Aston Villa heap pressure on boss Alex McLeish by setting European target
Friday 25th November 2011, 12:30PM GMT.
Aston Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner today heaped pressure on boss Alex McLeish after by insisting owner Randy Lerner believes the club should qualify for Europe.
Villa have made a solid, if somewhat unspectacular, start to the season and currently lie in eighth place in the Premier League table ahead of the trip to Swansea City on Sunday.
McLeish’s side have already been eliminated from the Carling Cup, which means they must finish fifth in the league or win the FA Cup to guarantee a place in the Europa League next season.
Faulkner said: “I think Europe sits there as a goal and this year that would be our goal – that’s what we want to try to achieve.
“It’s not easy because there’s other clubs trying to do the same, but we want to do that. I believe it’s do-able this year.
“We’ve got lots of ambition. The Premier League is a very, very tough league, but Villa is a great club and we should be up there challenging at the top of the league and we should be there pushing for Europe.
“I really do think, if we can put a good run together, we’ve got a good squad. I think this year is one where we want to be there pushing to qualify for Europe.
“Exactly where that means we’re not really clear yet, but I think that’s got to be the goal and it should always be the goal for a club like Villa.”
UK Sport
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Thats the normal standard for the club anyway.
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Playing for a draw everyweek will not get us into Europe, bin Mcleish and start playing to win games, then the supporters will come back!!!
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Loaning out Gary Gardner,while keeping garbage Ireland & Heskey won’t help either.
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talk about living in cloud cukoo land where on earth did they find this plonker from afterthe next 7 games i believe that they will be in the bottom 5 certainly not in the euro spots.it makes me think what the true reason was for oneill walking out love him or hate him it will be a long time before aston villa ever get a manager like martin oneill again.a villa fan for 50 years.
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WHAT A LOAD OF TOSH! This guy must live in the clouds. With the state of our club and MCLOSER in charge, we are looking at a more probable relegation battle than europe.I guess and correct me if im wrong, that 90% of villa fans feel the same way. Smell the coffee Mr. Faulkner.
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this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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This is th start of the party line to get rid if him. Obvious and delighted!!!
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Great. Totally agree – this is a movement from the board to get rid of McCrap.
Phew….new manager by end of January. Awful decision by Lerner though.
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