ClaretandStu

McCleish is a much better manager than McClaren IMO, McClaren just never managed the scum.

McClaren's management record isn't actually that bad.

Decent results at Boro, Uefa Cup Final, won the league with FC Twente for the first time in their history. His spells at England and Wolsburg were not great admittedly, but with England he was let down with individual errors, and Wolfsburg he had a bloody awful bunch of players, it was a near impossible task to achieve what the fans wanted.

In light of all this McLeish stuff, I would welcome McLaren with open arms. At least he's a solid manager.

What McClaren has achieved is far beyond anything McLeish has done in the game.

Far beyond? Being a coach under Fergie is experience not achievement. Middlesborough on EUFA cup run was good, but with very low expectations on him. Winning the dutch league is equivalent to SPL in my opinion and AM did that twice then qualified Rangers to the last 16 of the CL first time for a scottish team to achieve that in the CL

AM did better the McClaren at international level IMO, to get so close to qualifying with big win over Italy.

If the board had settled for 'middle of the road' then fair enough. There are cheap options out there, and they could do a decent job, solid midtable and all that, quite uninspiring but acceptable in times of cost-cutting.

The appointment of McLeish is not 'middle of the road' though. It's the site at the side of the road for the monumental car crash. The appointment of McLeish seems more like a '**** you, we make the decisions' to the fans than anything else. He has a poor management record, he has a poor record with his signings, he has a poor style of football, he has just come from a relegated club, he has just come from the club who scored the least goals in the league, he begins his tenure here with protests against his appointment, he will have the fans calling for his head at the first defeat, he will have fans boycotting games and merchandise leading to heavy drop in revenue, and he will cost us alot in compensation to bring all those wonderful things to our club. This is completely fogetting the Birmingham City link, which I can do - but he is a poor poor manager, and I am gutted our board honestly think this is a good decision.

It makes no sense, in a sense of business, financially, football or loyalty to the fans. Randy Lerner has been an amazing chairman up to this point, I've had friends (particularly Liverpool fans during Hicks and Gillette) who have said they were jealous of our chairman and what he was doing, he was improving not only the football club, but the image of the club with the surrounding areas and throwing in a load of charity work to boot; truely amazing stuff - and that could all be completely undone with this appointment. Expect a season of absolute turmoil, fans revolts, player revolts, players leaving, and that will inevitable lead to a relegation battle.

A bit OTT IMHO. His managerial record isn't that bad with Rangers and Scotland and has good recommendations from Dick Advocat, Fergie. Ask Hibs and Rangers fans, his style of play was more attacking with more decent players available.

At Birmingham he inherited club 14 games in and 16th place, very difficult to turn around with that quality squad in your first season. Got straight back up though and last season had key injuries, new ownership didn't get on with and carling cup distraction. All facts that have to be added to the mix.

So sky have just reported the 'within 24 hours' line....but I've just thought of something that lacks any sense what so ever.

Steve Mclarens talks were put on hold due to fan reactions on the net however Villa still hold talks with Mcleish despite the fans reaction on the net and protests at Villa park. We might as well of hired the 'wally with a brolly' if that's the case. If Mcleish is appointed that will stick in my mind...very contradictory indeed.

RL had previously met Mcleish and has been quoted in the past saying he admires him as a manager.

From Vital Villa ...worse than we thought:-

I feel the record needs setting straight on McLeish`s record in management as for anyone to think he has what it takes is deluded in my opinion. Maybe this will help some realise why we are so opposed to him being our manager.

Motherwell, Yes he had a bright start at Motherwell taking them to 2nd in the league before two season fighting relegation. Despite that second place finish he had a very poor average of 1.21 points per game. Good start, bad finish!

Hibernian, In fairness they were struggling when he took them over with three months of the season left. He was unable to get them to stay up and they were relegated in last place. He did a good job bringing them back up and then finished 6th out of ten teams the next season which is mid table but still an ok achievement. I should point out though that they were only four points from 2nd from bottom.. The next season he finished a very good third although 31 points behind the leaders it is still a very good improvement.

All going well but then in his last season he managed Hibernian into December leaving them in 8th and two points from relegation. Does anyone else see the pattern to this guy`s management yet? Anyway he achieved a respectable overall average of 1.66 points per game although a lot of that was from the first division league. His top division points average is 1.38 with Hibernian which does not look quite so good.

Rangers, Right then he went on to manage one of the top two teams in Scotland. Hardly the hardest job in the world but he did well. Celtic won the league the season before McLeish came but Rangers had won the league the previous two seasons to that so he hardly ended Celtics dominance like quoted in some places. He started managing them part way through the season in December and they were in 2nd place. He kept them in second place but lost a further 7 point on Celtic to end up 18 points behind them. The next season was very good for McLeish as he finished top beating Celtic by one goal on goal difference. Next season back to second 17 points behind Celtic, Next season won title again by 1 point.

His final season he finished 3rd 18 points behind Celtic again. He then left the club after fans protested against him and the chairmen. While his average points of 2.27 looks excellent, the two Scottish giants are that far ahead of anyone else in the league anyone could achieve reasonable results. So while he did well at Rangers the average points over the last 10 years at Rangers is 2.2+ so he did nothing special in my opinion. While his record was still ok until his last season his management again seemed very inconsistent. One season being close to Celtic and then next season a massive points difference again. Again after initial success he took the club back down to below where he started with them. He also did well with the cups he won at Rangers but again there is only a few teams in with a chance of winning any cups in Scotland.

Birmingham. On to the Blues we go. He took Birmingham over 14 games into the season with them lying in 16th, he managed to lead them to 19th and relegation. All I can say is well done McLeish that`s about your best piece of work so far ;-) He led them straight back up finishing in 2nd. Then a respectable 9th before taking them back down again. Inconsistent is the key here again. His whole management at Birmingham he had an average points total of 1.41 which sounds ok but that is cup and league games including 1st division games. Take league games only and his average is 1.30 and then take his Premiership games only and his average points total is 1.13 per game YES 1.13 per game. I had to check that several times to make sure I have it correct! As we all know he won a cup (many will say luckily but credit where credit due) which is a fat load of use when you get your team relegated.

Now can someone pass that onto the board for me and then ask them to explain why they think he is a good manager! All he has proven in his management career is he can take a top team that are streets ahead of almost every other team in the league and keep them there or there about. He has had bad times at every club he has managed so I totally understand why he is not welcome at Villa by most fans. A few big signings are not going to win the fans around. Why the board would even consider a manager that would alienate so many fans when he is not even a good manager is beyond any reason or logic I can think of.

For clarification average points totals were worked out on three points for a win and one for a draw.

Read more: http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=7509055#ixzz1PQplHm93

Taking his points per game average in the PL 1.13 that would give the Bluenoses survival every season, plus a cup not too bad considering the squad and njuries he had, change of ownership. Martinez has just had his honeymoon season at wigan and only just survived

Taking Bluenoses over 14 games into the season does not give him a fair amount of time to bring his management onto the team to survive. Last season he had some key injuries like Bowyer Fergusen Zigic and Dann.

Wow, I havent posted much over the last few days and just being watching this unfold............How the hell did we arrive at this point? Is McCleish really are ONLY option and the BEST man to give us a "Bright Future" I'll support Villa regardless of anything, however I will NOT be supporting the board if they make this appointment. All good faith is now out of the window and I see them on equal grounds to Deadly Doug. You're now judged on what happens on the pitch (all the moisacs, free scarves, Holte Pub mean nothing now) it's about WINNING on the pitch and being SUCCESSFUL. That is how I will judge this board. This appointment (if it happens) smacks of middle of the road. With this we've given up the dream and realise were now also rans. Sad day..............

As for McCleish and his credentails, whilst im sure he is a good man, he is not a good manager. Our board state he has proven he can manage at the top. Has he?? he spent 40 million and still relegated them TWICE. McCarthy and Martinez spent significently less and kept there teams in the PL, are they then more qualified? Is this what it has come to? shopping in the bargin basement?

Proud History Insipid Future. Our board clearly don't get OUR club and they no longer have my support.

McCleish had key injuries last season. Martinez has used up his first season PL honeymoon factor. McCarthy took 3 seasons to promote Wolves back to where they were two seasons before.

Lets give AM a chance.

Mcleish's CV looks pretty similar to MON's. Mcleish has experience of playing under Fergie, MON Clough. Won two titles with Rangers in three years. In premier league had to work with the players he had in Birmingham, and for Scotland, in a style that got the best out of the players. When Hibs and BCFC got relegated straight back up next season finishing 3rd and 9th respectively. First SPL manager to guide team to Champions league last 16, in 2006; MON got to UEFA final. Both got two carling cup wins. Gave Scotland best shot at qualifying that I can remember. Rangers and Hibs fans can tell you that he was more attacking under them.

I met Mcleish at Munich airport as the blue noses were returning from preseason airport. Had a delay in flight. He had an easygoing, strong camoradarie with the players calling them by their nicknames, and when he spoke it seemed weighty words, or a joke. Even when he said I was a villa fan he still treated me with respect. I came away thinking thats a really nice man who gets respected.

Thought I'd share with you :-) Im neither for or against appointment just think he deserves the fans to give him some support. Hes won more than Mark Hughes, Martinez.

Hope Its true though! He has a good club record and could improve us.

any links please?

It is in the -Sunday Mirror

Ok Nevermind then

any links please?

Tried using the veetle stream but cant seem to work it from this works laptop. Dh! Any other links to a live stream not invlolving a download would be most welcome Cheers Stu

what is the best stream to watch this?

Veetle.

PLEASE someone post a link to any stream Ive been trying to find one for ages. Cheers