Protest? Not in my name...the football match is the main event

[Risso]

You conveniently missed out the bit that clearly says "or have more business acumen."  You don't need to be an oil-rich gulf state for that. 

Not conveniently at all. On the one hand you said putting money in doesn't count, yet on the other you said having money to put in is one of the essentials.

You don't understand business, so it's a bit pointless arguing with you.  In your simplistic world, Lerner is great because he spent a lot of money. 

Anyone who disagrees with you is 'witless,' 'crap' and now 'simplistic' as well as incapable of understanding business. I must confess, I've seen more coherent lines of debate.   

Try something more coherent than "Lerner's great, he's spent lots of money" or "who's going to buy us out, a Saudi billionaire" then.  I honestly haven't seen anything from you that expands on that argument at all, which is what gives the strong hint that you really don't get the financial side of things whatsoever.

[Clampy]

You conveniently missed out the bit that clearly says "or have more business acumen."  You don't need to be an oil-rich gulf state for that. 

Not conveniently at all. On the one hand you said putting money in doesn't count, yet on the other you said having money to put in is one of the essentials.

In your simplistic world, Lerner is great because he spent a lot of money. 

I see it as appreciating Randy for buying the club when it needed a new owner and putting money in. If that's simplistic then i'll live with that.

[dave.woodhall]

You conveniently missed out the bit that clearly says "or have more business acumen."  You don't need to be an oil-rich gulf state for that. 

Not conveniently at all. On the one hand you said putting money in doesn't count, yet on the other you said having money to put in is one of the essentials.

You don't understand business, so it's a bit pointless arguing with you.  In your simplistic world, Lerner is great because he spent a lot of money. 

Anyone who disagrees with you is 'witless,' 'crap' and now 'simplistic' as well as incapable of understanding business. I must confess, I've seen more coherent lines of debate.   

Try something more coherent than "Lerner's great, he's spent lots of money" or "who's going to buy us out, a Saudi billionaire" then.  I honestly haven't seen anything from you that expands on that argument at all, which is what gives the strong hint that you really don't get the financial side of things whatsoever.

I look at what he's done, what the club was like when he took over, the good seasons we've had. I see the outside world changing and Villa having to adapt. I see how, in a year when the club has supposedly been run appallingly, we have broken our transfer record in a deal which a supposedly anti-Villa journalist called the smoothest big-money one he'd ever known, how we've signed the most lucrative sponsorship and kit deals in our history, how in the past few weeks we've had such initiatives as more free coaches, ticket giveaways and become the first English club to talk about safe standing. I see things happening which might not be headline-grabbers but are aimed at making supporters feel part of the club and which would never have previously happened in a hundred years. And I think that we might not be doing too brilliantly now, but I honestly believe that what's being put in place might, with luck and time, be the best way forward for a club of our size in the current footballing climate. Randy isn't perfect and mistakes have been made but in a list of major club owners he would be a lot nearer the top than the bottom. 

[Louzie0]

I look at what he's done, what the club was like when he took over, the good seasons we've had. I see the outside world changing and Villa having to adapt. I see how, in a year when the club has supposedly been run appallingly, we have broken our transfer record in a deal which a supposedly anti-Villa journalist called the smoothest big-money one he'd ever known, how we've signed the most lucrative sponsorship and kit deals in our history, how in the past few weeks we've had such initiatives as more free coaches, ticket giveaways and become the first English club to talk about safe standing. I see things happening which might not be headline-grabbers but are aimed at making supporters feel part of the club and which would never have previously happened in a hundred years. And I think that we might not be doing too brilliantly now, but I honestly believe that what's being put in place might, with luck and time, be the best way forward for a club of our size in the current footballing climate. Randy isn't perfect and mistakes have been made but in a list of major club owners he would be a lot nearer the top than the bottom.

Put like that, we're not doing too badly! 

[LeeB]

I look at what he's done, what the club was like when he took over, the good seasons we've had. I see the outside world changing and Villa having to adapt. I see how, in a year when the club has supposedly been run appallingly, we have broken our transfer record in a deal which a supposedly anti-Villa journalist called the smoothest big-money one he'd ever known, how we've signed the most lucrative sponsorship and kit deals in our history, how in the past few weeks we've had such initiatives as more free coaches, ticket giveaways and become the first English club to talk about safe standing. I see things happening which might not be headline-grabbers but are aimed at making supporters feel part of the club and which would never have previously happened in a hundred years. And I think that we might not be doing too brilliantly now, but I honestly believe that what's being put in place might, with luck and time, be the best way forward for a club of our size in the current footballing climate. Randy isn't perfect and mistakes have been made but in a list of major club owners he would be a lot nearer the top than the bottom. 

Very well said Dave.

Can I also put to Mr 20/20 hindsight, sorry Risso, football all over the world is littered with master businessmen who've lost a fortune trying to apply the principles that have served them so well in their careers, only for it to go massively tits up.

Mark Goldberg had 'business acumen'. A couple of years at Palace and he didn't have a house any more.

 

[eamonn]

As the saying goes, Just £24m could rid Wearside of Bent.

[Greg N'Ash]

I do wonder in this list of great things he's done a free coach trip comes 3rd behind Bent's transfer and a sponsership deal. Doug definetely missed a trick with that one - a couple of free coach trips and we would have named the whole stadium after him

[LeeB]

I do wonder in this list of great things he's done a free coach trip comes 3rd behind Bent's transfer and a sponsership deal. Doug definetely missed a trick with that one - a couple of free coach trips and we would have named the whole stadium after him

And being a travel agent as well.......

[Dave Clark Five]

As the protest gets underway, with a fat man in a stained white T-shirt on top of the McGregor statue, Ellis will look down from the Board Room.
With a tear in his eye, he will say 'they are back, singing my name again. I told them my knighthood was for the supporters. Last time they did this I had a sore throat so I could not oblige them. They were holding up banners which said 'Ellis Shout'. The best I could do was wave at them.

[Brazilian Villain]

Not in my name unless it's a "Lerner In" protest.

[MonsXI]

I totally agree that AML can't be considered the scapegoat of the situation. He may not be the new Alex Ferguson, but, unlike his predecessors, he found place for a lot of youngsters (Clark, Albrighton, Gardner, Bannan, Herd), and the team impressed with top teams like Arsenal and Chelsea. Last but not least, we can't blame him if we have two clowns (Dunne and Warnock, it goes without saying), that play for the opponents and concede one or two goals every game. 

Did you not see the team that nearly beat United last year under Houllier?

I personally don't find his football attractive, I also know that he is very poor in his dealings in the transfer  market the two players he's brought in are a prime example. Firstly Hutton is a very very poor rightback and N'zogbia although I think he's a decent player surely to god there's better out there for £10m?

Then we have to look as his dealings across the city where he signed some utter tripe which was fantastic at the time for us but now he's in charge of us it's very concerning!

I agree with this article in the main especially the last couple of paragraphs what we should do as fans is really get behind the team! But in saying that those who want to protest should be allowed to do so because at the end of the day we live in a free country and we all have that right!

[LeeB]

I totally agree that AML can't be considered the scapegoat of the situation. He may not be the new Alex Ferguson, but, unlike his predecessors, he found place for a lot of youngsters (Clark, Albrighton, Gardner, Bannan, Herd), and the team impressed with top teams like Arsenal and Chelsea. Last but not least, we can't blame him if we have two clowns (Dunne and Warnock, it goes without saying), that play for the opponents and concede one or two goals every game. 

Did you not see the team that nearly beat United last year under Houllier?

I personally don't find his football attractive, I also know that he is very poor in his dealings in the transfer  market the two players he's brought in are a prime example. Firstly Hutton is a very very poor rightback and N'zogbia although I think he's a decent player surely to god there's better out there for £10m?

Then we have to look as his dealings across the city where he signed some utter tripe which was fantastic at the time for us but now he's in charge of us it's very concerning!

I agree with this article in the main especially the last couple of paragraphs what we should do as fans is really get behind the team! But in saying that those who want to protest should be allowed to do so because at the end of the day we live in a free country and we all have that right!

Just the two signings he's made then? In case you forgot, our keeper from last season is playing for Spurs now.

[MonsXI]

I totally agree that AML can't be considered the scapegoat of the situation. He may not be the new Alex Ferguson, but, unlike his predecessors, he found place for a lot of youngsters (Clark, Albrighton, Gardner, Bannan, Herd), and the team impressed with top teams like Arsenal and Chelsea. Last but not least, we can't blame him if we have two clowns (Dunne and Warnock, it goes without saying), that play for the opponents and concede one or two goals every game. 

Did you not see the team that nearly beat United last year under Houllier?

I personally don't find his football attractive, I also know that he is very poor in his dealings in the transfer  market the two players he's brought in are a prime example. Firstly Hutton is a very very poor rightback and N'zogbia although I think he's a decent player surely to god there's better out there for £10m?

Then we have to look as his dealings across the city where he signed some utter tripe which was fantastic at the time for us but now he's in charge of us it's very concerning!

I agree with this article in the main especially the last couple of paragraphs what we should do as fans is really get behind the team! But in saying that those who want to protest should be allowed to do so because at the end of the day we live in a free country and we all have that right!

Just the two signings he's made then? In case you forgot, our keeper from last season is playing for Spurs now.

I've heard the Given deal was already presented before Mcleish was appointed.

[Dave Clark Five]

I totally agree that AML can't be considered the scapegoat of the situation. He may not be the new Alex Ferguson, but, unlike his predecessors, he found place for a lot of youngsters (Clark, Albrighton, Gardner, Bannan, Herd), and the team impressed with
top teams like Arsenal and Chelsea. Last but not least, we can't blame him if we have two clowns (Dunne and Warnock, it goes without saying), that play for the opponents and concede one or two goals every game. 

Did you not see the team that nearly beat United last year under Houllier?

I personally don't find his football attractive, I also know that he is very poor in his dealings in the transfer  market the two players he's brought in are a prime example. Firstly Hutton is a very very poor rightback and N'zogbia although I think he's a decent player surely to god there's better out there for £10m?

Then we have to look as his dealings across the city where he signed some utter tripe which was fantastic at the time for us but now he's in charge of us it's very concerning!

I agree with this article in the main especially the last couple of paragraphs what we
should do as fans is really get behind the team! But in saying that those who want to protest should be allowed to do so because at the end of the day we live in a free country and we all have that right!

Just the two signings he's made then? In case you forgot, our keeper from last season
 is playing for Spurs now.

I've heard the Given deal was already presented before Mcleish was appointed.

That's somethimg else that he can have no credit for then.

[SheffieldVillain]

I agree with this article in the main especially the last couple of paragraphs what we should do as fans is really get behind the team! But in saying that those who want to protest should be allowed to do so because at the end of the day we live in a free country and we all have that right!

I don't think anyone's saying they shouldn't be allowed to protest, just that them choosing to do so is ridiculous.