Is the club in a worse state now than when Lerner took over?

[TimTheVillain]

To me it seems, after a period of great optimism, we're now about in the same state.

[eastie]

Lets not totally castigate doug, we did finish runner up twice and win a couple of cup finals under his stewardship along of course with some very low points too.

[dave.woodhall]

Ashton, I think O'Neill only took the job because he knew Lerner was taking over and he had cash to spend. I don't reckon he would have took the job if the previous regime was carrying on running the club.

Agree with you that Old Deadly would never have appointed McLeish and no matter what anyone thought of Doug, his love for the club was never in doubt.

Turner, McNeill, Blues, Wolves.

[eastie]

Ashton, I think O'Neill only took the job because he knew Lerner was taking over and he had cash to spend. I don't reckon he would have took the job if the previous regime was carrying on running the club.

Agree with you that Old Deadly would never have appointed McLeish and no matter what anyone thought of Doug, his love for the club was never in doubt.

Turner, McNeill, Blues, Wolves.

Taylor, atkinson , little , villa , -balances out in the end , he did good and bad during his time , as  has randy.

[garyshawsknee]

Ashton, I think O'Neill only took the job because he knew Lerner was taking over and he had cash to spend. I don't reckon he would have took the job if the previous regime was carrying on running the club.

Agree with you that Old Deadly would never have appointed McLeish and no matter what anyone thought of Doug, his love for the club was never in doubt.

Turner, McNeill, Blues, Wolves.

...we didn't start the fire...

[5ft811st2 Durham]

Ashton, I think O'Neill only took the job because he knew Lerner was taking over and he had cash to spend. I don't reckon he would have took the job if the previous regime was carrying on running the club.

Agree with you that Old Deadly would never have appointed McLeish and no matter what anyone thought of Doug, his love for the club was never in doubt.

Turner, McNeill, Blues, Wolves.

Venglos, Gregory, O'Leary, Derby County

[Chris Smith]

You would have to have been out of touch then and out of touch now to entertain such a thought.

[kippaxvilla2]

Ashton, I think O'Neill only took the job because he knew Lerner was taking over and he had cash to spend. I don't reckon he would have took the job if the previous regime was carrying on running the club.

Agree with you that Old Deadly would never have appointed McLeish and no matter what anyone thought of Doug, his love for the club was never in doubt.

Turner, McNeill, Blues, Wolves.

Taylor, atkinson , little , villa , -balances out in the end , he did good and bad during his time , as  has randy.

Venglos, GT Mark II, Dolly.

[dave.woodhall]

Ashton, I think O'Neill only took the job because he knew Lerner was taking over and he had cash to spend. I don't reckon he would have took the job if the previous regime was carrying on running the club.

Agree with you that Old Deadly would never have appointed McLeish and no matter what anyone thought of Doug, his love for the club was never in doubt.

Turner, McNeill, Blues, Wolves.

Taylor, atkinson , little , villa , -balances out in the end , he did good and bad during his time , as  has randy.

Venglos, GT Mark II, Dolly.

I'd never criticise Doug for appointing Venglos - it was a gamble that didn't work, and in a lot of ways Dr Jo was ahead of his time. It also says a lot about the way football changes that when we appointed O'Leary he wasn't far behind O'Neill in the "How did THEY get HIM?" stakes. He was easily the best available candidate.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The worst thing since Lerner took over is how he's turned a certain group of our fans from hard nosed, never say die men to a bunch of screamish, spoiled, little girls.

[Dave]

Maybe we need to bundle these all up into one uber-thread?

"Villa Fans Worried" has a bit of a ring to it.

[eastie]

Ashton, I think O'Neill only took the job because he knew Lerner was taking over and he had cash to spend. I don't reckon he would have took the job if the previous regime was carrying on running the club.

Agree with you that Old Deadly would never have appointed McLeish and no matter what anyone thought of Doug, his love for the club was never in doubt.

Turner, McNeill, Blues, Wolves.

Taylor, atkinson , little , villa , -balances out in the end , he did good and bad during his time , as  has randy.

Venglos, GT Mark II, Dolly.

I'd never criticise Doug for appointing Venglos - it was a gamble that didn't work, and in a lot of ways Dr Jo was ahead of his time. It also says a lot about the way football changes that when we appointed O'Leary he wasn't far behind O'Neill in the "How did THEY get HIM?" stakes. He was easily the best available candidate.

Agreed, o leary was the popular choice at the time and having took leeds to such heights had the credentials-Doug cant be blamed for appointing him.

[Chris Smith]

Maybe we need to bundle these all up into one uber-thread?

"Villa Fans Worried" has a bit of a ring to it.

Drama Queens of the World Unite.

[kippaxvilla2]

Ashton, I think O'Neill only took the job because he knew Lerner was taking over and he had cash to spend. I don't reckon he would have took the job if the previous regime was carrying on running the club.

Agree with you that Old Deadly would never have appointed McLeish and no matter what anyone thought of Doug, his love for the club was never in doubt.

Turner, McNeill, Blues, Wolves.

Taylor, atkinson , little , villa , -balances out in the end , he did good and bad during his time , as  has randy.

Venglos, GT Mark II, Dolly.

I'd never criticise Doug for appointing Venglos - it was a gamble that didn't work, and in a lot of ways Dr Jo was ahead of his time. It also says a lot about the way football changes that when we appointed O'Leary he wasn't far behind O'Neill in the "How did THEY get HIM?" stakes. He was easily the best available candidate.

And to think I thought we were about to agree on something for the first time in two years as well.

[ez]

Doubt we would ever have signed a player like Darren Bent under Doug. Can't think of anything else.