Didiersix

Lerner and Faulkner took an almighty,desperate gamble and it has failed. Trouble is now I think they are trying to play a poker face and pretend everything will be OK. Havent heard much from Faulkner recently have we? My guess is that we will scrape enough to survive, McLeish will plead mitigating factors for such poor football, the board will back him with a couple of 7-10 million signings to try and appease the fans and another god awful season ensues. But if things are still crap next Christmas, McLeish will be gone.

Maybe we need to follow the example of FC Magdeburg - they haven't scored for a month and fans are showing them where the goal is:

Top post. Agreed. Yes... Well said that man. Just because we are no longer looking at top 4 does it mean we have to accept dross.

Reading an interview with Gianfranco Zola in London's Evening Standard tonight. He talks about how Arrigo Sacchi drummed into them the importance of the style of winning, not just the win itself. Now we are far from a great team. A million light years from a 90s vintage Milan, Ajax of the 70s or today's Barelona. But I wouldnt mind some style. McLeish's comments to the press are always about hard work, "running through brick walls", "sweating blood". All very admirable - and necessary sentiments. But what about the style Alex? There is no doubt he will always endeavour, always give the 99% of perspiration required. But the 1% of inspiration, of style, of class ?

Well I don't think it mentions top 4 success, and there's no denying AM did win a cup, with an inferior club. Even if all he does is steady the ship and keep us safe in mid table, the point that it's making about getting off AM's back is a valid one. The word Messiah doesn't appear in the article anyway. He is not the messiah, he is a very boring man.

This for me. Keep in mind Fulham are pretty rubbish away. Just hope we get enough points to stay up then move on.

I know she used to be at least. She briefly worked at my old workplace and went out with a guy there.

99% of the Generals posts where bullshit tbh. Propaganda at its finest. I think that is unfair. He obviously believed very passionately about Proud History bright future, I mean he believed it so much he went and used it in his acceptance speech for his next role at that University. That was basically an insult to the fans of this club Yeah for a man of his stature I thought it was all a bit unbecoming. Semper Fidelis and all that.

Shaun Teale would have made a great seventies cop, truly in the Gene Hunt mould. He is completely right here. How many excuses does McLeish need? What's next? Dog ate his team sheet?

I can quite happily explain how I know he's telling porkies - and I am happy to call him out on that. I could say that Villa play in black and white. That would make me a liar. Its simple really and far from being out of order. Villa's owners/board don't say anything. Ever. Strange then don't you think that "someone important" decides to share all about possible transfer policy with some random in the crowd? Its garbage. Besides who would buy him? Liverpool already have £50m worth of stike force as do Man Utd,Chelsea and Man City more so. He's not a Wenger type player, because he's bone idle. He's been sold by Spurs and Sunderland...... Newcastle have spent heavily on their forward line.... Everton are skint, Norwich, Swansea couldn't afford him or his wages. Thats 11 PL clubs who won't go near him. Where would he go that wasn't a massive step down? Relax. Have a drink. He's not going anywhere. You can call me out as a liar, I really don't give a crap. As I said to Mike, I've been posting on here for years and it really would be slightly out of character for me to suddenly burst into bullshit. Why do you think it is some random in the crowd? Why did we hear nothing from Darren Bent during the transfer window but as soon as it was shut we got one of those lovely powderpuff 'I'm so happy at Villa' pieces up on the website? Anyway, I've said enough already. I don't want to get anyone into trouble so I'll pipe down and revert to 'non-controversial' mode.

Can you elaborate? A friend of mine was chatting with someone important at the FA Cup game with Bristol Rovers and he told him so. Let me get this right. There is a potentially controversial bit of information that the clubs wants to keep from the fans at all costs. So the club's CEO mentions it to a random fan in the crowd. R-i-i-i-i-g-h-t. Not a random fan in the crowd. Believe or don't believe Mike I don't care - but I would just add that I have been posting on here for long enough and know enough about Villatalk 'etiquette' to start bullshitting.

Can you elaborate? A friend of mine was chatting with someone important at the FA Cup game with Bristol Rovers and he told him so.

Interesting one this. I know for a fact that Villa wanted to sell Bent in January but were worried about how it would look 'politically' with the fans. McLeish doesn't think that Gabby and Bent can play together.. and as you can imagine is displeased with Bent's work rate on the pitch. Remember it is all about 'sweating blood' with Alex.

I didn't see the game today but Sir Graham Taylor was a bit perplexed by Our tactics from the off on radio 5. Especially the Heskey on right wing thing.

Amen brother.

I am amazed in some respects that the murmurings of discontent haven't manifested themselves earlier. Did anyone really think that McLeish was going to galvanise fans/players and start moving forward? The appointment was always divisive which in my mind is never a good thing - when you are creating splits in your fanbase, that surely can't be good for business can it?

If and when they redevelop the North Stand then surely it is a 'nail on'. I can see it now already: THE HABIB BEYE STAND

That Wolves game I think should be put firmly in the 'Bolton Away' box. A game in which we looked OK in fits and starts but were outplayed for large sections of the game too. McLeish's record against the top half of the table teams isn't great - and I would imagine bears a similar resemblance to his record with Blues last year. In terms of whether we are under/over/just peforming, shouldn't the yardstick be the one given by the Chief Executive earlier in the season? Faulkner has stated that he thinks we should qualify for Europe this year - so Alex it is over to you....

The club realise this is a hard sell for the fans and aren't going to come out and say 'we are selling Darren Bent'. But, in my opinion, I think there is some 'wiggle room'. If the right offer comes in, it is my belief he will be sold.

link So he has said he doesn't want to sell Bent. Your argument is void. Sorry to be a pedant, but I think this is quite important - when was the second quote from? After the Bristol Rovers match?

Interesting isn't it? Nowhere does he say 'I don't want to sell Darren Bent' - and clearly he has asked around to see if anyone is interested in him.

I thought it was an interesting choice of words from McLeish last night. From what I have seen, he did not at any point say that he doesn't want to sell Darren Bent, rather that they have not had any offers. I think McLeish has had a problem with Bent from pretty earlier on - I don't think he sees how both him and Gabby can play in the same team -and that there is the will within Aston Villa to sell him on. I think though they also realise that this is a hard 'sell' to the fans - so are caught in something of a quandary.

I totally agree that he has not made a good job of owning and running Villa, they the key challenge for him going forward is to get it right. I personally don't think that is living in Peter Pan land. If someone like Mike Ashley can do it at Newcastle I'm sure Randy Lerner can. Its all about taking the right advice and appointing the right people. Paul Faulkner is cast as the pantomime villain by lots of posters but I would hazard a guess that next to no one on this forum has met him let alone talked to him so actually know nothing about him. As the Trees said in a previous post on this thread PF seemingly was appointed to try and put the club on a more sensible commercial footing following the excesses of MON which I agree Lerner must have sanctioned. It could be argued that was a good think to do. Much talk is made on this forum of appointing a 'footballing man' to run the club yet the only suggestion that has been tabled is David Dein. I'd be interested to see if anyone could come up with a shortlist of gettable candidates particularly one that excludes Steve Stride (HDE's bag man IMO) and Graham Taylor (no business background). Good post. I've met PF and as I've said before, wasn't impressed with him at all - he came across as an overgrown, excitable kid and I was genuinely shocked when I discovered he was our CEO. In terms of a 'footballing man' in the role I would suggest there are a few gettable targets. One guy who I have been impressed by is David McNally at Norwich City - also did a good job at Fulham and Celtic (although maybe tainted by the O'Neill connection?). Dare I say Garry Cook is looking for employment....

What I didn't understand yesterday was why he persisted in keeping Petrov/Clark in midfield. I saw a quote with him saying it was to ensure we were still solid... but in my opinion, what is the point in being solid when you are 2-0 down? He should have taken Clark and/or Stan off and gone with Ireland/Bannan or even Gardner.. I just didn't see that we had much to lose. This is what is so infuriating for me.

First half we played well - although we were allowed to by a Bolton side whose midfield was nonexistent. We were hanging on for much of the second half though... Bolton probably feel they deserved a draw (even though we could have been 4 up at half time). Thought ALbrighton looked good and certainly did not stop running. Bent will be off in January. McLeish doesn't think him and Gabby can play together. Simple as that really.