Statement this morning

[Villa'Zawg]

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.

Well that's the other part of it that's confusing me. Didn't Paul Faulkner take over the "transfer deals" role when he was appointed CEO in May?

I thought that whole business with declaring the 6 players up for sale was that Lerner, O'Neill and Faulkner had agreed who was going and for what price. After that, it was down to Faulkner to negotiate the sales. Isn't that what happened?

[Irish villain]

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?

I hadn't heard this. Could be interesting. We'll have to wait and see.

[Toronto Villa]

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? 

I dare say those conversations occur at Man U also John. I suspect when Ferguson signed Veron, or even with Berbatov, it causes conversation in the board room as to their worth and effectiveness given the outlay. The major difference is Ferguson has won everything in the game and has enoormous credibility at the club, and Man U's turnover can support having more of those type players and wages on the books than we can. Ferguson hasn't spent much of the Ronaldo money, but I bet he would have loved to. But there are other financial issues there that he clearly understands and begrudgingly accepts. He might be the biggest person at the club, but I'm sure when asked to he'll sing from the same song sheet as the Glazers. I don't think MON was buying into that.

[pauliewalnuts]

I thought that whole business with declaring the 6 players up for sale was that Lerner, O'Neill and Faulkner had agreed who was going and for what price. After that, it was down to Faulkner to negotiate the sales. Isn't that what happened?

What if nobody wanted them?

What if the players didn't want to move?

NRC has already suggested he'd sit his contract out, and Habib Beye said earlier this year that there was interest in him from elsewhere, but nobody would buy him as "they wouldnt pay his as much money as Villa do".

[Chico Hamilton III]

If we have to wait for Randy and Faulkner to get served in the Holte Hotel before they make a statement, I'd say it'll be tonight before we get it from them.

I waited an hour for me lasagne and chips in there last month

[pauliewalnuts]

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? 

I dare say those conversations occur at Man U also John. I suspect when Ferguson signed Veron, or even with Berbatov, it causes conversation in the board room as to their worth and effectiveness given the outlay. The major difference is Ferguson has won everything in the game and has enoormous credibility at the club, and Man U's turnover can support having more of those type players and wages on the books than we can. Ferguson hasn't spent much of the Ronaldo money, but I bet he would have loved to. But there are other financial issues there that he clearly understands and begrudgingly accepts. He might be the biggest person at the club, but I'm sure when asked to he'll sing from the same song sheet as the Glazers. I don't think MON was buying into that.

Indeed.

Does anyone think that Fergie has never been told he needs to move some players on to buy?

[Concrete John]

Yes, Fergie and Man Utd is a different situation, but I think the same principal applies of non-football people not being able to adequately judge a player's football value.  For instance, how often to we hear that competition is good for players, yet would a board not say 'play one of them and use a kid instead as reserve' by the methodology you are advocating?

And I'm not defending Martin's (lack of) use of the squad with that, just pointing out that who stays and goes is not the simple mathematical matter some are suggesting our board is adopting. 

[TheEgo]

If we have to wait for Randy and Faulkner to get served in the Holte Hotel before they make a statement, I'd say it'll be tonight before we get it from them.

I waited an hour for me lasagne and chips in there last month

Haha! apparently the Holte is cordened off for a meeting? seems odd to hold it there, unless there going to get pissed and debate the new manager? that's what we as fans do....

[pauliewalnuts]

If we have to wait for Randy and Faulkner to get served in the Holte Hotel before they make a statement, I'd say it'll be tonight before we get it from them.

I waited an hour for me lasagne and chips in there last month

Haha! apparently the Holte is cordened off for a meeting? seems odd to hold it there, unless there going to get pissed and debate the new manager? that's what we as fans do....

That sounds to me like a press conference.

Didn't he hold his last meet-up with the press in there?

[villa `cross the mersey]

Reasonable statement without either going into great depth or berating the former manager.
Lerner is obviously looking to protect his investment whilst ensuring we don`t become another Pmpey, Leeds or Newcastle.
I do find it a little odd that MON wasn`t restrained earlier, in particular in relation to wages etc. It smacks of "horse and stable door" economics.
Whats done is done - I don`t see any harm in re-aligning expectations somewhat...its not exactly a level playing at the minute.
I think we should put our faith in our owner in these hard times.I for one am willing to do so.
I want to see Villa competing as a club in 10 years time rather than see us bankrupt ourselves for 4th.

[Monty]

Have to say, as far as 'big announcements' go this is one of the least surprising, most diplomatic and unbelievably sensible I've seen in a while.

[TheEgo]

I thought that whole business with declaring the 6 players up for sale was that Lerner, O'Neill and Faulkner had agreed who was going and for what price. After that, it was down to Faulkner to negotiate the sales. Isn't that what happened?

What if nobody wanted them?

What if the players didn't want to move?

NRC has already suggested he'd sit his contract out, and Habib Beye said earlier this year that there was interest in him from elsewhere, but nobody would buy him as "they wouldnt pay his as much money as Villa do".

Not sure? Im off work and tempted to drive down there to see what I can see. How sad haha!!

[Chris Smith]

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?

I hadn't heard this. Could be interesting. We'll have to wait and see.

So they were just going for a pint and a bag of scatchings I take it. Get some bloody work done you pair of dossers, we pay your wages.

[Ads]

If we have to wait for Randy and Faulkner to get served in the Holte Hotel before they make a statement, I'd say it'll be tonight before we get it from them.

I waited an hour for me lasagne and chips in there last month

Haha! apparently the Holte is cordened off for a meeting? seems odd to hold it there, unless there going to get pissed and debate the new manager? that's what we as fans do....

I just went to get my Vienna ticket and there were no visible signs of it being cordoned off, although the doors were shut. But then it is windy today.

[TheEgo]

If we have to wait for Randy and Faulkner to get served in the Holte Hotel before they make a statement, I'd say it'll be tonight before we get it from them.

I waited an hour for me lasagne and chips in there last month

Haha! apparently the Holte is cordened off for a meeting? seems odd to hold it there, unless there going to get pissed and debate the new manager? that's what we as fans do....

I just went to get my Vienna ticket and there were no visible signs of it being cordoned off, although the doors were shut. But then it is windy today.

Mate text to say no access to the Holte today?