Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[LeeB]

I'd love to know what was going through Randy's mind after Martinez opted to stay at Wigan. I know he's not exactly football-savvy, but I still can't believe what he went and did.

Regardless of it being a poor football decision when supporters were so vocally (and artistically) against it it became a terrible business decision. It was made even more bizarre by the fact that the club were apparently scared-off holding talks with Steve McLaren because of supporter reaction, but then went ahead and appointment Mcleish regardless!

That's a bit of an urban myth as well. It's closer to say he talked himself out of the job.

The absolutely most believable thing posted on this entire thread is that Schteve talked himself out of the job. He really does strike me as the kind of bloke you'd come out of a meeting with and say "He was a bit of a wanker, wasn't he?"

[RussellC]

I'd love to know what was going through Randy's mind after Martinez opted to stay at Wigan. I know he's not exactly football-savvy, but I still can't believe what he went and did.

Regardless of it being a poor football decision when supporters were so vocally (and artistically) against it it became a terrible business decision. It was made even more bizarre by the fact that the club were apparently scared-off holding talks with Steve McLaren because of supporter reaction, but then went ahead and appointment Mcleish regardless!

That's a bit of an urban myth as well. It's closer to say he talked himself out of the job.

The absolutely most believable thing posted on this entire thread is that Schteve talked himself out of the job. He really does strike me as the kind of bloke you'd come out of a meeting with and say "He was a bit of a wanker, wasn't he?"

His permanently smug expression doesn't do him any favours.

[SamTheMouse]

I'd love to know what was going through Randy's mind after Martinez opted to stay at Wigan. I know he's not exactly football-savvy, but I still can't believe what he went and did.

It's like popping down the off licence for a bottle of Nuits-Saint-Georges, then on being told they're out of stock, buying a six-pack of lime-flavoured Bacardi Breezers. And a packet of scratchings.

The only explanation is that our he must have been doing meth or something that weekend.

He decided he owed Wigan, just the same as the decision he made when Liverpool came calling. In the end his patience was justified, he won the FA Cup and is now in a very good place at Everton. Sometimes doing what everyone else thinks is obvious isn't the right decision.

I meant Randy!

[Toronto Villa]

I'd love to know what was going through Randy's mind after Martinez opted to stay at Wigan. I know he's not exactly football-savvy, but I still can't believe what he went and did.

It's like popping down the off licence for a bottle of Nuits-Saint-Georges, then on being told they're out of stock, buying a six-pack of lime-flavoured Bacardi Breezers. And a packet of scratchings.

The only explanation is that our he must have been doing meth or something that weekend.

He decided he owed Wigan, just the same as the decision he made when Liverpool came calling. In the end his patience was justified, he won the FA Cup and is now in a very good place at Everton. Sometimes doing what everyone else thinks is obvious isn't the right decision.

I meant Randy!

I was making a general observation about Martinez. I imagine Randy was disappointed but that he understood people make all kinds if decisions. He wouldn't have taken it personally.

[Rolta]

I'd love to know what was going through Randy's mind after Martinez opted to stay at Wigan. I know he's not exactly football-savvy, but I still can't believe what he went and did.

Regardless of it being a poor football decision when supporters were so vocally (and artistically) against it it became a terrible business decision. It was made even more bizarre by the fact that the club were apparently scared-off holding talks with Steve McLaren because of supporter reaction, but then went ahead and appointment Mcleish regardless!

That's a bit of an urban myth as well. It's closer to say he talked himself out of the job.

The absolutely most believable thing posted on this entire thread is that Schteve talked himself out of the job. He really does strike me as the kind of bloke you'd come out of a meeting with and say "He was a bit of a wanker, wasn't he?"

I heard a rumor that we were after McLeish months before we appointed him – from around the time of their league cup win. It was a terrible appointment all round, but you could see a (silly) man justifying it to himself by thinking McLeish had done well to get the blues mid-table and in winning a cup. I hated that terrible year.

[RussellC]

Every time I've ever heard McLeish talk- even way before he joined Villa- was that I could never imagine him being able to motivate a player, he was that monotonous and boring. I would love to get hold of a recording of the job interview that persuaded Paul Faulkner and Randy otherwise.

[MarkM]

Every time I've ever heard McLeish talk- even way before he joined Villa- was that I could never imagine him being able to motivate a player, he was that monotonous and boring. I would love to get hold of a recording of the job interview that persuaded Paul Faulkner and Randy otherwise.

Probably done via text message

[john e]

Mcliesh was a bad all round decision,
but the fella hadn't said a bad word against us, suppose the pay off helped, but even so he must have had opportunities for a few little digs

I hated him being our manager, but like and respect him as a person

[silhillvilla]

Re the Mcleish appointment , I can imagine Lerner and Faulkner having some weird bet like the 2 old boys in Trading Places. It was a nonsensical decision on all levels

[dave shelley]

I always thought they used a Ouija Board.

[aj2k77]

I'd love to know what was going through Randy's mind after Martinez opted to stay at Wigan. I know he's not exactly football-savvy, but I still can't believe what he went and did.

Regardless of it being a poor football decision when supporters were so vocally (and artistically) against it it became a terrible business decision. It was made even more bizarre by the fact that the club were apparently scared-off holding talks with Steve McLaren because of supporter reaction, but then went ahead and appointment Mcleish regardless!

That's a bit of an urban myth as well. It's closer to say he talked himself out of the job.

The absolutely most believable thing posted on this entire thread is that Schteve talked himself out of the job. He really does strike me as the kind of bloke you'd come out of a meeting with and say "He was a bit of a wanker, wasn't he?"

He probably tried conducting the whole interview in some weird attempt at the Brummie accent.

[dave shelley]

Some of these fecking goalkeepers need to take up boxing.

Sorry wrong thread.

[Weedy]

Lescott for Albion?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2661234/Joleon-Lescott-set-sign-West-Brom-Alan-Irvines-signing.html

I'd sooner have him than Senderos.

[Ads]

Different scenario. We spent 4 million on Okore and picked up Senderos to improve our depth. Is the extra wages Lescott demands worth it? On balance, probably not. If funds are limited then the midfield needs the most attention. N'Zogbia and Cole should make us more creative, but the lack of cover our back four gets is a massive weakness.

[tomd2103]

Well I couldn't stand Houllier so won't be looking back at his season with any fondness. The fact he was replaced by McLeish was the equivalent of being kicked when you were down.

I felt pretty much the same at the time and was not sad to see him go, but seeing what has followed since (hindsight is of course a great benefit) we probably should have kept Houllier on for the start of the following season at least.  Even if his health wasn't good enough for him to manage the team, employing him in a role such as Director of Football might have worked.  Looking back, I think he had identified those that needed to be shipped out that summer (Ireland, Dunne etc.) and if rumours are to be believed, had plans to bring in some quality players.

The appointment of McLeish as his successor has to be the single worst decision made at the club in the thirty years I have been going.