The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL

[Monty]

Like I said a few pages back, I'm more and more convinced that the announcement is going to be an enormous disappointment. The idea that it's going to be some super-billionaire from the United States who, of all the things he could do, has decided to buy a terribly underperforming soccer team in the English West Midlands is phenomenally unlikely, when you think about it. Why on earth would they do it?

Yeah, I mean it's not like there's ever been an American billionaire who's bought a "soccer team in the English West Midlands" before, so how on earth could it ever happen again!

Touche S_H!

Seriously though, we know Lerner is a bit of a special case given his emotional attachment to us from his Cambridge days. We know how great a club is Aston Villa, we can take pride in the area and the tradition, but American billionaires are by and large ignorant of this and are more likely to be attracted to London as it's a city they know, an 'Alpha +++ Global City' as their wanker advisors would say. It's not impossible, it's just really quite unlikely.

Birmingham was yesterday named as the second best city in Western Europe in which to invest (after Barcelona). Recently it was also named as the best Foreign Direct Investment destination in the world, beating entire countries Czech Republic and Columbia into second and third. Maybe some yanks read about it.

Also, it is by far the second biggest city in the richest football economy on earth and has only one club in it that anyone gives a fuck about.

That does make cheerful reading, and it doesn't make me more hopeful. I do wonder about this richest football economy thing though, and whether it my now actually be too rich. In America, when you buy a sports franchise, you buy that sport for that city, sometimes for that state. England, while it would be the biggest state by population, is still kind of state-sized, and it might start to look a bit crowded for American investors used to space into which to spread. Also, given the crowding of billionaires around here, I'm not sure how much incentive there would be for yet another one to come in and try to break it.

I'm talking myself into denial here, as you can tell. I just can't quite believe it would happen - frankly, it would be too good news.

[Toronto Villa]

I suggested earlier that the longer it goes with nothing happening the more the dark side of our mind convinces us that Randy's announcement will be bad and that nothing good happens to Villa fans. I happen to think we are an attractive proposition for foreign investment, and obviously I am hoping Randy has found an investor that sees things that way. The PL is very strong draw around the world and billionaires are just as interested in the prestige element of owning a sports team, and possibly moreso than turning a profit. It certainly isn't like the business models that most would have followed to get rich in the first place.

[brian green]

Problem is TV you have to find a billionaire who does not buy on a whim because there will come a time when that billionaire's stickability is put to the test. We are Aston Villa we don't do fickle.

[mr underhill]

the nearer we get to' the' statement, the more I get a sense of the  anticlimactic. But that's probably not unreasonable given true season we've had.

[Smirker]

I can't see anything other than a takeover to be honest. Whether we get good owners though.

Lambert obviously knows he's going, why would he know that if Lerner is staying?

[nigel]

Lambert looks like the straggling wildebeest in a nature documentary about lions

Like the baby elephant in that bit on Gogglebox the other week.

Pauliewalnuts! I cannot believe a man of your, obvious, intellect watches Gogglebox!! 

[Ron Manager]

I suggested earlier that the longer it goes with nothing happening the more the dark side of our mind convinces us that Randy's announcement will be bad and that nothing good happens to Villa fans. I happen to think we are an attractive proposition for foreign investment, and obviously I am hoping Randy has found an investor that sees things that way. The PL is very strong draw around the world and billionaires are just as interested in the prestige element of owning a sports team, and possibly moreso than turning a profit. It certainly isn't like the business models that most would have followed to get rich in the first place.

I too think we would be an attractive aquisition for either the yanks or an Asian investor. Not for our history but for the simple fact that we play in the Premier League. If Randy is to sell I should imagine he would want to sell to Americans and decent Americans at that.

Either way it is always interesting when Randy says anything at all as it is so rare. Roll on next Monday!

[martin o`who??]

I think he`s going to announce a merger with the BBC, after all, they like paying fantastic salaries to fuckwits as well.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

I'd prefer a merger with B&Q. I could do with a discount on some decking.

[Richard E]

I think he`s going to announce a merger with the BBC, after all, they like paying fantastic salaries to fuckwits as well.

If this happened then the team next year will be:-

1. Brad Guzan (Trading) Limited
2. Nathan Baker 2014 Limited

etc etc.

[silhillvilla]

I think it will be stadium renaming and a new Tier 1 Partner . My money is on Turkish Airlines.

[itbrvilla]

Like I said a few pages back, I'm more and more convinced that the announcement is going to be an enormous disappointment. The idea that it's going to be some super-billionaire from the United States who, of all the things he could do, has decided to buy a terribly underperforming soccer team in the English West Midlands is phenomenally unlikely, when you think about it. Why on earth would they do it?

Yeah, I mean it's not like there's ever been an American billionaire who's bought a "soccer team in the English West Midlands" before, so how on earth could it ever happen again!

Touche S_H!

Seriously though, we know Lerner is a bit of a special case given his emotional attachment to us from his Cambridge days. We know how great a club is Aston Villa, we can take pride in the area and the tradition, but American billionaires are by and large ignorant of this and are more likely to be attracted to London as it's a city they know, an 'Alpha +++ Global City' as their wanker advisors would say. It's not impossible, it's just really quite unlikely.

Birmingham was yesterday named as the second best city in Western Europe in which to invest (after Barcelona). Recently it was also named as the best Foreign Direct Investment destination in the world, beating entire countries Czech Republic and Columbia into second and third. Maybe some yanks read about it.

Also, it is by far the second biggest city in the richest football economy on earth and has only one club in it that anyone gives a fuck about.

Not to forget we're the biggest club for at least 100 miles in every direction, or hundreds, if not over a thousand square miles covering a population of over 10 million.

[Richard E]

Not to forget we're the biggest club for at least 100 miles in every direction, or hundreds, if not over a thousand square miles covering a population of over 10 million.

We are the biggest and greatest club in the World! Always have been always will be - don't let facts con you into thinking otherwise!

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

I think he`s going to announce a merger with the BBC, after all, they like paying fantastic salaries to fuckwits as well.

It'll Be Albrighton The Night should be good then.

Although if its anything like this season we should just get used to Pointless and Bargain Hunt.

[cheltenhamlion]

Perhaps we might find some Cash In The Attic.