Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish insisted he had not withdrawn midfielder Stephen Ireland at half-time during his side's 2-1 defeat at Newcastle because the player had reacted angrily to his manager's suggestion that he might have done better for the hosts' opening goal.
Demba Ba netted after half-an-hour for Newcastle, tucking home a loose ball 12 yards out and leaving McLeish fuming.
The Scot introduced Barry Bannan for Ireland at the interval, but later stressed the decision had not been made because of anything said by the midfielder.
"I know he spoke back, but at the same time, players don't like to hear the manager screaming at them from the touchline," he said.
"But I kick every ball with them, I am passionate, I care and I wouldn't be so petty to take a player off for something like that if he is doing a fantastic job. But Stevie had an ankle problem. He wasn't able to close down and that was it."
Robbie Keane cancelled out Ba's opener in first-half stoppage time but Papiss Cisse won the game for the home side with a debut goal 19 minutes from time.
Comment 11 - 30 of 30
Pages and pages of criticism of Villa, now jeffo, and quite a few predictions of relegation, and yet still you only have eyes for me. There are laws against stalking, you know.
And if you're embarrassed about your spelling and grammar, do something about it. You could accept my free professional guidance, or take a course. If, on the other hand, you're really not worried about it... STOP F*CKING WHINING.
As an nuetral observer, I would suggest that apart from the younger elements within the first 11, there are three seniors who don't seem to be shaping up now the pressure is on. Dunne, slowing up despite playing his heart out every week, Collins of questionable premiership quality and Bent who's work rate apart from in his own space is pitiful. McL. needs to act before your among the dead men!
I pretty well agree with most of what jeff_dkedd says but the point most of us seem to miss is If we did have another manager would these players suddenly become contenders? personally I think not, any new manager would surely want to bring in his own players, in fairness to McLeish he has not had that luxury and has had to buy from the charity shop, also these players owe it to themselves and the fans to show their worth they should motivate themselves, I don't think Alex Ferguson with a hairdryer in each hand could get these players into the top four. A question I would like to put to our CEO Faulkener is "does he still think Villa can get into Europe this season?" He thought so a month or two ago but I bet he won't be replying.
PS - Don't worry about the spelling BAVM - DavidD has become (as well as the resident sceptic and suspected bluenose) our spelling coach as well.
I'm sure he'll correct it. In fairness his english skills are way in excess of his football punditry, make of that what you will, lol
Lets say, hypothetically, that come the summer McLeish parts company with Villa - Regardless of if you support him or not I think there's ZERO chance of him leaving or being sacked before the season ends.
i'm not asking this in the typical 'what next' tone that cynics take, I am genuinely curious, who do we, the fans, think should be the next manager?
I frankly have NO idea.
PS - Unemployed, you are nearly right, just a few points to clear up.
Jenus did impress when he was fit, its simply bad luck that injury has ended his season.
Spot on about Hutton, he is looking to be a total dud, but McLeish has still got to sign several more before he gets anywhere near wasting cash in the same manner that O'Neil did on 'dud' talent.
Finally, regarding Beye, Delfouneso, Delph and Makoun, frankly speaking I think the jury is out on whether any of those players are capable of performing in the premier league (I think Beye has actually been released by villa as a free agent, I don't think he's on 'loan'). Yes, their 'loans' are totally in the interest of reducing wages, however I have not once thought 'what we need now is a player like Beye, Makoun or Delph'. I reserve full critique of Delfouneso as he hasn't had extensive 1st team experience, but then again has rarely impressed on the occassions he has appeared in the prem.
pg - lay off the spelling please were not journalists.
unemployed --
i agree redknapp must have seen mcleish coming - two dud buys.
dont agree on it being a defence problem - just the opposite.
since i started following again under MON we have had a consistent problem - lack of goals.
this puts lots of pressure on the defence
our centre backs are amongst the best in the league - just take a look at some of the others - even at the highest level.
we wont do top 6 again under lerner and mcleish - we could do top 10 if mcleish picks the best team and gets the best out of them.
i'm not holding my breath.
@Terry - post #23. - a Villa fan of some 61 years who can't spell "Holte End"?
As a life long villa fan of some sixty one years i agree with the first artiicle villa need a complete clear out.Owner so-called manager and board if not it will be championship next season and for many more to come.Holt end boys come on show what you think of this sorry mess.
Lerner OUT! Faulkner OUT! McLeish OUT! Half of the squad SELL! and start all over again :) ....I just wish it was that easy :(
It has been clear for over 12 months that the key problems for Villa is the poor defence - the back 4 are all slow and have little or no quality - and the lack of a specialised defensive midfielder. This adds pressure to the frontline who have to score more than we concede. In having to pay Birmingham £5m compensation for AM we not only got a poor manager but lost £5m availble for new players - this says a lot about the equally poor executive committee and the owner. Having removed the frugal Ellis, we have been left with an American version who has clearly lost interest in his 'toy' and wants his money back. The bench on Sunday was full of kids (compared with Newcastle's bench) whilst Beye, Delfounso, Delph and Makoun are all out on loan - presumably, just to keep the weekly wage bill down. Don't forget also that AM wasted potential transfer funds on 'sick note' Jenas who has done nothing but facilitate the income of doctors and specialist medical staff ( a bit like Darren Anderton - also a Spurs failure) and replaced Young with a much more expensive and useless Hutton (another Spurs failure). I assume AM got the job because he was the only one that did not complain about having no funds to spend on new players - as such, are we likley ever to attract a quality manager let alone quality players ? Relegation is a distinct possibility this season.
msn news story confirms my previous thoughts. There is 'unrest' in the dressing room.
When I hear of dressing room unrest, regardless of who, I often lose confidence in the manager and frankly speaking, I'm getting close to giving up my support of McLeish after we threw away a potential 3 points at Newcastle.
i will add that picking the right team is paramount .
bent isnt right.
with keane sadly going and player unrest its bottom 10 or worse now.
am starting to form a dim view of mcleish.
all depends on how he motivates / demotivates some of these flighty gifted players.
they are not all driven by the same things.
The reality is that Bent ought to have had this sewn up in the first half. On a different topic, I see from the press that McLeish complained that most of the team did not run over to thank the away supporters. I was not at the game (too far from London) but I have been at a number of away games this season, the players come over quite often but never Mr McLeish, unlike O'Neill who normally joined the players and encouraged them to thank the away supporters. Going back to the game we must develop a winning culture - playing well but losing will never get us far.
Anon, there was a general concensus in the media that Ireland was NOT injured or at least showed no visible signs of injury.
I think thats why the fact that the original explanation of him 'being injured' is largely being seen as a possible fabrication to cover up his insubordination to McLeish, who at present can ill afford negative press via 'losing the dressing room' kind of coverage.
Malcolm, did you read the second last paragraph?
Ireland was injured that's why he was taken off. Or would you prefer an injured player getting worse?
I'd be more interested in why CN'Z was taken off.
I didn't see game so I don't know how he was in 2nd half.
McLeish has to be careful, as given certain poor results (yesterday included, I personally think Newcastle were there for the taking), we as fans are almost beginning to question everything he does.
Very frustrating from an aspect that we genuinely looked good for long spells yesterday, but something just isn't happening.
Is it the players? is it the lack of experience? is it 1-2 who simply aren't putting the effort in? or is McLeish simply not motivating a team to succeed?
Although I'm not a big supporter of his (I am slowly beginning to see hope though) I too questioned why Ireland was subbed, especially as I noted easier than we had the game for the taking.
Although I don't want this to be an excuse, Newcastle do have a TOP quality keeper in Krul and I think him and Ba are personally the ONLY reason why newcastle are in the top half of the epl.
Ironically, perhaps we're lamenting villa for exactly what many of the 'fans' were criticising McLeish for 2-3 months ago, however it's reserved now, we're looking positive in attack, but ineffective in defence.
As for Howard Webb... well, since Vidic's RED didn't appear in the carling cup final... I've always suspected he didn't like us and frankly bottles the big decisions.
Yet again a disapointing end result. First half we looked good going forward part from Bent whose overal contribution continually disappoints. His play outside the area is at best poor and at worst dismal. Sunday he won two headers in 90 minutes, far more than normal, but his ball control is non existent. Unless he scores, and he missed a few Sunday, he does not contribute at all. The subsitutions ended the game for us. Ireland and Kean were linking well and NZogbia was having a good game. Neither player is a tackler but they chase back because we have the two worst full backs in the Premier. No wonder the centre backs are in trouble. We relaced NZogbia with Heskey, did I see him chasing back? Bannan should be in the team as he is one of the few who can pass a ball but to take off Ireland was idiotic. But thats our manager, Mr Idiot!
reading the alledged comments from mcleish - he DOES seem more concerned with the forwards defensive play than their attacking play .
ireland and nzogbia were doing plenty of covering back - they dont have to be tackling like defenders.
no manager should be yelling at their players during the game - they should have been fully briefed in training - they should know what they are supposed to do at this level.
i also noticed keanes dismay at bents ineptitude.
i think our defensive problems stem from nearly all our forward moves breaking down.
that puts the defence under relentless pressure and any defence will then conceed.
i think dunne is one of the very best centre backs around and cuellar and collins are not far behind.
i like clark herd bannan and gardner but not convinced they are top ten material yet.
Yes we missed chances, but the BIG concern is our defence who again have let two goals in, so any wonder we are struggling to get points on the board. Unfortunately we can try any permutation of our defenders with the same results. These players had one good season under O'Neill and have been poor ever since. If O'Neill will get the cheque book open at Sunderland in the summer, i will drive most of them up there,
Bent was good in the air but shocking trying to hold the ball up. That said he has done what he is paid to do (4 goals in the 4 previous games). Robbie Keane has been a revelation, but when he goes, i would put Gabby back up front (fitness depending) and Gary Gardner behind the front two as he is the first Midfielder i have seen down Villa for a long time who could potentially provide goals like Ian Taylor, David Platt etc once did...
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