Chris Herd, there is a blast from the past. I always liked him but its fair to say his career has been a little mixed since leaving us.
All the strikers were crap for the last 15-20 games. Yorke was the best of the bunch with a massive 4 in about 18 games.
Quote from: PeterWithesShin on October 22, 2020, 06:19:33 PMAll the strikers were crap for the last 15-20 games. Yorke was the best of the bunch with a massive 4 in about 18 games. For us? Was class Spring of 98 when we practically won every game (Bolton, Palace and Atletico aside).
If I remember correctly after Steevie McClaren (the Wally with the Brolly) was turned around whilst on his way to Villa, due to fans vociferous dismay & concerns. The Club then went for Mcliesh maybe partly to say Up Yours to the fans
I hope nobody has just eaten:""That was a difficult and uncomfortable period. Paul and I felt that, above all, the club needed stability. We needed a manager who would understand Villa and could bring credibility and experience to the dressing room and had chemistry with us and trust in our approach. We researched and debated and discussed probably two dozen odd managers from all over until we came to feel that, despite Alex's last post, he met the criteria. Not only is he affable and optimistic, well-liked and certainly well-respected among peers and players alike, but he fit our plan. He fit our feeling that a modern manager needs to balance the hysterical urgency to win and win quickly with the equally crucial need to not squander the work of our academy."Did the reaction of some supporters make him question this decision at any stage? "It certainly raised the stakes but, if we are right in terms of the fundamentals, then over time Alex will do as he's always done and that is make Villa better," he insists. "What Paul and I knew was that he had the right ingredients. With some good luck, and his trademark hard work and commitment, we felt our chances would be good. We felt his strengths simply outweighed any concerns. When you spend time with Alex, a lot of the sensitivities go away very quickly. Time with Alex is not only engaging, it is compelling. He's pure football. That, in the end, is what you want."Sir Alex Ferguson wrote to me after the appointment, a proper letter, talking about his feelings about Alex. It was something you don't easily forget and it's now in a safe deposit box. Given what Sir Alex Ferguson means to the game of football, I don't think you could get many things that you would be more proud of, or reflect better on Alex McLeish."
The thing I didn't understand about the McLeish appointment was not the fact he'd been at Blues or that he'd got them relegated (although that was a headscratcher), it was that under Houllier we'd had a season of pain, but towards the end started playing some actual passing football.Houllier then had to leave, and we tried to recruit Martinez, a manager not without his weaknesses, but all the same, known for playing passing football.When he knocked us back, we then turned to McLeish, a manager whose style of play was the diametric opposite of what we'd gone through that painful season to start doing.It just seemed so utterly fucking random.
O'Neill Houllier McLeish LambertI mean not exactly what you'd call continuity appointments
Wasn't it Heskey on one wing, Hutton on the other? Trying to emulate the Beckham/Giggs axis. Would have been hilarious if it wasn't us.
They should’ve kept Mcallister on. We seemed to relax a bit more when he took over from Arthur Bostrom.
Quote from: ktvillan on October 22, 2020, 10:36:55 AMQuote from: Risso on October 22, 2020, 09:43:48 AMQuote from: Monty on October 22, 2020, 01:25:01 AMThe most ill-judged idea in my Villa-following lifetime. Genuinely unfathomable. Bruce might have been a bit pants and horribly boring, but he stabilised and bought some impressive players (McGinn might be one of the best value signings ever). Tactics Tim was a huge contributor to relegation with his appalling, non-management management style, but at least he did have that cup run, kept us up and properly put Grealish in the team. McLeish was, in every sense, a total waste of time.Starting games with 6 or 7 defenders on the pitch. At least Gareth Southgate seemed to be paying attention.I can't forget that game at Spurs with about 5 full backs selected and Heskey at right midfield.Wasn't it Heskey on one wing, Hutton on the other? Trying to emulate the Beckham/Giggs axis. Would have been hilarious if it wasn't us.
Quote from: Risso on October 22, 2020, 09:43:48 AMQuote from: Monty on October 22, 2020, 01:25:01 AMThe most ill-judged idea in my Villa-following lifetime. Genuinely unfathomable. Bruce might have been a bit pants and horribly boring, but he stabilised and bought some impressive players (McGinn might be one of the best value signings ever). Tactics Tim was a huge contributor to relegation with his appalling, non-management management style, but at least he did have that cup run, kept us up and properly put Grealish in the team. McLeish was, in every sense, a total waste of time.Starting games with 6 or 7 defenders on the pitch. At least Gareth Southgate seemed to be paying attention.I can't forget that game at Spurs with about 5 full backs selected and Heskey at right midfield.
Quote from: Monty on October 22, 2020, 01:25:01 AMThe most ill-judged idea in my Villa-following lifetime. Genuinely unfathomable. Bruce might have been a bit pants and horribly boring, but he stabilised and bought some impressive players (McGinn might be one of the best value signings ever). Tactics Tim was a huge contributor to relegation with his appalling, non-management management style, but at least he did have that cup run, kept us up and properly put Grealish in the team. McLeish was, in every sense, a total waste of time.Starting games with 6 or 7 defenders on the pitch. At least Gareth Southgate seemed to be paying attention.
The most ill-judged idea in my Villa-following lifetime. Genuinely unfathomable. Bruce might have been a bit pants and horribly boring, but he stabilised and bought some impressive players (McGinn might be one of the best value signings ever). Tactics Tim was a huge contributor to relegation with his appalling, non-management management style, but at least he did have that cup run, kept us up and properly put Grealish in the team. McLeish was, in every sense, a total waste of time.