Randys Reaction

[dave.woodhall]

Because none of the other questionable decisions he's made in the past have been so bad as the one he's apparently just made.

Here's a novelty. How about waiting to see what happens before you judge the rights and wrong of this decision?

Like I said in another thread, if we become the sort of team that we all would like to see (free-scoring, ball to feet, possession, no long, hopeful punts upfield) then I'll renew but, based upon the existing evidence, there isn't a cat in hell's chance of that happening judging by every other team he's managed. Three relegations, lowest scoring Premiership team, lowest corner count etc. etc. He was in charge of a team that have just been relegated (playing, by all accounts according to some Bluenose friends, some of the worst football ever witnessed at St Andrews) and we've 'poached' him for Heaven's sake and you're prepared to back that decision? Ludicrous.

I don't agree with it. I haven't ever said I agree with it. But I'm not going to act like some spoilt kid who hasn't had his own way and call Randy things he clearly isn't just because I think he might be making a  mistake.

What have I called him that he isn't? And choosing not to renew is acting like a 'spoilt kid'? It's a decision I've made that you obviously don't agree with. So be it. If that's being a 'spoilt kid' then, yes, I'm a spoilt kid.

You've said he's made a string of unpopular decisions, the board are uttterly clueless and we'd be better off without him.

So I haven't actually called him anything have I?

And, yes, I'd like us to have a Board that knows the difference between a good manager and a poor manager. What's wrong with that?

You're good at splitting hairs, I'll give you that. So far under Randy we've had O'Neill (who wasn't officially appointed by him but the reason he took the job is no great secret) and Houllier, who seemed to be moving in the right direction and might have had a good next season. I prefer to wait and see before judging.

[Louzie0]

Sixways - what do you want to do, then?  I have lost track in the multiple postings, but still. 

[Dave Cooper please]

You know, I'm pretty sure that some of the people currently having a pop at Randy were the same people who jumped on any negativity a couple of years back with the same "I wonder why Randy bothers" line we are seeing here.

Strange times.

[sixways]

Because none of the other questionable decisions he's made in the past have been so bad as the one he's apparently just made.

Here's a novelty. How about waiting to see what happens before you judge the rights and wrong of this decision?

Like I said in another thread, if we become the sort of team that we all would like to see (free-scoring, ball to feet, possession, no long, hopeful punts upfield) then I'll renew but, based upon the existing evidence, there isn't a cat in hell's chance of that happening judging by every other team he's managed. Three relegations, lowest scoring Premiership team, lowest corner count etc. etc. He was in charge of a team that have just been relegated (playing, by all accounts according to some Bluenose friends, some of the worst football ever witnessed at St Andrews) and we've 'poached' him for Heaven's sake and you're prepared to back that decision? Ludicrous.

I don't agree with it. I haven't ever said I agree with it. But I'm not going to act like some spoilt kid who hasn't had his own way and call Randy things he clearly isn't just because I think he might be making a  mistake.

What have I called him that he isn't? And choosing not to renew is acting like a 'spoilt kid'? It's a decision I've made that you obviously don't agree with. So be it. If that's being a 'spoilt kid' then, yes, I'm a spoilt kid.

You've said he's made a string of unpopular decisions, the board are uttterly clueless and we'd be better off without him.

So I haven't actually called him anything have I?

And, yes, I'd like us to have a Board that knows the difference between a good manager and a poor manager. What's wrong with that?

You're good at splitting hairs, I'll give you that. So far under Randy we've had O'Neill (who wasn't officially appointed by him but the reason he took the job is no great secret) and Houllier, who seemed to be moving in the right direction and might have had a good next season. I prefer to wait and see before judging.

Fair enough - I admire your optimism.

O'Neill also left because of him and GED was 'released', shall we say, by him without having lined up any sort of replacement. And, yes, I was looking forward to seeing how the GED era was going to pan out as, at the very least, he had us playing fairly attractive football at times.
 

[sixways]

Sixways - what do you want to do, then?  I have lost track in the multiple postings, but still.

What do I want to do? I'm not renewing my season ticket - that's all I can do.

[dave.woodhall]

Fair enough - I admire your optimism.

O'Neill also left because of him and GED was 'released', shall we say, by him without having lined up any sort of replacement. And, yes, I was looking forward to seeing how the GED era was going to pan out as, at the very least, he had us playing fairly attractive football at times.
 

O'Neill left largely because he couldn't get his own way any more after four years of perfect working conditions. He also has to share the responsibility for some of the problems we now face. I agree with you regards Ged. 

[Lee]

I hope Randy wont pay too much notice to a vociferous emotional minority.

Keep calm and carry on.

... if life was oh so simple.

[garyfouroaks]

Anyone think Randy could decide to walk after this?

Definitely. He is too young for a wheelchair or zimmer frame.

[Greg N'Ash]

If Lerner left we'd survive i'm sure. Hopefully he doesn't take it personally. A lot of us think he's possibly about to make a major mistake and you're not much of a Villa fan if you blindly follow a chairman's decision. The thing that worries me is they seem to think its purely because he's from blose when the reality is, while a section of our support won't accept him for that reason, the main problem is he's not very good or at least has a bobbins record. The general's comments about Mcliesh were frankly baffling to my mind - like he was some sort of managerial genius.

[Villanation]

If Lerner left we'd survive i'm sure. Hopefully he doesn't take it personally. A lot of us think he's possibly about to make a major mistake and you're not much of a Villa fan if you blindly follow a chairman's decision. The thing that worries me is they seem to think its purely because he's from blose when the reality is, while a section of our support won't accept him for that reason, the main problem is he's not very good or at least has a bobbins record. The general's comments about Mcliesh were frankly baffling to my mind - like he was some sort of managerial genius.

The fact also we are about to employ a manager whereby its more important his face fits than his ability to do the job, and thats why it'll never works as long as RL as an hole in his bummy wum

[Eigentor]

Randy's image has taken a hit. When it was clear Ged was going, Randy was the perfect chairman and should be able to attract a top manager offering substantial support and minimum interference. With some luck and/or determination he'd bring Ancelotti and/or Moyes, if not, we'd reluctantly accept Hughes or Benitez.

Not only are we disappointed that we have set our sights as low as McLeish. It's unconceivable that patiently waiting for this managerial gem to become available has been the masterplan since Ged became ill. More likely we're hiring him because he's avaiable and willing.

Suddenly the media's portrayal of the board, haplessly walking from one candidate to the next without any clear idea of what they want, doesn't seem so improbable.

And this run towards our perception of a club well run. Maybe the top candidates left their meetings with Lerner and Faulkner unimpressed. Or, at least, familiar with the requirements of challenging the Premiership elite, they were unconvinced that Lerner's backing would be sufficient to transform half a squad -- consisting of unprofessional, ageing seniors, promising but unproven youngsters and a couple of want-away stars -- into a competitive unit.

Constantly ridiculed in the media and with a board director who logs onto message boards to slag off fans, the club isn't run by experts. But as the "told you so"-brigade will tell the Houllier: "Be careful what you wish for!" If Randy leaves, he's more likely to be replaced by someone worse.

[NeilH]

After bowing to the ridiculous over reaction and pressure over McClaren Randy seems now to have taken the route of ‘I don’t give a sh** what you think , I’m getting the man I think will do the best job.’ The very fact that he has gone and done this, when most of us have seen him as a force for good has knocked us all a little and given us a cold hard reality check about how multi-millionaire chairmen work.

I personally think his interest in the club has waned somewhat and by getting in McLeish he is looking to steady the boat and avoid the high and ultimate lows of MON. Over the next couple of years I suspect that we’ll not be pulling up any trees and will spend most of the time reigning in the excesses of the last four years. Maybe once we’ve come through this we might end up stronger, but we have to accept that for the near future we have no intention of playing with the big boys.

For all the people who have spat their dummies out over the last couple of days, I suspect that when the dust settles and you take a pure business look at the actions of the board, you’llrealise that we’re implementing austerity measures with McLeish at the helm.

Having said all of this, I still think that Randy could have achieved all his cost cutting austerity goals and maintained his image among the fans had he taken an easier option than McLeish.

[E I Adio]

The fact also we are about to employ a manager whereby its more important his face fits than his ability to do the job, and thats why it'll never works as long as RL as an hole in his bummy wum

You don't think the two might be connected?

[MarkM]

After bowing to the ridiculous over reaction and pressure over McClaren Randy seems now to have taken the route of ‘I don’t give a sh** what you think , I’m getting the man I think will do the best job.’

Do you think Randy thinks he will do the best job? If he thought that he would have approached him first.
Evidently he didn't so even RL doesn't think he is the best for the job

We have had some piss poor things go on this last season, O'Neil, the recruitment of a manager, the Kit fiasco, the search for another manager, having to pay out O'Neil, having to pay about £20Mill to get a second rate manager

None of this shows the board in a good light at the moment

[markeeeebeeee2005]

This is a terrible decision. It doesn't mean that everything Randy has done is terrible, far from it. But if the best we can get is a manager who has been relegated twice in four seasons, we haven't moved on at all since Randy bought the club.

This isn't an emotional post, just stating it as I see it.