A New Man on the McLeish...

McLeish may well prove to be suitable i.m.o. He appears to have done well at Rangers and OK with Scotland, so that's a decent c.v. he's built up. That he went to St. Andrews proved that he's not against trying to do the impossible ... and yet he still won a trophy there. It was only their second-ever trophy win.

What I feel, however, is that Aston Villa is still a great club and that it has a real potential to come out from its covers and show the world what it can really do. And to give proper notice of that intention, I feel the club should have been looking to appoint someone with the highest credentials ... not just decent credentials. I wouldn't think that his appointment would boost the season ticket sales ... unless he should sign someone to whet the appetite in the next month.

So, I'm not against McLeish per se, but I'm not happy with the level of ambition being shown. I think we've all had enough of OK managers (DOL and MON, despite the latter's 6th place achievements) and that the club should be aiming for better. I think that Houllier was "better", so I feel sad about his departure.

But ... the appointment has been made. I believe that you have to be positive to try to make things work as best as possible, and since the fans have no real say in the affairs at VP that's the only reasonable and mature approach to take.

One thing for sure is that (after last season) we have to get off on the right foot now and keep working at it to try and make it work.

The man has to be given a chance. Give 'im till Christmas at least!
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Blast the Premiership!!

I wonder whether the Premiership has proved to be the scourge for all Midlands teams?

Since 1992, the Villa - even without winning anything League-wise - has been leading the Midlands as the area's Pride (an epithet I like as it's associated with lions!), yet it's a false-placed pride in one way with no league silverware to go with it - and just two league cup triumphs.

At the start of the Premiership in 1992, Villa were equal with Man U on the number of championship wins. Twelve Man U championship wins later, look where Villa are now in the pecking order of top clubs. Yes, Villa are still overall the fourth greatest club ever in terms of overall results. But, since 1993, we've not even finished in the top-3, and Villa can now just about regard itself as a top-8 side. Rather as Houllier described the club, really.

But at least Villa are still (comparatively) financially well-managed and look to be pretty safe in that way. In short, the philosophy is not much different to Doug Ellis' days - all that's happened with the Lerner takeover is that the Villa now have the ability to maintain the level they had in Doug's days. That is all.

But now there's no ability for supporters to have a concrete say in the direction the club should go.

Randy Lerner has refreshed the club beyond question, but unless he has a magical wand, we all know he's now not going to be able to effectively challenge the top-5 and perhaps not even the top-6. Unless - and this is a very big 'if' - Villa can somehow start playing the sort of stuff we saw Barca play yesterday. That kind of play is virtually unbeatable - and it would fit in the Villa's tradition of long ago when our club were top dogs.

But can Villa start playing a la Barca without spending trillions? I think it's possible - Barca has a sense of unity about it that is developed from the nursery upwards. Villa have that structure. Barca play for one another; everyone is a potential striker - look at the quality of their three goals from three different players. Villa can do it.

All we have to do is get the defence sorted out and we're there aren't we?!
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Still Pride of the Midlands!

It is strange (isn't it?) how we can be looking back on the season to observe how Villa are still the Pride of the Midlands, despite the Mail's attempt to claim the title for the Baggies a few weeks ago! Not that the title applies for just one season, of course, and it is clear that Villa remain greatly ahead of the other Midlands' competition.

Blews, as always, are all talk and no testosterone!

But I am pleased that the Baggies and Wolves are still in the Prem, and in the charge of two managers I have a lot of time for. I wish them well.

It's so significant though that the real control over English football lies in two centres - London and the North-West. It's about time that all changed.

Villa's last two matches gave a taste of what might be possible to work from next season. However, end-of-season matches are not too much of a guideline; I particularly think that 'Pool did not want to qualify for the Europa. But I see 'Pool being a force to reckon with next season ... there really will be a big 5, i.m.o.

As we have been saying since 2006, "these be interestin' times". The way this last season finished leaves us with a taste of hope, at least. But the real hope should be for success in the cup competitions. We have lacked pride in those and it is 54 years and 15 years since we got success in either domestic cup.

That - according to Villa's tradition - is way too long.
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