Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: mattjpa on March 02, 2016, 11:38:28 PM
-
Birmingham Mail running a story saying their positions are up for review and Hollis has identified major flaws in scouting network. Describes Foxs position as untenable and states he could be the first to go. Hopefully no smoke without fire?
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-preparing-axe-tom-10981276.amp?client=safari#fpstate=amp_viewer
-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/12181455/.html
What the hell is that crap about a history test?!
-
It's fair enough if there's demonstrable evidence that they HAVE fucked up but, given that the 'French lads' have generally been the best of a terrible bunch, I hope the club isn't being steered by the lazy, obvious tabloid agenda.
-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/12181455/.html
What the hell is that crap about a history test?!
VP tour guide?
-
As disastrous as Fox's reign has been I would be concerned about ripping it all up and starting again. Surely he could be utilised in financial director type role?
-
He is untenable though. He can't keep his job when you look at his influence on the pitch.
-
Would like to think it means Garde will be given a transfer kitty and is allowed to bring in who he wants. I won't be holding my breath though.
It will probably end up with Hollis replacing them with a few of his own people, who won't necessarily be any good for the club, but he will be able to trust them.
Maybe Mervyn King is having an influence after all.
-
As disastrous as Fox's reign has been I would be concerned about ripping it all up and starting again.
This my worry - especially if the guy charged with starting it all again has zero football industry experience. I know it's speculation and Percy has got things wrong before, but I fear if this comes to pass we will have a summer of cheap appointments and plastering over the cracks ahead. Without a new owner, fresh ideas, ambition and investment this spiral downwards will continue.
-
It's not just about the job he's doing. If his mere presences the club is viewed negatively and unsettling then it's better to get rid and find someone else.
-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/12181455/.html
What the hell is that crap about a history test?!
Probably Elaine again.
-
I wouldn't argue with the purchase of any one of our Ligue 1 recruits. They have been our better players and have only just reached the 6 month settling in mark.
If there is a problem it is that they were all dropped straight into the team and had to perform from the off otherwise we would struggle. It was an enormous risk to take. The fact that we were by and large shafted by the cheaper English based recruits has meant that we were left with no chance at all. Maybe it is the mix of players that should be queried.
Maybe Traore was a smart purchase too far and the money would have been better invested in another way, but the real problem is the scale of purchases we needed to get the squad up to scratch. 5 or 6 good recruits - which is a creditable rate of success - still left us 7 or 8 short of a serviceable squad.
That is down to the cumulative effect over the years of chucking money at complete tossers and then spending no money at all. The new contracts handed out to existing players may well prove a bigger problem to the club than our recruitment last summer.
I can believe that Almstadt and Riley will end up leaving the club whether or not, but Fox is the one to carry the can and rightly so. I can't stand him, if ever the club had a chancer of a boil on its arse then it is him.
-
He is untenable though. He can't keep his job when you look at his influence on the pitch.
The first person to be re-hired should be Steve Stride. Letting him go was a dreadful blunder.
Norm Crandles
-
Good to know Norm
Mr Underhill
-
Steve Stride would be a great appointment if he is interested knows the club back to front and is a smart operator.
-
I hope you are a fellow countryman of ROBBO Norm Crandles. Great name. I hope it is real. Welcome the land of lost souls, wailing.
-
As disastrous as Fox's reign has been I would be concerned about ripping it all up and starting again.
This my worry - especially if the guy charged with starting it all again has zero football industry experience. I know it's speculation and Percy has got things wrong before,
Bloody hell, we all make mistakes. No need to single me out.
Oh.
-
Maybe Hollis should look at himself, if it was his decision not to back the manager in the transfer window.
I've just got a horrible feeling about this bloke and just hope he proves me wrong
-
I wouldn't argue with the purchase of any one of our Ligue 1 recruits. They have been our better players and have only just reached the 6 month settling in mark.
The only one who has impressed me in the few games he played is Amavi.
Traroe has been injured far more than not.
Gueye and Veretout? No thanks. No goals all season. No drive. Not great at free-kicks. Not 'leaders'. They've been marginally better than Westwood in that position - and thats the best that can be said.
There has to be massive doubts about all of them being frank. Especially when you think the four of them cost, what was it, £40M?
-
I wouldn't argue with the purchase of any one of our Ligue 1 recruits. They have been our better players and have only just reached the 6 month settling in mark.
The only one who has impressed me in the few games he played is Amavi.
Traroe has been injured far more than not.
Gueye and Veretout? No thanks. No goals all season. No drive. Not great at free-kicks. Not 'leaders'. They've been marginally better than Westwood in that position - and thats the best that can be said.
There has to be massive doubts about all of them being frank. Especially when you think the four of them cost, what was it, £40M?
Barcelona aren't in Ligue 1. You've missed Ayew.
-
I was going to reply to Franz Biberkopf and his load of boolocks but thought I would leave this as a standalone post.
This is a non story. Unless anything changed yesterday, all those quoted will be in post next season.
-
As disastrous as Fox's reign has been I would be concerned about ripping it all up and starting again.
This my worry - especially if the guy charged with starting it all again has zero football industry experience. I know it's speculation and Percy has got things wrong before,
Bloody hell, we all make mistakes. No need to single me out.
Oh.
Maybe Hollis should look at himself, if it was his decision not to back the manager in the transfer window.
I've just got a horrible feeling about this bloke and just hope he proves me wrong
They seem to have claimed that the money was available but nobody would come - BS maybe but difficult to disprove
-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/12181455/.html
What the hell is that crap about a history test?!
Probably Elaine again.
Possibly the club archivist who hasn't been there that long and would be on a low wage anyway.
-
How can anyone believe there was no money when we know they fought with the FA to sign the goalie?
-
I don't buy "don't rip it up and start again" argument. Look at the shameful performance stats. Ripping it up is exactly what's required.
Hollis is not to blame for anything he has to listen to his CEO in place and then deal with the consequences if CEO was wrong. So Fox has to go.
-
As disastrous as Fox's reign has been I would be concerned about ripping it all up and starting again.
This my worry - especially if the guy charged with starting it all again has zero football industry experience. I know it's speculation and Percy has got things wrong before,
Bloody hell, we all make mistakes. No need to single me out.
Oh.
Maybe Hollis should look at himself, if it was his decision not to back the manager in the transfer window.
I've just got a horrible feeling about this bloke and just hope he proves me wrong
They seem to have claimed that the money was available but nobody would come - BS maybe but difficult to disprove
No, I'm sure Remi said he had a couple of deals in place and then it was decided the money was too much. The Debuchy loan deal for one.
-
How can anyone believe there was no money when we know they fought with the FA to sign the goalie?
Not saying there wasn't any money but my impression from Remi after the transfer window shut was he had persuaded a couple of players to come and then money was the issue and they went elsewhere.
-
The only way forward is to rip it up and start again.
We were linked with Alan Judge the weekend, probably best midfielder in Championship, that's the sort of signing needed.
-
The only way forward is to rip it up and start again.
Yep.
I don't want to see any of the current squad, French or English, pull on a Villa shirt ever again. Worst collection of villa players I have ever seen and I wouldn't keep a single one of them if I was running things
-
Of course if one was of a cynical disposition, which I am not, one might think that it was quite convenient this gets leaked to the press just as the heat of fan anger is ramping up, thereby deflecting attention away from The Custodian himself.
-
It's fair enough if there's demonstrable evidence that they HAVE fucked up but, given that the 'French lads' have generally been the best of a terrible bunch, I hope the club isn't being steered by the lazy, obvious tabloid agenda.
They've been better compared to the tosh we have throughout the squad but for £30m or whatever we've paid for them it doesn't look value for money right now. Plus, if they are to be believed then there was no transfer committee so they also had a hand in signing donkeys like Lescott, Gestede and Richards.
We are bottom of the league, our transfers haven't been good .
-
I was going to reply to Franz Biberkopf and his load of boolocks but thought I would leave this as a standalone post.
This is a non story. Unless anything changed yesterday, all those quoted will be in post next season.
Fantastic news...
-
I hope the story is true. The system and management mechanism might be a good idea, but the personnel in Fox, Reily and Almstadt are woefully out of their depth.
-
I have no problem with watching Gueye, Amavi, Veretout, Ayew, Traore, Gil, Grealish, Sanchez, Hutton, Sinclair or Sissoko play against Championship sides, in fact the thought of Adama Traore running at the mighty "coming to get us" Burton nicely corrects my erectile disfunction problem.
Extreme though is may seem, my dissatisfaction runs even deeper than playing performance. The ones I want to rip up before next season are those with attitude who are deliberately under performing because they hate the club and hate the fans.
-
I'd go with that list Brian, with the exception of Sinclair.
I'd probably add Clark and Baker, but as you say the rest of them can 'do one'.
If Fox is being targeted for release, then it should be with immediate effect.
What is that man going to achieve over the next couple of months that will be of any benefit to the club?
-
Take the point but I think Sinclair is more than adequate for the Chumpionship. His hat trick against Forest was impressive. Not Premiership by a long chalk. Ditto Gestede but we have got them, we might as well get something out of them.
-
I was going to reply to Franz Biberkopf and his load of boolocks but thought I would leave this as a standalone post.
This is a non story. Unless anything changed yesterday, all those quoted will be in post next season.
The Chairman is openly discussing senior personnel employment policy with AVST?
-
The only way forward is to rip it up and start again.
I believe that the torpor we are witnessing is symptomatic of deep-rooted problems and therefore fundamental changes have to happen, including offloading dead weight (both on and off the pitch).
Glass of orange juice, anyone?
-
I hope the story is true. The system and management mechanism might be a good idea, but the personnel in Fox, Reily and Almstadt are woefully out of their depth.
Yep completely agree. The structure might be ok, but the quality of the staff needs to match that structure.
-
It's all a bit ridiculous. Wrong managers, wrong players... easy for even a non-football man to see with hindsight.
The solution. Better manager. Better players.
Question is, who picks them?
-
I hope the story is true. The system and management mechanism might be a good idea, but the personnel in Fox, Reily and Almstadt are woefully out of their depth.
It's a pity the current tight security would prevent a few hunting horns into the ground - so we could enact a Fox hunt.
Maybe we could get away with fancy dress - hunting gear or hound costumes? Maybe a horse or two?
-
Smaller club, but I'm sure when Dan Ashworth was Director of Football at Albion, he was in charge of "overseeing first team, scouting & recruitment, medical & sports science and academy". Financial aspects aside, that's the roles of Fox, Almstadt and Reilly all rolled into one isn't it? Would not surprise me if all three went and one person replaced them.
-
Smaller club, but I'm sure when Dan Ashworth was Director of Football at Albion, he was in charge of "overseeing first team, scouting & recruitment, medical & sports science and academy". Financial aspects aside, that's the roles of Fox, Almstadt and Reilly all rolled into one isn't it? Would not surprise me if all three went and one person replaced them.
He didn't do the CEO's job.
-
It needs those guilty to run the gauntlet of a mob as per French bosses.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/05/air-france-workers-storm-meeting-protest-executives-job-losses-paris
Then and only then would the tarring and feathering commence.
-
Smaller club, but I'm sure when Dan Ashworth was Director of Football at Albion, he was in charge of "overseeing first team, scouting & recruitment, medical & sports science and academy". Financial aspects aside, that's the roles of Fox, Almstadt and Reilly all rolled into one isn't it? Would not surprise me if all three went and one person replaced them.
He didn't do the CEO's job.
Just out of interest Dave, did they have a CEO above Ashworth when he was there? Ashworth was always the one pictured with new managers etc.
-
Smaller club, but I'm sure when Dan Ashworth was Director of Football at Albion, he was in charge of "overseeing first team, scouting & recruitment, medical & sports science and academy". Financial aspects aside, that's the roles of Fox, Almstadt and Reilly all rolled into one isn't it? Would not surprise me if all three went and one person replaced them.
dan ashworth of sugar ape fame? He'd be right on one count: 'the idiots are winning'
-
Smaller club, but I'm sure when Dan Ashworth was Director of Football at Albion, he was in charge of "overseeing first team, scouting & recruitment, medical & sports science and academy". Financial aspects aside, that's the roles of Fox, Almstadt and Reilly all rolled into one isn't it? Would not surprise me if all three went and one person replaced them.
dan ashworth of sugar ape fame? He'd be right on one count: 'the idiots are winning'
Marketing director Jonatton Yeah?
-
Fox I'm sure can still be a great asset for us, just not in his current role. He's a Marketing person, just let him do that. That's if his ego can accept the demotion.
Almstadt and Reilly though, Jesus wept. I know the French mob have been our better performers but that really is damning with faint praise.
-
Smaller club, but I'm sure when Dan Ashworth was Director of Football at Albion, he was in charge of "overseeing first team, scouting & recruitment, medical & sports science and academy". Financial aspects aside, that's the roles of Fox, Almstadt and Reilly all rolled into one isn't it? Would not surprise me if all three went and one person replaced them.
I was thinking that too. I don't have a clue what a championship team management structure is typically like but surely it involves fewer personnel?
-
It's fair enough if there's demonstrable evidence that they HAVE fucked up but, given that the 'French lads' have generally been the best of a terrible bunch, I hope the club isn't being steered by the lazy, obvious tabloid agenda.
They've been better compared to the tosh we have throughout the squad but for £30m or whatever we've paid for them it doesn't look value for money right now. Plus, if they are to be believed then there was no transfer committee so they also had a hand in signing donkeys like Lescott, Gestede and Richards.
We are bottom of the league, our transfers haven't been good .
Indeed and ultimately our board are responsible for every transfer sanctioned. That includes the likes of Richards, Lescott etc, or the year before with Richardson et al.
As for the French players, they've got a hell of a long way to go to prove they belong in this league. Gana has had half a dozen games where he's looked the part, but more often than not gets lost. Veretout has been the same, and he's struggling to hold down his place.
Ayew shows plenty of desire and the ability to do the unexpected but consistency has never been his strength, nor stability. None of our French players would come close to recouping what we paid. We'd likely be lucky to get half on each of them. Not one single player in our squad has been more than a 5/10 this season. Not fucking one. This is a combination of factors:
poor signings.
poor management.
piss poor attitude from some of the individuals.
Rip it up. Start again. Fox for a start needs binning, as do the others. If this does happen it will actually give me a little more confidence that Hollis could have a more positive impact.
-
Would like to think it means Garde will be given a transfer kitty and is allowed to bring in who he wants. I won't be holding my breath though.
It will probably end up with Hollis replacing them with a few of his own people, who won't necessarily be any good for the club, but he will be able to trust them.
Maybe Mervyn King is having an influence after all.
[/quotWould like to think it means Garde will be given a transfer kitty and is allowed to bring in who he wants. I won't be holding my breath though.
It will probably end up with Hollis replacing them with a few of his own people, who won't necessarily be any good for the club, but he will be able to trust them.
Maybe Mervyn King is having an influence after all.
I can just imagine the abuse Mervyn King will get along the lines of Tom Fox the other night
Mervyn King is a banker, is a banker
Mervyn King is a banker, is a banker
-
I was going to reply to Franz Biberkopf and his load of boolocks but thought I would leave this as a standalone post.
This is a non story. Unless anything changed yesterday, all those quoted will be in post next season.
The Chairman is openly discussing senior personnel employment policy with AVST?
No. From the flavour of the conversation though, I didn't detect a desire to change anything on that side. They believe they have it right. Could be all change if Fox gets his cards though.
-
Smaller club, but I'm sure when Dan Ashworth was Director of Football at Albion, he was in charge of "overseeing first team, scouting & recruitment, medical & sports science and academy". Financial aspects aside, that's the roles of Fox, Almstadt and Reilly all rolled into one isn't it? Would not surprise me if all three went and one person replaced them.
dan ashworth of sugar ape fame? He'd be right on one count: 'the idiots are winning'
Marketing director Jonatton Yeah?
from Rape Magazine?
-
Too many people promoted beyond their capabilities into jobs where you need a bit of nouse. Wouldn't be sad to see the back of any of them.
Like him or not, Hollis is crucial in the Summer. If he can weedle out the problems at the club and remove them, and then get people in who have more of an idea, then perhaps we can start to sort out this mess.
Won't hold my breath though....
-
Fox sees him and his team being there next season. The $64,000 question is whether Hollis does.
-
Fox sees him and his team being there next season. The $64,000 question is whether Hollis does.
His team have failed spectacularly you would think they has to be some accountability they can't hide behind the failings of the managers this season.
-
Fox sees him and his team being there next season. The $64,000 question is whether Hollis does.
His team have failed spectacularly you would think they has to be some accountability they can't hide behind the failings of the managers this season.
I don't think it is even that. They think they now have elements right behind the scenes and this current shit is an unfortunate stop off point in fixing it.
-
Fox sees him and his team being there next season. The $64,000 question is whether Hollis does.
Yep, he's going to think that and has to think that. But with the vitriol being very much directed at him Hollis will need to be seen to taking action and being decisive. There is going to be a fall guy for this and with Garde not being here all season he might escape the axe. Fox won't and others will go with him. That and it won't just be about ho Fox does his job. But it will also be about how he conducts himself and the general atmosphere of the club. The end of the season will provide the chairman, who will also be taking stock of things from King (he wasn't brought just because he's a fan let's be honest) to make some significant changes.
-
"The auditors have identified the playing staff as being one of the major issues"
Modern football, right there.
-
Tim Sherwood was still talking about being in a job 24 hours before getting the chop.
-
I'm free to give them 3 jokers a lift to whatever train station they want to piss off from.
-
Whether Fox should be singled out as the scapegoat for this season is debatable however the other two are tasked with Player Recruitment and Performance. However you look at it there can be no argument both have spectacularly failed to the point we are an embarassment and if I was the new chairman I'd have booted these two parasites down Trinity Road on my first day. Good riddance.
-
Fox sees him and his team being there next season. The $64,000 question is whether Hollis does.
Fox see's some kind of special plan, the blokes and arse. His judgement must be called in to question with every decision it makes as they appear to be continually wrong. I don't trust the man to get anything right, I think his appointments are tosh, more of the same, boys doing jobs they aren't good at.
Get him gone, let the cull begin asap. Players, management, no one comes out of this fuck up smelling of anything other than manure. Fresh slate, preferably without the chief thicky and culprit Randolph Lerner owning us.
-
The only way forward is to rip it up and start again.
I believe that the torpor we are witnessing is symptomatic of deep-rooted problems and therefore fundamental changes have to happen, including offloading dead weight (both on and off the pitch).
Glass of orange juice, anyone?
We can only hope to God that the senior management team at Villa Park are not as dumb as they make out.
-
Who has leaked this story i wonder?
-
Who has leaked this story i wonder?
Depends whether it's true or not.
-
The only way forward is to rip it up and start again.
Yep.
I don't want to see any of the current squad, French or English, pull on a Villa shirt ever again. Worst collection of villa players I have ever seen and I wouldn't keep a single one of them if I was running things
I'm with Chico
-
Of course if one was of a cynical disposition, which I am not, one might think that it was quite convenient this gets leaked to the press just as the heat of fan anger is ramping up, thereby deflecting attention away from The Custodian himself.
I was reading a few American news articles on the net last night (dated from 2009 if anyone fancies a Google search) and it really is astonishing how everything that happened there fits the same pattern as to what is happening at Villa. It seems, back then, the Cleveland Browns fans were on the point of revolution and protests against Randy, only for him to take the sting out of it all through generating positive media stories and making swift stop-gap appointments.
From looking at the cases of the Browns and Villa one gets the impression he knows exactly what he is doing:
1) At all times he keeps a distance, acts aloof and maintains the image of being a passionate supporter who is as upset as anyone at (the inevitable) poor on pitch performance.
2) Whilst doing the above, he has a strategy of keeping (and managing) fan expectations low (which in turn means he doesn't have to plough long-term money into his investment).
3) He appoints layers of expendable management to soak up the ire of the fans for the on-pitch failures and to maintain the impression that he has played no part in all the on-pitch woes.
4) He sits back and plays the long game, waiting for the value of his investment to reach a point where he is happy to sell.
-
We need to take drastic action, this seasons perfect storm rests on the shoulders of the aforementioned people. If we are to have any chance of restructuring, then they have to fall on their collective swords, as does Garde. All of them are tainted by this nightmare of a season and we need to start off in August with a totally clean slate, if we don’t then we will be cast into the wilderness. My slither of hope right now is that after a long long series of bamboozling appointments, Hollis is the man to take us forward and the review that he and King will do , will be the catalyst for this.
-
"The auditors have identified the playing staff as being one of the major issues"
Modern football, right there.
That got me too. Why waste money on auditors when a blind man doing the wall of death on a motorbike could see our playing staff is somewhat sub standard.
-
Of course if one was of a cynical disposition, which I am not, one might think that it was quite convenient this gets leaked to the press just as the heat of fan anger is ramping up, thereby deflecting attention away from The Custodian himself.
I was reading a few American news articles on the net last night (dated from 2009 if anyone fancies a Google search) and it really is astonishing how everything that happened there fits the same pattern as to what is happening at Villa. It seems, back then, the Cleveland Browns fans were on the point of revolution and protests against Randy, only for him to take the sting out of it all through generating positive media stories and making swift stop-gap appointments.
From looking at the cases of the Browns and Villa one gets the impression he knows exactly what he is doing:
1) At all times he keeps a distance, acts aloof and maintains the image of being a passionate supporter who is as upset as anyone at (the inevitable) poor on pitch performance.
2) Whilst doing the above, he has a strategy of keeping (and managing) fan expectations low (which in turn means he doesn't have to plough long-term money into his investment).
3) He appoints layers of expendable management to soak up the ire of the fans for the on-pitch failures and to maintain the impression that he has played no part in all the on-pitch woes.
4) He sits back and plays the long game, waiting for the value of his investment to reach a point where he is happy to sell.
Whilst all the time losing somewhere between 200-250 million
It's not a great plan of someone who knows what he's doing is it
-
Of course if one was of a cynical disposition, which I am not, one might think that it was quite convenient this gets leaked to the press just as the heat of fan anger is ramping up, thereby deflecting attention away from The Custodian himself.
I was reading a few American news articles on the net last night (dated from 2009 if anyone fancies a Google search) and it really is astonishing how everything that happened there fits the same pattern as to what is happening at Villa. It seems, back then, the Cleveland Browns fans were on the point of revolution and protests against Randy, only for him to take the sting out of it all through generating positive media stories and making swift stop-gap appointments.
From looking at the cases of the Browns and Villa one gets the impression he knows exactly what he is doing:
1) At all times he keeps a distance, acts aloof and maintains the image of being a passionate supporter who is as upset as anyone at (the inevitable) poor on pitch performance.
2) Whilst doing the above, he has a strategy of keeping (and managing) fan expectations low (which in turn means he doesn't have to plough long-term money into his investment).
3) He appoints layers of expendable management to soak up the ire of the fans for the on-pitch failures and to maintain the impression that he has played no part in all the on-pitch woes.
4) He sits back and plays the long game, waiting for the value of his investment to reach a point where he is happy to sell.
Whilst all the time losing somewhere between 200-250 million
It's not a great plan of someone who knows what he's doing is it
I doubt very much he will lose a quarter of a billion on Villa. Like I say, I think he will sit back and play the long game.
-
Fox's line about results not being that important wasn't really the mark of someone you want in the upper echelons of your perennially struggling football club.
-
Fox's line about results not being that important wasn't really the mark of someone you want in the upper echelons of your perennially struggling football club.
It wouldn't surprise me if that line went down amazingly in a boardroom meeting prior to that interview. In fact I'd put money on it.
-
Of course if one was of a cynical disposition, which I am not, one might think that it was quite convenient this gets leaked to the press just as the heat of fan anger is ramping up, thereby deflecting attention away from The Custodian himself.
I was reading a few American news articles on the net last night (dated from 2009 if anyone fancies a Google search) and it really is astonishing how everything that happened there fits the same pattern as to what is happening at Villa. It seems, back then, the Cleveland Browns fans were on the point of revolution and protests against Randy, only for him to take the sting out of it all through generating positive media stories and making swift stop-gap appointments.
From looking at the cases of the Browns and Villa one gets the impression he knows exactly what he is doing:
1) At all times he keeps a distance, acts aloof and maintains the image of being a passionate supporter who is as upset as anyone at (the inevitable) poor on pitch performance.
2) Whilst doing the above, he has a strategy of keeping (and managing) fan expectations low (which in turn means he doesn't have to plough long-term money into his investment).
3) He appoints layers of expendable management to soak up the ire of the fans for the on-pitch failures and to maintain the impression that he has played no part in all the on-pitch woes.
4) He sits back and plays the long game, waiting for the value of his investment to reach a point where he is happy to sell.
1 contradicts itself, 2 is inaccurate as first of all he raised expectations higher than they had been for decades, we're in trouble because he didn't do 3 for way too long and 4 is tenuous at best.
-
Who has leaked this story i wonder?
Depends whether it's true or not.
Do you have any idea if it likely to be true?
-
Of course if one was of a cynical disposition, which I am not, one might think that it was quite convenient this gets leaked to the press just as the heat of fan anger is ramping up, thereby deflecting attention away from The Custodian himself.
I was reading a few American news articles on the net last night (dated from 2009 if anyone fancies a Google search) and it really is astonishing how everything that happened there fits the same pattern as to what is happening at Villa. It seems, back then, the Cleveland Browns fans were on the point of revolution and protests against Randy, only for him to take the sting out of it all through generating positive media stories and making swift stop-gap appointments.
From looking at the cases of the Browns and Villa one gets the impression he knows exactly what he is doing:
1) At all times he keeps a distance, acts aloof and maintains the image of being a passionate supporter who is as upset as anyone at (the inevitable) poor on pitch performance.
2) Whilst doing the above, he has a strategy of keeping (and managing) fan expectations low (which in turn means he doesn't have to plough long-term money into his investment).
3) He appoints layers of expendable management to soak up the ire of the fans for the on-pitch failures and to maintain the impression that he has played no part in all the on-pitch woes.
4) He sits back and plays the long game, waiting for the value of his investment to reach a point where he is happy to sell.
Whilst all the time losing somewhere between 200-250 million
It's not a great plan of someone who knows what he's doing is it
To be fair he didn't say he wasn't still an idiot.
-
The only way forward is to rip it up and start again.
Yep.
I don't want to see any of the current squad, French or English, pull on a Villa shirt ever again. Worst collection of villa players I have ever seen and I wouldn't keep a single one of them if I was running things
I'm with Chico
I'd most definitely keep Ayew if we can. He'll run riot in the Championship. He'd run riot in the Prem as well if he had a half decent midfield supplying him.
-
He'll be the first one off, probably one of only a handful that will be coveted by PL sides.
-
Who has leaked this story i wonder?
Depends whether it's true or not.
Do you have any idea if it likely to be true?
None whatsoever. It might happen but if it does I can't imagine this story has been leaked already. You're talking about getting rid of an entire management structure and the only people who'd be privy to such knowledge wouldn't be likely to share it with the Mail.
-
I doubt very much he will lose a quarter of a billion on Villa. Like I say, I think he will sit back and play the long game.
What long game is this exactly?
-
I doubt very much he will lose a quarter of a billion on Villa. Like I say, I think he will sit back and play the long game.
What long game is this exactly?
Sitting watching his financial stake in the club shrink to next to nothing at this rate.
-
I 'm not really sure how Randy or Hollis thinks anyone is gonna buy the theory its the fault of those three. One of the advantages of employing "yes" men is they tend to do exactly what you want. Does anyone think Fox took it upon himself to reduce the wages bill or secretly scuppered our transfer dealings in January without Lerner's knowledge? Or Reilly took it upon himself to start scouting players in lower leagues on lesser salaries with potential sell-on profits? Yeah i'm sure Lerner was phoning up every week demanding they spend big on proven quality. All of them were working from the brief set-down from Lerner and while it may cheer a lot of us up to see them get the bullet, it changes nothing.
-
The only way forward is to rip it up and start again.
I believe that the torpor we are witnessing is symptomatic of deep-rooted problems and therefore fundamental changes have to happen, including offloading dead weight (both on and off the pitch).
Glass of orange juice, anyone?
We can only hope to God that the senior management team at Villa Park are not as dumb as they make out.
Ah joe I could feel your pain when you wrote that. If I could have held you I would have held you, let's rip it up and start again.
-
I doubt very much he will lose a quarter of a billion on Villa. Like I say, I think he will sit back and play the long game.
What long game is this exactly?
Sitting watching his financial stake in the club shrink to next to nothing at this rate.
It's going to be a long, long game!
-
I doubt very much he will lose a quarter of a billion on Villa. Like I say, I think he will sit back and play the long game.
What long game is this exactly?
Sitting watching his financial stake in the club shrink to next to nothing at this rate.
It's going to be a long, long game!
There's no real logic to that given what we've seen from him. If he was looking for a return he wouldn't be cutting costs and sending us down. If he were looking for a return he'd realise he'll have to invest significant money to build his asset again.
-
Reilly, Almsted and Fox can fuck off right you. They are responsible for humiliating this great Club.
-
Reilly, Almsted and Fox can fuck off right you. They are responsible for humiliating this great Club.
Randy watched Moneyball and thought he could apply these principles to us. This was after be bought us and thought he could win the Champios League by investing a quarter of what the other teams hoping to win it were investing. The man's an idiot and it's all his fault.
-
Reilly, Almsted and Fox can fuck off right you. They are responsible for humiliating this great Club.
What's Randy's part in all of this pantomime then?
-
Reilly, Almsted and Fox can fuck off right you. They are responsible for humiliating this great Club.
What's Randy's part in all of this pantomime then?
Throwing hundreds of millions of pounds at it to no effect.
-
Look, it's a team game. One man can't ruin a club. That's why RL got help.
-
Mr Collymore is putting his name forward again. According to his Sunday people column, there are only two ex Villa players in the Premier league era who's names are known globally. Dwight Yorke and himself.
-
Mr Collymore is putting his name forward again. According to his Sunday people column, there are only two ex Villa players in the Premier league era who's names are known globally. Dwight Yorke and himself.
Putting himself forward for what...?
My mate is a Foxes fan and Steve Walsh used to do the co-commentating for Radio Leicester and he said never a game went by without prostituting himself for the manager's job shamelessly.
-
Mr Collymore is putting his name forward again. According to his Sunday people column, there are only two ex Villa players in the Premier league era who's names are known globally. Dwight Yorke and himself.
Has he forgotten
Paul McGrath
John Carew
Martin Laursen
Mark Bosnich
Paul Merson
-
I'm actually shocked Collymore's added Yorke to the list.
-
Mr Collymore is putting his name forward again. According to his Sunday people column, there are only two ex Villa players in the Premier league era who's names are known globally. Dwight Yorke and himself.
Has he forgotten
Paul McGrath
John Carew
Martin Laursen
Mark Bosnich
Paul Merson
And nobody has ever heard of Peter Schmeichel.
-
Mr Collymore is putting his name forward again. According to his Sunday people column, there are only two ex Villa players in the Premier league era who's names are known globally. Dwight Yorke and himself.
Has he forgotten
Paul McGrath
John Carew
Martin Laursen
Mark Bosnich
Paul Merson
And nobody has ever heard of Peter Schmeichel.
Or David Ginola.
-
Or Platt
-
Mr Collymore is putting his name forward again. According to his Sunday people column, there are only two ex Villa players in the Premier league era who's names are known globally. Dwight Yorke and himself.
Has he forgotten
Paul McGrath
John Carew
Martin Laursen
Mark Bosnich
Paul Merson
And nobody has ever heard of Peter Schmeichel.
Or David Ginola.
Benteke.
-
Collymore is more famous for his off the pitch "antics", than anything he did on the pitch, at least for Villa.
I'm not even sure he's that famous outside of the UK and Ireland.
-
Mr Collymore is putting his name forward again. According to his Sunday people column, there are only two ex Villa players in the Premier league era who's names are known globally. Dwight Yorke and himself.
Modest as ever.
-
By any means necessary.
-
Collymore is more famous for his off the pitch "antics", than anything he did on the pitch, at least for Villa.
I'm not even sure he's that famous outside of the UK and Ireland.
Try word association with anyone who's heard of him. The first will be "Ulrika", the next "dogging"
-
Mr Collymore is putting his name forward again. According to his Sunday people column, there are only two ex Villa players in the Premier league era who's names are known globally. Dwight Yorke and himself.
I know it is a pretty radical idea, but if we get rid of Fox, Almstadt and Reilly, why don't we try and bring in people who have experience in those roles at football clubs? Even more radical would be the notion of trying to get people who had been somewhat successful in them.
-
Not premier league player but Andy Gray is probably still more famous than most other ex Villa players. I know he is not everyones cup of tea but I still hold his time with us in high regard and I believe he still has the best wishes for our club.
-
Mr Collymore is putting his name forward again. According to his Sunday people column, there are only two ex Villa players in the Premier league era who's names are known globally. Dwight Yorke and himself.
Has he forgotten
Paul McGrath
John Carew
Martin Laursen
Mark Bosnich
Paul Merson
And nobody has ever heard of Peter Schmeichel.
Or David Ginola.
No one but us would remember that.