Morley_crosses_to_Withe

I'd expect it to show we're still 5 points better off than at this stage last season not level on points. :winkold: True, but on Boxing day of last season, we'd only played 18 games. After Charlton it will be 21 games. After 21 games last season, we were on 25 points. So a loss/draw/win will see us on 25/26/28 points after 21 games. What this proves is....erm, well, nothing. It only further demonstrates that the squad is too small and it's lacking in quality. (Although I knew that last season, so I'm not sure what point Malcolm is hoping BOF's stats will prove.)

Neither. More importantly, how **** depressing that there's only 14 games of the season gone and we're only left with two options to choose from.

Darren Bent is the correct answer.

I disagree and I still think there is more to come - what we all have to remember is that in the summer of 2005 almost everyone agreed that our squad was stronger and that we could challenge for a spot in europe]/b], then DOL tottaly lost it and we almost went down. Er no, I certainly don't remember that It was mostly split 50-50, between those who thought 6-10th and those who went for the bottom half. The signing of Baros & Bouma caused some people to change and opt for the top half. But, without doubt, 'everyone' didn't agree we'd challenge for Europe.

I don't agree with this. Our starting eleven could easily deliver top 7-8 (even top 6). But our squad isn't good enough for 7-8. We've now got Liverpool (A), Blackburn (H) and Everton (A). Taking into account our current injury problems, lack of decent cover and poor finishing, I only see another three points from those games. If that happened, that would be ten points from nine games, which, and this isn't a criticism of anyone, isn't very good. However, it would leave us about twelth after 12 games - and I'd be happy with that. I'm willing to take what we can until January (or the summer even) and then let MON bring his own players in - then we can see what he can do with HIS team. IMO our strongest, starting eleven were doing about right. However now we'll probably slip down the PL a little (due to our injuries etc) and I think this will be an accurate reflection of our squad strength.

It won't matter mate. It seems as though he may take official control of the club as soon as he gets Ellis'/Petchey's shares. 90% acceptances is just another level in which, he can, and will legally be required, to take full control of the club. He can lower this 90% level to suit him. It's been rumoured that he may seek 75% acceptances. IMO though, the club will be officiall confirmed as his on Wednesday unless their is a better bid lodged before then.

400 Pages. I called it. Me = 8)

Precisely Ahamaad. I hope that enough explaining has been done today over simultaneous threads, and by many posters, to show how basically Lerner WILL be our new owner.

No mate. Read above. :winkold:

I wrote about this in another thread (it's also on the front page), but, reading it back, I realise it may have sounded slightly alarming. :oops: So, to clarify... When Randy gets over 50% of the club, control could effectively pass to him. At this point, he could make his offer unconditional. At this moment in time, a shareholder can... Accept his offer now and receive a lovely £5.47 per share; or they can hold on to the shares and potentially succumb to reduced liquidity (due to delisting at the 75% level); OR face a compulsory purchase (at the 90% level). If he makes his offer unconditional, you accept it, or risk the a delisting/compulsory purchase. Also, up to a certain amount of time, the club can release revised information about it's financial state - and with which, the bidder can revise it's terms. Because of this, shareholders still have a certain amount of time to withdraw their acceptances until the offer becomes unconditional as to acceptances. When it becomes undconditional to acceptances, the takeover WILL go through. It must be delared UtoA by the 60th day of the bid document being received. After this time, his offer to YOU will lapse, this is one of the reasons why it is important to accept NOW. Lerner seems to be seeking 90% acceptances before making the offer unconditional to acceptances OR (and this is important) he must have acquired or agreed to acquire 50% of the company. Now remember, Ellis and Co count as acceptances. Also, due to their irrevocable undertaking, Ellis and Co have basically ALREADY accepted - all we need now is for them to sell. Randy gets >50% and BINGO! We can all get Randy.

I do not want Padfield. This comment: Makes no difference. Actually, it could just be seen as a statement of fact -he is right, they ARE NOT American. The article that appeared in the Evening Mail also makes no difference to me. It was written by the world's worst journalist who has a tendency to lie. The quotes were from a 'source close to the consortium' and could not be attirbuted directly to Padfield himself. His interview on Five Live, he sounded like a bumbling idiot with no grasp of the English game. Again, it matters little, he won't be involved in the day to day running of the club. But I do not want AV06. I want Lerner. I believe the Lerner bid is very well put together, it is everything we could have possibly dreamed of (and more) and will, basically, be impossible to beat. That is why I do not want Padfield.

Edited: Will reword.

If totally confident about his bid, why wait? To see what Lerner is offering? To make final adjustments? I don't really know.

Precisely Richard. The overall package that Padfield is offering would have to be out of this world to beat Lerner's. What he needs to do is honestly ask himself whether he can compete and, if not, piss off.

SoccerHQ, But what if Padfield was waiting to see the other 'hands' before revealing his. Maybe that could have been a reason why he went away - he was in no real rush until someone else bid.

I agree. We need to keep an open mind to avoid potential heart break. Like I said a few pages back, for Padfield's bid to beat Randy's, it would have to exceed his (Lerner's) bid and thus must be very exceptional.

if the AV06 bid is recommended by rothschilds then he'd better get the hell back here, hadnt he? Yes, and as one of his duties as Chairman - he will. IMO, he isn't much interested in the AV06 at the moment, but that's not to say he can't be swayed.

Mark is correct in saying that IF the Padfield bid is a better bid, then it IS a better bid. I'd hope that Doug & the board (plus Rothschilds) can, between them, anaylse which is the best bid for the club after TAKING ALL FACTORS INTO ACCOUNT. They aren't going to just evaluate who has pledged the most for transfers - surely they will look into the proposed strategy & direction of each consortia, board structure & expertise, future plans, plans for infrastructure changes (if any) and so on. Lerner's bid is awesome. Think about what Padfield would need to beat this! Something very, very special. Look at the board Lerner will have in place - how can Padfield match this expertise!? He'd have to have some very big people from the world of finance, marketing and strategy. How can Padfield match Lerner's connections to US & World markets? Again it would need people on board who are very well connected. Padfield has no chance, and even if he does, his bid must also be **** amazing (which I doubt, considering the strength of Randy's bid). Don't worry gents - Lerner is our man.

If a competitive offer is received, then Lerner and Mr X will work to Mr X's new timetable.

Hmm, interesting point though. I wonder whether Doug going on holiday is basically him drawing a metaphorical line underneath the saga. He's recommended the Lerner bid; he hasn't had, even by Padfield's admission, any real contact with AV06. He hasn't released certain details to AV06 (as revealed by Padfield on Five Live), and now he's left the country for a while. Doesn't sound as though he's that interested to come to the table and listen to AV06 to me. Actions speak louder than words.

Although I would still like to see his bid, Padfield has almost treated the fans like idiots. He has focused SOLELY on how much money his consortium is willing to spend. 'Just promise the simpletons money, that will win them over' :roll: Rather than thinking, researching, or even asking what the fans want - he's gone down the route of just trying to buy us.

Meant to also add in to this comment - so many questions about Lerner remain unanswered? Like what? We have been told that non core assets won't be sold. We have been told that investment is guaranteed in all aspects of the club. We know MON is their manager of choice. We know the bid isn't being funded via loans but through Lerner's own assets. What do we know about AV06's bid as yet? I want to hear about them - to make a choice over whether they can compete with Lerner or even better it. But those sorts of comments from them don't endear them to me at this stage unfortunately. Playing Devil's Advocate, we know all this information because the bid has been forwarded and the details of the bid have been released to the SE.

I think this is the reason. That's possibly what they may have done LV. I agree.

I'm sure that I read Ellis has set a ten day window. In this time Padfield has to make his bid(iirc). Anyone recall reading that?

Nice! Fair enough! Ha! Never mind Padfield, old bean.... £50M + MON + An amazing board = Jackpot Lerner!