McLeish Football Focus interview Sat 6th Dec

[PeterWithesShin]

Anyone else remember that bloke who put a big bet on us winning the last 4 and staying up and saying he'd give the winnings to the squad?

[silhillvilla]

Cheers . So we had a 12 game winless streak starting 27.12 and HDE didn't pull the trigger ?!

[E I Adio]

So, in 50 years of supporting Villa, I'd say this period is the worst, and it's nadir of 0-8, 0-4, 0-3 has to be the 'eye of the storm'.

It's really worse than being relegated to division 3, 8 straight years out the top flight, 14 straight years of never finishing higher than 15th and managing 3 top 10 finishes in 20 years?

The Taylor, Cummings. Docherty era was by far the worst period of my supporting life, but it should be remembered that after we'd hit rock bottom in the third division it heralded the beginning of a golden period that lead to our greatest triumph.

[PeterWithesShin]

And no one who watched us be shit for those 20 years knew that at the time. So the point stands, it was far worse for 20 years than where we are now. Who knows, maybe in 10 years we'll be champions of Europe again, doesn't stop it being crap right now does it.

[Mister E]

So, in 50 years of supporting Villa, I'd say this period is the worst, and it's nadir of 0-8, 0-4, 0-3 has to be the 'eye of the storm'.

It's really worse than being relegated to division 3, 8 straight years out the top flight, 14 straight years of never finishing higher than 15th and managing 3 top 10 finishes in 20 years?

Good challenge, and perhaps hindsight helps to soften the effect of the late sixties/early seventies. However, I remember at the time in the early seventies (including the '71 League Cup run and the FA Youth Cup win) having a "we're Aston Villa and we don't care" attitude that seemed to get us through those times. There was a positivity and sense of hopefulness that I don't feel now.
But that may be hindsightism and me being an old cynical git.

[E I Adio]

And no one who watched us be shit for those 20 years knew that at the time. So the point stands, it was far worse for 20 years than where we are now. Who knows, maybe in 10 years we'll be champions of Europe again, doesn't stop it being crap right now does it.

I was agreeing with you, remembering the despair of the downward spiral, not knowing where it would end. No one could be sure that when we hit the third that we wouldn't be in the fourth the following season, but my point was that there was positivity soon afterwards as Vic Crowe laid the foundations for Ron's teams.

It was the crappiest time to be a Villa supporter in my lifetime and I often think that it was only the eternal optimism of youth that kept me going.

[PeterWithesShin]

Ah my mistake. Apologies.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

In my opinion comparing now, as crap as it is, with the late 60s is entirely bogus. Any dewy-eyed nostalgia based on what subsequently happened as we rose again is just that, combined with the natural enthusiasm and optimism of the youth that we had back then.

[Steve67]

Not sure there is any point in comparing. Surely, if it's shit, it's shit? And boy, it is shit.

[SoccerHQ]

Annoying highlights angles aside, anyone know what Fookin'Eck had to say about his time up the Villa?

Think he did one sometime last season when he admits he underestimated the feeling of disgust at his move from both sides and he started avoiding eating in the city centre as a result.

He did manage in a few derbys before moving to us so I was surprised he said that unless he thought it was a tea party compared to the Old Firm.

[LTA]

I think the big difference between Lambert and McLeish was that when we appointed Lambert it was seen as a positive move due to his reputation as a highly rated younger manager.  We knew what was going to happen when McLeish rolled into B6.

That said, McLeish always held us in high regard and respected the clubs size and also the fans - despite some of the bile that was rained down on him.  He never patronized us in the way Lambert has.

[Mortimer's Bear]

Right man, wrong club. Nothing against McLeish.

[silhillvilla]

Between the two if I could go for a pint with either it's Mcleish . Imagine getting the round in with Lambert , you'd never know what he wants

[Ian.]

Between the two if I could go for a pint with either it's Mcleish . Imagine getting the round in with Lambert , you'd never know what he wants

Oh, but it would be a very long session. You know every time that pints finished "we would have to go again".

[supertom]

It was an interesting interview with him and I'm pleased to see he's got a bit of enthusiasm back for football. They should a picture of him after the league cup win, only 3 and a half years ago. He seems to have aged about 10 years though. Possibly in now small part thanks to his year here.
Good luck to him. Decent bloke, but as others have said, this wasn't the club for him.