ALEX MCLEISH IN HIS MOST HONEST ASTON VILLA INTERVIEW EVER

Looking back, success was going to be hard to find for Alex McLeish at Aston Villa. Despite any plans, efforts or goodwill, he crossed a divide that was never going to be forgotten - by either side!

Speaking exclusively to Claret & Blue's Mat Kendrick, the ex-Villa boss opens up his role in a schism that threatened to tear a club apart.

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[paulbrunton]

You forget what he had to deal with, Stan, my God that must have been hard, thank you Alex for keeping us up.

[tomfleming]

Top bloke is Big Eck. Like others have said it was just the wrong appointment at that given time and with hindsight he possibly did a better job than he was originally given credit for.

[justoli]

I felt sorry for him. We were doing fine until we lost Petrov through a horrible illness and thank God he pulled through. We also lost Dunne and Bent around the same time. That was the spine of the team. If any team loses their spine they will struggle especially if your a midtable side.
Some of the fans were vile towards him when I went to the home games, which filtered into the pitch.
I'm just so glad he was able to carry on his career and continue to work as a manager.
Ok he's style wasnt what we wanted, but he kept us up when we lost the spine and lost other senior players and we then had to field a very young side.
So if anything he did what was asked of him when we was never backed after Downing and Young were sold. He probably got about a quarter of that money, not even that knowing how Lerner was back then.

Thanks for the insite though, hope you know not all of us were against you.

[paulmersonvillalegend]

Massive respect to Big Eck for this interview, especially knowing there was not much love for him from our fans.

[SonarFates]

For me it wasn't about him coming from the Sty, it was because he was relegated the season before and was not the calibre we needed. The board hung him out to dry too, Lerner is the reason why we totally fell apart.

[TheJamesVilla]

Always thought Randi Lerner gave Alex McLeish a poisoned chalice, any Villa manager gets my respect. Very honest interview. If Alex had Martin O'Neils money to spend then the club would of been more stable.

[avfcflybo]

well done and thank you Alex opened my eyes a bit

[ziudra]

Feel kinda bad how i behaved towards him in hindsight.
Know he came from Blues but he never deserved the abuse. Petrov talked highly of him and players seemed to get along well with McLeish.

[garyc]

Could I suggest as well as the full podcast you could also separate it into little clip videos of highlights of the interview it might get you a good few views for people who just may be interested in certain topics! Great interview by the way

[lesliehenson]

Did a wonderful job keeping Villa up, with all the problems.

[chrisisles]

Another top interview. Keep them coming. Nice bloke but I have to say I was disappointed when we got him after O’Neill and Houllier. And we lost Young that season. At least he kept us up :)

[paulbrunton]

Nice man never in doubt, just the wrong man for the Villa at the time. We as supporters never gave him a chance and that was wrong.

[tezzrexx]

It had a hell of a lot to deal with that season, and results were very good at the start, injuries / illnesses killed us.

[jamesdiskin]

Got to be one of the worst appointments in our history . Lerner and Faulkner appointed him to get st the Vill fans
His track record was abysmal, got SmAll Heath relegated. Almost got us as well. 40 days at Forest. Finished 3rd ina 2 horse race in the SPL. Best this chapter is forgotten.

[bidhancb]

All I remember from that season is that we drew too much and Robbie Keane's brace kept us up

[JamalAtcha]

Brilliant episode. What a nice guy.
Feel for him for all the slack he took. Wish him the best for the future.

[davidwainwright]

Brilliant interview and full respect . UTV 🦁

[DeejayVillain]

Credit to the C&B Podcast team for picking this as an interview...

Could have picked Carew... Hendrie... The Moore Brothers... JPA.... Petrov... MO'N.... Mellberg...

But you picked McLeish?

Bold move... but interesting listening...

[harryjohnson]

I don't mind Big Eck what so ever, but yet I absolutely hate Paul Lambert and Steve Bruce

[MrMonkeyHat]

I’ve never bought into the myth that the majority of Villa fans didn’t want him because he was from Blues. It was more to do with he had just been relegated and the dire football