Mantis

This, I don't like him for the way he walked out but look whats happened to us since he left. Why do people always use this to demonstrate that he's a good manager? Our performance since he left has more to do with the two managers that came after him and a drop in spending. Drop in spending? Houllier had nearly 30 million in january and we were still gutless and shit. Yes maybe it would have been better if Randy didn't appoint awful managers in Houllier or Mcleish but we'll never know. We never spent in the summer MON walked out (Getting Ireland for Milner made our squad considerably weaker). We actually didn't do too badly after January. If Randy had appointed a half decent manager and not McLeish, and then back him in the transfer market (I don't begrudge him for the spending cuts though, as we're simply not bringing enough money in) then we'd probably be doing quite well.

This, I don't like him for the way he walked out but look whats happened to us since he left. Why do people always use this to demonstrate that he's a good manager? Our performance since he left has more to do with the two managers that came after him and a drop in spending.

If that's true then the question is, who will make way for Heskey - Herd, Petrov, N'Zogbia, Gabby or Bent?

Definitely this. Our relatively good performance under him and the "feeling of hope" was more down to the amount of money being spent than anything else. Of course you're going to be optimistic for the future when you're spending lots. I feel a lot of people are vastly overrating MON. He's a mediocre manager who achieved the bare minimum with us when you take into account the funds he had at his disposal.

But Bannan will hardly feature. Heskey will be our attacking midfielder as usual. Which leads me to my next point - what surprises will our genius of a manager spring this time? Gabby at full back? Collins as a striker? Heskey in goal?

I'd rather play a player that creates chances instead of one that opposition players simply avoid (if that is indeed the case). With Bannan and Jenas fit, there is absolutely no excuse to keep playing Heskey in midfield.

Sunderland may well finish above us but it has nothing to do with O'Neill, but rather McLeish being an exceedingly poor manager. In all fairness they could hire almost anyone and still finish above us as there aren't many managers out there worse than ours.

Had me in stitches.

NowDoINotLikeThat has a habbit of creating manager memes. First Mick McCarthy, now Gary Megson. Who next?

Our results so far wouldn't be so bad if we could spring a couple of surprises against the best teams, but McLeish seems to just accept defeat in any game where the opponents are clearly better than us.

I think what separates Houllier from McLeish is record and style of play. Houllier had least had a good record, therefore there were a fair few people who could see the logic in his appointment. McLeish however, NOBODY could understand why he was appointed, and still can't. Style of play goes without mentioning, as McLeish's teams play possibly the worst football ever seen. Also McLeish is doing himself no favours with the pathetically bizarre tactics. Hutton as a winger and Heskey in midfield, with no injury crisis and plenty of better players available? What the actual ****?

Lol, 1.5 relegations.

yeah though none have won a domestic trophy in the English game. That doesn't really mean much given his two relegations. SHA's Carling Cup victory was one of the luckiest cup runs I've ever seen in my entire life. McLeish is a terrible manager.

We have been shipping a fair few goals. I don't mind though, if we get a few wins out of it (e.g. Norwich). Unfortunately though we seem to be shipping goals and losing and drawing a lot.

I saw this one guy in the under 10s play the other day. He was superb. Let's start him against Man U on Saturday. :bonk:

But we have though. A positive goal difference (excluding the Man City game; im wiping them from the league) says we are not the Villa of old where every game was a defensive nightmare; its not been great but were certainly not shipping. Okay im taking it back, stats hunting shows we have conceded too many in silly ways and silly games. And while I do think we have improved hugely id swap out Warnock, Collins and Hutton for many Championship players.... The 6-0 drubbing at Newcastle pretty much explains that. For example, before the Swansea game, we'd conceded at least 2 goals 5 games in a row. Defensively we are an absolute shambles. I expect half of this is down to the players though.

But we have though.

I agree with this. As you said, Villa have always seemed to raise their game for the big teams, but this season I'm not. Granted we haven't yet played a big team at home so maybe there is hope?

Why ? Because he's a word removed and we're pretty good at coming up with chants. He's a word removed? Perhapsn you haven't looked at the players that left since he did, or in fact, the league position since he did. Theres only one word removed here, its not him, and it's not me. I can only imagine from contiunual sniping of one of the better managers we've had since your parents were born, that he must have fondled you at church or something, because your demented critisism is becoming irational. You critisised the style of football. Well, have you seen a single game since he left, because frankly, it's getting worse. Remeber 3 years ago or so, that night we beat spurzz at WHL, playing them off the park, Young looking fantastic down the right. and did you see us playing spurs last week. Get over it mate - your wax cylinder is broken. I'd have O'Neill back in a hearbeat over the ginger clearing in the woods or the french word removed. The big problem is Lerner lost his bottle, did an Abramovich about the team in terms of making demands on squads,wages, and the man who was putting it together walked. If we'd bought Bent 1 season earlier, we would be in the top 4 now, with ability to pull inplayers we wanted. Oh wow, I called St Martin a name therefore you insult me? Nice one. I'm amazed at how defense you're getting over this. VillaAlex summed it up perfectly, just because our last two managerial appointments have not been a success doesn't mean MON was either. With the money he had, he underachieved. Still bemuses me to this day how that guy has such fanatic following.

SHA at home please. It'll be Blackburn though.

Why ? Because he's a word removed and we're pretty good at coming up with chants.

As I said before, O'Neill's return to VP will be very spicy. We've got to think of some abusive chants.

Im more up for singing his name for 90 minutes than about half of our shower of shite. Are our players really that unlikable? :?

Beye could probably afford an aircraft carrier, let alone a boat.

Zatman strikes again.