
- he implicitly criticised his man-management;
- he effectively attacked his 'starman signing', N'Zog; criticism by proxy.

He softened his comments with the lead about the players and the Blues connections, but essentially this is a critical article about the manager.

I would like to think it might have some traction with more influential people around B6, but maybe it's too subtle for them.

Those 4 points virtually sum up most Villa fans opinions of the team.

[The Left Side]

GT is spot on with much of what he says in this article.

This

[villan from luton]

In his own way, Graham Taylor has delivered a damning verdict on the management of McLeish. Totally agree with much of the article, talks sense

[Steve67]

The only thing I disagree with is the money spent issue.  McLeish has had SOME money. He bought a right back who's shit and no better than Lichaj, or Herd, so did we really need to buy a right back at all?  Given cost a few quid, although isn't a bad keeper, I wonder whether we could got cheaper, or given Brad his head. Zog was ten mill.  Whilst many of us wanted him to sign, Eck has managed to get sod all out of him and turn him into a useless lump.  I am really pleased that the media thing is beginning to gather pace.  Once they get their claws into someone, there is only one likely conclusion.  Bye bye Eck.

[Dave Clark Five]

The main reason is that he is crap.

The fact that he came from Blues makes it even worse.

Good try.