The Great Purge of Summer 2011

[VillaZogmariner]

12 months ago we were completing a season where we had challenged for both domestic cups and come within a couple of wins of qualification for the Champions League. In terms of results and performances against top teams, it was one of our best seasons in 20 years.

We then appointed Paul Faulkner as Chief Executive Officer to run the club. I know whenever this subject is raised people try to downplay Faulkner’s role but CEO isn’t an honorary title. It denotes the person who has legal and operational responsibility for the running of the business, the equivalent of a Managing Director. I’ve never in my life come across a serious American business where the person with the title of CEO is anything other than the person who runs the business and I’ve no doubt whatsoever that Faulkner has been running this club for the last 12 months.

The decision to appoint Faulkner as CEO and his introduction of a strategy to reduce wages and rely on inexperienced youth players has been an unmitigated disaster.

I still don’t understand how Randy Lerner, who had been such a safe pair of hands, decided to appoint an inexperienced 32 year old relationship manager from a credit card company as managing director of Aston Villa. It hasn’t worked and needs to be addressed.

Get rid of Faulkner. Get rid of Houllier/McAllister, whose results have been truly appalling considering the resources at their disposal and put in place a senior team befitting of one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Let the new senior team decide which players should come and go.

Because paying the likes of Beye, Shorey, Davies, Sidwell, etc to do fuck all but take money out of the club was a good idea wasn't it.

What's the alternative? Get the PFA to agree that your squad players are not paid when they aren't in the first team and the players to agree to join on that basis? Don't have senior well-paid squad players in reserve?

Having expensive squad players who aren't getting in the 1st team is a fact of life in the Premier League.

Those 4 players have made 174 appearances for Villa, I bet every club in the top 6 has similarly well paid experienced players who have played as few or fewer games.

There are two alternatives -

1. Play them and give the first team regulars a bit of a rest every now and then.

2. Reduce the wage bill to stop the club losing money hand over fist.

[Holte L2]

12 months ago we were completing a season where we had challenged for both domestic cups and come within a couple of wins of qualification for the Champions League. In terms of results and performances against top teams, it was one of our best seasons in 20 years.

We then appointed Paul Faulkner as Chief Executive Officer to run the club. I know whenever this subject is raised people try to downplay Faulkner’s role but CEO isn’t an honorary title. It denotes the person who has legal and operational responsibility for the running of the business, the equivalent of a Managing Director. I’ve never in my life come across a serious American business where the person with the title of CEO is anything other than the person who runs the business and I’ve no doubt whatsoever that Faulkner has been running this club for the last 12 months.

The decision to appoint Faulkner as CEO and his introduction of a strategy to reduce wages and rely on inexperienced youth players has been an unmitigated disaster.

I still don’t understand how Randy Lerner, who had been such a safe pair of hands, decided to appoint an inexperienced 32 year old relationship manager from a credit card company as managing director of Aston Villa. It hasn’t worked and needs to be addressed.

Get rid of Faulkner. Get rid of Houllier/McAllister, whose results have been truly appalling considering the resources at their disposal and put in place a senior team befitting of one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Let the new senior team decide which players should come and go.

Spot on.  It's become apparant that Lerner's been poorly advised by Faulkner in the recent interview's he's given.  Faulkner led the persuit of the manager, and rightly so in his position of CEO.  He's got to go with Houllier.  That and don't listen to Sir Graham again

[TheSandman]

Faulkner doesn't advice Randy shit. He's just a yes man.

[Holte L2]

Some of us are clearly living in dream world if they think we're going to be shipping out 15 odd players in the summer. You can not move on and replace that many players in three months, and even if you did, you'd have to be an absolute genius to get anything out of such turmoil.

From the midfield forwards, there's not a huge amount wrong with us. True, we don't press home our advantage when we have it, and whilst we enjoy a lot of possession, we frequently do not make the most of it, but the fundamentals are there. More than the fundamentals, in fact.

I would classify them as:

Ship out and replace with a natural first choice in their position - Dunne, Collins, Friedel

Ship out, they're bad news: Warnock, Ireland.

Ship out, because they're going whether we like it or not: Ashley Young.

Ship out, because his winter fuel allowance will kick in later in the year, so he won't need the money anyway: Pires

The above are bound to happen.

Then we have the following from which the odd one or two will be moved on, but nothing like all of them: Beye, Salifou, Osbourne, Heskey

Why not? Providing we wheel and deal in the transfer market and act quickly it can be done.  Redknapp did the same at Spurs.
We could even use existing players as part of any potential deals. We've already agreed that this pre-season echo's 1994/1995.  Not forgetting that Little did it in 994/1995 shipping out:

Barrett,Teale,Richardson,Parker,Houghton,Saunders,Atkinson,Fenton,Fashanu,Lamptey

Bringin In:

Johnson,Charles,Taylor,Draper,Southgate,Wright,Milosevic,Tiler,Carr

And BFR brought 11 in when he replaced DR .

[Mister E]

Agreed, Holte L2: I think a thorough clear-out is essential in order to get rid of the bad apples and give the kids we want to keep the chance to fight for their place and learn from some new (and better) role models.
But until the management team issue is resolved, we're all just speculating.

[Karlos96]

Apart from Bent I wouldn't bothered seeing any of the others go, I couldn't care less about most of them it's been a long time since I felt like this about a Villa squad.

[UsualSuspect]

Apart from Bent I wouldn't bothered seeing any of the others go, I couldn't care less about most of them it's been a long time since I felt like this about a Villa squad.

Same as me, and we are stuck with beye for another season as he just wants his 40k per week.

To thinkk habib Beye has cost us 8 million and the money spent on salifou knocks it up to 10 million.

Disgraceful

[Archie]

I'd also ship out about 12 players, but the first is without any doubt Richard Dunne.
I can't stand that such an average player (that every game uses to concede one or two goals to the opponents) not only doesn't show any committment to the club but also earns the astronomic amount that he earns every week: www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/17/...-dunne-collins-fined
In my long football-watcher carreer I have obviously seen many average players, but nobody that earned similar wages. I find that frankly outrageous.

[gervilla]

Apart from Bent I wouldn't bothered seeing any of the others go, I couldn't care less about most of them it's been a long time since I felt like this about a Villa squad.

What he said.

[Holtenderinthesky]

Apart from Bent I wouldn't bothered seeing any of the others go, I couldn't care less about most of them it's been a long time since I felt like this about a Villa squad.

What he said.

Hmm.  Downing?  Albrighton?  Clark?  Would you really want them to go?   I wouldn't, no chance.

[Karlos96]

Apart from Bent I wouldn't bothered seeing any of the others go, I couldn't care less about most of them it's been a long time since I felt like this about a Villa squad.

What he said.

Hmm.  Downing?  Albrighton?  Clark?  Would you really want them to go?   I wouldn't, no chance.

I wouldn't be bothered if they did.

[Countryside Villain]

I'm looking forward to next season if some of the posters get their way.  We'll be without a CEO, Manager or Coach and have a starting line up of.....er....... Marshall and Bent.

Well you can't mess with the spine of the team now can you.

[gervilla]

I'm looking forward to next season if some of the posters get their way.  We'll be without a CEO, Manager or Coach and have a starting line up of.....er....... Marshall and Bent.

Well you can't mess with the spine of the team now can you.

The team is spineless. That has been proved time and time again this season.

[Countryside Villain]

Spineless, yes.  But they're not all a load of shit.  What they have been, generally, is a bunch of whiny children all to quick to forget that they actually get paid to play football, its not just a bit of a giggle with their mates.

We need to replace some key players and accept that some are just going to want to move on, such is the way of the game.  The complete dismantling of the team suggested here though is nothing short of reactionary crap that would either bankrupt us or relegate us.

[john2710]

My assessment on what we need is;

First choice goalkeeper (Robinson), young goalkeeper (Westwood) as back-up or keep Freidal
First choice left back, right back (Walker) & experienced centre half (Samba!!?)
Midfield - someone with a presence (NRC), replacement for A Young (Nzogbia)
Upfront - someone who can play in the hole, target man to replace Heskey (Doyle)

Out
A Young - has shown in the last 2 games that his heart is no longer here. Talent deserves a bigger stage.
Osbourne -
Salifou -
Pires - pointless signing
Walker - make a sensible offer to Spurs but I can't see him being here next season
Marshall -

Out if we get offers
Ireland - can't see anyone offering anything of value
Warnock - can go back to the North West
Dunne - think he is still a top class defender but think he may have overstepped the line
Collins - think his general decision making & defending at set pieces is a major contribution to our goals against this season. Should never be a first choice player.
Guzan - not good enough for the premiership
Heskey - hope rumour of Leicester wanting him is true
Beye - pay the fcuker off, we won't get any offer for this bloke

Offer new contract
NRC - at a sensible level
L Young - squad player offer 1 year
Friedal - not first choice 1 year

Keep
Petrov - still a good player & leader.
Bent - we can't rely on his goals
Gabby - needs to stay fit & a good run of games
Downing - best player this season
Albrighton - good in patches, ordinary in others. Not convinced.
Bannan - top class footballer pre-season is his opportunity to step up.
Delph - top class, has all the attributes. Another one who's pre-season is a big chance to step up.
Makoun - great touch & vision, needs to be stronger when in possession
Clarke - top class footballer, will become a first team regular
Cuellar - been unlucky not to get more games, maybe not a good enough footballer for our new style
Fonz - has the ability, an eye for goal but not convinced he has the desire
Hogg - could be a long-term replacement for NRC
Lichaj - not seen enough of him to judge

As good as the young players are, they have shown that they are need to be brought in slowly. We can't expect Bannan, Albrighton and Clarke to replace Petrov, A Young and Dunne for a full season. I get the impression that plans are already in place for those staying / going / coming and that the manager appreciates that the pre-season is vital to how the season pans out (baring injuries etc..) I don't think we'll be waiting until the last few days of the window to do our business.