Stephen Pond/Empics Sport
Birmingham may have just beaten Reading 6-1 – a result that cost former Royals’ boss Nigel Adkins’ his job – but do not be fooled – it was only a few weeks ago that the Brummies shipped eight at home to Bournemouth in one of their most humiliating results of all time.
Since holding aloft that League Cup trophy in February 2011, the club has simply spiralled out of control, lurching from one unmitigated disaster to the next. It seems like only yesterday that the club was still knocking boots with the country’s top teams, attracting World Cup winners to St. Andrews and making surges for Europe.
Now, they remain trapped in the Championship – the barren wasteland of fallen giants from the Premier League. To emphasise the point, 14 of the 24 clubs currently plying their trade in the second tier of English football have been relegated from the top-flight during the last decade.
Birmingham may have just beaten Reading 6-1 – a result that cost former Royals’ boss Nigel Adkins’ his job – but do not be fooled – it was only a few weeks ago that the Brummies shipped eight at home to Bournemouth in one of their most humiliating results of all time.
Since holding aloft that League Cup trophy in February 2011, the club has simply spiralled out of control, lurching from one unmitigated disaster to the next. It seems like only yesterday that the club was still knocking boots with the country’s top teams, attracting World Cup winners to St. Andrews and making surges for Europe.
Now, they remain trapped in the Championship – the barren wasteland of fallen giants from the Premier League. To emphasise the point, 14 of the 24 clubs currently plying their trade in the second tier of English football have been relegated from the top-flight during the last decade.
- 12/16/2014
- by Michael Ramsay
- Obsessed with Film
Mike Egerton/Empics Sport
Aston Villa are in a slump – a slump that has lasted the bones of four years. It was only half a decade ago that the club were consistently challenging for the European places, recording three sixth-placed finishes in a row under Martin O’Neill. Since then, their assets have been stripped and the supporters have been forced to watch the mind-numbing dirge on display from managers Gerard Houllier, Alex McLeish and Paul Lambert.
The multi-million pound superstars are gone, and in their place are a host of raw, unfurnished youth prospects. What of those who weren’t deemed good enough for the club during their surge towards the upper echelons of the Premier League table? With the club forced to dip into the bargain basement for old-timers and never-beens, such as Joe Cole and Philippe Senderos, suddenly those cast-offs don’t look so unappealing now.
The...
Aston Villa are in a slump – a slump that has lasted the bones of four years. It was only half a decade ago that the club were consistently challenging for the European places, recording three sixth-placed finishes in a row under Martin O’Neill. Since then, their assets have been stripped and the supporters have been forced to watch the mind-numbing dirge on display from managers Gerard Houllier, Alex McLeish and Paul Lambert.
The multi-million pound superstars are gone, and in their place are a host of raw, unfurnished youth prospects. What of those who weren’t deemed good enough for the club during their surge towards the upper echelons of the Premier League table? With the club forced to dip into the bargain basement for old-timers and never-beens, such as Joe Cole and Philippe Senderos, suddenly those cast-offs don’t look so unappealing now.
The...
- 12/1/2014
- by Michael Ramsay
- Obsessed with Film
An Alternative Reality: The Football Manager Documentary - which saw its first screening in cinemas nationwide this week - is an hour and a half of anecdotes and musings on the long-running simulation series. It might not appeal so much to non-Football Manager fans - there are a fair few references non-players won't get - but those who've been playing the series for decades will find a lot to love in it.
After watching the film and listening to series director Miles Jacobson do a Q&A, we managed to pick up on seven nuggets you likely didn't know about Football Manager.
1. Football Manager nearly bagged Alex McLeish a superstar
Alex and his son Jon talk about one thing we did know before: the younger McLeish recommended a player he'd discovered on Football Manager to his dad, back when he was managing Glasgow Rangers. This dismissed recommendation of a teenager...
After watching the film and listening to series director Miles Jacobson do a Q&A, we managed to pick up on seven nuggets you likely didn't know about Football Manager.
1. Football Manager nearly bagged Alex McLeish a superstar
Alex and his son Jon talk about one thing we did know before: the younger McLeish recommended a player he'd discovered on Football Manager to his dad, back when he was managing Glasgow Rangers. This dismissed recommendation of a teenager...
- 10/8/2014
- Digital Spy
Media Image Ltdlac
Former Aston Villa and Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has thrown his hat into the ring to be the next manager of Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace.
The 54-year-old Scot, also known big his nickname Big Eck, has been out of work since an ill-fated six-week spell in charge of Nottingham Forest at the turn of the year.
“There hasn’t been any contact yet but I am available as a free agent,” McLeish is quoted as telling Sky Sports News in The Guardian.
“Crystal Palace are in a position that’s precarious for them but there’s still a lot of points to play for.
“I’ve had those kind of challenges before and I’ve had some success and some failures, but if you’ve got a fighting spirit and good players playing to their strengths, then why can’t Palace stay up?”
McLeish’s...
Former Aston Villa and Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has thrown his hat into the ring to be the next manager of Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace.
The 54-year-old Scot, also known big his nickname Big Eck, has been out of work since an ill-fated six-week spell in charge of Nottingham Forest at the turn of the year.
“There hasn’t been any contact yet but I am available as a free agent,” McLeish is quoted as telling Sky Sports News in The Guardian.
“Crystal Palace are in a position that’s precarious for them but there’s still a lot of points to play for.
“I’ve had those kind of challenges before and I’ve had some success and some failures, but if you’ve got a fighting spirit and good players playing to their strengths, then why can’t Palace stay up?”
McLeish’s...
- 10/30/2013
- by Jamie Clark
- Obsessed with Film
What came as the biggest surprise in football to many this Boxing Day was not the Adam Johnson goal, which saw Sunderland overhaul Manchester City, but rather the inexplicable sacking of Nottingham Forest manager Sean O’Driscoll.
O’Driscoll is the latest man to fall victim of the unpredictable managerial lottery and was relieved of his duties just hours after watching his side overcome Leeds United 4-2 – a team that they were actually trailing in the table prior to the match.
Following two years of disappointment under managers Billy Davies, Steve McClaren and Steve Cotterill respectively, Sean O’Driscoll had appeared to be moving the team in the right direction.
Forest have made a reasonably strong start to the season, and currently lie only one point of the play-off places in the nPower Championship. They also possess arguably one of the strongest squads in the league, much of which was...
O’Driscoll is the latest man to fall victim of the unpredictable managerial lottery and was relieved of his duties just hours after watching his side overcome Leeds United 4-2 – a team that they were actually trailing in the table prior to the match.
Following two years of disappointment under managers Billy Davies, Steve McClaren and Steve Cotterill respectively, Sean O’Driscoll had appeared to be moving the team in the right direction.
Forest have made a reasonably strong start to the season, and currently lie only one point of the play-off places in the nPower Championship. They also possess arguably one of the strongest squads in the league, much of which was...
- 12/28/2012
- by Billy Norton
- Obsessed with Film
You may have seen my countdown for positions 20 – 11, if not you can check it out here. Today we concentrate on the top ten and those coveted European spots along with who I think will be picking up the Premier League trophy come the end of the season. Season 2011/12 was an epic affair with the title race coming down to the last kick of the season so if this season is as exciting then we are in for an incredible ride.
10. Aston Villa
This squad isn’t full of star power or experience but if anyone can whip them into shape it’s Paul Lambert. He already has the backing of the Villa fans simply for not being Alex McLeish and if he can improve on only seven wins from last term then he is going in the right direction. Before Villa fans start dreaming of European football again Lambert must...
10. Aston Villa
This squad isn’t full of star power or experience but if anyone can whip them into shape it’s Paul Lambert. He already has the backing of the Villa fans simply for not being Alex McLeish and if he can improve on only seven wins from last term then he is going in the right direction. Before Villa fans start dreaming of European football again Lambert must...
- 8/17/2012
- by Robert MacDonald
- Obsessed with Film
Rafael Benitez, Michael Laudrup, Andre Villas-Boas, Fabio Capello, Roy Keane, Ralf Rangnick, Alex McLeish and Juan Carlos Garrido. That is just a short list of experienced managers who are currently unemployed. Not for a second do I think that all of them would be available to a club with the financial constraints of West Brom.
With Chris Hughton taking the Norwich job, Steve Bruce going to Hull and Roberto Martinez’s loyalty to Dave Whelan making a mockery of all other manger – chairman relationships. Where exactly were West Brom supposed to look for a new manager?
“From the outset, we decided to pursue candidates who are renowned for their coaching ability and Steve was very much at the forefront of our thoughts because of the clubs he has worked at and the high regard he is held in within the game”.
Dan Ashworth, West Brom Technical Director, said that to the West Brom website.
With Chris Hughton taking the Norwich job, Steve Bruce going to Hull and Roberto Martinez’s loyalty to Dave Whelan making a mockery of all other manger – chairman relationships. Where exactly were West Brom supposed to look for a new manager?
“From the outset, we decided to pursue candidates who are renowned for their coaching ability and Steve was very much at the forefront of our thoughts because of the clubs he has worked at and the high regard he is held in within the game”.
Dan Ashworth, West Brom Technical Director, said that to the West Brom website.
- 6/8/2012
- by Robert MacDonald
- Obsessed with Film
Former Manchester United and current Molde coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed he has had an ‘informal chat’ with Aston Villa regarding their vacant managerial role.
Last week Alex McLeish was sacked by the club after a disappointing season and it seems that the Aston Villa board would like the former Red Devil to fill the gap. If the deal goes through Solskjaer will come up against completely different competition compared to the Norway league, with experienced managers such as his former manager and close friend Sir Alex ferguson.
Solskjaer has been targeted by Villa owner Randy Lerner after Solskjaer left his role as Manchester United’s reserve coach in 2011 to take Molde to the top of the Tippeliga in his first season. His impressive managerial form has sparked interest from Villa and Solskjaer has confirmed that an ‘informal chat’ has taken place.
Aston Villa have issued a response to...
Last week Alex McLeish was sacked by the club after a disappointing season and it seems that the Aston Villa board would like the former Red Devil to fill the gap. If the deal goes through Solskjaer will come up against completely different competition compared to the Norway league, with experienced managers such as his former manager and close friend Sir Alex ferguson.
Solskjaer has been targeted by Villa owner Randy Lerner after Solskjaer left his role as Manchester United’s reserve coach in 2011 to take Molde to the top of the Tippeliga in his first season. His impressive managerial form has sparked interest from Villa and Solskjaer has confirmed that an ‘informal chat’ has taken place.
Aston Villa have issued a response to...
- 5/18/2012
- by Matt Robinson
- Obsessed with Film
Save one man, Alex McLeish’s sacking did not surprise anybody when the axe finally fell on his tenure as Aston Villa boss today. While the ex-Rangers boss will claim injuries and tightening budgets were to blame, the fact is Aston Villa performed woefully short of expectations. Even with the sales of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, Villa should never have flirted with relegation for so long.
McLeish just about managed to avoid taking down a second Birmingham club in succession, but it’s not all doom and gloom in the Holte End. Darren Bent, Richard Dunne and Shay Given are proven at Premiership level, and the one bright side of McLeish’s reign has been the promotion of some of Villa’s prodigious academy prospects. But who should Randy Lerner look to take over in the dugout?
1. Roberto Martinez
Lerner approached the likeable Spaniard last summer but could not prise him away from Wigan,...
McLeish just about managed to avoid taking down a second Birmingham club in succession, but it’s not all doom and gloom in the Holte End. Darren Bent, Richard Dunne and Shay Given are proven at Premiership level, and the one bright side of McLeish’s reign has been the promotion of some of Villa’s prodigious academy prospects. But who should Randy Lerner look to take over in the dugout?
1. Roberto Martinez
Lerner approached the likeable Spaniard last summer but could not prise him away from Wigan,...
- 5/15/2012
- by Alan Frost
- Obsessed with Film
Breaking news;
What Culture understands that Aston Villa have parted ways with manager Alex McLeish after a disappointing season that saw Villa finish 16th, just two points above the drop zone.
We believe that McLeish was sacked this morning after holding talks about his future with the board members at Villa Park including owner Randy Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner. There had been mounting speculation that he was about to be outed as Villa boss and the fans dismay at the 2-o defeat at Norwich on Sunday was likely the final straw in what has been an awful campaign for the midlands club. Villa had only won seven games all season, their worst ever total in the Premier League and actually finished the campaign with one point fewer than McLeish’s former club Birmingham City last season, a final tally that saw them relegated.
After relegating their rivals to the Championship last season,...
What Culture understands that Aston Villa have parted ways with manager Alex McLeish after a disappointing season that saw Villa finish 16th, just two points above the drop zone.
We believe that McLeish was sacked this morning after holding talks about his future with the board members at Villa Park including owner Randy Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner. There had been mounting speculation that he was about to be outed as Villa boss and the fans dismay at the 2-o defeat at Norwich on Sunday was likely the final straw in what has been an awful campaign for the midlands club. Villa had only won seven games all season, their worst ever total in the Premier League and actually finished the campaign with one point fewer than McLeish’s former club Birmingham City last season, a final tally that saw them relegated.
After relegating their rivals to the Championship last season,...
- 5/14/2012
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
Tottenham Hotspur know that two wins in their final two games of the season will see them finish third with guaranteed Champions League football for next season. Thanks to Arsenal slipping up yesterday, they would finish above The Gunners with two wins and above Newcastle United on goal difference if they were to win their two games also, and would not need to rely on Chelsea losing in Munich for fourth place to qualify.
Spurs take on Aston Villa at Villa Park this afternoon, who know that one win is all they need to survive for another season. Kick-off time is at 2pm and the match won’t be screened live anywhere in the UK.
After their off the field incident at a nightclub in the early hours of Tuesday morning, defender James Collins and midfielder Chris Herd will be disciplined by the club and there’s a big question...
Spurs take on Aston Villa at Villa Park this afternoon, who know that one win is all they need to survive for another season. Kick-off time is at 2pm and the match won’t be screened live anywhere in the UK.
After their off the field incident at a nightclub in the early hours of Tuesday morning, defender James Collins and midfielder Chris Herd will be disciplined by the club and there’s a big question...
- 5/6/2012
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
Team news ahead of a vital clash for Aston Villa as they travel to the Hawthorns to face West Brom. Villa have suffered a horrible run of results under boss Alex McLeish, winning only 1 in their last 13 which has left them only three points ahead of the drop zone.
West Brom’s Marc-Antoine Fortune is fit to return and could lead the front line. The Baggies striker missed the terrific 1-0 away victory at Anfield last weekend with a hamstring injury. That game saw Paul Scharner cracking a wrist bone but he too looks to have recovered to play.
James Morrison (knee), Zoltan Gera (knee) and right-back Steven Reid (foot) remain unavailable on the injured list.
Aston Villa’s Richard Dunne may return to the defence having recovered from his broken collarbone injury that has kept him out for the past two and a half months.
James Collins has a...
West Brom’s Marc-Antoine Fortune is fit to return and could lead the front line. The Baggies striker missed the terrific 1-0 away victory at Anfield last weekend with a hamstring injury. That game saw Paul Scharner cracking a wrist bone but he too looks to have recovered to play.
James Morrison (knee), Zoltan Gera (knee) and right-back Steven Reid (foot) remain unavailable on the injured list.
Aston Villa’s Richard Dunne may return to the defence having recovered from his broken collarbone injury that has kept him out for the past two and a half months.
James Collins has a...
- 4/28/2012
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
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