January Transfer Speculation (or lack of) Thread

[VillaSpen]

http://avillafan.com/site/2012/01/07/mystery_deal_to_buy_villa/#comment-1783

Did reading that make anyone else's eyes go funny? And not in a good way.

[Jimmy Smash]

Even though there isn't, wasn't, and never will be one.

So Aston Villa is the only business in the western world that underwent a major organisational change and didn't have a plan for the subsequent 5 years?

[dave.woodhall]

Even though there isn't, wasn't, and never will be one.

So Aston Villa is the only business in the western world that underwent a major organisational change and didn't have a plan for the subsequent 5 years?

I don't know how every business in the western world conducts its operations. Do you? In fact, can you name another football club where the phrase 'five year plan' is bandied about by supporters to the point of obsession?

[Jimmy Smash]

Even though there isn't, wasn't, and never will be one.

So Aston Villa is the only business in the western world that underwent a major organisational change and didn't have a plan for the subsequent 5 years?

I don't know how every business in the western world conducts its operations. Do you? In fact, can you name another football club where the phrase 'five year plan' is bandied about by supporters to the point of obsession?

Of course I don't. But I know that if a business is undergoing a major organisational change, and requires significant financial backing, then it should have a 3-5 year plan. I can't believe that RAL didn't have one, being a modern forward thinking company... and one that expected to succeed rather than fail.

[Risso]

Even though there isn't, wasn't, and never will be one.

So Aston Villa is the only business in the western world that underwent a major organisational change and didn't have a plan for the subsequent 5 years?

I don't know how every business in the western world conducts its operations. Do you? In fact, can you name another football club where the phrase 'five year plan' is bandied about by supporters to the point of obsession?

If it hadn't been mentioned by not one, but two Aston Villa directors, then it wouldn't get mentioned as much by supporters.  I don't think "the plan"was ever much more than a desire to qualify for the Champions League within five years, but that was what they were definitely aiming at.

[dave.woodhall]

Even though there isn't, wasn't, and never will be one.

So Aston Villa is the only business in the western world that underwent a major organisational change and didn't have a plan for the subsequent 5 years?

I don't know how every business in the western world conducts its operations. Do you? In fact, can you name another football club where the phrase 'five year plan' is bandied about by supporters to the point of obsession?

Of course I don't. But I know that if a business is undergoing a major organisational change, and requires significant financial backing, then it should have a 3-5 year plan. I can't believe that RAL didn't have one, being a modern forward thinking company... and one that expected to succeed rather than fail.

Richard FitzGerald talked about where he wanted us to be in five years, but that was about it. You can't have fixed plans in football - there are too many variables.

[Jimmy Smash]

Even though there isn't, wasn't, and never will be one.

So Aston Villa is the only business in the western world that underwent a major organisational change and didn't have a plan for the subsequent 5 years?

I don't know how every business in the western world conducts its operations. Do you? In fact, can you name another football club where the phrase 'five year plan' is bandied about by supporters to the point of obsession?

Of course I don't. But I know that if a business is undergoing a major organisational change, and requires significant financial backing, then it should have a 3-5 year plan. I can't believe that RAL didn't have one, being a modern forward thinking company... and one that expected to succeed rather than fail.

Richard FitzGerald talked about where he wanted us to be in five years, but that was about it. You can't have fixed plans in football - there are too many variables.

Both The General and Fitzgerald talked of a 5 year plan. No business the size of Villa would get investment without a medium term plan. A football club is like any other business... it needs to plan for its future. Just because three are variables it doesn't mean that clubs are given money willy-nilly. Any prospective investor would need to see a plan (and that includes RAL). The fact that the variables are great is the reason that clubs at present struggle to attract investors. Try telling apotential football investor that there are no plans because the variables are too great. You'd be laughed out of the meeting.

[dave.woodhall]

Which investors are these?

[Risso]

Randy also gave the interview a couple of years ago where he said:

"When we set out to build the club we expected year four to mean more modest spending than year three. I'm thinking more in terms of what we had planned to do, rather than checking to see if a bank account has less money in it, or whether I feel the squad is fine the way it is."

[Jimmy Smash]

Which investors are these?

You think Randy sat at home and worked it all out with a beer and a fag packet? He expressed an interest in the club... his team looked at us and presented a business case to him. This would have included where the club could be over a fixed period of time. He would have looked at the potential, the variables, and then decided whether or not to invest his money (under the company name RAL) RAL were the investors.

[dave.woodhall]

Which investors are these?

You think Randy sat at home and worked it all out with a beer and a fag packet? He expressed an interest in the club... his team looked at us and presented a business case to him. This would have included where the club could be over a fixed period of time. He would have looked at the potential, the variables, and then decided whether or not to invest his money (under the company name RAL) RAL were the investors.

I daresay he did look at every option., In fact, I know for a fact that he did. But the idea that there was some rigid five year plan covering events on and off the pitch is a fallacy.

[Jimmy Smash]

Which investors are these?

You think Randy sat at home and worked it all out with a beer and a fag packet? He expressed an interest in the club... his team looked at us and presented a business case to him. This would have included where the club could be over a fixed period of time. He would have looked at the potential, the variables, and then decided whether or not to invest his money (under the company name RAL) RAL were the investors.

I daresay he did look at every option., In fact, I know for a fact that he did. But the idea that there was some rigid five year plan covering events on and off the pitch is a fallacy.

Dave... sorry mate, but you're talking bollocks. A rigid 5 year plan is the least any company of that size would have in place. There would also be a risk assessment for every year of that 5 years following the purchase of the company. Involved in this would be the threat of relegation and even winning the Champions League. Yearly spending would also be planned for.  Do you think MON asked for money for Milner and Randy reached down the back of the sofa? They aren't amateurs,, despite how it may appear sometimes.

[Risso]

Which investors are these?

You think Randy sat at home and worked it all out with a beer and a fag packet? He expressed an interest in the club... his team looked at us and presented a business case to him. This would have included where the club could be over a fixed period of time. He would have looked at the potential, the variables, and then decided whether or not to invest his money (under the company name RAL) RAL were the investors.

I daresay he did look at every option., In fact, I know for a fact that he did. But the idea that there was some rigid five year plan covering events on and off the pitch is a fallacy.

I haven't seen anybody other than you use the term "rigid" to describe the plan.  You have stated categorically that there wasn't a five year plan.  It doesn't have to be a formal 2,000 page Powerpoint presentation to exist.

[dave.woodhall]

Okay, if I'm talking "bollocks" what was it? And when Paul Faulkner denied its existence last year, what does that indicate?

[Risso]

Okay, if I'm talking "bollocks" what was it? And when Paul Faulkner denied its existence last year, what does that indicate?

That Paul Faulkner is utterly useless, and has been promoted way, way above his ability.