The end is nigh.

[Mazrim]

I dont remember one person saying we'd challenge for the Champions League. Not that it didn't happen, just that I dont recall it at all. Getting there was a tough ask as far as I was concerned. Still is.
And why wouldn't using contacts at IMG help? How do we know they haven't? They probably helped us score the Nike deal anyway. In fact I'm sure of it.
It was a fair enough assumption at the time.
Maybe MON had access to the World wide web but went shopping at the corner shop down the road instead. I dont recall anybody saying that would happen at the time either.

I remember some saying that we should have sold to Padfield and Co who hasnt been seen or heard of since in Football. Maybe we dodged a fatal bullet on that one? A lot of things are said and dragged up to be ridiculed again at a later date.

[Risso]

I remember some saying that we should have sold to Padfield and Co who hasnt been seen or heard of since in Football. Maybe we dodged a fatal bullet on that one? A lot of things are said and dragged up to be ridiculed again at a later date.

I can remember people saying we should talk to them.  I don't think anybody suggested selling to them.

[Mazrim]

I remember some saying that we should have sold to Padfield and Co who hasnt been seen or heard of since in Football. Maybe we dodged a fatal bullet on that one? A lot of things are said and dragged up to be ridiculed again at a later date.

I can remember people saying we should talk to them.  I don't think anybody suggested selling to them.

We (Doug) did talk to them, didn't we? We talked to all the parties involved as I recall. Anyway, it's not really important now.
Dont make me drag Mr Swann out of retirement.

[Risso]

I don't think that Ellis did talk to Padfield actually.  And as far as I recall, Disco Stu was one of the posters who was most vehemently opposed to padfield.

[Dave Cooper please]

Too right I'm cantankerous, I'm fed up to the back teeth.

If someone had suggested that our 4th season would see us finishing above Liverpool, reaching the FA Cup semi-final and the League Cup final, they woudnt have been believed.

When Randy took over this was somewhere near the pessimistic end of most people's predictions. Including yours if I recall.

[Villa'Zawg]

Too right I'm cantankerous, I'm fed up to the back teeth.

If someone had suggested that our 4th season would see us finishing above Liverpool, reaching the FA Cup semi-final and the League Cup final, they wouldn't have been believed. People like to portray it as a symptom of liverpool being unusually poor last season but 64 points and good cup runs was exactly what was needed to catch up with the traditional Sky4.

If you'd told me that after four years, we'd still be playing central defenders at right back, and would have Emile Heskey on £60K a week, I wouldn't have believed you either.

How surprising. A response that ignores the point, slags off an aspect of the club (our payers) and is built on an internet falsehood.

Cuellar was 3rd highest ranked defender on the official PL stats last year. Which other of the top 10 is a crap defender? Answer - None of them. Why is Cuellar the only one that shouldn't be there? Answer - cos the people  on H&V say he should only play in the centre and is rubbish at right back.

At times he was magnificent in defence last season but you ignore that because you've nailed him on the basis that he isn't confident when carrying the ball out of defence.

You've also decided on the basis of an unsubstantiated post that it is a fact that Heskey is the highest paid player and that he earns 60k a week. I don't know if that is true and I suspect you don't either.

[Clampy]

A 7 page thread of gloom after a pre-season freindly defeat? In sharp contrast after the Feyenoord game.

[Mazrim]

I don't think that Ellis did talk to Padfield actually.  And as far as I recall, Disco Stu was one of the posters who was most vehemently opposed to padfield.

Yes, Oscar Goldman, Disco Stu etc...
God, I used to enjoy those exchanges. They were entertaining.

I cant imagine why Doug wouldn't listen to what any serious party had to say. Unless he didn't think they were serious.

[Concrete John]

I don't think we should get too hung up on what Heskey gets paid, although I'm sure some will, but more be concerned of the issue it represents, which is our overall wage bill.  

Most would agree we had a good summer in 2010, with players being bought in that improved us, which of course means that we'd be paying more in wages than we did in 08/09.  However, in terms of revenue that didn't translate to a higher league position or increased attendances, plus the cup runs don't generate massive income.  So we can debate if we made progrss on the field as much as we like, but off it we did not pump up the turnover too much.

So, we're paying more and getting about the same in, so percentage wise it takes a hit and that needs to be addressed.  Which is what I think we're seeing this summer.

[Chris Smith]

I don't think we should get too hung up on what Heskey gets paid, although I'm sure some will, but more be concerned of the issue it represents, which is our overall wage bill.  

Most would agree we had a good summer in 2010, with players being bought in that improved us, which of course means that we'd be paying more in wages than we did in 08/09.  However, in terms of revenue that didn't translate to a higher league position or increased attendances, plus the cup runs don't generate massive income.  So we can debate if we made progrss on the field as much as we like, but off it we did not pump up the turnover too much.
So, we're paying more and getting about the same in, so percentage wise it takes a hit and that needs to be addressed.  Which is what I think we're seeing this summer.

Perhaps not but surely the fact that we established ourselves as a top 6 side, appeared in a Wembley cup final and semi final were contributory factors in securing our best ever sposnorship deal.

[Concrete John]

Good point.  If wages were to stay at their present level over the next 12-months, then we'd experience an improvement in the ratio as turnover increases by at least the new sponsorship deal.

Maybe that's the plan - not let the wages increase any higher than they are now?

[Ads]

A lot of it stems from the Moscow thing and especially the alleged arrogance showed by MON in his speech at the 'lets make up' dinner afterwards when I gather he effectively dismissed anyone elses opinion on how to run our club.

Yep same with my mates who are out there too. They cannot stand O'Neill because of what he said.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Good point.  If wages were to stay at their present level over the next 12-months, then we'd experience an improvement in the ratio as turnover increases by at least the new sponsorship deal.

Maybe that's the plan - not let the wages increase any higher than they are now?

I think the plan is to get rid of players that we don't use or need and replace them with players we do. I think it's really that simple.

[Monty]

Good point.  If wages were to stay at their present level over the next 12-months, then we'd experience an improvement in the ratio as turnover increases by at least the new sponsorship deal.

Maybe that's the plan - not let the wages increase any higher than they are now?

I think the plan is to get rid of players that we don't use or need and replace them with players we do. I think it's really that simple.

Damn straight. No elaborate conspiracies, no power struggle, no financial crisis. Just the normal business of running a football club.

[VillaAlways]

Does anyone really think those people DCF is talking about have formed that opinion after one pre season friendly?

I'm imagining not.

I'm sure they hadn't it's just there was no calls of MON out the night previously.