Tayls

I'm in a weird position at the moment because, although we lost today and I'm disappointed, I dont half care as mush as I would have before. Mostly down to the events of yesterday with Stiliyan, but also, I'm kind of expecting us to go down now - I think we will be caught. I'm thinking that the board are planning on 'doing a Newcastle' gods knows why - but there we go. Of course, I dont want us to go down and I always thought before that i would cry if we did. But, if we do... After this season, Im pretty certain I won't be shedding a tear. It's obvious that winning only 7 games in 30 is pathetic... But you know what, if the board don't care, then nor do I I'm afraid. I just won't be spending any money in a rush. It's that simple. I will continue to check the results this season but they will pretty much all be defeats anyway soooo meh. Some of you will take this the wrong way and say I'm not a fan etc etc but... You know, we're being treated liked crap here and iv had enough

Absolutely gutting news. Thoughts with stiliyan and his family. McLeish is right in his recent comments - the old cliche comes into perspective here. Tbh, I couldn't care about the Chelsea result, but on the flip side I want us to go out there and show some passion and fight in the absence of our leader. The things Petrov has done off the pitch is brilliant, welcoming new signings, helping them to settle in, charity work, understanding fans and our frustrations and coming out to offer us reassurance. He's a real professional. It's our turn to offer you some reassurance now - we're all right behind you. Get well soon Stiliyan, fight strong our friend/leader

"Alex has always been one of those guys who prefers to do his business at the end of the season. He knows the most important thing is Villa winning games." Soooo we've signed Holman now because....

I think McLeish maybe working more to Lerner's schedule than his own.. The Arsenal game was the perfect time to start with Herd and Gardner, it was the perfect time to start with Weimann but he didn't.. Now maybe McLeish really is stupid (a possibility), but he saw what Weimann could do with just 20 minutes on the pitch and any other manager would have started the kid but McLeish didn't.. I know McLeish has a bad rep but that doesn't make sense to me, that isn't what a manager working under his own guidance would do. I respect what your saying 100% - but there is no way that Randy or anyone else on the board is having any influence of the team that is picked. He wanted to play 'safe' - meaning that if we play crap, maybe Arsenal will play crap and won't score any. That completely back fired. He was afraid to play football. A dangerous tactic when you are where you are. I accept that he will be here next season, but he won't have long. Certainly no longer than Christmas if we find our selves in the bottom 7? Excuses of transition or funds or injuries will not work I'm afraid.

I think ultimately he just wants a few more technically gifted players.. I don't think he's blind I think he can see that Gardner, Herd, Bannan, Weimann, Carruthers and others have been trained to be technically good players. We know Ireland is a technically gifted player with a great footballing mind.. If you stick those guys around Dutch and Spanish players that are trained and very good at passing the ball we have a good basis.. Sure we know McLeish likes playing hoofball but so did MON and look at Sunderland right now, I do believe that if we get rid of the players that can't play the slick passing game and replace them with those that can McLeish won't play hoofball. Ah, I don't doubt he can perhaps see a talented player when it's infront of him, nor do I doubt that he is desperate to come up with a 'philosophy' which he wishes to implement at Villa, but whilst we are in a position which we currently find ourselves, I can't feel confident about the future. If these younger players are technically gifted and what he plans on using, then why play Heskey? Blood the players now against the likes of Arsenal - they will feel on top of the world having participated in that game against fellow youngsters like Oxlade-Chamberlain... Look how he has turned out now.

It should be a good tour IMO and it would be good to get some coverage stateside. My only concern is having McLeish at the helm and making us globally known for being shit Haha!! Nah, should be good to help us prepare for the season ahead. I wonder who the first away game will be - I recon Derby or Leicester?

Benitez would do a good job at Villa for sure. We should have got him. We could be 6th by now....

My ultimate team (Netherlands) has Elia and Lens on the wings - they are epic! Howcome we are being linked to so many Dutch players - is McLeish really going for this total football approach? There is signs of it coming through now, what with our all out attack approach and fluid, precision passing. Triangles all around!

We very much are in the 'relegation scrap'. With those teams to still play each other and us to play some teams in the top 6 then we could be brought bang straight into the middle of it all. For us to finish on points that are in the 30's is disgusting, and for the prices that we are having to pay for tickets to watch absolute shit is also a disgrace. Everything is rubbish at the moment and im not bothering to attend anymore games. Especially when McLeish says we need to be realistic about winning at Arsenal - what was the **** point. We should be able to ask for our money back of that is the case.

I don't get that - cuz Holloways style of football got Blackpool relegated. McLeish's style might well keep us up having been beaten less than 15 times (I think that is what will happen anyway)

Guys guys.... I know the reason why we didn't win today! ... It's because we wore Red shorts!!! Think we need to give McLeish a bye for today's game, because there was no way we were going to win in red.

12 draws is insane. 6 wins in 27 is insane. 9 defeats in 27 - isn't to bad when you think about it. Obviously I expect us to lose more come the end of the season though. I don't understand why we have two sides to our game at the moment - I never saw the game today, and nor would I pay to go and see one right now, but from i hear we were top notch in the first half. So, why do we then drastically change in the second to ensure that we do not achieve victory? What does McLeish say to the players at half time? I don't think we will go down this season, but should we, and it is a possibility, lose 4 games on the trot in the next few weeks, we could be caught by the bottom clubs. It is very unlikely that we will not pick up a single point though and the bottom clubs are playing each other as well. We should remain safe. I just don't know what to think anymore about the way we are at the moment. I don't like protests but we shouldn't have to put up with being managed poorly. Apparently there are plans for next season, but can we trust those plans? Aghhhh... So frustrated at the moment! I look forward to the weekends so much and I hate going through the week knowing we havnt pissing won a game!

Theres no gap after we play wigan? We play blackburn the following Saturday...

McLeish and the team have 4 games to show us what their intentions are for this season. 4 games, in which to decide what league we will be playing in next season. Whether we are actually shit, or just mislead will show from these fixtures. It really is time just wait and see now as this thread is just going round and round in nearly 500 circles. I cannot wait until we next play. Hate having gaps!

The only way relegation would be good would be if we 'did a Newcastle' and come back up stronger. It's like they remembered who they are, and what a club like Newcastle should be doing. If we got relegated I think we should get rid of the actual deadwood, and then keep every **** in our current favourite 11 and make them get us back to where we belong. And then get rid, replacing with obvious quality. Players like Demba Ba for example. I don't think we are that poor in a way that if we get relegated we would have to immediately sell everyone. However, I'm not convinced McLeish has the minerals to be able to do that. But still, having said this, relegation would be a **** disaster and would make me depressed for a year or so.

We need to get to 35 points by the time we have played our 32nd game. Basically we need to keep at having more points then games played I feel. If not, it could well be Huddersfield (should they get promoted) away next season.

Umbro - errrr... rainbow trout

Well that's what I would have thought, but I've spoke to a handful of people who do and I'm sure there's some on here. As I say, I don't get it. :| He's doing a thorough job of failing himself. He doesnt need to have the wishes of others in order to screw things up. With the players now seemingly falling out with him in the dressing room, things could only get worse. I fear we may have another case of 'let's put things to one side and focus on staying up' extravaganza.

Indeed - I am happy when we win, no question. But I will not celebrate it and start to change my opinion of McLeish or some of the players - the only thing I am thinking is, 'thank **** for that'. At the moment, I am counting down the games so that I can see us safe, I'm not looking at when we are going to win as I know no matter who we are playing, it's going to be struggle. Up the villa and all that, but I'm worried.

It would appear that way

It must get tiring knowing everything and being right all the time. It must be tiring defending McLeish all the time when you know you're running out of options. There's a difference between defending McLeish and having a balanced, reasonable view on him. Does every last little thing he does annoy you? Do you honestly believe he is the worst possible person to be in charge? I'm not his biggest fan either. I'll criticise him if we lose, but then I'll give him credit if he pulls a win out the bag. Surely that's only fair? I don't just say, 'It was a fluke, he'll lose the next game'. Then if he does indeed lose the next game (everytime so far, I know...) I won't say 'told ya' so', because I think that attitude stinks and also gets a bit predictable and boring. We're not getting many wins at all at the moment, we all know that. So don't slag people off for enjoying them and being positive whenever we do. It really isn't 'outrageous', it's actually quite normal. It really is not normal - wins should not be regarded as a frigging treat for the fans when they eventually do happen. We get the bullshit articles about so and so turning the corner, or so and so promising more goals, consistency etc etc.... It's a load of bollox. Winning should be standard for Aston Villa, not a relief for the week before we go and lose again

I'm pretty sure G C is = Ginger see you next tuesday. Unless you were pretending you didn't know

So, is he going to play against city do we recon?

Macron and Genting out!

I disagree. Him coming out and saying that will trigger said conversations and they will have it out. I say well done Charles!