Randy Lerner: a good owner? The case for the prosecution

[The Situation]

I like Randy but he's how he's gone trying to get a new manager is very naive and doesn't really have a clue.

Just going from manager to the next enquiring wihout any real plan.

Pull yourself together, you're meant to be an established businessman yet you've gone about this the wrong way completely. It's been a joke. McLeish?!

So annoyed.

[TimTheVillain]

I can see him selling to some uber wealthy oil trillionaire in the end, maybe sooner rather than later.

As the Gen reminds us constantly, he's a businessman - he's looking at Villa as a portfolio enhancer eventually.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

It's a brave call

There's a difference between bravery and idiocy.

[Michel Sibble]

Now you wonder why MON f***ed off when he did.

RL's naiveté and PF's nodding head routine stirred up the same anger MON felt then and we're feeling now, a pair of incompetent shills who know little about football.

Steve Stride and RL's first CEO knew then.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Now you wonder why MON f***ed off when he did.

RL's naiveté and PF's nodding head routine stirred up the same anger MON felt then and we're feeling now, a pair of incompetent shills who know little about football.

Steve Stride and RL's first CEO knew then.

There's no doubt in my mind that MON ran the footballing side from virtual top to bottom, when he jumped ship they were well and truly in it as none of Randy's lot have the first clue about the workings of English football.

O'Neill must be laughing his head off.

[TimTheVillain]

Now you wonder why MON f***ed off when he did.

RL's naiveté and PF's nodding head routine stirred up the same anger MON felt then and we're feeling now, a pair of incompetent shills who know little about football.

Steve Stride and RL's first CEO knew then.

There's no doubt in my mind that MON ran the footballing side from virtual top to bottom, when he jumped ship they were well and truly in it as none of Randy's lot have the first clue about the workings of English football.

O'Neill must be laughing his head off.

He did, he had Randy round his little finger until the money started to dry up.

[not3bad]

Well, for all those persuaded by the prosecution, there is a 'Randy Lerner out' website being set up.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Well, for all those persuaded by the prosecution, there is a 'Randy Lerner out' website being set up.

I don't want him out.
I want him to come to his senses.

[ktvillan]

I think Top Deck makes a lot of good points.  I loved it when RL took over, not least because we were finally (almost) rid of Ellis. 

There's no denying there are a lot of plusses - making the fans feel they had a voice, backing the manager in the transfer market, trying to improve things off the pitch, trying to do things with integrity in what is a shitty business, development of the training ground, and their respect for the traditions and ambitons of a famous old club.

However I've long had my doubts about RL and co. when it came to their knowledge of the game and their ability to hack it in the cut-throat world of modern day football.  From what I have read RL is not highly regarded by Browns fans, and I think I am beginning to see why. 

He inherited MON and for me his mistake there was not alienating him but naively letting him conrol everything including the wage negotiations.  I doubt he would have done likewise in his banking empire, because it makes no sense.  It was always going to end in tears.

He's has made several poor coaching appointments for the Browns, and perfromances on the pitch have been mediocre.   For Villa I don't necessarilly agree that GH was bad appointment because I think his long term vision was taking us in the right direction and I would have liked to have seen him stay to see it through.  However the drawn out manner of his appointment, consulting everyone from SAF to the tea lady, revealed the dearth of footballing knowledge within the club.  Football clubs rarely if ever go about things in such a convoluted, protracted, almost painful manner.

The team RL has assembled to run the club consists of a middle ranking Banking executive and a retired American General.  Between them it looks very much like they lack sufficient depth of knowledge of the ways of English football.  That should hardly come as a major surprise.  By the General's own admission they are once again going down this protracted route of seeking advice from everyone and their dog, and interviewing whoever they think is a suitable candidate.   This seems to include anyone that might be even vaguely suitable, and some who clearly aren't.  And in the meantime showing zero acumen in handling the media. 

We previously had a one or two Chief Execs with football experience (Stride, Robinson, other ?) who left presumably because of differences with RL or MON.  They are the type, football people,  we desperately need involved in running the club, and I don't mean Ellis.  We are also crying out for a good PPIO or Media and Communications Manager.

Much of the criticism above will still stand even if we end up with Guus Hiddink as coach. 

To summarise, I like RL and Co because they are nice respectful guys willing to pump money into the club.  However, sadly, they do not seem to have much of a clue how to run a major English Football Club (or for that matter an American Football franchise) or how to handle the English media.

[Marlon's Hairy Wood]

That's what I don't understand, Fulham now have Jol, if we have such great relations with Fulham, why not ask them permission to speak to Hughes, preferably today.

He's going Chelsea with Hiddink as DoF apparently

[Sexual Ealing]

I think Top Deck makes a lot of good points.  I loved it when RL took over, not least because we were finally (almost) rid of Ellis. 

There's no denying there are a lot of plusses - making the fans feel they had a voice, backing the manager in the transfer market, trying to improve things off the pitch, trying to do things with integrity in what is a shitty business, development of the training ground, and their respect for the traditions and ambitons of a famous old club.

However I've long had my doubts about RL and co. when it came to their knowledge of the game and their ability to hack it in the cut-throat world of modern day football.  From what I have read RL is not highly regarded by Browns fans, and I think I am beginning to see why. 

He inherited MON and for me his mistake there was not alienating him but naively letting him conrol everything including the wage negotiations. 

Go on, how do you know that?

[Phil from the upper holte]

Learner out? Dear god I've heard it all now

[sg]

I like Randy but he's how he's gone trying to get a new manager is very naive and doesn't really have a clue.

Just going from manager to the next enquiring wihout any real plan.

Pull yourself together, you're meant to be an established businessman yet you've gone about this the wrong way completely. It's been a joke. McLeish?!

So annoyed.

This. 

[Legion]

Well, for all those persuaded by the prosecution, there is a 'Randy Lerner out' website being set up.

Bloody ridiculous.

[Dave Cooper please]

Well, for all those persuaded by the prosecution, there is a 'Randy Lerner out' website being set up.

*Shakes head sadly*