thetrees

So you think the hiring of McLeish was keeping with this respect you think he always shows for us? Again this just shows your desperation to back Lerner no matter what was happening at the club. For 3 consecutive years this squad has needed a boost in January. Look at the funding made available during the last 3 January windows. Extreme cost cutting and trying to survive is though. Again I'll refer back to January windows to show the gamble of survival while keeping costs low. BJ10, you send the same question around and around, and once again resort to making inaccurate judgements on the poster that you disagree with, in this case, me. The idea of debate is to listen to the other side and, whether you agree or not, show some respect for their right to have opinion. Perhaps better not to continue this one with you. I'll leave you to the side debate with others of VT editorial policy

Pedants corner. If they 'see it clearly', why would they ask 'what is going on' ?

Yep, for me it all began after MON stepped down in the way that he did. Evidently something was up with the board and its never been sorted out since, that was 4 years ago. Did we ever find out why MON got compensation after stepping down? According to our President Emeritus, he was "fired" If that is the case, if only they had fired him 2 years earlier.

Nothing to do with you feeling insulted. You spoke about him respecting the club. How does the hiring of McLeish show that he respects the club? So, in another time, the signing of Peter Withe showed a lack of respect to the club? How different our history might have been. Its called common sense. For 3 years in a row, when the squad was in desperate need of improvement you can sit there and think it was the managers choice to sign no one? Laughable. Purely an opinion, which is fine, as VT is about opinions. But your opinion is based purely on the fact that something didn't happen that you think should have happened. No it's not. Look at the league tables the last few years and see how close we came. We came that close because of the decision making of the owner. Poor decision making is not gambling. The manager has used the resources afforded to him unwisely. That is not the owner's fault. The owner can only be judged on his managerial choice which, coincidentally, was the fan's choice. So we are all guilty of 'gambling'

I personally have no issue with who the club hire in terms of me feeling insulted by it, because I am not. I have no idea whether backing was refused in January transfer windows, and I doubt whether you do either. And the 'gambling' bit is simply your opinion, nothing else. BJ10, you asked a question and I showed you the courtesy of offering a reply. I did not expect you to agree with me, but please lay off with making judgements about what concerns me or not, because you are not in a position to judge.

It's fairly simple to me. Aston Villa are my club, just like they are your club BJ10, and the club of all who reside on here and beyond, so I will hereon refer to it as 'our' club. I am incredibly proud of our club. That pride extends far beyond the on the pitch circumstances at any given time, and any comparison to other clubs, because if it did, I would have deserted them long ago. Our club suffered years of decay and missed opportunity under a skinflint owner who used our club to propel his own very large ego, and treated virtually everyone associated with it, supporters and employees alike, with complete disdain. His lack of personal wealth, outside of his stake in our club, meant that he needed to use the resources of the club to make sure that he was 'financially OK'. In all of his years association with our club, the skinflint owner did one good thing for us, he sold our club to a good man, Randy Lerner. Mr Lerner came in as the quiet man. This was not a vehicle for his ego, he had plans, and he was prepared to back his plans with hitherto unimaginable amounts of cash. Relatively small amounts of cash were spent on the improvement and acceleration of some projects, the training ground and the corporate facilities in the Trinity Road stand. Both are up there among the best in the country, and are something to be proud of. A philanthropic project was the restoration of the Holte Pub, removing an eyesore for those who approach the magnificent Villa Park. This he was lauded for at the time, while we were overspending on players like, for example, Steve Sidwell and Habib Beye, but has since been used as a stick by his detractors who somehow think that a couple of million would make a difference. Nevertheless this is the most obvious legacy of his respect for the history and tradition of our football club. And then the unimaginable amounts of cash, around £250 million, or to make it sound more shocking, a quarter of a billion pounds. Not bad for someone who is trying to make sure that he is 'financially OK' To a large degree I agree with those who question his decision making during his tenure, but I still believe on the football management side he has been largely unlucky. The lack of experience meant that he didn't get rid of O'Neill much earlier, when the signs were obvious to many of us. He has been unlucky with Houllier (health) and plain silly with McLeish, and probably a combination of bad luck and silliness by employing the fan's favourite, Lambert. My hopes are that he has found a buyer who can 'carry the baton'. I believe that he, like the old dictator, will seek to sell to the right person, because I believe that he genuinely cares about our club. Unlike the old dictator, I believe that he will end up taking a substantial loss on his investment, so not 'financially OK' at all. When he goes, and I hope that is soon, he will go with my gratitude and best wishes, for the respect that he has shown to our club, and for the opportunity, however badly spurned, that he gave to us. That is why I have so long been branded a 'defender', because I refuse to be rude about someone who has only shown opportunity and respect to our club. My preference is to forgive failure in the knowledge that someone has at least cared enough to try, and try Randy Lerner has.

Lambert will quit. I think he is getting pissed off with Lerner/Faulkner. I suspect the goalposts have been moved and that maybe things Lambert was promised haven't materialised. I could be wrong but that's what I think But then surely the goalposts would have been moved in January, not now. If that is the case he is as slow at getting pissed off as he is at making tactical changes.

Basic criteria. 1. Someone who is not from Glasgow. 2. Someone who has never managed, played for, supported, or shown any affinity at all to a Glasgow club. 3. The above should apply for any Villa managerial appointment in the next 100 years

The problem is that many of us can't wait for Lambert to go....

I don't think that the present owner will be here. Barry is a player highly regarded by those who watch him, and he has more recently performed with distinction for a club with wealthy owners. If you are buying the Villa, don't have an obvious manager, need experience on the pitch, and to bring a disgruntled, albeit reserved, support on side, who would you call?

Out of the mouths of babes.......... If you think or wonder that there maybe some truth in what I wrote, I think that that's a pretty insulting way of showing it I don't know if that was the aim. And it hasn't really come out of my mouth, at least not the implied idea and also I don't want to put words in other people's mouths. I doubt very much there is anything in these rumours of Barry signing a 4 year deal with us but if it were to be true I'd have to imagine that it would involve some sort of coaching role. Not meant as an insult at all, indeed the meaning is that you have said something that may well be wise and close to the truth. I assume the fact that you have taken umbrage is a generational thing, as it is not something that you have heard before. Sorry I'm like it in real life someone only has to look at me wrong and I worry about it all day, need to take some of my own advice and ease up. In my first post I should have just come out with what I meant. Which was to ask you do you think there could be a chance that Barry might have some sort of role given what your associate in Liverpool told you and your throw away comment about us all wishing for a mega rich owner and (player) manager. No worries. Don't worry about me, I like everyone on VT, even the ones who don't like me My opinion. In all honesty, if there is any truth in the Barry rumour, then I think that it has a better than 50% chance that it is a player manager role. The saving on PL's salary (reputed to be £40k per week) and the fact that GB is a long serving player held in high regard by a large percentage of the support, and with the ability to win over most dissenters, makes it a possible saving situation. Let's wait and see.

Typically there is a large private jet due to BHX late this evening from an unusual Middle East origin (not Riyadh) It is another charter company owned one, so no indication as to who may be on it, if anyone. It may have passengers on board, or it may just be positioning in empty to operate an outbound charter from BHX. There is a local lady who charters to take her kids to Barbados during school holidays, which I believe may have started, and she uses various aircraft from different companies. Only posting because it does tie in with the 'they will arrive late Saturday' post of the other day, but it could well be another pinch of salt job. When it departs, I'll keep an eye out as to where. Once again, informing what I have observed. I know nothing else.

Do stop calling him Mr Lerner, it freaks me out. He has to be nice to the board at AVFC since they threatened him when he blew the lid off that OGS flight The request was politely made through an intermediary (mod). If the club wanted to threaten me they could easily work out who I am and where I live from their own database. Anybody who has received a PM reply from me knows who I am, because I sign my name. Internet warrior I am not.

All a hostile atmosphere will do is galvanise the opposing team. In all fairness there has been an ambivalent atmosphere at VP all season, with at least 11 of our opponents suitably galvanised anyway.

Out of the mouths of babes.......... If you think or wonder that there maybe some truth in what I wrote, I think that that's a pretty insulting way of showing it I don't know if that was the aim. And it hasn't really come out of my mouth, at least not the implied idea and also I don't want to put words in other people's mouths. I doubt very much there is anything in these rumours of Barry signing a 4 year deal with us but if it were to be true I'd have to imagine that it would involve some sort of coaching role. Not meant as an insult at all, indeed the meaning is that you have said something that may well be wise and close to the truth. I assume the fact that you have taken umbrage is a generational thing, as it is not something that you have heard before.

Do stop calling him Mr Lerner, it freaks me out. Sorry, I was raised to show respect

Out of the mouths of babes.......... Maybe Rosler would be better............

I know that this thread always goes into overdrive after we lose (so after every game), but I would suggest that Mr. Lerner's statement that he is a custodian and would hand the baton on is in the process of coming true. So those who wish to hound him out are probably better to be patient, because he is surely on his way anyway. It just takes time, and our currently unassured Premier League status will have a huge bearing on the price.

True... but maybe it gets others thinking... I hope... we need to get rid of everybody at the club. All of the crap.. and get somebody in who doesn't run it like Rita's cabin. Come on man, it looks a bit cringy. No offense as I enjoy many of your posts. This, to be fair. It's why I've brought it up with you in a nice way. It doesn't bother me but it potentially comes across as 'wooo I was right' which I know isn't the message you're trying to portray. My thoughts as well. 'it was predicted' 'I told you so' Is there a difference? Let's hope that we all get what we want during the summer. A new mega rich owner and a new (player) manager.

That's definitely an old flag, because behind them is what New Street use to look like. Looks like Euston to me.......

He just looks stupid now. Was only a couple of months ago he was signing his praises. I assume that 'His Praises' was another cheap signing who accepted £5k per week?

I call my boss when I want to 'put pressure' on him. He also lives abroad and never comes to Birmingham (why should he when I do such a good job!?) I think this is just Lambert admitting that his policy of youth over experience doesn't work and, in fairness to Lambert, is probably induced by journalists' questioning, rather than any particular view. All academic anyway, as the chances are that he won't be here in the summer.

The level of investment required from the owner, or a future owner are a separate issue, and I agree that improved funding is required. But the fact is that Lambert knew what was available to him when he took the job, and he has not only slightly failed, he has failed dramatically. If this club is to see larger investment in the future, then the man making the decisions on which players to invest the money in needs to be a hell of a lot more savvy than Paul Lambert.

Lamberts latest interview shows hes upset about something i think, he never talks like that and i think he's been told that the summer will be more of the same imo. Is there a manager that hasnt been destroyed by Lerner? Where are they all now? Please! What kind of environment do you live/work in? The club has hired already wealthy individuals in O'Neill, Houllier, McLeish and Lambert. They have been hired on contracts that pay unimaginable amounts of money to us mere mortals. They are hired on the basis that they put themselves forward of someone capable of managing a team playing at the highest level in this country. They are aware of the tools for them to succeed in their job, the squad, the training infrastructure, and the budget for improving either or both, where they see fit. Clearly the Lambert spin machine now sees the writing on the wall, so we hear leaks of him being 'upset'. To be honest with you, if I was as shit at my job as Lambert is, I would be upset. The difference is that I wouldn't be seeking to blame others, I would hold my hands up and resign. Are you sure about that? How do you know what kind of promises and what is said before they sign up? I'm not defending lambert, far from it and i have said i hope he leaves in the summer. But how many managers can be hired by lerner, given nothing to work with and then constantly failing under him before attention is shifted more towards him. Lambert has to go for me but i wouldnt celebrate the day because i know full well lerner will hire the next fall guy, give him nothing to work with and the fans will turn on him also. There is nothing to suggest that the owner has reneged on any promises made regarding backing. Lambert has been backed with a transfer budget, and back when he wanted to improve the contracts of certain players (Benteke, Lowton, Westwood, Weimann) And if you think that O'Neill, Houllier and McLeish were 'given nothing to work with' then 'something' will never come for you.

Lamberts latest interview shows hes upset about something i think, he never talks like that and i think he's been told that the summer will be more of the same imo. Is there a manager that hasnt been destroyed by Lerner? Where are they all now? Please! What kind of environment do you live/work in? The club has hired already wealthy individuals in O'Neill, Houllier, McLeish and Lambert. They have been hired on contracts that pay unimaginable amounts of money to us mere mortals. They are hired on the basis that they put themselves forward of someone capable of managing a team playing at the highest level in this country. They are aware of the tools for them to succeed in their job, the squad, the training infrastructure, and the budget for improving either or both, where they see fit. Clearly the Lambert spin machine now sees the writing on the wall, so we hear leaks of him being 'upset'. To be honest with you, if I was as shit at my job as Lambert is, I would be upset. The difference is that I wouldn't be seeking to blame others, I would hold my hands up and resign.