Relegation battle according to Alex McLeish and the 19th minute

I didn't write a post directly after the match on Saturday because I didn't see the match until last night and I didn't want to write without knowing, but I could have. I could have written about the 19th minute and about playing the younger players and I'd have got it almost spot on.

But I am not going to talk about the match too much, or actually anything specific from the match. Sure, starting with seven academy players was impressive, and to come back from two down gave hope, but the result is the result and it was, sadly, expected, even with a little hope thrown in.

But, it was nice to see the team and it was nice for them to get a chance.

Seven academy players, one scoring and the others putting in displays that warrant starting next time is what it is all about. The thing is, it is too late and too little and you cant help but feel they wouldn't get the chance if other players were available. And that is just one of the problems.

You can not throw these players into the cauldron of what is actually turning into a relegation battle (even though it wont happen) because you are then setting them up to fail and not giving them a proper chance. The only thing these players will be remembered for is if the unthinkable happens and if it does (everything is still possible even if my opinion is it wont happen), McLeish would have destroyed them.

The 19th minute

I'm still actually struggling to get my head round the news, but the response from everyone on the 19th minute was fantastic and it puts things into perspective. Say what you want, but it did sort of emphasise that there are more important things. Hats off to whoever came up with the idea and well done to everyone that was there and everyone that took part.

And it was sad. But we have to move on but just hope everything turns out for the best in the end.

One in four and a relegation battle

So moving on, we have Liverpool and Stoke up next and the manager needs to win one of those to keep up his average and I for one think it will be Liverpool at Anfield.

Some will start thinking he has turned the corner after that win and it will take them getting told several times that Liverpool are in a horrid place at the moment before the penny finally drops. But that is just me guessing. I think Stoke will be harder and we are at home.

But when the manager admits you are in a relegation battle, it is hard to write that we are not or to dance around the subject, but this manager has done this.

I've not used the word that often and I still don't believe we will go down, but it just about sums up this manager. It just about sums up everything that is wrong with the club at the moment and I don't know what to write or suggest to make it better.

Things are not good. We are Aston Villa but we are acting like The Clowns. Change is needed and supporters can force change, but not if every week they keep spending money or signing up for season tickets - just check out the video below.

And I apologise that this post isn't positive and that the general trend around supporting Aston Villa isn't positive at the moment, but you can't say I didn't tell you this was going to happen. When we get the right manager in, I promise you this; the mood here will change.

Video of the day