Alex McLeish can bring stability and success to Villa... if he can win over the fans

16 June 2011 18:37
ShareIt was only four years ago that Tottenham were blasted for one of the clumsiest, misguided and ill-timed pursuits of a manager seen in the game.[LNB] After weeks of speculation, it was during half-time in a UEFA Cup tie against Getafe that news leaked out about Martin Jol's sacking at White Hart Lane, and the football world waited for the imminent appointment of the hotly-pursued Juande Ramos.[LNB] Villla spark: Fans vent their fury over Alex McLeish[LNB] To Spurs' credit, they at least targeted a man who was hot property after winning the UEFA Cup two years running as well as the Copa del Ray with Sevilla - even if the Spaniard's time in north London did end in tears.[LNB] Fast forward to today and Aston Villa have somehow made an even bigger mess of trying to find a replacement for Gerard Houllier.[LNB] Their search has been comical from the very start but the last candidate anyone thought would be in the frame would be the now ex-Birmingham boss Alex McLeish.[LNB] In Ramos, Spurs seemed to be making a step up. With McLeish, the mind boggles just what the major attraction is.[LNB] Two relegations in three Premier League seasons is hardly the sort of form that is going to have chairman emailing you job offers (assuming email is always McLeish's primary port of communication.)[LNB] And it's hardly the appointment that fans at Villa Park will take kindly to, given the fierce history of the rivalry with Birmingham.[LNB] And you don't have to be from the Second City to get a flavour of that. [LNB] Courting McLeish, after not following up interest in Steve McClaren because of fears of a fan backlash, has got to be a candidate for the most illogical thought process ever.[LNB] Or is it? Do the Villa board really think that the Scot is a much better coach than McClaren and is worth risking the supporters' wrath?[LNB] The defeats of Villa, West Ham and Arsenal in Birmingham's Carling Cup success last season all came off the foundations of an organised side that battled until the very last minute - something that proved crucial against all three previously mentioned sides.[LNB] Silver lining: Alex Mcleish celebrates Birmingham's Carling Cup success [LNB] They were matches where McLeish got his tactics correct, or if City did start badly showed impressive nous to correct his shortcomings and turn a tie around.[LNB] It is also slightly unfair to fully blame the 52-year-old for City's relegation in 2008.[LNB] He joined Birmingham in November that season and averaged one point a game that over the whole course of the campaign would have been enough to see City finish safe in 16th.[LNB] He was also slightly unfortunate last term after an injury to centre-back Scott Dann in January destroyed a trusted centre-back pairing with Roger Johnson, from which City never recovered. [LNB]Maybe Villa want him because he has learned from the best in the business. He joined Aberdeen as a teenager in the late 70s around the same time Sir Alex Ferguson joined the Dons, and would feature in a side that won the league title three times.[LNB] The 1985 triumph is the last top-flight success by any Scottish side outside the Old Firm. At Pittodrie he would also lift the Cup-Winners' Cup, the Scottish Cup five times and the League Cup twice. He knows how to win.[LNB] Ferguson hasn't avoided praising McLeish's ability to manage either. The Manchester United boss has labelled him intelligent and decisive in the past, as well as lauding Birmingham's impressive form and eventual ninth place finish in the 2009/10 season as a 'marvellous job.'[LNB] As boss of Rangers between 2001 and 2006 McLeish also enjoyed success, with the personal high being the 2002/03 season where he won the domestic treble.[LNB] He managed to guide the Glasgow side into the last 16 of the Champions League in 2006 and his overall success at Ibrox was enough for the Scottish FA to offer him the chance to take over from Walter Smith as manager of the national team in 2007.[LNB] Impressive wins against France and Ukraine had Scotland on course to qualify for Euro 2008 - their first major tournament for 10 years. But defeats against Georgia and controversially against Italy meant the Tartan Army missed out by a whisker.[LNB] But McLeish had built on foundations laid by Smith, and he helped restore supporters' pride in the national team who were as high as 13th in the Fifa World rankings during his reign.[LNB] Cheers: McLeish helped restore pride in the Scotland team[LNB] Even McLeish's earlier managerial roles brought some success, with his first season at Motherwell ending in an impressive runners-up spot in the Scottish Premier Division in 1995. Before earning promotion with Hibernian and turning them into a top three side in the SPL in 2001.[LNB] Scratching below the surface of two Premier League relegations in three seasons shows there is more substance to McLeish's managerial skills. Every role he has been in has seen him bring some success even if it did not always come in the form of trophies.[LNB] Having had five managerial posts now, this can't always be down to a fluke.[LNB] But it must be results and results only that the Villa board are after because they are barking up the wrong tree if they want slick, entertaining football at Villa Park.[LNB] McLeish has previously defended his negative slow tactics at Birmingham as 'personnel dictating a particular brand'. But he has proven that given money to spend and talent to play with, he can struggle to let old habits die hard.[LNB] The ?6million arrival of Nikola Zigic, the tallest man in the Premier League, brought mixed success but the disappointment of loan signings Alexander Hleb and David Bentley suggested he could not fit them in to a system.[LNB] Both are talented midfielders but were shackled under the style employed by McLeish and the Scot wasn't about to let their skill and flair take a key-role in a how the team played.[LNB] So where do Villa really expect McLeish to take them? His managerial CV alone would point to a steady and safe if not wise appointment.[LNB]But there is just too much baggage to come with it. Instant results will become more important than ever in an attempt to win over fans that will be instantly on his back over his Birmingham connections and his negative style of football.[LNB] You only have to look at Roy Hodgson's tenure at Liverpool to see how even a lukewarm reception from supporters can see a bad start snowball.[LNB] But if he does get those wins, how far can he take them? You need to get the best out of top quality players to reach Villa's target of Europe and beyond, and as seen with the loan signings at Birmingham that isn't his strength if he continues to stick with passive tactics.[LNB] If Alex McLeish is to be a success at Villa he will need to up his managerial game, this isn't impossible but few would think he is worth the risky pursuit Villa have made to try find out.[LNB] McLeish's defence is he has the know how to win trophies - something Villa have lacked since 1996. [LNB]But even Juande Ramos knows a Carling Cup win provides no backbone to future success. [LNB] Villa ready to ignore fans backlash by unveiling McLeish as their new bossFormer Birmingham boss McLeish set to make Villa move despite fans furore 'Bluenose scum not welcome!' Villa fans' backlash against McLeish hits new heights [LNB] [LNB]  Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Scott Dann, Walter Smith, Roger Johnson, Gerard Houllier, David Bentley, Alex McLeish, Roy Hodgson, Martin Jol, Juande Ramos Places: Liverpool, Glasgow, London, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Scotland, France, Italy, Europe

Source: Daily_Mail