Questions for Mr. Lerner Sir

[pauliewalnuts]

Can't speak for Pelty but reading that, I'd take the certain obligations to mean the shifting of the likes oh Heskey and Beye.

This two are costing us approx 5.5m a year between them. That's a big chunk of wage bill.

At least Heskey started the match, and would therefore appear to be firmly in McLeish's plans.

Why would Beye take a pay cut to move elsewhere?   If ever there was a point when Lerner should have booted O'Neill out of his office, it was the day he suggested signing that pair.  If I was Lerner I'd cry myself to sleep every night at the amount wasted on that pair, and that's after setting fire to a similar amount after the Marlon Harewood purchase.   Maybe Randy is a KLF fan and just wanted to outdo Bill Drummond setting fire to a million quid on a remore Scottish hill!

He might, given the choice of 65k a week to spend elsewhere or keeping Heskey, prefer the former but tjink that in the meantime he might a well use him.

Your point about Randy and those pair, I entirely agree with, but isn't that a pointer as to why he's so eager to reduce the wage bill?

[pelty]

Can't speak for Pelty but reading that, I'd take the certain obligations to mean the shifting of the likes oh Heskey and Beye.

This two are costing us approx 5.5m a year between them. That's a big chunk of wage bill.

That is a start. Like most of the posts I read here, I personally would like to see things done a bit more methodically, but then, it is not my 20 million, so it is easy to take such a stance. As stated above, if the wage bill gets right, then transfer money is available; this I know to be true. Until revenues push up in such a way that it is allowed, however, I doubt we will see wages of the sort seen at City or even in the MON days (except on select players). This last bit is my opinion, not an ITK in any way...

[hawkeye]

Another point Pelty, at the point that you dont trust the Manager it is time to get rid, so why did he give MON more money to waste?

It is not so much about mistrust - I chose my words poorly because, I agree, you get rid of people you do not trust. For the year or so prior to MON leaving, there were repeated attempts to get him to sort the wage bill out a bit with assurances made that this would be done. It came to a head last August when RL held the line on opening the coffers *until* the wage bill was sorted. Transfer money is NOT the issue; it is all about getting the club's finances sustainable. He is unwilling to lose 20 million a year, simple as. I happen to agree with those who say that stricter controls should have been placed on MON, but I think paulie had it right that there was reliance on the reputation of MON *and* that his ability to get the club in striking distance of the CL was tantalizing enough to take risks in the hopes that it would pay off. That did not work, so there is a desire, I think, to adopt another approach that does not see him pissing money down the drain. The long-term goal remains to compete for CL spots (and do not moan at me about the realism, or lack thereof, of this in the current structure, as I have nothing to do with it), but clearly it will be done with a combination of youth and experience. My $.02.

Pelty thanks UTV

[pauliewalnuts]

On the size of wage, we need to follow Tottenham's line. They have a strict wages policy and look abroad for players likely to take lower wages.

That's how they get Modric on 40k a week and we throw 65k a week at Emile.

I have no issue with wage control, in fact I have banged on about it for ages, the money we were wasting. My issue is entirely with the speed and depth of the cuts, as I feel we are really risking throwing away a lot of the progress of recent years.

[Irreverent ad]

Can't speak for Pelty but reading that, I'd take the certain obligations to mean the shifting of the likes oh Heskey and Beye.

This two are costing us approx 5.5m a year between them. That's a big chunk of wage bill.

That is a start. Like most of the posts I read here, I personally would like to see things done a bit more methodically, but then, it is not my 20 million, so it is easy to take such a stance. As stated above, if the wage bill gets right, then transfer money is available; this I know to be true. Until revenues push up in such a way that it is allowed, however, I doubt we will see wages of the sort seen at City or even in the MON days (except on select players). This last bit is my opinion, not an ITK in any way...

And that is the way it should be!

In some ways we have been spoilt by the spending of previous years. I think a lot of my frustration comes from the lack of communication. Star players sold, We don't know what the 'plan' is, is Randy still in it for the long haul?

All of this gets coupled with the General being busy with other commitments and the dissatisfaction spreads. We do need to be better at communication especially when selling star players. As fans want to know the direction and aspirations of the club.

Cheers Pelty.

[Risso]

Pelty - just a bit of clarification on The General's thread.  We merged it into one thread as he asked us to ages ago.  It was then locked for a while, I think while the furore over McLeish died down.  He then contacted Dave asking for it to be reopened, which we duly did.  For whatever reason, he then didn't post, and hasn't to my knowledge, been in touch with either Mac, martin or Dave.    We do of course all realise that with his new position at the university his time would be limited, but he still seemed to post on Villatalk and Vitalvilla at weekends, although even that seems to have stopped now.

[Irreverent ad]

Is this turning into "Pelty's Thread - The Generals Apprentice"  only joking Pelty! Haha

[pelty]

Pelty - just a bit of clarification on The General's thread.  We merged it into one thread as he asked us to ages ago.  It was then locked for a while, I think while the furore over McLeish died down.  He then contacted Dave asking for it to be reopened, which we duly did.  For whatever reason, he then didn't post, and hasn't to my knowledge, been in touch with either Mac, martin or Dave.    We do of course all realise that with his new position at the university his time would be limited, but he still seemed to post on Villatalk and Vitalvilla at weekends, although even that seems to have stopped now.

OK, Risso. I will check on this, but maybe some communication from one of you may be helpful to sort this out rather than having me serve as a middleman. Not trying to make excuses as we are all busy, but the new job has an extremely trying set of circumstances that are requiring his full attention and he may have not understood that you merged the thread, etc. I am only guessing on this as we have not gotten into the details...

[pelty]

Is this turning into "Pelty's Thread - The Generals Apprentice"  only joking Pelty! Haha

Ha! I will shut up soon as I really have no desire to be some sort of "Know-it-all" (which I am not as my knowledge is quite limited) or anything like that, but I did want to try to clarify aspects of this situation a bit because I have seen some claim that the wage relief experienced this summer should do the job and now RL is merely being a cheapskate, but the reality is that even with all the sales, there is still a shortfall (and, again, I agree with Paulie that the rapidity with which the sales are being made seems dangerous and, since it is not my money, I do not agree with it, but if it were my money, I imagine I would make Doug look like the the Reformed Scrooge on Christmas Morn).

[Irreverent ad]

Is this turning into "Pelty's Thread - The Generals Apprentice"  only joking Pelty! Haha

Ha! I will shut up soon as I really have no desire to be some sort of "Know-it-all" (which I am not) or anything like that, but I dis want to try to clarify aspects of this situation a bit because I have seen some claim that the wage relief experienced this summer should do the job and now RL is merely being a cheapskate, but the reality is that even with all the sales, there is still a shortfall (and, again, I agree with Paulie that the manner in which it is being done seems dangerous and since it is not my money, I do not agree with it, but if it were my money, I would make Doug look like the the Reformed Scrooge on Christmas Morn).

Pelty, one thing before you do shut up....Can you confirm Randy is still passionate and in it for the long-haul?

[Chris Smith]

Perhaps another of the obligations was Cuellar. He's clearly surplus to requirements but seeming in no hurry to move, happy to spend another year picking  uphis money and going on the piss in the Mailbox. Then again he's a fans favourite and no criticism s allowed while Heskey, who every manager and caretaker has used, gets the piss ripped out of him.

[Rigadon]

Perhaps another of the obligations was Cuellar. He's clearly surplus to requirements but seeming in no hurry to move, happy to spend another year picking  uphis money and going on the piss in the Mailbox. Then again he's a fans favourite and no criticism s allowed while Heskey, who every manager and caretaker has used, gets the piss ripped out of him.

Fair comment I'd say.

[Risso]

Pelty - just a bit of clarification on The General's thread.  We merged it into one thread as he asked us to ages ago.  It was then locked for a while, I think while the furore over McLeish died down.  He then contacted Dave asking for it to be reopened, which we duly did.  For whatever reason, he then didn't post, and hasn't to my knowledge, been in touch with either Mac, martin or Dave.    We do of course all realise that with his new position at the university his time would be limited, but he still seemed to post on Villatalk and Vitalvilla at weekends, although even that seems to have stopped now.

OK, Risso. I will check on this, but maybe some communication from one of you may be helpful to sort this out rather than having me serve as a middleman. Not trying to make excuses as we are all busy, but the new job has an extremely trying set of circumstances that are requiring his full attention and he may have not understood that you merged the thread, etc. I am only guessing on this as we have not gotten into the details...

No problem, and my comments were not intended to imply on any criticism of the General for what it's worth.  I'm sure he's got his hands full, which is why I'm surprised that he wanted to come back in the first place.  My personal opinion is the same as Paulie's, ie that the thread has long since past being of much practical use, and is now mainly a cause of friction, contrary to its original intention. 

Rather than a formal thread, I'd rather the General just came on to the odd match thread and gave his fan's opinion, much like you're doing now. It'd be far less likely to end up being misquoted in the press, and would allow him to post as when he had time, rather than have people tapping their feet and accusing him of "bottling it".  Again, just my view.

[Merv]

It was the mooted sale of Cuellar which really got the alarm bells ringing with me: yes, we would sell him but not bring in a direct replacement, instead (it has been reported so perhaps just speculation) using his saved wages to bring in a free transfer midfielder. The realisation that we're dealing within these restrictions was pretty sobering.

I agree with the point about Heskey. He's been more or less a regular whenever fit, and had a decent season last season. Started on Saturday and throughout pre-season so clearly in the manager's plans.

[pelty]

And that is the way it should be!

In some ways we have been spoilt by the spending of previous years. I think a lot of my frustration comes from the lack of communication. Star players sold, We don't know what the 'plan' is, is Randy still in it for the long haul?

All of this gets coupled with the General being busy with other commitments and the dissatisfaction spreads. We do need to be better at communication especially when selling star players. As fans want to know the direction and aspirations of the club.

Cheers Pelty.

Not trying to be cheeky with this as you have far more exposure to these things than me; do most clubs speak to these sorts of questions? Has Arsenal spoken to the sale of Fabregas and the direction of the club, for example? How regularly are such "state of the union" communications made? To a degree (though to an apparently unsatisfactory one), I think that was what the letter to the season ticket holders was meant to do, i.e., to be a reasoned, rational, "grown-up" approach to where the club sits at the present time. Granted, it was heavy on the finances, but I think that should say something to the fans about how some things have grown out of control and need to be reined in (and, again, RL is not without fault in this, but his modus generally has been to try to allow his managers/coaches (NFL) get on with things without feeling like RL is peering over their shoulders... maybe he is learning that he does need to be hands-on a bit more, I do not know). Again, I am speculating, so take it for what it cost you.