Randy Lerner - How will his reign be remembered?

[The Left Side]

First three years he did well and the fans were looking forward to the bright future bit, but after that total garbage making poor decision after poor decision.

This

[tomd2103]

Probably best summed up as some good, some bad, but could have been at lot worse as Messrs Yeung, Allam, Tan and the Venkys have shown.

[ez]

Some good things already mentioned. Best single moment for me was seeing the European cup winning team back on the pitch at villa park. Truly emotional.

[Nelly]

When Lerner first took over we had an air of invincibility about us, we were finally, finally moving back to where we belong as a club. He understood us, even loved the Villa. What a joy those days were. Knowing we'd beat Bolton 4-1 or 5-1 every time we played them. Being massively ahead of Arsenal in the league (I know how it ended but it was amazing while it lasted). But my favourite Randy-linked memory has to be the Semi-final against Blackburn. My generation's Tranmere game I think. An evening of pure Villa joy.

I have a lot of time for Lerner. You could argue he has been arrogant in seeming to not take advice on picking managers and staff, but he did a lot for us. I'll remember him very fondly, but also sadly that things haven't worked out at all.

[saunders_heroes]

Some good things already mentioned. Best single moment for me was seeing the European cup winning team back on the pitch at villa park. Truly emotional.

It was great to see but it was basically PR though. It's on the pitch where it really matters though, and he hasn't got it right.

[Legion]

Did everything brilliantly...Acorns, Ground, pub, BMH, hospitality, everything...except the bit that really counts.

Same for me.

[Legion]

Villa Park Holte End Mosaic by Bad English, on Flickr

Quality.

[frank]

He did many things well. The Italian mosaics (excellent photo, BE) are an illustration of the style that he brought back to Villa. I have no doubt that he identified with our great tradition - the "proud history" - and took his role as our custodian very seriously. But there was always the feeling that, despite his good intentions, he was not seeking the advice of people who understood football and this was a grave failing. I wrote a piece for H&V some months ago which suggested that we could have done a lot worse - look at Pompey, Blues, Blackburn, Hearts, etc - but ultimately these 8 years have not been a success and the "bright future" is more distant than ever.

[cheltenhamlion]

If he is about, I would like to ask a question of Pelty.

How do you think Randy would like to be remembered?

[Lizz]

He was very well intentioned but obviously ultimately it didn't work out. I wonder whether there was some kind of cultural naïveté about the UK. I remember one game when one of his guests was a former American footballer. They showed some of his career highlights. Most people around me applauded out of politeness, but there seemed to be an air of 'what the hell is this?'.

Anyway, as he's lost interest/moved in, it's preferable to him staying, IMO.

[JUAN PABLO]

I want to see if he sells the club and who to first .

I think he was out of his depth when it came to running a football club but seems a good bloke who did care about us for a while.

[TopDeck113]

I hate to say "I told you so", but...

In those first few years of the Great Randy Love-In, I was always sceptical that we were subject to American schmooze and marketing, but was willing to reserve judgement until such time as things weren't going so well on the pitch and he was faced with difficult decisions. 

Based on everything that has happened since he precipitated MON's departure, I would say that his ownership has been poor.  Indeed, based on his three managerial appointments, I actually wonder if Doug hadn't got in O'Neill as his parting gift, what mess he would have made in appointing DOL's successor. 

Understanding - or at least appreciating - the heritage and what we consider to be unique about Aston Villa is one thing, and the one thing I give him credit for, but ultimately all that really matters is indicated by the other two words in the club name: we are a Football Club, and as such it is on the football side of things by which he must ultimately be judged.

[cheltenhamlion]

Here is a thought. People are clamouring for Klinsmann now. It might well have been him then if Doug had not signed up MON as a leaving gift.

[silhillvilla]

In a nutshell the positives:
The first 2 -3 years were great, acorns, Holte pub, acorns, bodymoor, scarf, coaches, acorns
The bad -
Mcleish , Faulkner , General naivety, not going sooner, lambert, houllier , worst of all the lack of comms to the most important component - THE SUPPORTERS !!

[Steve R]

On the pitch we have a squad that is not unlike the one he inherited, 5 or 6 good players and a lot of upgradeables. He invested a fair chunk and it didn't quite work out. That is the most likely outcome in football, but at least we bought a ticket.

ff the pitch absolute class. We couldn't have asked for better, albeit with a slight question mark over the badge.

I hope he keeps the tattoo.