Doug Says "Liverpool Should Have Taken a Lesson From Villa"

[alanclare]

Both opinions stand, wind-up boy. Just because he got a couple of decisions right doesn't mean he isn't self-indulgent in that article, and more popular among fans as a direct result of his leaving the club. If you're going to come back again, you must do better than that.

I'm so glad that this "hyperbolic and melodramatic" nonsense is out there for everyone to read and draw their own conclusions from.

[Jimbo]

I'm so glad that this "hyperbolic and melodramatic" nonsense is out there for everyone to read and draw their own conclusions from.

Yeah, me too.

Now, there's only a certain amount of time I'll give to needy, attention-seeking, inadequate wind-up merchants on the internet, and you've had your allocation. Be off with you.

[Clampy]

Hve to say, though, now of all times his sussing out of the shyster Gillet looks like a very cute bit of business by him, so you can hardly blame him for wanting to point out that he averted (possibly) similar disaster for Villa.

Or he just chose a cash buyer because he wanted a quick sale, before he was welcomed by St Peter at the Great Doug Ellis Pearly Gates, as they will soon become known as.

He could have sold out to Ray Ranson if he wanted a 'quick cash sale'.

[Ger Regan]

Now, there's only a certain amount of time I'll give to needy, attention-seeking, inadequate wind-up merchants on the internet, and you've had your allocation. Be off with you.

Take yourself very seriously much?

[Jimbo]

Now, there's only a certain amount of time I'll give to needy, attention-seeking, inadequate wind-up merchants on the internet, and you've had your allocation. Be off with you.

Take yourself very seriously much?

Only on public holidays.

[alanclare]

Now, there's only a certain amount of time I'll give to needy, attention-seeking, inadequate wind-up merchants on the internet, and you've had your allocation. Be off with you.

Tut, tut. Temper.

[TopDeck113]

I think the lesson that Liverpool have indeed taken from Villa, or at least Villa under Doug, is to encourage your home fans to sing "You'll Never Walk Alone" on afternoons of momentous significance. 

What the Scousers have realised, though, is that you don't need a fat bloke in a pink suit to orchestrate the singing.

[Mister E]

I just don't buy into this 'cuddly old Doug' revisionism. 

Me neither.
Hindsight says what was being said at the time: Ellis stands accused of mediocrity. Even in the price he got for the club, he was mediocre. That is not to say that what he did did not bring some benefits - lack of indebtedness, a reasonable new owner, etc.
And nothing convinces me that (whilst he was in charge) he was not milking the club rotten.
But, yes, his avuncular dotage is both amusing and reassuring.

[ktvillan]

The big difference is hindsight. It will never prove O'Leary as anything other than a self-obsessed incompetent. However, looking back at it, a fair chunk of what Doug did from the mid-nineties onwards proved correct.

Just out of interest Dave, what kind of things do you have in mind when you say he did a lot that proved correct?
 

[Lambert and Payne]

Fair play Doug did well in chosing a buyer and saved us in 68 and thanks for that. The thing is, we never would have won anything decent under him and i think we woulda been championship club right now if he stayed. He would never pay out for anyone when we needed it. He's a liar and an attension seeker. Got no time for him really. When will the stand be changed back?

[Ger Regan]

Me neither.
Hindsight says what was being said at the time: Ellis stands accused of mediocrity. Even in the price he got for the club, he was mediocre. That is not to say that what he did did not bring some benefits - lack of indebtedness, a reasonable new owner, etc.
And nothing convinces me that (whilst he was in charge) he was not milking the club rotten.
But, yes, his avuncular dotage is both amusing and reassuring.

Reasonable?

[Risso]

I'm glad he's not in charge any more, but I really can't be bothered disliking him.  Now he's just an elderly, slightly embarrassing gent who cares about the Villa.  Plus that time he shook Abramovitch's hand with a look of pure delight on his face as we beat Chelsea made me smile.

[Concrete John]

When will the stand be changed back?

I refuse to refer to it as anything other than the Witton Lane End.

[Mister E]

Me neither.
Hindsight says what was being said at the time: Ellis stands accused of mediocrity. Even in the price he got for the club, he was mediocre. That is not to say that what he did did not bring some benefits - lack of indebtedness, a reasonable new owner, etc.
And nothing convinces me that (whilst he was in charge) he was not milking the club rotten.
But, yes, his avuncular dotage is both amusing and reassuring.

Reasonable?

Ger, I used the word "reasonable" because the jury is still out - in 1973 people still thought Uncle Herbert was a top Chairman, so maybe I'm just cautious.

[Brend'Watkins]

When will the stand be changed back?

I refuse to refer to it as anything other than the Witton Lane End.

Are you sure about that John?