OhioVilla

MOAR HOOOOF!

Heskey on.

First time i've been excited to see Heskey come on...ever?

What inspiring play and style of football.

At least I can watch Delph repeatedly trip over the ball.

Stupid appointment, and a stupid sacking.

Don't rate Klinsmann at all. Think the US FA (or whatever they are called) don't realise how good they had it under Bradley.

Bradley had lost the team, but he did squeeze probably a ton of talent out of the guys.

That being said, his tactics and team choices were awful.

Also, Kinsmann has promised to promote a rehauling of the US Youth System. That, along with the USSF following the instructions on Claudia Reina's instructions, and it's pretty clear that the USSF was ready to take a jolt in a different direction.

I am very excited but nervous. Klinsmann understands both the sports culture and how to set up a youth system. Can he do it? Well, for the US, I surely hope so. If we can start getting our top athletes into soccer, not all but some, and get HIGH quality coaching, then the US could become a force, IMO.

Given is a good bit of business.

Do we still have Guzan? He'd be a great backup for Given.

Yes Guzan is still with us. McLeish stated that Guzan's future is not done here so who knows what will happen with him. I'd like to have Guzan because with Given's injury troubles, we need a decent backup.

Great to hear!

I think Guzan should have a future here, he just needs more time. Never got a chance to play any meaningful games with Brad here.

Given is a good bit of business.

Do we still have Guzan? He'd be a great backup for Given.

Downing is a pathetic mercenary.

Hope it is worth it.

A wise man once said that the day you start listening to the supporters/fans, you will eventually be sitting with them.

Here is to hoping for multiple cups...

As someone who had been somewhat supportive of going with McLeish...choosing McLeish over Flores is a total botch.

Randy will live or die with this appointment. McLeish better act on his plans fast and start out fast in the Premier League. If the doom and gloomers are right, then we are **** anyway.

I don't know why they went with such a huge gamble when they had an important appointment on their hands.

They better be right.

McLeish has managed two places: Scotland and Birmingham City, i.e. his only experiences are the utter lowest forms of football known to humanity. This appointment would make no sense on any level.

And Rangers, where he managed to do quite well. Even made it to the Final 16 in CL, which is no small feat with a SPL team.

This would seem to be a natural progression in his career. He's pretty much proven himself everywhere that he can win.

I meant Scotland in general! He's yet to prove anything outside Scotland from what I've seen. I don't see the 'natural progression' from relegation to an ambitious top 8 side.

Well, I certainly cannot defend the fact that outside of Scotland, there hasn't been a huge success for him. However, I think his time in sha is better than perceived. He happened to be the manager when they first got relegated, cannot hold that against him. Also, didn't have ambitious owners yet still got them a cup and a good position in the league. I think he deserves a better shot.

Is he the man for Villa? I cannot nor can anyone answer that question until we see results. And I'm not going to say one opinion is greater than the other. I think there are guys with better pedigrees out there, but I wouldn't say that McLeish would be the death of Villa like some are acting.

Seems to me that the majority are upset just because he managed SHA.

To be quite frank, outside of the end of last season, McLeish has been a very successful manager. Even led Scotland to a 70% winning. Not to mention he managed to get **** SHA to 9th in the league and a cup.

I think he'd be a pretty good appointment, not the great appointment others like Ancelotti or Moyes would have been, but certainly not the disaster McClaren or Rafa would have been either.

I think he'd at least deserve time to prove himself either great or incompetent. However, I guess it is understandable to be upset over hiring a guy who coached SHA. That is...a bitter taste.

Actually no most ppl seem to be criticising him because of the woeful football played at the Blues and add 2 relegations recently.

To be relegated this season with all the rubbish in the league took some doing.

Google their goal stats of last few seasons . The most negative side in the Prem over the last few years has been McLeishs Birmingham.

Even most bluenoses tho very grateful for their league cup will soon tell you about the awful chore to watch football they had to watch.

Have to admit, I haven't seen sha on the pitch much, outside of when they lose to Villa. I'm quite sure, though, that it could be because they are sha and they simply suck.

That being said, success is success. Hard to say the first relegation was his fault as he took over in Jan. The second, yeah that seems to be his own fault.

McLeish has managed two places: Scotland and Birmingham City, i.e. his only experiences are the utter lowest forms of football known to humanity. This appointment would make no sense on any level.

And Rangers, where he managed to do quite well. Even made it to the Final 16 in CL, which is no small feat with a SPL team.

This would seem to be a natural progression in his career. He's pretty much proven himself everywhere that he can win.

Seems to me that the majority are upset just because he managed SHA.

To be quite frank, outside of the end of last season, McLeish has been a very successful manager. Even led Scotland to a 70% winning. Not to mention he managed to get **** SHA to 9th in the league and a cup.

I think he'd be a pretty good appointment, not the great appointment others like Ancelotti or Moyes would have been, but certainly not the disaster McClaren or Rafa would have been either.

I think he'd at least deserve time to prove himself either great or incompetent. However, I guess it is understandable to be upset over hiring a guy who coached SHA. That is...a bitter taste.

Petrov is having a shocker, if I'm being honest.

I would also like to see someone behind the striker that isn't a rag doll, as well. Young is not suited for the middle of the field.

SSN:

DEAL IS DONE!

I cannot express in words exactly how excited I am to see a real live striker @ AVFC.

I'd imagine the reason that Carew does not like Houllier is because he sold him?

Or at least there may be bad feelings from being sold?

Actually the general opinion was that the Chairman of Lyon didn't like Carew and told Houllier to get rid

Hmmm, then I am fresh out of ideas. I guess he just doesn't prefer Houllier.

I don't really mind, I find Carew to be a decent player up front but his finishing skills are diminishing. I'd imagine he'll be sold soon, be it dissatisfaction with Houllier, to relieve the wages bill, make room for another player, ect.

I'd imagine the reason that Carew does not like Houllier is because he sold him?

Or at least there may be bad feelings from being sold?

How long before we are linked with Owen ? - one for the Sunday papers I think

Hey, we could have a reunion!

Owen-Heskey LIVES!

Bob Bradley has been given a 4-year extension as coach of the US.

That link is now well and truly over.

So many mixed feelings.

YAY VILLA WON'T GET HIM!

Crap, USSF still has him...

I'd like to point out that Klinsmann is also the front runner for the US job and is supposedly talking contract with them.

The only reason Bradley is even linked is because of an american owner. If he ever becomes a serious candidate, then I'll worry. As far as I am concerned, this is just the media being lazy.

And knowing Randy Lerner and how he reacts after embarrassment of the team he owns, I'm fairly certain we can write off McDonald. Seeing as how Lerner saw that result in person, I'm sure he was more than a little pissed at losing to a weak side like Rapid V.

Haven't been able to watch. How is Ireland doing?

Looks much better tonight than he did against against the Barcodes, but that should be a given.

Heskey out wide?!

FFS, HESKEY out wide?!

Glad we are coming out as we should. West Ham is going to struggle to save themselves from Relegation, so we should dominate them quite easily.