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Official Aston Villa Statement

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posted on 14/6/11

Love it!!

posted on 14/6/11

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

posted on 14/6/11

The villa board must all be steaming

comment by Bumble (U6465)

posted on 14/6/11

I can't believe this is about to happen to our club

I want to shitin my hand and squeeze it

posted on 14/6/11

Empty seats my lord, empty seats,
Empty seats my lord, empty seats,
Empty seats my lord, empty seats,
Oh lord empty seats

posted on 14/6/11

Well, I was hoping the board would get around to saying something, but not this. No sign that they have more than one candidate lined up. Unless they mean by candidacy that they simply decide whether or not he goes onto a short list, but I've a feeling they don't mean that. Wonder what was so wrong with McClaren that he didn't get an interview, if the board is prepared to ignore unfortunate past episodes.

You can't decide if a candidate buys into the way you want to develop unless you interview the candidate. How many have actually been interviewed?

posted on 14/6/11

"From the beginning of our search, we have set out criteria based on proven Premier League experience, compelling leadership, an ethic for hard work "

Thats sums up McLeish

The thing you will notice with McLeish is he will build a side around hard work.

Fahey, Bowyer and Larsson all work harder than Hleb, Bentley and Beausejour as far as defencive cover goes.

They are not the better players, potentially Bentley and Hleb are class players had it been a WBA who signed them no doubt they would have not only played more but done much better.

McLeish builds a side on the basis that if your hard to beat, you do not conceed and if you do not conceed you can not lose! Well most times.

He will drop players who do not comply with his style and chances are Young and Downing will go to provide funds for other players.

McLeish would take a Barry over a Young all day, a Rooney over a Messi etc.

Soon i think you will find your most skillfull players dropped in favour of those who have more fight and defencive qualities.

McLeish must be mad to join Villa....

Not because Villa are poor, they are not.

Just that McLeish is going to get hated by Blues fans and its not as if Villa is far away from Blues they share the same City.

And Villa fans are not happy with McLeish anyway, not only because he managed us, relegated us.

Your biggest concern would be the style of football and how he brought in a Zigic, Martins, Derbyshire all prior had decent careers but all could not get games ahead of Jerome on his own even after no goals in 23 games.

And how a Hleb, Bentley and Beausejour could not get games for us, even though they are the style of players to give Blues what they was lacking.

Villa fans will expect McLeish to do wonders and would maybe not even except him even if your in the Top 6 after 10 games.

If your not in the Top 6 and near the bottom 6 then i think your lot would force him out which means more wasted cash in compensation.

The KiD

posted on 14/6/11

Lot of sense as usual Banjo.

Ive thought Hughes from day one, and still hope so as he is ideal for the Villa.

But if they choose McCleish, I will be right behind him.

UTV

posted on 14/6/11

Well you see their are many Managers who could do a job for you guys.

Chris Hughton would surely be the better option, sure McLeish has more experience and good at getting players to work hard.

But at the cost of any kind of football, McLeish will play negative more than most and i cant see Villas current side improving on last season under him.

Even Grant could be fine, dont forget he has had the misfortune of dealing with clubs in turmoil in his last 2 times.

Who would have kept a Portsmouth or West Ham up, would Hughes at done better, what about good old O'Neil

I would rather have Grant over McLeishs anti football anyday

The KiD

posted on 14/6/11

Since 2006 we have approached our custodianship of Villa based on a broad-based strategy of significant investment to improve the squad, the training ground and Villa Park. We feel it is essential to select a manager who understands and supports our strategy for the Club to grow and to be sustainable. Otherwise, the natural tensions and competitive pressures that are involved with every season will ultimately cause instability and make continuity impossible.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just been reading the above, and started to wonder. Yes, RL & Co have invested a lot in the club and do seem to have a genuine vision on how to develop it. All very good. I supported them on GH, because, in spite of GH being less than adept at some things, he offered the prospect of better football, making the most of what we've got, and the chance of really getting somewhere. Another year of GH was worth backing.

Where I start to get worried is when they turn to what they want to see in a manager. Continuity is mentioned. Could they be against Hughes because they think he's too ambitious, that he'll stay a couple of years and then be off? Another thing, the PL requirement means they're not going to talk to Rijkaard. And so on. Maybe there's a reason why Ranieri doesn't fit.

This strikes me as having a cosy little view of what they want and rejecting anybody who might not fit. If it's true, it's totally naive. What Villa need above all is a team builder familiar with modern football who produces something players and fans are proud of, are enthusiastic about, and want to be part of. It doesn't matter too much if the manager moves on after a bit, to look for other challenges, provided he leaves a legacy behind (which to some extent GH has done, in terms of opening the eyes of the younger players); indeed, change can be a good thing. Other things don't matter either, like the PL experience, as other European managers coming to England have shown.

What you need is a manager who can walk in a command instant respect (respect not fear) and enthusiasm, where the first game of the new season has that buzz of anticipation, where everyone looks forward to the next game in anticipation. I think the board need to look beyond their comfort zone. Because that's the only way Villa will move forward.

Get in touch with Hughes now. And Rijkaard. And the others.

posted on 14/6/11

Lerner wants a yes man, a nodding dog, what Blair was to Bush, Mcleish wont give up the chance of having Villa on his resume, there must be little future for Villa if they see Mcleish as a step upwards and forwards because we all kmow its a step back.
Mcleish will be brought in and fed to the dogs IMO when Lerner sells his best players and starves the kitty of funds but in Alex Mcleish he has found someone that wont moan about as he will be happy to just be their manager. Sad really

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