Randy Lerner - Discuss

[ez]

The managers he has chosen are his downfall. I expect he knows by now that he has dropped a king sized bollock.

[villasjf]

I wonder what Jeremy Clarkson would be saying if he was a Villa fan.

[brian green]

He would be saying may I have a free ticket please but not within punching distance of Brian Green.

[stubbsyandy]

I find it hard to retain any optimism, and those who know me me know I am a half full glass bloke when it comes to the Villa.
When it can't seem to get worse, it does. I apologise to all those who I thought were unduly pessimistic at the start of the season. I wanted AM to succeed, but the signs cannot be ignored. Yesterday our 'team' looked scared to pass, tackle, mark, shoot, commit themselves. Man U did not play well, but we should have been tanked.
Three years ago we were everyones favourite second club, and held up to be an example of how a club should be. I, for one, was proud, excited and looked forward to every game. Yesterday, it was the worst feeling since the dire days of DOL, the game against Arsenal when Djemba Djemba made his debut comes to mind.
Randy, stop hiding and either come out and sort this out, or bugger off.

[tim]

There are worse owners out there - be careful what you wish for etc.

St James Park being renamed is one incident that springs to mind where I'm relieved that we do have RL, as some aspects of his ideals are to be celebrated.
Needs help in 'football' though - doesn't understand enough about the game and supporters to really win us back.

[stubbsyandy]

Tim, I am not wishing for a new owner, and I agree that Randy has done a lot behind the scenes, but at the end of the day we go to see what happens on the pitch and unless we focus on that now all the wonderful training grounds and refurbished pubs will mean naff all.

[TopDeck113]

I was never seduced by the great Randy love-in (if you know what I mean) of the first few seasons of his ownership.  I always wanted to see how he reacted when things weren't going well on the pitch, having to sanction the sale of a fans' favourite, having to actually appoint a manager and having to make all the other difficult decisions that an owner of most football clubs eventually has to make.  Based on what he's done since he's had to make those decisions, I would actually now say that Doug was the better owner, if for no other reasons that he generally managed expectations and he actually knew the right hands to shake in the world of football.   

A little under a year ago I flew in the face of popular perception and opined that Bent was a panic buy, not a gesture of his love for us and our club.  I actually now feel vindicated in that stance - not that it gives me any pleasure to say so.  His ownership is now a car-crash and don't see how he's going to turn it round.  Poor appointments of both managers and Chief Execs, increasingly absent, a playing staff that don't seem to give a fuck and a fan base that, if they have not already voted with their feet, are increasingly disenchanted.

[tim]

Tim, I am not wishing for a new owner, and I agree that Randy has done a lot behind the scenes, but at the end of the day we go to see what happens on the pitch and unless we focus on that now all the wonderful training grounds and refurbished pubs will mean naff all.

Indeed, I'm in agreement really, just trying to add a bit of balance I guess. It is frustrating that for all the good 'behind the scenes' there is now a huge decline 'front of house' - we're stable but that obviously isn't any good when all around are progressing. I still think that maybe the realisation that it's going down hill could be a wake up call and things might change. The purchase of Bent was a nice gesture (and at least shows willing) but we need more.

[Risso]

I was never seduced by the great Randy love-in (if you know what I mean) of the first few seasons of his ownership.  I always wanted to see how he reacted when things weren't going well on the pitch, having to sanction the sale of a fans' favourite, having to actually appoint a manager and having to make all the other difficult decisions that an owner of most football clubs eventually has to make.  Based on what he's done since he's had to make those decisions, I would actually now say that Doug was the better owner, if for no other reasons that he generally managed expectations and he actually knew the right hands to shake in the world of football.   

A little under a year ago I flew in the face of popular perception and opined that Bent was a panic buy, not a gesture of his love for us and our club.  I actually now feel vindicated in that stance - not that it gives me any pleasure to say so.  His ownership is now a car-crash and don't see how he's going to turn it round.  Poor appointments of both managers and Chief Execs, increasingly absent, a playing staff that don't seem to give a fuck and a fan base that, if they have not already voted with their feet, are increasingly disenchanted.

Agree with every word, well said.

[Mister E]

I think Randy is just the money provider.   The really bogeyman in all of this is Faulkner.   A really savvy proper football man would have read the warning signs when O'Neill wanted to continue buying bad players for big money and was allegedly refused because he had already signed so many which he did not use.   That scenario did not arise overnight.   Faulkner should have read the signs or at least had eyes and ears in places to spot the straws in the wind.   He did not and the O'Neill bombshell blew the bottom out of our boat....

 ... The only thing I criticize Randy for is his choice of men to run the club for him.

Is there a contingency plan in place now?   Of course there is.   If we stay up McLeish has done the job.   If we go down he will continue to be our manager because we will be told he is the best possible man to get us back in the Premiership.

Brian - I don't know whether you're right but your scenario is certainly very plausible.

All I'd say is this: in my extensive experience of working with American business people, they usually take you at face value until you do something very out of whack with their expectations and suddenly they're all over you like a rash.
The fact that Faulkner remains suggests that RL is okay with what's going on.

Like other posters I sense some very dark days ahead, culminating in the drop.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I wonder what Jeremy Clarkson would be saying if he was a Villa fan.

Doug, Hodge, and O`Leary would have been taken out and executed in front of their families years ago.

[villasjf]

Just been reading last nights programme, the interview with Randy and he states "The manager has led Villa to a sound and solid start to the season" Is there another Villa in another universe he is watching and talking about?

[Jimbo]

Randy has done some good things, but his biggest mistake is the people he's surrounded himself with at the club (as others have pointed out). Or are they surrounding him, at all? He appears to be operating far away, while his hired-hands misguide the ship. He's in the bunker while the war is getting lost. He needs help, soon, or it can only end in one way.

[ktvillan]

Exonerate Lerner all you like and place the blame on Faulkner or whoever.  But the fact is that the inept management of Villa over the last 18 months or so is not unique.  It's mirrored by the inept running of the Browns for a much longer period.  There is only one common factor there, and that's Lerner. At least with the Browns he has shown an occasional willingness to sack ineffective coaches, if only to replace them with equally duff ones.

[kippaxvilla2]

If Randy provides free coaches for Bristol Rovers then I think he has regained his credibility.