Like many Aston Villa fans, I expect us to be safe now even though we haven’t made the 40 point barrier. I wont take it for granted until the numbers are in the table, and the maths tell me that we are, but I am interested to find out the feeling amongst the fans now attention begins to turn to next season and the summer window.
Now other than the predictable answer, that is “sack Alex McLeish”, and my own personal conspiracy theory, what is it we all expect from the summer and next season? A lot? A little? Is it all just thoughts of lost causes unless things change?
I am interested to see what the true feeling is by the many that visit the site regularly, and those who want to perhaps comment for the first time. Give it a try – we won’t bite.
There are a million and one variables that could happen between now and the summer. I personally believe there are two major ones, which I will come to shortly, and give my expectation and predictions, but I would really like us to give our predictions and realistic opinions and expectations.
So what is it that I think? Well, I see a few things that could happen, and they are quite straight forward – there is the outlook with McLeish still in charge, and then there is the outlook without.
Now if Alex is still here, I expect us to compete mid-table, have a cup run, and sign a few good players (and the invariable not so good players). I don’t expect miracles, but I would expect drastic improvement from the word go – it’s a straight forward and simple prediction.
Now this is where I will throw you my, perhaps “different” view. Without McLeish, I see another season of mayhem. Why? Because, once again, we will be rudderless at a time when the team is changing. We will have a number of players leaving either via sales or coming to the end of their contracts, and this would all have to be managed by yet another new man.
The new man, whoever it might be if we do change managers, would have to have time to settle and put his stamp on the squad. If this does happen, a finish similar to this season could beckon.
The other option is the new man comes in and builds from the floor up, but this isn’t going to be an overnight job. Many of the journey men finishing their contracts will need to be got rid of, whilst new faces and youth take their place. It would be a clean slate, sure, but it would mean having to build and start again.
Would fans give this person time though? Of course I understand why McLeish is, and wasn’t, liked, but if the new man doesn’t get things going, then I imagine he will be under pressure fairly quickly. A truly new start would mean going from the ground up, and that invariably means going backwards before going forwards and, let’s face it, we are hardly the most patient of fans at the best of times.
So I just wanted to see what many of you think and expect from next season and what you think could happen, realistically.
Now I’ve got the relatively simple bits out the way, I wanted to offer you my own person conspiracy theory about our current predicament. Some may find it feasible, others not, but I’d like to know what you think.
As you’re all aware our CEO, Paul Faulkner, gave our current manager a target for the season. A target that, had he achieved or been close to it, many of us wouldn’t have thought twice about him or his football if we are honest.
Now while we know McLeish was brought in to cut costs and reduce the wage bill, something that he has achieved to be fair, and I assume he has been rewarded financially for this.
He has also been given another target in the league, and that was the position where he was told to finish. Now I don’t think the club are monsters, which is why McLeish has been paid so well but, as he has failed in part of his target, the league position, I would assume the club would have grounds to dismiss him.
However, for me, there are a few things that are far too coincidental. With McLeish being so highly paid, if his contract is terminated, he will become a millionaire, and earn far more than he did leaving Birmingham City, and all of this for one season of grief, and another shot at managing in the Premier League.
If he wanted to, he could disappear into management obscurity, whether back in Scotland or the lower leagues, because I think even he knows he won’t get another job in the Premier League.
As well as this, didnt one of Charles Krulak’s last messages tell of us of us being happy come the summer? Does he mean a change of manager?
Randy Lerner could quite quickly go from hero to zero by making a change of manager. A positive manager will provide a belief for the fans simply because, let’s face it, he isn’t Alex McLeish.
Now I don’t know if this is going to happen or not but, for me, it is a possibilty that I might put some money on.
Now, before I go, I just wanted to say that just because I’ve said this, it doesn’t mean I’ve joined the “Dark Side”, nor am calling for McLeish’s sacking strongly. After all, there is little space left on the “sack McLeish” bandwagon, and I doubt I’d fit on there anyway.
The Boss Speaks
It’s that Turvey bloke hijacking posts again (sorry!) to publicise the cause of a young friend I have who is running the Great Midlands Fun Run to raise money for Dementia UK.
Callum Watkins is running in memory of his grandfather Ted who passed away on the 16th February 2012 after suffering from dementia. He is joined by two of his friends, one of which who has also lost a grandparent to dementia.
Being someone who has had two grandparents suffer from the illness, I can testify as to how difficult things can be as a result of having loved ones not recognise you when you visit.
If you would like to contribute to Callum’s charity fundraiser, you can do so via his JustGiving webpage – www.justgiving.com/runfordementia2012 – or you can donate £1 by texting BLMF88 £1 to 70070. Thank you to all of those who do contribute. Further information can be requested via Callum’s Twitter which is available by clicking here
The Author
