Please email Tom Fox if you feel the current situation is unacceptable

[aj2k77]

In a perverse way, I actually admire Fox/Lerner for sticking this out. Jan/Feb is no time to be changing a manager. If they thought he was 'good' enough in September(rightly or wrongly), they should back him in Feb too.

There is nothing admirable in the club blindly sticking to a stance they've taken despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary suggesting they're wrong.

It's arrogant and also irresponsible.

There's more at stake than their honour and friendships and building a support system around the feeble Lambert will prove to be another monumental waste of time and money.

[mattjpa]

The sad thing about this thread is that, no matter how bad things get, whenever some Villa fans try to do something to arrest our slide - however futile - other Villa fans will always mock them. I don't know whether that's just a Villa thing or whether it happens at other clubs too, but we always turn on our own at times like this. I've never known unity among Villa fans.

I've never met Jon Fear, and I couldn't care less if he's got a messiah complex or not. I don't care about his letter being too long, boring, self-important and full of mistakes. At least he's doing something. I thought the 8-minute protest was ill-conceived, but at least they tried something. And I'd rather see that than a load of other fans standing on the sidelines doing nothing but taking the piss while the club we all support spirals out of control.

The club is in denial. The local press are too meek to get involved. The national press don't give a shit. So it's down to the fans to act. Let's cut the ones that do act a bit of slack.

No,claiming the that fans have been telling him to do something.I will call out a prick every single time.People like him you only hear from when things are shit

Thats the things though, he is well known as a well placed fan with links to the club, IMO. There is absolutely no doubt he will be being asked to do something on a regular basis by many people as regardless of differing beliefs we are all supporters. He has done something, whether you agree with what he has put or not, its commendable and not self serving (bar maybe some personal ego boosting).

I dislike the occasional whiff of superiority complex that eminates around this forum sometimes

That's because we are superior.

Without knowing, I assume we are the biggest Villa fan site community? has there been any evidence (since the General left) that the club reads or monitors these boards? If not, its an awful waste of what could be a powerful collective voice. rather than mocking and sneering maybe encouraging support from H&V's would be more productive?

I dont frequent any other fan boards but off the top of my head The recent 8minute protest, The HH report, anything at all from VitalVilla (?) Twitter or TBAR is generally met with contempt and dismissal on here which is a shame, as several posters over the prev 11 pages of this thread have demonstrated an ability to convey a point or opinion far more succinctly than  Jonathon Fear can (or myself for that matter!)

[Monty]

If Randy reads Fear's letter, then maybe some good may come of it. That doesn't stop Fear, or HH, or anyone else coming across as pompous and self-involved.

[Clampy]

The sad thing about this thread is that, no matter how bad things get, whenever some Villa fans try to do something to arrest our slide - however futile - other Villa fans will always mock them. I don't know whether that's just a Villa thing or whether it happens at other clubs too, but we always turn on our own at times like this. I've never known unity among Villa fans.

I've never met Jon Fear, and I couldn't care less if he's got a messiah complex or not. I don't care about his letter being too long, boring, self-important and full of mistakes. At least he's doing something. I thought the 8-minute protest was ill-conceived, but at least they tried something. And I'd rather see that than a load of other fans standing on the sidelines doing nothing but taking the piss while the club we all support spirals out of control.

The club is in denial. The local press are too meek to get involved. The national press don't give a shit. So it's down to the fans to act. Let's cut the ones that do act a bit of slack.

No,claiming the that fans have been telling him to do something.I will call out a prick every single time.People like him you only hear from when things are shit

Thats the things though, he is well known as a well placed fan with links to the club, IMO. There is absolutely no doubt he will be being asked to do something on a regular basis by many people as regardless of differing beliefs we are all supporters. He has done something, whether you agree with what he has put or not, its commendable and not self serving (bar maybe some personal ego boosting).

I dislike the occasional whiff of superiority complex that eminates around this forum sometimes

I disagree entirely. He's no different to you or I. All this 'people have asked me to do something' and 'Randy, I'm here if you need me' crap is the reason he get's abuse. Howard Hodgson is the same. He can't sit in the director's lounge for five miniutes without tweeting a photo of the menu or of someone well known sitting nearby.

Their intentions are good. Their ego's just get in the way of liking them.

[Holte L2]

Sent. 

[joe_c]

If Randy reads Fear's letter, then maybe some good may come of it. That doesn't stop Fear, or HH, or anyone else coming across as pompous and self-involved.

Perhaps Randy could recommend the services of a decent copy editor?

[villadelph]

The sad thing about this thread is that, no matter how bad things get, whenever some Villa fans try to do something to arrest our slide - however futile - other Villa fans will always mock them. I don't know whether that's just a Villa thing or whether it happens at other clubs too, but we always turn on our own at times like this. I've never known unity among Villa fans.

I've never met Jon Fear, and I couldn't care less if he's got a messiah complex or not. I don't care about his letter being too long, boring, self-important and full of mistakes. At least he's doing something. I thought the 8-minute protest was ill-conceived, but at least they tried something. And I'd rather see that than a load of other fans standing on the sidelines doing nothing but taking the piss while the club we all support spirals out of control.

The club is in denial. The local press are too meek to get involved. The national press don't give a shit. So it's down to the fans to act. Let's cut the ones that do act a bit of slack.

No,claiming the that fans have been telling him to do something.I will call out a prick every single time.People like him you only hear from when things are shit

Thats the things though, he is well known as a well placed fan with links to the club, IMO. There is absolutely no doubt he will be being asked to do something on a regular basis by many people as regardless of differing beliefs we are all supporters. He has done something, whether you agree with what he has put or not, its commendable and not self serving (bar maybe some personal ego boosting).

I dislike the occasional whiff of superiority complex that eminates around this forum sometimes

I disagree entirely. He's no different to you or I. All this 'people have asked me to do something' and 'Randy, I'm here if you need me' crap is the reason he get's abuse. Howard Hodgson is the same. He can't sit in the director's lounge for five miniutes without tweeting a photo of the menu or of someone well known sitting nearby.

Their intentions are good. Their ego's just get in the way of liking them.

His email seemed pretty pedestrian to me. I liked the informal approach and sly digs at Randy, it depicts a relationship that very few people seem able to achieve with this owner. I commend Fear for his concern, and even sent him a thank you message. If I had Randy's email address I would be much less honorable and probably proof-read my piece over a hundred times in fear of credibility issues. Not Fear, he went for it, told it like it is, and put it together in a way that makes me feel connected to it.

We're all dissatisfied.

[silhillvilla]

Dear Tom

8 league goals since 1 Sept 2014. (5 months and counting).

Discuss

[Des Little]

What the Fox
What the Fox
What the Fox is going on?

Kind regards

Des x

[john e]

He'l live to regret using that 'false narrative' comment,
Apart from being incorrect it's an executive bullshit term that just lends itself to pisstakers of which there are plenty, he'l not hear the last of it

I get the feeling his stock has dropped a bit since he made that statement

[pauliewalnuts]

The sad thing about this thread is that, no matter how bad things get, whenever some Villa fans try to do something to arrest our slide - however futile - other Villa fans will always mock them. I don't know whether that's just a Villa thing or whether it happens at other clubs too, but we always turn on our own at times like this. I've never known unity among Villa fans.

I've never met Jon Fear, and I couldn't care less if he's got a messiah complex or not. I don't care about his letter being too long, boring, self-important and full of mistakes. At least he's doing something. I thought the 8-minute protest was ill-conceived, but at least they tried something. And I'd rather see that than a load of other fans standing on the sidelines doing nothing but taking the piss while the club we all support spirals out of control.

The club is in denial. The local press are too meek to get involved. The national press don't give a shit. So it's down to the fans to act. Let's cut the ones that do act a bit of slack.

No,claiming the that fans have been telling him to do something.I will call out a prick every single time.People like him you only hear from when things are shit

Thats the things though, he is well known as a well placed fan with links to the club, IMO. There is absolutely no doubt he will be being asked to do something on a regular basis by many people as regardless of differing beliefs we are all supporters. He has done something, whether you agree with what he has put or not, its commendable and not self serving (bar maybe some personal ego boosting).

I dislike the occasional whiff of superiority complex that eminates around this forum sometimes

Isn't the flip side of making something public, in any area of day to day life, that people have a right to dislike, disagree with, or criticise what you say, in public?

One thing I don't like is the growing "OMG how can you support Lambert? You ARE the problem" thing on here.

Lambert or Lerner supporters have every right to hold those views. Personally, I think they're profoundly misguided, but jumping down peoples' necks because they have them, or accusing them of not being Villa fans, strikes me as highly undesirable. Yes, disagree with these people, but don't tell them they have no right to believe what they believe.

Same with Fear or Howard Hodgson. People take the piss out of both of them because they're somewhat self-righteous ("reports" and what not), but they are entirely entitled to do what they want.

If they want to write Lerner a letter, they can. If they want to publish it, they can. They can do all this, but if that's the route they take, they are going to have to accept that people can disagree with them in public.

[Richard E]

Dear Tom

8 league goals since 1 Sept 2014. (5 months and counting).

Discuss

Jeez, when it is put as starkly as that it really is depressing, isn't it?

[edgysatsuma89]

I respect Fear for trying something, however it won't stop me calling 90% of that email self indulgent nonsense. If that 10% gets through to Randy then I'll happily cup his balls.

I very much doubt Mr Fear cares about what we all think of his email. I wouldn't. Fuck y'all. :-D

[mattjpa]

The sad thing about this thread is that, no matter how bad things get, whenever some Villa fans try to do something to arrest our slide - however futile - other Villa fans will always mock them. I don't know whether that's just a Villa thing or whether it happens at other clubs too, but we always turn on our own at times like this. I've never known unity among Villa fans.

I've never met Jon Fear, and I couldn't care less if he's got a messiah complex or not. I don't care about his letter being too long, boring, self-important and full of mistakes. At least he's doing something. I thought the 8-minute protest was ill-conceived, but at least they tried something. And I'd rather see that than a load of other fans standing on the sidelines doing nothing but taking the piss while the club we all support spirals out of control.

The club is in denial. The local press are too meek to get involved. The national press don't give a shit. So it's down to the fans to act. Let's cut the ones that do act a bit of slack.

No,claiming the that fans have been telling him to do something.I will call out a prick every single time.People like him you only hear from when things are shit

Thats the things though, he is well known as a well placed fan with links to the club, IMO. There is absolutely no doubt he will be being asked to do something on a regular basis by many people as regardless of differing beliefs we are all supporters. He has done something, whether you agree with what he has put or not, its commendable and not self serving (bar maybe some personal ego boosting).

I dislike the occasional whiff of superiority complex that eminates around this forum sometimes

Isn't the flip side of making something public, in any area of day to day life, that people have a right to dislike, disagree with, or criticise what you say, in public?

One thing I don't like is the growing "OMG how can you support Lambert? You ARE the problem" thing on here.

Lambert or Lerner supporters have every right to hold those views. Personally, I think they're profoundly misguided, but jumping down peoples' necks because they have them, or accusing them of not being Villa fans, strikes me as highly undesirable. Yes, disagree with these people, but don't tell them they have no right to believe what they believe.

Same with Fear or Howard Hodgson. People take the piss out of both of them because they're somewhat self-righteous ("reports" and what not), but they are entirely entitled to do what they want.

If they want to write Lerner a letter, they can. If they want to publish it, they can. They can do all this, but if that's the route they take, they are going to have to accept that people can disagree with them in public.

True, but as far as I could see, nobody actually disagreed with him. They just ripped the piss out of him. I get the impression the general consensus on here is that Fear is a self propagating (?) tool (ive only read the above letter and heard him on a couple of phone ins so havent got too much of an opinion) regardless of this, all im saying is that  the message most people are trying to get over to Fox is "do nothing and nothing will change".  Surely that applies to us fans as well?
Fear, Hodgeson, Avillafan.com are all adding to the momentum and if we share the opinion that a change is needed we should do what we can as well regardless of whether we like them or their personal motives.

[pauliewalnuts]

Fear, Hodgeson, Avillafan.com are all adding to the momentum and if we share the opinion that a change is needed we should do what we can as well regardless of whether we like them or their personal motives.

You're saying that on a thread full of people saying they've emailed the club. It's not as if the intervention of Fear and Hodgson is something incredible.

They, too, are supporters. But that's all they are. The thing people are taking the piss about is the fact that they clearly think they're much more than that.

If Fear, for example, felt he was in a position to influence things, why not just send the email and be done with it? Why the need to make it public?

That's exactly the problem people had with Hodgson. It wasn't what he said. There was pretty much nobody disagreeing with that. it was the fact that he said it all so publically, from a position of "I run businesses, I know what I'm talking about" (the implication being he's possessed of some sort of extra special skillset others don't have) and called it a "report", which is totally the wrong word.

A report is factual account of events. What Hodgson released was an opinion piece and nothing more.

Hodgson spent most of last year complaining he'd been kicked out of "the directors" for talking on the internet about things that had gone on, or been said, in there. The club saw it as a breach of trust.

Maybe he'd be more effective, if he really is in a special position, by talking to people behind closed doors and being a little more subtle about it than he actually is - which just makes it look like a personal publicity vehicle.