Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Keeno on December 16, 2018, 01:36:39 PM
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Interview begins around 32:30. Incredibly positive listen! Touches on the owners, the club's finances, Smith, and longer-term plans for the club.
For me the comments on the sustainable plan for the club from the owners, the fact that promotion is not essential or required this year, and the thinking behind the Smith/Terry/Pitarch structure was so refreshing to hear. Comes across as intelligent, measured and gave an excellent answer RE the Kevin MacDonald situation.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0001mpx
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He does come across really well. Very measured in every response and I do like that he has significant experience of working at other very big clubs.
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I heard it live, well worth spending some time listening to it.
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Interesting.
Particularly liked his response to the Sporting Director question - all made perfect sense to me.
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Interesting.
Particularly liked his response to the Sporting Director question - all made perfect sense to me.
Excellent stuff.Reassuring that promotion is not essential and good to hear that the owners saying that they want attractive football as results can never be guaranteed.And to hear that they are very ambitious but it's a sad indictiment on the Premiership that he thinks the top 6 are fixed for some time.
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Interesting.
Particularly liked his response to the Sporting Director question - all made perfect sense to me.
Excellent stuff.Reassuring that promotion is not essential and good to hear that the owners saying that they want attractive football as results can never be guaranteed.And to hear that they are very ambitious but it's a sad indictiment on the Premiership that he thinks the top 6 are fixed for some time.
I have not listened but it’s very reassuring from comments above to know they understand the importance of a long term structure and also to play to try and entertain.
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A really interesting, and encouraging listen. We are in very safe hands I think.
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Weren't we saying the same about likes of Wyness and Round? And even Tom Fox from memory got a good write up after his first interview?
Not criticising Purslow at all and at least he's worked in this role before at Liverpool but after last 8 years it's a case of don't tell me but show me I'm afraid.
I'll wait to see how the new board copes with setbacks. Let's see how we do if we don't go up and then have to sell Grealish to meet FFP. Or even if a premier league club comes in to poach Smith although that's less likely than 10 years ago.
That's how it's happened in the past. New owners/directors talk a good game and them crumble when things start to go wrong. They made a good start appointing Smith though.
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Would tend to agree. It's good to have faith in those in charge, but in this sort of situation it's pretty natural to be optimistic, as we have been in the past. I hope they're the real deal, but only time will tell.
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The proof will be in the results over a much larger sample size and over many years. However what feels much better now is that our two owners are legitimately loaded. Not like Lerner which was in large part an inheritance and locked away in a family trust, and Xia where we didn’t actually know what he had and in the end it wasn’t much at all. And as for Purslow he’s worked at big clubs in a similar capacity unlike Round or Fox who never has before. And then add in Pitarch who again has worked at big clubs in Europe it’s a combined wealth of experience and proven business competence we’ve actually not had before.
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The proof will be in the results over a much larger sample size and over many years. However what feels much better now is that our two owners are legitimately loaded. Not like Lerner which was in large part an inheritance and locked away in a family trust, and Xia where we didn’t actually know what he had and in the end it wasn’t much at all. And as for Purslow he’s worked at big clubs in a similar capacity unlike Round or Fox who never has before. And then add in Pitarch who again has worked at big clubs in Europe it’s a combined wealth of experience and proven business competence we’ve actually not had before.
Lerner was entirely legitimately loaded too.
His access to money wasn't the problem with him (he spent absolutely shed loads of the stuff), it was the half-witted way he spunked it all, with no attempt to protect his investment - see the Man City owners, endless money but they understand the need to grow from what you are spending.
I like the sound of Purslow, but as a note of caution, would point out we were all ooh-aahing over Tom Fox when he arrived, on account of him having done a really good job at Arsenal.
We look to be in a good position right now, let's see how things pan out.
It's not like we're Small Heath, owned by a succession of utter charlatans for 30 years, we've had seriously minted people in charge before - we're up to three billionaires since 2006 now (and that's not counting Xia, whose wealth is impossible to ascertain).
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Lerner did lots of good thing in his early years. Things like free coaches to Chelsea for a midweek cup tie and Acorns. He didn't have to do stuff like that. Also backed the manager.
My god did it all fall down like a pack of cards when MON walked out. That's when his lack of football knowledge or indeed lack of delegating our key roles to people with any sort of knowledge was brutally exposed.
As you say hopefully we'll avoid that sort of meltdown with the Spanish sporting director.
I want the new board to be on the ball. Have an idea who our next manager or at least managerial targets would be in the 0.00001% chance Dean Smith walks out tomorrow.
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January and next summer will be interesting times as we have so many players out of contract. Jedinak, Hutton, Bunn, Whelan, Richards, Elphick , Gardner plus the loanees all go. I trust Pitarch and Smith to bring in the right people and get them to play in the right way to get us up as league winners next season.
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I’ve been saying this for years but the whole thing stands or falls on who they appoint as manager
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I’ve been saying this for years but the whole thing stands or falls on who they appoint as manager
Well I hope the new set up is designed precisely to avoid this, that the new coaching and management structure will allow for changes of personnel without ripping everything up and starting again each time. You know, like a modern football club.
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Lerner did lots of good thing in his early years. Things like free coaches to Chelsea for a midweek cup tie and Acorns. He didn't have to do stuff like that. Also backed the manager.
My god did it all fall down like a pack of cards when MON walked out. That's when his lack of football knowledge or indeed lack of delegating our key roles to people with any sort of knowledge was brutally exposed.
As you say hopefully we'll avoid that sort of meltdown with the Spanish sporting director.
I want the new board to be on the ball. Have an idea who our next manager or at least managerial targets would be in the 0.00001% chance Dean Smith walks out tomorrow.
It had been falling down for the previous two seasons with our inability to get in the top 4, MON walking was the cherry on the cake.
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Interview begins around 32:30. Incredibly positive listen! Touches on the owners, the club's finances, Smith, and longer-term plans for the club.
For me the comments on the sustainable plan for the club from the owners, the fact that promotion is not essential or required this year, and the thinking behind the Smith/Terry/Pitarch structure was so refreshing to hear. Comes across as intelligent, measured and gave an excellent answer RE the Kevin MacDonald situation.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0001mpx
Thanks for posting that.
Purslow spoke very eloquently.
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I’ve been saying this for years but the whole thing stands or falls on who they appoint as manager
Well I hope the new set up is designed precisely to avoid this, that the new coaching and management structure will allow for changes of personnel without ripping everything up and starting again each time. You know, like a modern football club.
will not matter who the owner is the coaching system the CEO the director of football etc
if you got the wrong man as manager it will still fail
I believe we have he right manager now btw
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January and next summer will be interesting times as we have so many players out of contract. Jedinak, Hutton, Bunn, Whelan, Richards, Elphick , Gardner plus the loanees all go. I trust Pitarch and Smith to bring in the right people and get them to play in the right way to get us up as league winners next season.
Will be a total reshaping of midfield I think, McGinn obvious a must to stay (but like Grealish will probably be offers from prem clubs). At least getting high earners like Jedinak and Whelan off the books will give scope with regards FFP.
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I’ve been saying this for years but the whole thing stands or falls on who they appoint as manager
Exactly and there also has to be a realistic policy regarding player recruitment.
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It seems most, including myself, have faith in the current owners.
They're certainly very lucky to have been given a great club to look after, with a fan base predominantly happy enough to be competitive within the top 6 of the second division. Previous owners have not had that luxury, but this will, hopefull, give them time to build a strong foundation from which to push on.
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Interesting to listen to, informed and articulate.
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It seems most, including myself, have faith in the current owners.
They're certainly very lucky to have been given a great club to look after, with a fan base predominantly happy enough to be competitive within the top 6 of the second division. Previous owners have not had that luxury, but this will, hopefull, give them time to build a strong foundation from which to push on.
Think this is really important. You don’t build long term successful football clubs on short term money blitzes and slick marketing. The foundations have to be built across a long term approach to coaching, players and your stadium, each brick carefully thought through and put in place. There are very Few examples where the money bought immediate success possibly Abramovich aside. That interview sounded to me like a long term view was being taken they can see the potential and it may take half a decade to get there but we’re at the start of what will be an important journey. As a wise man once said....
Hold onto your seats!!!
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He certainly says all the right things but as others have said so did Lerner, Fox, Round and Wyness at times.
Lerner was clueless and delegated power to a paranoid control freak with outdated ideas in O'Neill and a novice in Faulkner. And then Fox who was a marketing man not a Chef Exec.
Wyness and Round showed they were "old school" rather than progressive with their appointment of Bruce, while the likes of Wolves, Huddersfield and Fulham did the opposite.
At least this set of appointments have the pedigree and experience, whether it be as chief exec, sporting director or manager/coach, to actually make you think they can walk the walk as well. By making playing good football a priority as well as winning I think that is a massive step in the right direction.
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January and next summer will be interesting times as we have so many players out of contract. Jedinak, Hutton, Bunn, Whelan, Richards, Elphick , Gardner plus the loanees all go. I trust Pitarch and Smith to bring in the right people and get them to play in the right way to get us up as league winners next season.
Will be a total reshaping of midfield I think, McGinn obvious a must to stay (but like Grealish will probably be offers from prem clubs). At least getting high earners like Jedinak and Whelan off the books will give scope with regards FFP.
I don't think there's any prospect of McGinn going next summer, whether we're promoted or not. He is a key part of the team and must be loving it here, I'm sure we'd get one more season whatever happens.
I could see Jack becoming the sacrificial FFP lamb, particularly if he's been made promises and has a buy-out clause.
I'm still hoping BB and Lansbury can make significant contributions under Smith and it will be interesting to see where those two are come the end of the season.
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We did well at first under Lerner and MON as they were the right owner and the right manager at the right time. This is now the first time since MON left when we genuinely seem to have the right ownership, structure and key personnel in place. From the moment MON left the club and seemingly also left Lerner terminally disenchanted we have never had the crucial combination of the right owner/owners, right chief exec and right management/coaching team. I am optimistic we now have that.
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Well worth a listen. I like the impression of authority and professionalism that comes across when he talks, but then again we've been down this road before with Tom Fox - who made one bad decision after another while completely rubbing all the fans up the wrong way - and then Keith Wyness who ultimately helped lead us to the brink of being wound up. In the end, actions will speak louder than words.
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Tom Fox did sound eloquent but he never had a resume to back it up. Same with Round really. At least Purslow has worked in this role before. He’s been involved in very high profile transactions and being at Liverpool and Chelsea he’ll have no doubt made mistakes but you would hope learned a lot.
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He spoke very well but highly educated Executive types generally do. That said makes a nice change from Xia's bonkers communications on Twitter.
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We did well at first under Lerner and MON as they were the right owner and the right manager at the right time. This is now the first time since MON left when we genuinely seem to have the right ownership, structure and key personnel in place. From the moment MON left the club and seemingly also left Lerner terminally disenchanted we have never had the crucial combination of the right owner/owners, right chief exec and right management/coaching team. I am optimistic we now have that.
MON and Lerner seemed like the right pairing for a while but ultimately it was a red herring. It was fairly quickly clear (in my view from the "Marlon Harewood moment" ) that MON was a chequebook manager with outdated ideas who spunked the family silver away and then went off in a huff. Lerner was utterly clueless to let him do it and even more clueless without him, as the subsequent 6 or 7 years proved.
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We did well at first under Lerner and MON as they were the right owner and the right manager at the right time. This is now the first time since MON left when we genuinely seem to have the right ownership, structure and key personnel in place. From the moment MON left the club and seemingly also left Lerner terminally disenchanted we have never had the crucial combination of the right owner/owners, right chief exec and right management/coaching team. I am optimistic we now have that.
MON and Lerner seemed like the right pairing for a while but ultimately it was a red herring. It was fairly quickly clear (in my view from the "Marlon Harewood moment" ) that MON was a chequebook manager with outdated ideas who spunked the family silver away and then went off in a huff. Lerner was utterly clueless to let him do it and even more clueless without him, as the subsequent 6 or 7 years proved.
This, this with fucking bells on.
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If they’re on the level this is one of the best CEO interviews I’ve heard for quite a while.
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We did well at first under Lerner and MON as they were the right owner and the right manager at the right time. This is now the first time since MON left when we genuinely seem to have the right ownership, structure and key personnel in place. From the moment MON left the club and seemingly also left Lerner terminally disenchanted we have never had the crucial combination of the right owner/owners, right chief exec and right management/coaching team. I am optimistic we now have that.
MON and Lerner seemed like the right pairing for a while but ultimately it was a red herring. It was fairly quickly clear (in my view from the "Marlon Harewood moment" ) that MON was a chequebook manager with outdated ideas who spunked the family silver away and then went off in a huff. Lerner was utterly clueless to let him do it and even more clueless without him, as the subsequent 6 or 7 years proved.
This, this with fucking bells on.
Spot on. Lessons were not learnt in January 2009 when us and Arsenal were going for 4th. They signed Arshavin and we signed Heskey.
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Spot on. Lessons were not learnt in January 2009 when us and Arsenal were going for 4th. They signed Arshavin and we signed Heskey.
A pivotal moment in our history indeed.
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Spot on. Lessons were not learnt in January 2009 when us and Arsenal were going for 4th. They signed Arshavin and we signed Heskey.
A pivotal moment in our history indeed.
As was selling Cahill to Bolton for 5 million quid and replacing him with Zat Knight for 6 million. One of the most bizzare set of transfer dealings in the clubs history.
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Spot on. Lessons were not learnt in January 2009 when us and Arsenal were going for 4th. They signed Arshavin and we signed Heskey.
A pivotal moment in our history indeed.
As was selling Cahill to Bolton for 5 million quid and replacing him with Zat Knight for 6 million. One of the most bizzare set of transfer dealings in the clubs history.
Yep, we had Cahill and Mellberg, so he dropped Cahill and pissed Mellberg off by sticking him at right back so that he could accommodate Zat Knight. Brilliant. Then adds Curtis Davies and Carlos Cuellar to the mix, before deciding they are all crap and getting Dunne and Collins in. Brilliant all round from Pubehead.
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Spot on. Lessons were not learnt in January 2009 when us and Arsenal were going for 4th. They signed Arshavin and we signed Heskey.
A pivotal moment in our history indeed.
As was selling Cahill to Bolton for 5 million quid and replacing him with Zat Knight for 6 million. One of the most bizzare set of transfer dealings in the clubs history.
Yep, we had Cahill and Mellberg, so he dropped Cahill and pissed Mellberg off by sticking him at right back so that he could accommodate Zat Knight. Brilliant. Then adds Curtis Davies and Carlos Cuellar to the mix, before deciding they are all crap and getting Dunne and Collins in. Brilliant all round from Pubehead.
Don't forget Luke young and Stephen Warnock.
Two entire defences bought in consecutive summers.
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You forgot Nicholas Shorey.
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Spot on. Lessons were not learnt in January 2009 when us and Arsenal were going for 4th. They signed Arshavin and we signed Heskey.
A pivotal moment in our history indeed.
As was selling Cahill to Bolton for 5 million quid and replacing him with Zat Knight for 6 million. One of the most bizzare set of transfer dealings in the clubs history.
Yep, we had Cahill and Mellberg, so he dropped Cahill and pissed Mellberg off by sticking him at right back so that he could accommodate Zat Knight. Brilliant. Then adds Curtis Davies and Carlos Cuellar to the mix, before deciding they are all crap and getting Dunne and Collins in. Brilliant all round from Pubehead.
LOL or cry. Either will do. Fucking criminal
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You forgot Nicholas Shorey.
Fucking hell, good point, I'd totally forgotten he existed.
Much like MON did 10 minutes after signing him.
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Spot on. Lessons were not learnt in January 2009 when us and Arsenal were going for 4th. They signed Arshavin and we signed Heskey.
A pivotal moment in our history indeed.
As was selling Cahill to Bolton for 5 million quid and replacing him with Zat Knight for 6 million. One of the most bizzare set of transfer dealings in the clubs history.
Yep, we had Cahill and Mellberg, so he dropped Cahill and pissed Mellberg off by sticking him at right back so that he could accommodate Zat Knight. Brilliant. Then adds Curtis Davies and Carlos Cuellar to the mix, before deciding they are all crap and getting Dunne and Collins in. Brilliant all round from Pubehead.
Don't forget Luke young and Stephen Warnock.
Two entire defences bought in consecutive summers.
And I'm pretty sure he could have bought Luke Young a year earlier for about £2.5m but ended up getting him for nearer £7m. I think Storey was about £6.5m, Cuellar in that region too. Eye-watering amounts he spent on defenders.
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Spot on. Lessons were not learnt in January 2009 when us and Arsenal were going for 4th. They signed Arshavin and we signed Heskey.
A pivotal moment in our history indeed.
As was selling Cahill to Bolton for 5 million quid and replacing him with Zat Knight for 6 million. One of the most bizzare set of transfer dealings in the clubs history.
Not quite as bad as selling Ken McNaught to Albion rather than giving him a new contract then spending twice as much on Steve Foster to replace him and then selling Foster to Luton for half as much as we paid for him and then spending about four times as much as we sold Foster for to buy Paul Elliott who at the time was being kept out of the Luton team by Foster.
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That would be a superb story if it was another club
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The worst was Jams Milner. Tried to buy him the year before for £2m but left it till the last day, and them he got called back. Anytime in that window we would have got him for £2m, but newcastle couldn't get a replacement on the last day.
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Spot on. Lessons were not learnt in January 2009 when us and Arsenal were going for 4th. They signed Arshavin and we signed Heskey.
A pivotal moment in our history indeed.
As was selling Cahill to Bolton for 5 million quid and replacing him with Zat Knight for 6 million. One of the most bizzare set of transfer dealings in the clubs history.
Not quite as bad as selling Ken McNaught to Albion rather than giving him a new contract then spending twice as much on Steve Foster to replace him and then selling Foster to Luton for half as much as we paid for him and then spending about four times as much as we sold Foster for to buy Paul Elliott who at the time was being kept out of the Luton team by Foster.
I never knew that, always thought Foster/ Elliott was a swap deal, sums up how the club was in the mid 80s.
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Not forgetting Habib Beye. Although it’s easily done.
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Spot on. Lessons were not learnt in January 2009 when us and Arsenal were going for 4th. They signed Arshavin and we signed Heskey.
A pivotal moment in our history indeed.
As was selling Cahill to Bolton for 5 million quid and replacing him with Zat Knight for 6 million. One of the most bizzare set of transfer dealings in the clubs history.
Yep, we had Cahill and Mellberg, so he dropped Cahill and pissed Mellberg off by sticking him at right back so that he could accommodate Zat Knight. Brilliant. Then adds Curtis Davies and Carlos Cuellar to the mix, before deciding they are all crap and getting Dunne and Collins in. Brilliant all round from Pubehead.
Don't forget Luke young and Stephen Warnock.
Two entire defences bought in consecutive summers.
And all reportedly earning c.£40k per week, which would still be silly money now!
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Not forgetting Habib Beye. Although it’s easily done.
9 appearances in 3 years @ £40,000/ week equates to £693,333 per appearance. Figures courtesy of O'Neilconomics
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You'd miss VillaDawg (and Seattle Villain).
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Spot on. Lessons were not learnt in January 2009 when us and Arsenal were going for 4th. They signed Arshavin and we signed Heskey.
A pivotal moment in our history indeed.
You say January.... Arsenal signed Arse shaving on about the 24th Feb by the time they had bent all the rules going.
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Aston Villa Supporters Trust
Question & Answer Session with Christian Purslow CEO of Aston Villa
CP was asked whether supporters could be auto-enrolled as members of the trust as part of the season ticket renewal process.
CP was not adverse to the idea and would consider the matter; however he was not in favour of imposing membership on all supporters and also the club need to be mindful of other supporters groups. He does support the idea of encouraging all supporters to participate in groups that take an active interest in the club.
CP was asked his views on why there has been a lack of progression of players from the U23’s to the 1st team
CP stated that a superbly functioning academy was a core pillar of the new owners’ strategy. There was no value to the club of having players being paid to play in the U23’s who were not seen to have a future at AVFC. Supporters would see a change of emphasis even during the current window with players in the 18 to 21-age range being promoted to working with the 1st team squad at the expense of older players.
CP was asked how the new owners were tackling the issue of FFP in light of the perilous financial position they inherited
CP said that it was a huge priority of the new owners to clean up the financial position of the club. The first stage had been to remove the debt from the balance sheet, and it has been achieved with the significant equity investment from Sawiris and Edens. The second stage is to reduce the operating losses and this was now being addressed with the aim of dramatically reducing the average age and average cost of the playing squad.
CP was asked why under -3s are currently banned from Villa Park
CP was unaware of this and would look into it and report back.
CP was asked about plans to improve disabled toilet facilities.
CP said money was now available to address all areas where investment is needed to improve the facilities and that this sort of expenditure does not impact on FFP. One area that was being addressed immediately was the PA system.
The issue of the U23’s was raised again with reference to the approach adopted at Brentford.
CP reiterated the need to develop a strong U23s and highlighted that the new coaching team attend all U23 games and that development of our own talent was a critical part of the new owners’ strategy.
It was asked whether the upper tier of the Trinity Road stand would be opened for all games.
CP said he had been tracking attendances for last 6 years and that average attendances this season were up on previous seasons. However the upper tier would only be opened were there significant ticket demand.
The issue of failing to achieve promotion this season was raised
CP said that getting promoted was not a pre-requisite of the new owners. There will be no short-term measures taken to chase promotion that would put the long-term future of the club at stake. However the club are not giving up on trying for promotion with the current squad many of whom do not have a long-term future at the club. It is still the objective of the players and coaching staff.
CP also explained that Dr Xia’s stake in the club had reduced to about 25% following further investment by Sawiris and Edens and that he expected their stake to increase over time with further investment.
Following the appointment of Dean Smith CP was asked about the development of a playing identity.
The club wants to develop an attractive exciting playing style and hired Dean Smith precisely because he fitted that aim. They also want to recruit players who want to play that style They also want this playing strategy adopted across all age ranges
Previous owners and CEO’s had promised the earth, what are intentions of new owners?
CP assured fans that new owners are highly experienced understand professional sport and will do it the right way. He also said that he wanted to be judged on actions not words.
CP was asked how long he thought John Terry would be at the club in a coaching role?
He explained that the he thought the new coaching team were working really well together including JT and Neil Cutler and he hoped JT would be here for the long term.
The question of a Premier League 2 was raised
CP revealed the gulf in terms of TV revenue between the bottom of the premier league circa £100m and £7m for a team at the top of the championship excluding parachute payments. Many of the leading championship clubs are working on a Sustainability Project to work for a fairer distribution of TV revenue and trying to garner the support from Premier League teams it needs to make a change that will be better for football generally.
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Didn't know if it had been posted. I joined yesterday so thought I'd share the minutes.
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Cheers PvB for posting that. Much prefer you to that oik LeeB.
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Talk's cheap.
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Talk's cheap.
I tried telling that to my old man when he saw the phone bill from Clubcall
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Talk's cheap.
Sign him then. What position does he play?
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Talk's cheap.
I tried telling that to my old man when he saw the phone bill from Clubcall
So who was that star we're signing?
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"CP was asked whether supporters could be auto-enrolled as members of the trust as part of the season ticket renewal process."
GDPR says hello.
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Talk's cheap.
I tried telling that to my old man when he saw the phone bill from Clubcall
So who was that star we're signing?
0898 12 11 48, tattooed in my mind!
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"CP was asked whether supporters could be auto-enrolled as members of the trust as part of the season ticket renewal process."
GDPR says hello.
I feel like I’ve spent most of this week sorting out other people’s data protection balls ups, so GDPR can sod off.
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0890 50 50 50, I'm sure it was dodgy.
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I loved late night TV, married with children, Prisoner cell block H and central job finder.
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Join the Trust, it's, pennies.
💪✌️👍
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I loved late night TV, married with children, Prisoner cell block H and central job finder.
That's just made me shudder about something I'd forgotten. I used to pretend to be asleep when my parents checked on me then I'd sneak my TV on at a tiny volume, only to be confronted by the AIDS ads*. Utterly terrifying, yet I didn't quite understand why.
*"Ad" is probably the wrong word here.
Edit: there were heroin ads too, which to my eight-year-old-mind, gave the impression that you didn't really have a choice as to whether or not you'd end up as a heroin addict, it was coming for you regardless.
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Thanks for posting that pvb.
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Talk's cheap.
I tried telling that to my old man when he saw the phone bill from Clubcall
So who was that star we're signing?
I think it was David Speedie.
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I loved late night TV, married with children, Prisoner cell block H and central job finder.
That's just made me shudder about something I'd forgotten. I used to pretend to be asleep when my parents checked on me then I'd sneak my TV on at a tiny volume, only to be confronted by the AIDS ads*. Utterly terrifying, yet I didn't quite understand why.
*"Ad" is probably the wrong word here.
Edit: there were heroin ads too, which to my eight-year-old-mind, gave the impression that you didn't really have a choice as to whether or not you'd end up as a heroin addict, it was coming for you regardless.
When I first got a portable TV with a remote in my bedroom it was around 1984 when late night snooker was big. I used to watch snooker late at night with some Blu Tac over the standby button light so if my mum or dad checked in on me I could just put it on standby without the red light giving me away. Sometimes I even used to watch Open University even though I never had a clue what they were going on about. Back in 1987 when ITV started broadcasting into the early hours and introduced their new late night/early morning line up I got addicted to Prisoner Cell Block H. It coincided with my O' levels so my parents thought I was staying up revising. It is a shame they didn't have an O' level exam in 'Prisoner Cell Block H'.
I did get slightly addicted to Clubcall in the summer BFR took over and signed a new player every other day that summer, but luckily it was a short lived addiction and once the season started I didn't bother with it much.
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I loved late night TV, married with children, Prisoner cell block H and central job finder.
That's just made me shudder about something I'd forgotten. I used to pretend to be asleep when my parents checked on me then I'd sneak my TV on at a tiny volume, only to be confronted by the AIDS ads*. Utterly terrifying, yet I didn't quite understand why.
*"Ad" is probably the wrong word here.
Edit: there were heroin ads too, which to my eight-year-old-mind, gave the impression that you didn't really have a choice as to whether or not you'd end up as a heroin addict, it was coming for you regardless.
When I first got a portable TV with a remote in my bedroom it was around 1984 when late night snooker was big. I used to watch snooker late at night with some Blu Tac over the standby button light so if my mum or dad checked in on me I could just put it on standby without the red light giving me away. Sometimes I even used to watch Open University even though I never had a clue what they were going on about. Back in 1987 when ITV started broadcasting into the early hours and introduced their new late night/early morning line up I got addicted to Prisoner Cell Block H. It coincided with my O' levels so my parents thought I was staying up revising. It is a shame they didn't have an O' level exam in 'Prisoner Cell Block H'.
I did get slightly addicted to Clubcall in the summer BFR took over and signed a new player every other day that summer, but luckily it was a short lived addiction and once the season started I didn't bother with it much.
I loved Prisoner, Bea Smith was ace
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I loved late night TV, married with children, Prisoner cell block H and central job finder.
That's just made me shudder about something I'd forgotten. I used to pretend to be asleep when my parents checked on me then I'd sneak my TV on at a tiny volume, only to be confronted by the AIDS ads*. Utterly terrifying, yet I didn't quite understand why.
*"Ad" is probably the wrong word here.
Edit: there were heroin ads too, which to my eight-year-old-mind, gave the impression that you didn't really have a choice as to whether or not you'd end up as a heroin addict, it was coming for you regardless.
When I first got a portable TV with a remote in my bedroom it was around 1984 when late night snooker was big. I used to watch snooker late at night with some Blu Tac over the standby button light so if my mum or dad checked in on me I could just put it on standby without the red light giving me away. Sometimes I even used to watch Open University even though I never had a clue what they were going on about. Back in 1987 when ITV started broadcasting into the early hours and introduced their new late night/early morning line up I got addicted to Prisoner Cell Block H. It coincided with my O' levels so my parents thought I was staying up revising. It is a shame they didn't have an O' level exam in 'Prisoner Cell Block H'.
I did get slightly addicted to Clubcall in the summer BFR took over and signed a new player every other day that summer, but luckily it was a short lived addiction and once the season started I didn't bother with it much.
I loved Prisoner, Bea Smith was ace
At the height of my Prisoner Cell Block H addiction I spent a month in Australia staying at my aunt and uncles around Christmas 1987. When I told my aunt I loved the show (which she informed me had ended several years before over there) she told me one of the stars was mates with her next door neighbours. A few days later at a barbeque I was introduced to a lady called Maggie who was apparently a star on the show. I didn't recognise her at all or the character she told me about. Then several months later when I was back in England she started appearing as Joan 'The freak' Ferguson. A few years later I met Val Lehmen who played Bea Smith when she did a personal appearance and a Q&A at Pagoda Park in town.
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I loved late night TV, married with children, Prisoner cell block H and central job finder.
That's just made me shudder about something I'd forgotten. I used to pretend to be asleep when my parents checked on me then I'd sneak my TV on at a tiny volume, only to be confronted by the AIDS ads*. Utterly terrifying, yet I didn't quite understand why.
*"Ad" is probably the wrong word here.
Edit: there were heroin ads too, which to my eight-year-old-mind, gave the impression that you didn't really have a choice as to whether or not you'd end up as a heroin addict, it was coming for you regardless.
When I first got a portable TV with a remote in my bedroom it was around 1984 when late night snooker was big. I used to watch snooker late at night with some Blu Tac over the standby button light so if my mum or dad checked in on me I could just put it on standby without the red light giving me away. Sometimes I even used to watch Open University even though I never had a clue what they were going on about. Back in 1987 when ITV started broadcasting into the early hours and introduced their new late night/early morning line up I got addicted to Prisoner Cell Block H. It coincided with my O' levels so my parents thought I was staying up revising. It is a shame they didn't have an O' level exam in 'Prisoner Cell Block H'.
I did get slightly addicted to Clubcall in the summer BFR took over and signed a new player every other day that summer, but luckily it was a short lived addiction and once the season started I didn't bother with it much.
I loved Prisoner, Bea Smith was ace
At the height of my Prisoner Cell Block H addiction I spent a month in Australia staying at my aunt and uncles around Christmas 1987. When I told my aunt I loved the show (which she informed me had ended several years before over there) she told me one of the stars was mates with her next door neighbours. A few days later at a barbeque I was introduced to a lady called Maggie who was apparently a star on the show. I didn't recognise her at all or the character she told me about. Then several months later when I was back in England she started appearing as Joan 'The freak' Ferguson. A few years later I met Val Lehmen who played Bea Smith when she did a personal appearance and a Q&A at Pagoda Park in town.
wow that is brilliant I forgot about the freak and good old Lizzy Birdsworth. The tired mornings at school after a late session of Prisoner
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"CP was asked whether supporters could be auto-enrolled as members of the trust as part of the season ticket renewal process."
GDPR says hello.
I thought this was a laughable suggestion from the floor but no doubt a "planted" one. Purslow hit it for a six in his own diplomatic way.
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Weren't we saying the same about likes of Wyness and Round? And even Tom Fox from memory got a good write up after his first interview?
Not criticising Purslow at all and at least he's worked in this role before at Liverpool but after last 8 years it's a case of don't tell me but show me I'm afraid.
I'll wait to see how the new board copes with setbacks. Let's see how we do if we don't go up and then have to sell Grealish to meet FFP. Or even if a premier league club comes in to poach Smith although that's less likely than 10 years ago.
That's how it's happened in the past. New owners/directors talk a good game and them crumble when things start to go wrong. They made a good start appointing Smith though.
Totally agree SoccerHQ. Listening to Purslow on Wednesday night he came across as very smooth, very assured character but than at this level they all do. Faulkner, Fox, Whyness and Round they all talked a good talk however they all dropped us deeper and deeper in the manure.
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Very reassuring interview with Mr Purslow
https://twitter.com/sportbbcwm/status/1133431166596538368?s=12
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I loved late night TV, married with children, Prisoner cell block H and central job finder.
That's just made me shudder about something I'd forgotten. I used to pretend to be asleep when my parents checked on me then I'd sneak my TV on at a tiny volume, only to be confronted by the AIDS ads*. Utterly terrifying, yet I didn't quite understand why.
*"Ad" is probably the wrong word here.
Edit: there were heroin ads too, which to my eight-year-old-mind, gave the impression that you didn't really have a choice as to whether or not you'd end up as a heroin addict, it was coming for you regardless.
When I first got a portable TV with a remote in my bedroom it was around 1984 when late night snooker was big. I used to watch snooker late at night with some Blu Tac over the standby button light so if my mum or dad checked in on me I could just put it on standby without the red light giving me away. Sometimes I even used to watch Open University even though I never had a clue what they were going on about. Back in 1987 when ITV started broadcasting into the early hours and introduced their new late night/early morning line up I got addicted to Prisoner Cell Block H. It coincided with my O' levels so my parents thought I was staying up revising. It is a shame they didn't have an O' level exam in 'Prisoner Cell Block H'.
I did get slightly addicted to Clubcall in the summer BFR took over and signed a new player every other day that summer, but luckily it was a short lived addiction and once the season started I didn't bother with it much.
I loved Prisoner, Bea Smith was ace
At the height of my Prisoner Cell Block H addiction I spent a month in Australia staying at my aunt and uncles around Christmas 1987. When I told my aunt I loved the show (which she informed me had ended several years before over there) she told me one of the stars was mates with her next door neighbours. A few days later at a barbeque I was introduced to a lady called Maggie who was apparently a star on the show. I didn't recognise her at all or the character she told me about. Then several months later when I was back in England she started appearing as Joan 'The freak' Ferguson. A few years later I met Val Lehmen who played Bea Smith when she did a personal appearance and a Q&A at Pagoda Park in town.
Personally, that's the only reason why I dipped into a thread ambiguously titled Christian Purslow on 5Live Sportsweek.
Bumped into Harold Bishop's shit-shoed son up Collins Street, Melbourne CBD circa 2005. Grey suit, white Hi Tecs.
When you hit that level of success you can afford to be eccentric.
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Purslow has said that we’re Aston Villa and we’re not going to have a parade for, effectively, finishing third. That’s exactly the mindset I want us to have. Good man.
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Purslow has said that we’re Aston Villa and we’re not going to have a parade for, effectively, finishing third. That’s exactly the mindset I want us to have. Good man.
Couldn't agree more , parade's are for when you win something outright. Not this time.
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I reckon that Brum-based purveyors of open top buses won't mind on this occasion. They're canny enough to recognize that they'll have plenty of opportunities in the coming years to earn a crust with Deano at the helm.
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Purslow has said that we’re Aston Villa and we’re not going to have a parade for, effectively, finishing third. That’s exactly the mindset I want us to have. Good man.
Couldn't agree more , parade's are for when you win something outright. Not this time.
Never even crossed my mind that there might be a parade.
Do teams normally have one when they win the play-off?
I see that Arsenal have announced the time and route of their UEFA Cup winning celebrations before they've played the game
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Wont Chelsea have had to do the same?
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Youtube - In depth interview: Christian Purslow and Dean Smith. Twenty minutes long.
I know talk is cheap but we are clearly setting our sights a lot higher than survival. And don't expect any loan signings or signings who are knocking on a bit. The best thing about Purslow is that along with his statements of intent he also clearly states how he plans to achieve it.
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Been really impressed with Christian Purdlow from the moment he arrived. Whar a contrast to Tom Fox and his false narrative bollocks
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Really impressive. I have far more confidence in this owner/management team than I ever had in Lerner (playing at it) and Xia (fool).
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Youtube - In depth interview: Christian Purslow and Dean Smith. Twenty minutes long.
I know talk is cheap but we are clearly setting our sights a lot higher than survival. And don't expect any loan signings or signings who are knocking on a bit. The best thing about Purslow is that along with his statements of intent he also clearly states how he plans to achieve it.
I don't suppose anyone has a link to this video please?
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Just type 'Dean Smith' into Youtube, ya lazy get.
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I'm going against the grain here but there's still a nagging doubt with me about Purslow. Speaks a good game and clearly competent given his employment record. Still haven't put my finger on it but even little things like him interjecting "100%" when Dean said his favorite goal was Jack's away at Rotherham. Just let the manager talk about football matters.
I do like the fact that Wes always looks like he's always been on a big one the night before. 8) Of course I wouldn't do that if I was a billionaire.
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Just type 'Dean Smith' into Youtube, ya lazy get.
How very dare you sir!! I see H&V as a public service. (wink and smile emoji)
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I'm going against the grain here but there's still a nagging doubt with me about Purslow. Speaks a good game and clearly competent given his employment record. Still haven't put my finger on it but even little things like him interjecting "100%" when Dean said his favorite goal was Jack's away at Rotherham. Just let the manager talk about football matters.
I do like the fact that Wes always looks like he's always been on a big one the night before. 8) Of course I wouldn't do that if I was a billionaire.
Don't get your thinking in the slightest. Who's been on the big one the night before? It's certainly not Purslow!!
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Wont Chelsea have had to do the same?
Chelsea won't be having one even if they win according to the Evening Standard, I read on the tube home just now.
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I'm going against the grain here but there's still a nagging doubt with me about Purslow. Speaks a good game and clearly competent given his employment record. Still haven't put my finger on it but even little things like him interjecting "100%" when Dean said his favorite goal was Jack's away at Rotherham. Just let the manager talk about football matters.
I do like the fact that Wes always looks like he's always been on a big one the night before. 8) Of course I wouldn't do that if I was a billionaire.
Think he got stick at Liverpool as people thought he interfered too much when Benitez was there - conveniently forget that he helped get the Hicks and Gillett regime out mind
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Just type 'Dean Smith' into Youtube, ya lazy get.
How very dare you sir!! I see H&V as a public service. (wink and smile emoji)
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=dean+smith+youtube
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Thanks Ad@m. LeeB, eat my shorts!!
(smartarse ;D) Gotta love a roasting!!