Sorry I disagree, he had money to spend, managers have philosophies, they don't regularly change. Look at Martinez, he's hardly got world beaters, arguably no better than Blues but he tried to get them playing football, successfully? debatable, he kept them up but that's it. However he sticks to his principles and plays his game.
I struggle to think of many managers who change their styles. Whatever clubs, it's usually all the same, working what they know best. There is no way someone like McLeish would ever get us playing good football, just not going to happen. It'll be disciplined, organised, hard working, defensive, direct counter attack and about nicking games.
As you know, I'm quite positive and I love what Randy has done for the club but 'he played shit football because he didn't have players/money' never washes for me because it's simply rarely ever true and if it were true, then you're appointing the wrong man, because if you want to play good football, then you appoint a manager who has regularly tried to play that way for a set amount of years and who knows how to be successful doing that, not give it to someone who has never tried or been successful playing good, exciting football.
We might do okay under McLeish because we have a decent team and with Bent in the team, he'll score loads and we will most likely be more organised, keep clean sheets and nick games, so we could finish about 8th-10th at highest but the sad thing is, that will be the highest we'll go and what's worse is the fact it'll be mid-table football, in a very dull way.
No different than appointing Pulis or Allardyce for me, who I both hate with a passion.
You still think the reason why Randy bought bent was ambition? Or was it because he realised his 40m + backing from the PL was in danger and had to do something about it quick by using Milner's money plus a little of his own.