MacDonald Stays Loyal To Reserves

I think this speaks volumes for both men. I think GH is right. KM wasn't in the running for manager because he had no prior league management. But he could learn and potentially be a "manager in waiting". I think KM has the "x's and o's" of a manager...he just needs to fine tune the rest of it.

Now as long as Steve the Gaffer doesn't get a role, Villa legend and all that he is - as a player! - we can all rest easy in our beds. Continued success to Big Mac with the stiffe.

If KevMac really feels that the time is right for him to move into club management, then he needs to apply for the Southampton job, or something similar. Fine tune his talents at the lower level, while determining once and for all whether first team management is for him. He was never going to get the Villa Park job, but reserve team coaching doesn't have to be his lot. There will be opportunities out there, and I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see him move on to pastures new. Good Luck to him, whatever he gets up to.

Houllier has said the Blackburn game is likely to be his first game so how do you explain the clubs false advertising of the Bolton game as Houllier's first game. Its not very professional and I see it as a complete joke. I back Randy and the board as Randy is great for this club but I do question how these guys have got on in business if they go about things like this.

Mike, Maybe I should just quote what Houllier actually said and then you may be able to comprehend that I'm not just making this up! 'I haven't signed a contract yet but for me it's a formality. My word is more important than what is signed,' 'I apologise. I can't get back for the Stoke game on Monday. I have meetings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The other thing is that if I don't do the three months' notice, maybe I have to go back one day and maybe spend time there.' 'All I can tell you is that I will come. I spoke to the chief executive (Paul Faulkner) and told him there was no point delaying the official press conference. At some stage, I will be here. 'I will be at the Bolton game next week. I hope Kevin MacDonald will be alongside me for the Blackburn tie in the Carling Cup. My league start will be the derby with Wolves. But even that I can't promise.'

Mike, I've just reread your last paragraph and thanks. I've said this before but I'm usually one of the most positive Fans around. I always think we can win every game no matter who we play. Stupidity maybe but that's how positive I usually am. I don't believe there is no point in supporting a club if you don't have a positive outlook and believe you can concur the world. Maybe I frustration have come across wrongly or they have been taken wrongly. I hate fans for breading negativity for no reason. Even after initially being let down by who was chosen for our manager, I looked at all the positives and could see a bright outlook. I think Randy is great and can see Houllier being able to get us into the champs league. I understand that we all have difference of opinion but no matter how anyone looks at how the manager was revealed, its being shambolic. On this matter I can't see how anyone can see it differently. I am not trying to bread negativity for our club but releasing frustration that the way it has been handled has caused negativity in the press. That's not me that has caused that but the club. Everyone makes mistakes and I honestly think some top guys at Villa have made a mistake with the handling of this. I wont hold it against them long term but I do think some lessons need to be learnt in the handling of PR in respect our management appointment. Anyway I hope your head does not hurt to much this morning ;-)

Rev, everybody just needs to chill. There will be a pre contract in base that simply can't be executed until the FFF make his resignation official tis all. The club will have spoken to the FFF's President and they'll simply be holding him to immediate obligations that couldn't be done without him because he's already done the prep work etc ie the meeting Monday.

It's certainly not the hoohar that the press or reactions make it out to be out.

He'll be there for Bolton, I bet he'll be in charge for Blackburn even if he takes a more watching brief to allow him to better assess players during a game. On appointments like this the boss doesn't usually take over immediately anyway, that's all that happening now but it's doubled with him finalising his FFF work.

I know exactly what Hooolies said mate,I covered it for here, read all the pre reports and then listened to the conference myself, the angle being given to it isn't accurate unless the extreme woe is the club attitude is sought and many fans sadly will simply believe what they read as opposed to checking it out for themselves hence my annoyance with sensationalism. If you want to take his word literally as opposed to seeing what it really means, then there is a verbal contract in place and a verbal contract, announced publicly which would be backed up by documents ready to be executed IS a pre contract chap.

The drink comment was a throw away - sorry the joke didn't come over, but yeah I do drink, however I never eat breakfast - it's the devil's food. I also don't get hangovers, although the couple I had to chill last night would hardly qualify as a quantity to enable me to talk the nonsense I know I'm well capable of (lol) or suffer this morning. But thanks for the concern PMSL

Yes I wonder why the press conference and announcement took place when he's still a week off total charge, but equally it shows the club have a valid date in mind, it would've been done to calm fans because it brought an end to the speculation and so on. The club can't control the media warped sensationalised angles on things, maybe they hoped more fans would see through it and realise making the announcement means they are comfortable with the conditions laid down by the FFF and whilst not going public on those, both parties are happy, a date has been set and it will be met.

It certainly makes more sense than believing the business experience within our board room would appoint somebody who couldn't take charge for months and set themselves up to be a laughing stock doesn't it, especially when crossed with the shrewd PR machine that now exists at B6.