Villarocker

Hmm, this almost reads like a slightly stereotyping, old-school view of American corporatism, and I think it's worryingly outdated, although I am probably over-reacting, too. I wouldn't put Lerner in that category, frankly. He inherited his assets. And I don't want to pick an off-topic fight, but if you think British and European-headquartered companies are somehow less cutthroat, you are mistaken, as I'm, sure most on this board would agree. British-Dutch Unilever has been slashing jobs all over the place here. We in the US are more and more at the mercy of companies based abroad, esp. Britain, Germany, and -- believe it or not -- Mexico. All over the world, the super-consolidated wealthy have workers by the scruff. Not anti American in the slightest. I stated a fact about my girlfriend's employment situation and I speculated, as have many others, about Randy Lerner's affairs at AVFC. I am also employed by American owners and haven't said anything bad about them, which I guess I would have done had I been anti American corporations. And yeah, I agree with you about wealthy businessmen and women having the workers by the scruff. There are masses of us who fall into that category!

My other half works for a company that was bought out by Americans and, ever since, the new owners have done nothing but make redundancies and cut-backs. They've basically asset stripped the company and virtually gotten rid of all the staff. They've recently announced the purchase of another competitor and there's no doubt the outcome will be the same there too. It seems to me that Lerner seemed to think that he would make a load of money out of the Villa and when he realised it wasn't going to happen that's when he stopped the funding for players. Now, it seems like he will get every penny out of us that he can before allowing us to move forward under someone else's ownership.

Did he speak the truth though? Who knows?

I must admit, I am surprised at General Krulak's comments. He is supposed to be Lerner's right-hand man. Lerner gives a statement thanking Lambert and wishing him all the best, Krulak slaughters him. Now, is it a case of the General saying to his best buddy "Don't worry Randy mate, I'll give them the truth so you can remain your usual, dignified self" or was it a case of Krulak thinking "F*** this! It's about time someone spoke the truth here"? To stay on topic, I wonder who Krulak's choice would be for successor?

That's quite an impressive CV right there, sir. But, can you polish many turds?

Who did he murder? Aston Villa Football Club Not by a LOOOOONG chalk. I don't like Randy Lerner much as an owner, I would like him to sell up. But to say he has "murdered" the club is hyperbole in its extreme. It was just a throw away answer to a stupid question. I didn't expect it to be analysed to the max! My original point was meant to suggest that I hope it hurts him, the way he's run this club. Maybe it wasn't typed in the way that certain people would have liked but hey, I am no literary genius. Sorry! My bad!

Who did he murder? Aston Villa Football Club

Is it at all possible that having other coaches and a manager would have impacted on his transfer budget? If so, maybe he thought he could do without in exchange for a few extra quid to play with.

I don't think Lerner would want anyone without Premier League experience, which could also mean the end for the Klinsmann link too.

Klinsmann it is then unless he chooses not to come to Brum to manage, in which case, it'll be Sherwood. I can take the first option but I think the second option would fail.

I wouldn't mind betting that, if we had a poll added to this thread, whoever is top by Sunday evening would be the man named AVFC manager on Monday morning. If, of course, the main man was getable!

I hope that Randy Lerner sits down at times, thinks about the impact he has on other people's lives, and then sheds a tear for the pain and heartache that he causes. A billionaire status does not make you a better person who is free from making mistakes and he certainly makes plenty of those. With all of the best will in the world, please hurry up and leave our football club so that someone new can come in who genuinely cares and has the club's best interests at heart.

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1skkf8q There's one thing that can certainly be said for Paul Lambert - he knew what a sleeping giant Aston Villa Football Club is. Fair play to him for showing such dignity after losing his job. It cannot have been easy for him knowing that no matter what he tried he couldn't turn it around. We will never know whether he would or wouldn't have turned it around this season. I hope for his sake that his next club have a better owner who gives him better support. It was right to sack Lambert following the season we have had but, I doubt that many Villa fans will argue that he has had a tough job to do here. Good luck for the future Paul!

Is that you speculating Rich or do you actually know something?

I think that Lerner will go for someone with a bit more experience in terms of age. His biggest flops have been the two youngest managers he has worked with and so I can see him going for a manager with more management time on his CV. We all know that he prefers someone with Premier League experience and that's what makes me think he will go for someone like Avram Grant.

Alex Ferguson until the end of the season?

Anyone for Avram Grant? Just taken Ghana to AFCON final. Also took Chelsea to CL final and I think he also got Pompey to a cup final too.

Anyone want Shteve McLaren? He might even bring the rejuvenated Bent back with him to save us yet again. Maybe we should go for Warburton. After all, we might need someone with Championship managerial experience the way we're going.

Sherwood makes me cringe whenever I see him on TV. I really don't think he would cut it here. Dyche is an interesting shout. Does anyone know if he's got any kind of affiliation to the Villa? A fan possibly? I personally think they will look to get one of our previous players in and the only one I can think of that would interest them is Southgate. If you look at all the managers from O'Leary through to Lambert, you'll see that they've all got a minus goal difference except for O'Neill, who had a lot of money to spend. Therefore, we really shouldn't be surprised if the next manager also struggles. But, with our current plight being so bad, a change seemed better than what we had to look forward to with the previous manager.

Why a new broom? You don't sweep shit, you shovel it!

Could have something to do with us being humans. Him being a human and the majority pf us thinking he is a decent one outside pf football????? Could have something to do with us being humans. Him being a human and the majority pf us thinking he is a decent one outside pf football????? Could have something to do with us being humans. Him being a human and the majority pf us thinking he is a decent one outside pf football????? Could have something to do with us being humans. Him being a human and the majority pf us thinking he is a decent one outside pf football????? You just couldn't re-iterate that enough, could you?

Yeah, he should definitely be saying "We" and not "you". Also, he can hardly say we've been playing nice football! FFS, we have been desperate. If we played ugly football and won I doubt there would be too many moans and groans. Hell, give us a goal off someone's shin and we're over the moon! I wonder if Lambert would be willing to say something like "I am 100% certain we will stay up. In fact, I am so certain of this that I will hand in my resignation after the last game and pay back my earnings between now and then if we fail to stay up"?

For the record, I don't see Lerner sacking Lambert anytime soon. I think Lambert will be in charge for the Leicester game at least. Maybe Lerner's thoughts will be to see if we get through that game. Win and he gives lambert longer, lose and he replaces him. I'm not even feeling any kind of certainty about that last scenario as I wouldn't put it past Lerner keeping Lambert regardless of whether we stay up or go down.

I feel sorry for Paul Lambert in the sense that he cannot intentionally send the players out to be so bad. Let's face it, they are hardly trying to improve our fortunes, are they? That was mentioned time and again in last night's commentary. Gary Birtles kept referring to how lazy the players were and how they all gathered together with a lack of movement either towards the ball or into space. They really are not playing for Lambert and there appears to be a massive lack of interest from a lot of those players. I don't feel sorry for Lambert with regards to tactics and the position's that players have been picked to play in. He confused the hell out of me right from the start when he played Chris Herd as a right winger against Everton. He's continually done things like that ever since, with strange team selections and playing people out of their best position. The irony is, I actually thought he set us up right against Hull. I have been moaning about seeing Gil playing behind the striker and with Westwood or Sanchez partnering Delph behind Gil. The only thing I would have changed is having Benteke up front and Gabby out wide instead of Sinclair as I still think that front three of Weimann, Gabby and Benteke, who were hot in that first season he was in charge, can still be successful in front of goal. They can't have declined so much in two years, surely? Unfortunately for Lambert, the person who gets changed is always the manager. The players are the cause of poor results through their performances but it is ultimately the manager who takes the blame. The only hope for the club is that another manager comes in and can get them playing better individually and, more importantly, as a team. The players appear to have lost faith in Lambert and for that reason he needs to go. Nobody can blame him for seeing out his contract and taking the money because, right now, he would find it hard to find another job paying anywhere near what he is on at Villa. It must be hurting him to witness the demise of such a big club and I am sure he never wanted for this to happen. It must hurt to fail so badly AND to be left to get on with it by what must be the worst and most clueless owner of a club he has ever met. Who knows, for his own sanity and best interests he might decide to call it a day. Nobody could blame him and I think he would gain a lot more respect for being man enough to do that. But, why should he? He probably feels gutted at the way Lerner has left him with no assistant manager and a very weak coaching team. It's a shambles that Randy Lerner has created. He has destroyed the heart and soul of this beautiful football club and left Lambert in the firing line to take the bulk of the flak from the fans and critics. But, for the good of the football club right now, the focus will all be on Paul Lambert being replaced with the hope that it brings a change of fortune on the pitch. That's all any Villa fan can hope for right now but, come the summer, every concerned Villa fan should campaign like never before with the aim of enforcing Lerner out of this club before he damages us so badly that we never recover from it!

That song, Too Many Clowns, has quite appropriate opening lyrics: So play the game, we're all beginners. Stand by the flame, there'll be no winners. No preacher here, will answer your questions. They'll run in fear, at some suggestions. Sums up the Villa's current plight pretty well.