Randy Lerner

[saunders_heroes]

And let's never forget whose fault that was. You can blithly skip over the most rapid decline in the history of English football if you want but it was solely down to Doug Ellis and everything else he ever did has to be judged against that.

And Randy Lerner will also be judged.

He's made this club the laughing stock of English football. Barely a 20% win rate at home in over eighty games stretching back over five seasons. You must know how that feels. It feels shit having had the enthusiasm pummeled out of you because VILLA PARK HAS BECOME A DOORMAT. Where just about every two-bit club has pitched up and taken the piss in recent years.

We can argue about who the worst owner was all we like. Ellis' relegation against Lerner's imminent relegation. Ellis taking a wage against Lerner blindly throwing money at a manager who didn't know the meaning of treating money with respect. Ellis' two Coca Cola Cups against Lerner's scarves, Holte Hotel and tarting up the Trinity (the latter being down to Ellis in fairness).

History tells us that after relegation last time we came back stronger, even winning a few cups along the way.

But this is the here and now. My god, this club is fucked. And it doesn't matter how it is dressed up. It doesn't matter how it is spun. Ultimately, Randy Lerner is the person responsible for the current plight of Aston Villa Football Club.

Hear hear!

[Chico Hamilton III]

Ellis and Lerner were both seen as saviours by fans when they took over a club in a real mess and both seen as incompetent failures towards the end of their tenures. Neither of them have been any good for Villa.

[dave.woodhall]

And let's never forget whose fault that was. You can blithly skip over the most rapid decline in the history of English football if you want but it was solely down to Doug Ellis and everything else he ever did has to be judged against that.

And Randy Lerner will also be judged.

He's made this club the laughing stock of English football. Barely a 20% win rate at home in over eighty games stretching back over five seasons. You must know how that feels. It feels shit having had the enthusiasm pummeled out of you because VILLA PARK HAS BECOME A DOORMAT. Where just about every two-bit club has pitched up and taken the piss in recent years.

We can argue about who the worst owner was all we like. Ellis' relegation against Lerner's imminent relegation. Ellis taking a wage against Lerner blindly throwing money at a manager who didn't know the meaning of treating money with respect. Ellis' two Coca Cola Cups against Lerner's scarves, Holte Hotel and tarting up the Trinity (the latter being down to Ellis in fairness).

History tells us that after relegation last time we came back stronger, even winning a few cups along the way.

But this is the here and now. My god, this club is fucked. And it doesn't matter how it is dressed up. It doesn't matter how it is spun. Ultimately, Randy Lerner is the person responsible for the current plight of Aston Villa Football Club.

Round of applause.

And while you're blindly clapping, and skipping over the many faults of the newly-deified St Doug, remember which of the two took on a club that was in trouble and which of them ruined the best team in Europe, ostracised its players and hounded its manager even after his death and made the club he supposedly loves ignore its greatest achievement. Not through neglect or incompetence, but because he couldn't bear to acknowledge what other men than him had done. And you think we're a laughing stock now.

[dave shelley]

And let's never forget whose fault that was. You can blithly skip over the most rapid decline in the history of English football if you want but it was solely down to Doug Ellis and everything else he ever did has to be judged against that.

And Randy Lerner will also be judged.

He's made this club the laughing stock of English football. Barely a 20% win rate at home in over eighty games stretching back over five seasons. You must know how that feels. It feels shit having had the enthusiasm pummeled out of you because VILLA PARK HAS BECOME A DOORMAT. Where just about every two-bit club has pitched up and taken the piss in recent years.

We can argue about who the worst owner was all we like. Ellis' relegation against Lerner's imminent relegation. Ellis taking a wage against Lerner blindly throwing money at a manager who didn't know the meaning of treating money with respect. Ellis' two Coca Cola Cups against Lerner's scarves, Holte Hotel and tarting up the Trinity (the latter being down to Ellis in fairness).

History tells us that after relegation last time we came back stronger, even winning a few cups along the way.

But this is the here and now. My god, this club is fucked. And it doesn't matter how it is dressed up. It doesn't matter how it is spun. Ultimately, Randy Lerner is the person responsible for the current plight of Aston Villa Football Club.

Round of applause.

And while you're blindly clapping, and skipping over the many faults of the newly-deified St Doug, remember which of the two took on a club that was in trouble and which of them ruined the best team in Europe, ostracised its players and hounded its manager even after his death and made the club he supposedly loves ignore its greatest achievement. Not through neglect or incompetence, but because he couldn't bear to acknowledge what other men than him had done. And you think we're a laughing stock now.

Now that deserves a round of applause.

[saunders_heroes]

We ARE a bloody laughing stock, Dave.

[Ads]

You can criticize Lerner and still think that Ellis was a massive wanker. I don't see why the faults of one improve the reputation of the other.

[saunders_heroes]

You can criticize Lerner and still think that Ellis was a massive wanker. I don't see why the faults of one improve the reputation of the other.

Agreed. I'm talking about here and now because that's the most important thing, and it's bloody shocking what's happening to our club.

[dave.woodhall]

You can criticize Lerner and still think that Ellis was a massive wanker. I don't see why the faults of one improve the reputation of the other.

This is what I don't understand. How can anyone defend Ellis, just to prove a point about Lerner?

[saunders_heroes]

You can criticize Lerner and still think that Ellis was a massive wanker. I don't see why the faults of one improve the reputation of the other.

This is what I don't understand. How can anyone defend Ellis, just to prove a point about Lerner?

It's only natural that some fans might compare the two though. Do you really think Ellis would have appointed the bloke who just relegated Small Heath?

[avfcdale]

Unfortunately the kind of chairman that this team needs does not exist any more, i know most people on here probably cannot remember but Ellis was a complete disaster as Chairman the first time round. It took a man with Courage and understanding to change things, to give us back not only the feeling but the absolute knowledge that we are Aston Villa THE GREATEST football Team and Club ever.

The last time it took a man that had fought through the Desert up through Sicily and Italy and fought hand to hand through Nijmegen, a man that understood what it was like to take men where they did not want to go. Ellis and Lerner are Both Disgraceful Chairmen who should never have got anywhere near the Office.

Twats

Sir William Dugdale must be spinning in his grave 

[dave.woodhall]

You can criticize Lerner and still think that Ellis was a massive wanker. I don't see why the faults of one improve the reputation of the other.

This is what I don't understand. How can anyone defend Ellis, just to prove a point about Lerner?

It's only natural that some fans might compare the two though. Do you really think Ellis would have appointed the bloke who just relegated Small Heath?

Graham Turner. And as I've said before, McLeish was the daftest, most inexplicable decision in the club's history but Turner was by far the worst. At least McLeish had managed with a modicum of success at the level we were at, and played at a higher one. Turner, nice guy though he was, was expected to come from Shrewsbury and manage a dressing room full of champions.

[Richard E]

It's only natural that some fans might compare the two though. Do you really think Ellis would have appointed the bloke who just relegated Small Heath?

No, he'd have been too busy appointing the bloke who was doing a great job of relegating Man City.

[Richard E]

You can criticize Lerner and still think that Ellis was a massive [word omitted due to the internet filter in my office.] I don't see why the faults of one improve the reputation of the other.

This.

[Chris Harte]

You can criticize Lerner and still think that Ellis was a massive wanker. I don't see why the faults of one improve the reputation of the other.

This is what I don't understand. How can anyone defend Ellis, just to prove a point about Lerner?

I came on to a thread about Randy Lerner to see people laying into Ellis. I felt it was over the top and so said so although drawing comparisons is natural, I suppose.

Trust me, I don't need to defend Ellis to make a case for why Lerner has been so poor. It is there for all to see.

So tell us, Dave, now that you've got your feelings about Ellis out of your system. Who do you think is responsible for the current plight of Aston Villa?

Edit - very sensible post by Ads, BTW.

[ChicagoLion]

And let's never forget whose fault that was. You can blithly skip over the most rapid decline in the history of English football if you want but it was solely down to Doug Ellis and everything else he ever did has to be judged against that.

And Randy Lerner will also be judged.

He's made this club the laughing stock of English football. Barely a 20% win rate at home in over eighty games stretching back over five seasons. You must know how that feels. It feels shit having had the enthusiasm pummeled out of you because VILLA PARK HAS BECOME A DOORMAT. Where just about every two-bit club has pitched up and taken the piss in recent years.

We can argue about who the worst owner was all we like. Ellis' relegation against Lerner's imminent relegation. Ellis taking a wage against Lerner blindly throwing money at a manager who didn't know the meaning of treating money with respect. Ellis' two Coca Cola Cups against Lerner's scarves, Holte Hotel and tarting up the Trinity (the latter being down to Ellis in fairness).

History tells us that after relegation last time we came back stronger, even winning a few cups along the way.

But this is the here and now. My god, this club is fucked. And it doesn't matter how it is dressed up. It doesn't matter how it is spun. Ultimately, Randy Lerner is the person responsible for the current plight of Aston Villa Football Club.

Round of applause.

And while you're blindly clapping, and skipping over the many faults of the newly-deified St Doug, remember which of the two took on a club that was in trouble and which of them ruined the best team in Europe, ostracised its players and hounded its manager even after his death and made the club he supposedly loves ignore its greatest achievement. Not through neglect or incompetence, but because he couldn't bear to acknowledge what other men than him had done. And you think we're a laughing stock now.

I agree with both of you, its not either or for me.They both have been attrocious in different ways. I do take your point though, that with Lerner it has not been vindictive just incompetance, stupidity and neglect.