Randy Lerner

[saunders_heroes]

We have people making decision that have experience within the game at a high level and within a very good club like Arsenal, with clear knowledge of continental players.

Is it out of the realms of possibility to conclude that their knowledge might extend to managers too?

I think this is what I'm basing a lot of hope on. Something about this summer felt very different; not the normal Villa signings. For example, non of the players we bought scored against us last season...

I think most of us where excited by the signings. Who's to say we won't be excited by the next manager?

These aren't the same guys that picked TSM.

Something felt different?
Didn't Sherwood just spend the money generated from sales and the usual £8 or £9m on top?

The difference is not the amount but the type of signing surely?

You honestly been that impressed by what you've seen from them so far?

I think most of the players have shown promise to varying degrees

Amavi has been the standout signing
Gana has had a few good games, although seems to be having a dip at the moment
Gestede has looked quite limited overall but is good in the box with his head as long as he is running onto the ball
Ayew has shown glimpses in 2 or 3 games
Traore looks very raw but exciting
Veretout looks off the pace but is improving and has a lovely first touch
Richards has been largely impressive despite being caught out of position a few times
Lescott has looked like a baggies reject unfortunately
Crespo is difficult to comment on, improved as the game went on against Stoke

Some of them need patience shown which a lot of us don't always give new signings, they may or may not come off but only time will tell

Patience is something Villa fans have been martyrs to over the last 5 years. 

[Vegas]

We have people making decision that have experience within the game at a high level and within a very good club like Arsenal, with clear knowledge of continental players.

Is it out of the realms of possibility to conclude that their knowledge might extend to managers too?

I think this is what I'm basing a lot of hope on. Something about this summer felt very different; not the normal Villa signings. For example, non of the players we bought scored against us last season...

I think most of us where excited by the signings. Who's to say we won't be excited by the next manager?

These aren't the same guys that picked TSM.

Something felt different?
Didn't Sherwood just spend the money generated from sales and the usual £8 or £9m on top?

The difference is not the amount but the type of signing surely?

You honestly been that impressed by what you've seen from them so far?

Errm ... That's kind of missing the point mate. The original guy said we did things differently in terms of how we bought players this summer. You said "we spent the same". I said "he was saying we bought in a different way".

You then say "have I been impressed"?. Separate point entirely. I haven't been that impressed, no, for the record

[saunders_heroes]

"We bought in a different way"
I think I'll file that alongside "young and hungry".

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

We have people making decision that have experience within the game at a high level and within a very good club like Arsenal, with clear knowledge of continental players.

Is it out of the realms of possibility to conclude that their knowledge might extend to managers too?

I think this is what I'm basing a lot of hope on. Something about this summer felt very different; not the normal Villa signings. For example, non of the players we bought scored against us last season...

I think most of us where excited by the signings. Who's to say we won't be excited by the next manager?

These aren't the same guys that picked TSM.

Something felt different?
Didn't Sherwood just spend the money generated from sales and the usual £8 or £9m on top?

The difference is not the amount but the type of signing surely?

You honestly been that impressed by what you've seen from them so far?

I think most of the players have shown promise to varying degrees

Amavi has been the standout signing
Gana has had a few good games, although seems to be having a dip at the moment
Gestede has looked quite limited overall but is good in the box with his head as long as he is running onto the ball
Ayew has shown glimpses in 2 or 3 games
Traore looks very raw but exciting
Veretout looks off the pace but is improving and has a lovely first touch
Richards has been largely impressive despite being caught out of position a few times
Lescott has looked like a baggies reject unfortunately
Crespo is difficult to comment on, improved as the game went on against Stoke

Some of them need patience shown which a lot of us don't always give new signings, they may or may not come off but only time will tell

Patience is something Villa fans have been martyrs to over the last 5 years. 

really? as fans, we are very quick to write off individual players and get on their backs. People were writing off Ayew before the Blues game, ridiculous

[boozey182]

"We bought in a different way"
I think I'll file that alongside "young and hungry".

That's your prerogative. I threw out my old filing cabinet months ago; too many bad memories. I'm hoping the new one is lucky!

[Clark W Griswold]

We have people making decision that have experience within the game at a high level and within a very good club like Arsenal, with clear knowledge of continental players.

Is it out of the realms of possibility to conclude that their knowledge might extend to managers too?

I think this is what I'm basing a lot of hope on. Something about this summer felt very different; not the normal Villa signings. For example, non of the players we bought scored against us last season...

I think most of us where excited by the signings. Who's to say we won't be excited by the next manager?

These aren't the same guys that picked TSM.

Something felt different?
Didn't Sherwood just spend the money generated from sales and the usual £8 or £9m on top?

The difference is not the amount but the type of signing surely?

You honestly been that impressed by what you've seen from them so far?

I think most of the players have shown promise to varying degrees

Amavi has been the standout signing
Gana has had a few good games, although seems to be having a dip at the moment
Gestede has looked quite limited overall but is good in the box with his head as long as he is running onto the ball
Ayew has shown glimpses in 2 or 3 games
Traore looks very raw but exciting
Veretout looks off the pace but is improving and has a lovely first touch
Richards has been largely impressive despite being caught out of position a few times
Lescott has looked like a baggies reject unfortunately
Crespo is difficult to comment on, improved as the game went on against Stoke

Some of them need patience shown which a lot of us don't always give new signings, they may or may not come off but only time will tell

Yes, I think that's a good summing up of the players. Bunn has looked fine as a stand in GK and Sinclair after a great start has ebbed away badly.
There is talent in that lot, but I doubt Sherwood has the talent to unwrap that talent.

[kippaxvilla2]

Current opinion on Lerner should depend on whether or not you think he is still treating things at Villa as 'business as usual'.  I use that phrase as in the summer, when the supposed takeover collapsed the staff were briefed and all were told no takeover currently and business as usual.  Therefore, I would have expected like other clubs to have proceeded with a decent transfer budget for the relatively new manager in order for us to make a decent challenge to achieve mid table respectability.  The debate comes as to whether or not you believe a slight of hand has taken place over the transfer dealings. 

Some say that net spend isn't an indicator of anything but actual spend on purchases is.  To that end, Lerner has indeed delivered regarding transfers.  The other viewpoint is that net spend of less than £10m for at least the 2nd season on the trot is not treating it as business as usual.

I have to say that given the high profile departures in the summer, together with the potential TV revenue at the beginning of next season the net spend figure is very relevant this season.  And in my view, a net spend of much less than West Bromwich Albion (as an example) is asking for trouble given where we finished last season. 

So my view  is and I know there will be people who disagree is that he is treating us like fools if he thinks we will swallow the gross spend as 'business as usual'.  The squad needed a massive overhaul with not just quantity but quality.  We find ourselves now deep in the relegation mire with a slightly upgraded version of Lamberts/Lerners 'young and hungry' policy that failed miserably a couple of years back - with no Benteke to drag us out of the mire.

In order for us to stand any chance of survival this season, with or without Sherwood in charge, there has to be some serious cash spent on one or two key positions in January and then we have to hope by that time we are not cut adrift.  Only if that happens will I believe Lerner has any interest in us whatsoever anymore.

[paul_e]

Current opinion on Lerner should depend on whether or not you think he is still treating things at Villa as 'business as usual'.  I use that phrase as in the summer, when the supposed takeover collapsed the staff were briefed and all were told no takeover currently and business as usual.  Therefore, I would have expected like other clubs to have proceeded with a decent transfer budget for the relatively new manager in order for us to make a decent challenge to achieve mid table respectability.  The debate comes as to whether or not you believe a slight of hand has taken place over the transfer dealings. 

Some say that net spend isn't an indicator of anything but actual spend on purchases is.  To that end, Lerner has indeed delivered regarding transfers.  The other viewpoint is that net spend of less than £10m for at least the 2nd season on the trot is not treating it as business as usual.

I have to say that given the high profile departures in the summer, together with the potential TV revenue at the beginning of next season the net spend figure is very relevant this season.  And in my view, a net spend of much less than West Bromwich Albion (as an example) is asking for trouble given where we finished last season. 

So my view  is and I know there will be people who disagree is that he is treating us like fools if he thinks we will swallow the gross spend as 'business as usual'.  The squad needed a massive overhaul with not just quantity but quality.  We find ourselves now deep in the relegation mire with a slightly upgraded version of Lamberts/Lerners 'young and hungry' policy that failed miserably a couple of years back - with no Benteke to drag us out of the mire.

In order for us to stand any chance of survival this season, with or without Sherwood in charge, there has to be some serious cash spent on one or two key positions in January and then we have to hope by that time we are not cut adrift.  Only if that happens will I believe Lerner has any interest in us whatsoever anymore.

What extra net spend do you think would've been suitable then?  Is it a lack of numbers so 13 new signings aren't enough or is it that, the freebies and negligables aside, the average of 6-7m per player wasn't suitable?  Which of our signings would you have not chosen and what did you expect instead?  You talk about 'serious cash' - what positions for and what do we do with the players currently in those positions seeing as we have a full squad?

I'm not having a go but given that one of our biggest issues is the complete lack of familiarity in the team I don't see how adding more players to it helps.

I just think the 'spend more money' argument is too simple and exists largely because the media have made the idea of spending a fortune every year seem like something all clubs should just do, regardless of their issues or needs.

[kippaxvilla2]

We are amongst the lowest net spenders in the league for the last two seasons.  I'm not saying the players bought in wont work but a lot of them were untried at this level so maybe an Austin, a Lennon and another younger version of lescott might have made it better.

[aj2k77]

I would have thought spending some big money on replacing the player who's pretty much single handedly kept us up for years was a must. I wasn't expecting to find ourselves with the Blackburn centre forward as our main replacement for him, very underwhelming.

[Jimbo]

I would have thought spending some big money on replacing the player who's pretty much single handedly kept us up for years was a must. I wasn't expecting to find ourselves with the Blackburn centre forward as our main replacement for him, very underwhelming.

I think that's it in a nutshell. A proven goalscorer is lacking, and they don't come cheap.

[Vegas]

We are amongst the lowest net spenders in the league for the last two seasons.  I'm not saying the players bought in wont work but a lot of them were untried at this level so maybe an Austin, a Lennon and another younger version of lescott might have made it better.

Totally agree. Net spend (plus wages spend) is critical. You look at the league table over time and correlate positions with spend on transfers and wages, and it basically explains everyone's finishing positions with only a few exceptions.  Of course you can spend money better or worse than others, but by far the major determinant of finishing position is how much you invest.

On this basis, as others have said, we should be slightly higher, but more money invested would only help. Can't force him to put his own money  in though.

[Malandro]

Club statement: Once more we have got rid of somebody we appointed.  They turned into the devil incarnate. Stop blaming us. Suck it up.

[ronshirt]

Mr Lerner,

now's the time to wheel out the old war horse that is The General. Just tell him to explain to the drivelilng nitwits that next season we'll finish in the top six. Be sure to tell him that on a keyboard the six is just in between the five and the seven.

Don't confuse him by trying to explain the difference between the Premiership and the Championship.

[silhillvilla]

I would have thought spending some big money on replacing the player who's pretty much single handedly kept us up for years was a must. I wasn't expecting to find ourselves with the Blackburn centre forward as our main replacement for him, very underwhelming.

Indeed . £15m should of gone on Austin and big wages. As it stands we are now fucked. He will cost even more come January aswell .