Tom Fox's meeting with Supporters

[AVH87]

I think we should have protested more against Lerner, and should do more in the future. He is 'trying' to sell, or has been, but not hard enough. He thought he could sit pretty with us as a PL club until the right buyer for him came along (i.e. met his asking price), when in reality we'd have been better off if he'd sold it for a bit less. There isn't loads we can do but at the very least we need to make our feelings clear, anti-Lerner chants, banners (only one I've seen was the 'too little, too late' at Newcastle away last season).

And what good would it do? Is he suddenly going to think, "Hmmm, someone's scrawled Lerner Out on a sheet and they're saying rude words about me. I'll knock fifty million off the price"?

It's not as black and white as that, but we should be ramping up the pressure, it's all very meek at Villa currently. Everton fans do marches almost annually against Bill Kenwright to try and ramp up the pressure on him to sell, and this is whilst they consistently finish top 8. I think people are too worried about what the media will say if we protest, but it's our club and we are going out of the top flight for the first time in 30 years with a whimper.

[dave.woodhall]

Or alternatively how bad were we in the 50s when you could talk person to person with the Chairman any market day by simply walking up to his fish stall in the Bull Ring?

I think that a pre requisite for success is that the owner has to give a shit, only after that can competance come into play.
See my comment on the RL thread he does not give a shit.

If he didn't give a shit why did he reinvest the money we got for Benteke and Delph this summer? Surely if he didn't care he'd have just trousered it all to offset his losses.

And if he didn't give a shit, he would have sold the club earlier this year when he had the chance.

If you think this is Randy caring for the club I'd hate to think of the state of the Villa when and if you'd ever claim he didn't give a flying shite about us.

But I'm right though. If as people claim he 'doesn't give a shit', he'd have flogged it and got out.

Here you go Dave.

How exactly is that a defence of his ownership?

[dave.woodhall]

I think we should have protested more against Lerner, and should do more in the future. He is 'trying' to sell, or has been, but not hard enough. He thought he could sit pretty with us as a PL club until the right buyer for him came along (i.e. met his asking price), when in reality we'd have been better off if he'd sold it for a bit less. There isn't loads we can do but at the very least we need to make our feelings clear, anti-Lerner chants, banners (only one I've seen was the 'too little, too late' at Newcastle away last season).

And what good would it do? Is he suddenly going to think, "Hmmm, someone's scrawled Lerner Out on a sheet and they're saying rude words about me. I'll knock fifty million off the price"?

It's not as black and white as that, but we should be ramping up the pressure, it's all very meek at Villa currently. Everton fans do marches almost annually against Bill Kenwright to try and ramp up the pressure on him to sell, and this is whilst they consistently finish top 8. I think people are too worried about what the media will say if we protest, but it's our club and we are going out of the top flight for the first time in 30 years with a whimper.

I'll say it again. Do what, and to what end? He wants to sell, there are no buyers. Nothing is going to change the situation until someone turns up with ¿150 million +.

[AVH87]

I think we should have protested more against Lerner, and should do more in the future. He is 'trying' to sell, or has been, but not hard enough. He thought he could sit pretty with us as a PL club until the right buyer for him came along (i.e. met his asking price), when in reality we'd have been better off if he'd sold it for a bit less. There isn't loads we can do but at the very least we need to make our feelings clear, anti-Lerner chants, banners (only one I've seen was the 'too little, too late' at Newcastle away last season).

And what good would it do? Is he suddenly going to think, "Hmmm, someone's scrawled Lerner Out on a sheet and they're saying rude words about me. I'll knock fifty million off the price"?

It's not as black and white as that, but we should be ramping up the pressure, it's all very meek at Villa currently. Everton fans do marches almost annually against Bill Kenwright to try and ramp up the pressure on him to sell, and this is whilst they consistently finish top 8. I think people are too worried about what the media will say if we protest, but it's our club and we are going out of the top flight for the first time in 30 years with a whimper.

I'll say it again. Do what, and to what end? He wants to sell, there are no buyers. Nothing is going to change the situation until someone turns up with ¿150 million +.

Marches, protests, whatever we can to make our feelings clear against him. He doesn't exactly enjoy being in the limelight. There has been interest, HH was involved in a failed takeover in the summer for one. He wants to sell for his price, whereas for the good of the club we need him out sooner rather than later. He's looking after himself, and trying to actually show some business acumen for once in his life.

[dave.woodhall]

Marching down Trinity Road is going to make him sell to a credible new owner at a knockdown price. Somehow, I doubt it.

[Dave]

Or alternatively how bad were we in the 50s when you could talk person to person with the Chairman any market day by simply walking up to his fish stall in the Bull Ring?

I think that a pre requisite for success is that the owner has to give a shit, only after that can competance come into play.
See my comment on the RL thread he does not give a shit.

If he didn't give a shit why did he reinvest the money we got for Benteke and Delph this summer? Surely if he didn't care he'd have just trousered it all to offset his losses.

And if he didn't give a shit, he would have sold the club earlier this year when he had the chance.

If you think this is Randy caring for the club I'd hate to think of the state of the Villa when and if you'd ever claim he didn't give a flying shite about us.

But I'm right though. If as people claim he 'doesn't give a shit', he'd have flogged it and got out.

Here you go Dave.

You seem to have as solid an idea of what 'defence' means as Kieran Richardson does.

[AVH87]

I'm sure there are lots of fans who would rather do something, just for the small chance that it may make him feel slightly more uncomfortable in his position and ease up a little on who he sees as suitable custodians or his asking price.

[dave.woodhall]

I'm sure there are lots of fans who would rather do something, just for the small chance that it may make him feel slightly more uncomfortable in his position and ease up a little on who he sees as suitable custodians or his asking price.

Go ahead and do it then. Just don't moan when he doesn't do what you want.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Lerner would be delighted for anything fans could do to help him sell the club. 

Price does not seem to be a factor. There is a reason nobody wants to buy PL clubs, it is a terrible business to be in and there is a limit to the amount of mega rich who a.) like English football b.) like it enough to throw away hundreds of millions every year to compete.

[AVH87]

Lerner would be delighted for anything fans could do to help him sell the club. 

Price does not seem to be a factor. There is a reason nobody wants to buy PL clubs, it is a terrible business to be in and there is a limit to the amount of mega rich who a.) like English football b.) like it enough to throw away hundreds of millions every year to compete.

Throwing away hundreds of millions every year is a massive exaggeration. The teams occupying 6th, 7th and 8th in the league at the moment haven't had to spend anything like those kind of sums. Josh Harris and a fellow American have just invested 100 million in Crystal Palace, says it all about the way we are being run compared to clubs like them that they are seen as a more attractive proposition.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Lerner would be delighted for anything fans could do to help him sell the club. 

Price does not seem to be a factor. There is a reason nobody wants to buy PL clubs, it is a terrible business to be in and there is a limit to the amount of mega rich who a.) like English football b.) like it enough to throw away hundreds of millions every year to compete.

Throwing away hundreds of millions every year is a massive exaggeration. The teams occupying 6th, 7th and 8th in the league at the moment haven't had to spend anything like those kind of sums. Josh Harris and a fellow American have just invested 100 million in Crystal Palace, says it all about the way we are being run compared to clubs like them that they are seen as a more attractive proposition.

Every premier club is a more attractive proposition than us at this moment in time to be fair

[Witton Warrior]

I just want him to feel bad like we do - a little enforced empathy

[ChicagoLion]

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.
Our 3 main weapons are Mods, Clampy, TV and a fanatical devotion to .........

[Pat McMahon]

Basically Lerner bought a house in 2006 for £65k, has spent £200k on renovation and interior design then placed it on the market in 2014. No buyers at £150k, never mind £250k, so he either lowers his asking price again, taking a big hit, or he takes a punt on further building maintenance just to hold its current loss-making value of £150k.

It currently feels like a bare minimum of maintenance meaning the house continues to dwindle in value whilst vandals break the windows and trash the garden. Meanwhile, planning permission for a slaughterhouse to be built opposite the house will probably be granted in May.

Whichever decision he makes, it doesn't look good.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Basically Lerner bought a house in 2006 for £65k, has spent £200k on renovation and interior design then placed it on the market in 2014. No buyers at £150k, never mind £250k, so he either lowers his asking price again, taking a big hit, or he takes a punt on further building maintenance just to hold its current loss-making value of £150k.

It currently feels like a bare minimum of maintenance meaning the house continues to dwindle in value whilst vandals break the windows and trash the garden. Meanwhile, planning permission for a slaughterhouse to be built opposite the house will probably be granted in May.

Whichever decision he makes, it doesn't look good.

That's Tipton for you....