Statement this morning

[Villa'Zawg]

I hope you're not counting appearances that constitute 5 minutes at the end of game.

Of course he is.

He's also taking an average over three years rather than look closer at the appearances said players have made recently.

I'm taking an average over the time they have been here. They started as first team players, we brought in better and they were relegated to the bench. Exactly as people on here have advocated as the right way to do things since Lerner took over.

[pauliewalnuts]

I'm counting all the times they have played for Villa. The fact is that each of them started as a first choice player when they joined. We replaced them in the first team with better players last season and they were relegated to the subs bench in exactly the way that every club would wish to improve their team. When we ship those players out, who takes their place on the bench? Collins, Petrov and Downing? It probably should be but its not going to be now is it?

But the point is, we haven't shipped any of them out, other than Shorey.

I can't keep up with you. First of all, you were demanding massive investments. Then you changed your mind, fair enough, and supported the incremental, more measured growth, but now you seem to be refusing to admit the need to not be reckless with money.

[Villa'Zawg]

Edit: sorry - messed up the quotes.

Do you not understand that the club has declared a move from incremental growth (which I was happy with) to swingeing cuts (which has pissed me off a little)?

[pauliewalnuts]

I hope you're not counting appearances that constitute 5 minutes at the end of game.

Of course he is.

He's also taking an average over three years rather than look closer at the appearances said players have made recently.

I'm taking an average over the time they have been here. They started as first team players, we brought in better and they were relegated to the bench. Exactly as people on here have advocated as the right way to do things since Lerner took over.

Except some of them, ie Shorey and Beye, have barely been near the bench let alone the pitch for a good while now.

The point is, they're still here, they're still not getting used, and they're still on big wages.

Do you not see why it might make sense to move them on, get in players who will cost less, and use that saved money perhaps where it is better needed?

[Risso]

I have to say the new software has seen some epic quote fails of late.

[pauliewalnuts]

Do you not understand that the club has declared a move from incremental growth (which I was happy with) to swingeing cuts (which has pissed me off a little)?

Swingeing cuts? How would losing Beye or Davies or Shorey or Sidwell or NRC really have affected us?

Doing something about the wage bill. It's not exactly George Osborne setting about the economy, is it?

[pmk1981]

I'm going to be really disappointed if we are not going to get Ireland in the deal for Milner especislly as it looks the Milner money isn't being put into the transfer pot.How are we going to buy Keane without shifting the deadwood ??

i think reading from what lerner has said, i dont think the money was made available for oneil to spend !!

new manager would get a bit as long as deadwood is shipped out and the wages are reduced

general and lerner have both said its the wages we need to get rid of....

[andrew08]

I can't understand the worry myself. We'll be fine. The same squad that finished 6th last year with one less player is going to tumble down the league? I don't think so. Perhaps now when Petrov is breathing thru is backside after an hour we'll see NRC as his replacement or Luke Young instead of a centre half. Ash might even get dropped/dragged off when he has one of those games when he forever crosses to the first defender. And you never know Carew may stay on and partner,say, Nathan instead of being swapped for the goal machine that is Heskey. Our best player this pre season has been Albrighton, MON wouldnt have picked him on Saturday, we all know that.

Better times ahead...........we win our next 2 games and its already a better start than last year.

Bring it on

[hilts_coolerking]

Except some of them, ie Shorey and Beye, have barely been near the bench let alone the pitch for a good while now.

The point is, they're still here, they're still not getting used, and they're still on big wages.

Do you not see why it might make sense to move them on, get in players who will cost less, and use that saved money perhaps where it is better needed?

It's a good point.  And regardless of the number of full or part appearances they have made, how many of these players have really contributed something meaningful when they have got a game?

[Toronto Villa]

Except some of them, ie Shorey and Beye, have barely been near the bench let alone the pitch for a good while now.

The point is, they're still here, they're still not getting used, and they're still on big wages.

Do you not see why it might make sense to move them on, get in players who will cost less, and use that saved money perhaps where it is better needed?

It's a good point.  And regardless of the number of full or part appearances they have made, how many of these players have really contributed something meaningful when they have got a game?

And you can't tell me that Randy or Faulkner wouldn't have noticed that. That some players play all the time, and others on similar wages, and hefty transfer fees play very infrequently. If you are going to have fringe players, which every club does, then they have to be on fringe money. If you're going to pay 6m for a full back, then given our status within the game, he better have a role to play. I understand and accept we are better defensively with Cuellar, but the plan needs to much better thought out than that if that ends up being the direction we went in. If he isn't part of the plan, then sell him which is all they asked MON to do.

[TheEgo]

Lerner and Faulkner pictured arriving at VP and going into The Holte Pub on SSN. According to the BBC website, there will be a further statement today, specifically to address the vacant manager situation. Anyone else heard this?

[BannedUserIAT]

I have to say the new software has seen some epic quote fails of late.

The reply box that pops up isn't big enough.
Or rather, it displays the start of the quote rather than the end.
Pain in the arse.

[Villa'Zawg]

...
Swingeing cuts? How would losing Beye or Davies or Shorey or Sidwell or NRC really have affected us?

Doing something about the wage bill. It's not exactly George Osborne setting about the economy, is it?

Actually it is. It doesn't matter what I say, you'll choose not to believe it, which is why I asked Risso if he would put the reduction to 60% of turnover into context early.

[hilts_coolerking]

And you can't tell me that Randy or Faulkner wouldn't have noticed that. That some players play all the time, and others on similar wages, and hefty transfer fees play very infrequently. If you are going to have fringe players, which every club does, then they have to be on fringe money. If you're going to pay 6m for a full back, then given our status within the game, he better have a role to play. I understand and accept we are better defensively with Cuellar, but the plan needs to much better thought out than that if that ends up being the direction we went in. If he isn't part of the plan, then sell him which is all they asked MON to do.

Exactly right.  The truth is that the amount of games these guys have played, and their contribution during those games, simply does not justify the amount of money spent on buying them and paying them.

[Concrete John]

And you can't tell me that Randy or Faulkner wouldn't have noticed that. That some players play all the time, and others on similar wages, and hefty transfer fees play very infrequently. If you are going to have fringe players, which every club does, then they have to be on fringe money. If you're going to pay 6m for a full back, then given our status within the game, he better have a role to play. I understand and accept we are better defensively with Cuellar, but the plan needs to much better thought out than that if that ends up being the direction we went in. If he isn't part of the plan, then sell him which is all they asked MON to do.

I think there's a danger when money men try to qualify the running of a football team in such black and white terms.  What do you think the reaction would be in Fergie was told to flog £18m Michael Carrick as he plays less game and scores less goals than Paul Scholes?