Quote from: Jimbo on June 25, 2011, 04:11:45 PMTo his credit Randy gave it his best shot, but his investment was placed in the hands of the wrong manager and the plan failed. Now we have to adjust to being happy with Premier League survival, and the occasional cup run if we're lucky, lest we 'do a Leeds'. We may still yet 'do a Leeds' if we do not sturdy ourselves and pull in the same direction for the grind ahead. Appointing a manager with a poor Premier League record from our most hated rivals will do little to unite fans in backing the 'new Villa'* especially in such a precarious transitional season. *Some might say this amounts to the same as the old Villa.£80m invested in the squad over five years isn't enough, regardless of who the manager was/is. There was no reason to assume we could have a top four team based on that level of investment and we did extremely well to get as close as we did.
To his credit Randy gave it his best shot, but his investment was placed in the hands of the wrong manager and the plan failed. Now we have to adjust to being happy with Premier League survival, and the occasional cup run if we're lucky, lest we 'do a Leeds'. We may still yet 'do a Leeds' if we do not sturdy ourselves and pull in the same direction for the grind ahead. Appointing a manager with a poor Premier League record from our most hated rivals will do little to unite fans in backing the 'new Villa'* especially in such a precarious transitional season. *Some might say this amounts to the same as the old Villa.
I've lost count of the times I've heard people on here say 'one or two players and we're not far short of being a very good side'. To be still saying that after 5 years (and in fact it's probably more than one or two now) shows that we've failed to really take things to the next level.
Lerner's shit. He's done nothing for us. I always said so, I just kept quiet about it for 4 1/2 years. He should sell up now to a consortium of Arab billionaires. There's bound to be one waiting.There you go - that'll save a few pages.
Quote from: dave.woodhall on June 25, 2011, 04:38:44 PMLerner's shit. He's done nothing for us. I always said so, I just kept quiet about it for 4 1/2 years. He should sell up now to a consortium of Arab billionaires. There's bound to be one waiting.There you go - that'll save a few pages. Grow up.
I suppose a fair summary would be 'long on promise, short on achievement'. I've lost count of the times I've heard people on here say 'one or two players and we're not far short of being a very good side'. To be still saying that after 5 years (and in fact it's probably more than one or two now) shows that we've failed to really take things to the next level.Previously we were a decent upper mid-table side that occasionally got into the UEFA Cup and had the odd cup run. Which is basically what we are now. Lerner has done well in his off-the-field endeavours but where things really count, on the pitch, we've not made any significant or, seemingly, lasting progress.
He's done some good things, he's invested a lot of money in us, there's no getyng way from that.However, for the last twelve months the management of the club has been hopeless. Events prior to and after Houllier's appointment were amateurish, but the process we have just been through was farcical and unprofessional on a number of levels.At the end of last season, we just needed a lift to get back to where we were before last year - make a decent managerial appointment, get the spirits up again, get the positivity back, and reclaim the momentum after a tricky season.Instead, we have done the complete opposite, made an appointment guaranteed to divide, and add gloom, not lift it, and are in the process of selling our best players yet again.It isn't Randy's financial commitment I would question above all else, it s the way he is allowing the club to be managed.
Quote from: hilts_coolerking on June 25, 2011, 05:28:03 PMI suppose a fair summary would be 'long on promise, short on achievement'. I've lost count of the times I've heard people on here say 'one or two players and we're not far short of being a very good side'. To be still saying that after 5 years (and in fact it's probably more than one or two now) shows that we've failed to really take things to the next level.Previously we were a decent upper mid-table side that occasionally got into the UEFA Cup and had the odd cup run. Which is basically what we are now. Lerner has done well in his off-the-field endeavours but where things really count, on the pitch, we've not made any significant or, seemingly, lasting progress.RAL's ownership is what I am analysing - not just Mr Lerner.
I can't help thinking that things would have looked a lot different if Steve Stride was still here.I'm pretty sure the PR gaffes would have been kept to a minimum.I still think the McLeish appointment, to an extent, was a flexing of the muscles scenario.A way of saying to the supporters 'Get back in your box'** Which is what I dare say McLeish will be screaming from the touchline all next season.