Mantis

From what I saw, MON didn't get much abuse shortly after he quit. Coincidently though, my point's entirely been lost. There were many people on here criticising Randy for O'Neill's departure, despite the fact that the whole incident was likely over Randy trying to reign in spending, which many on here have criticised him for not doing sooner.

Why? What has he shown this season? I like Delph but he's the one that's been poor this season, not Bannan.

I'd like to echo the Beckham sentiments. Phenomenal player. Will go down as an England legend and rightly so. Easily one of my favourite players of all time.

Agreed. Although was young when he was in his prime. Maybe I don't like left backs. You wouldn't be saying that if he played for Barcelona instead of Real.

You only call it a retards game because you're not very good at it

Immediately after he left there was hardly any. A month or so later is when the abuse started coming (and rightly so).

So am I correct in thinking that this game isn't really your cup of tea?

Must say I don't recall that bit - the overriding sentiment on here was anti-MON, almost regarding him as a traitor, with Randy cast as the innocent victim who had his money spunked away by a reckless manager. And a brave few seem to be sticking to that view even though it has become increasingly apparent that Lerner/Faulkner's judgement has been suspect throughout their stewardship of Villa. And in denial of the obvious point that any properly functioning organisation needs to monitor and approve its spending separate from the managers who actually do the spending. If Lerner wasn't doing that, it truly was a rubbish operation. Strange, I don't recall much anti-MON resentment on here when he threw his toys out of the pram. Then I would say you are suffering from memory lapse. Nah, don't think so. Well you are wrong, very wrong in fact. Those defending O'Neill after he walked 5 days ahead of the season were few and far between. Well I'm not. There may not have been many people defending him but there weren't many criticising him (at the time) either.

Must say I don't recall that bit - the overriding sentiment on here was anti-MON, almost regarding him as a traitor, with Randy cast as the innocent victim who had his money spunked away by a reckless manager. And a brave few seem to be sticking to that view even though it has become increasingly apparent that Lerner/Faulkner's judgement has been suspect throughout their stewardship of Villa. And in denial of the obvious point that any properly functioning organisation needs to monitor and approve its spending separate from the managers who actually do the spending. If Lerner wasn't doing that, it truly was a rubbish operation. Strange, I don't recall much anti-MON resentment on here when he threw his toys out of the pram. Then I would say you are suffering from memory lapse. Nah, don't think so. And now you are guessing as well. None of us know the reason for him reason, we don't know if the compensation was unpaid bonus's etc or compestation due to constructive dismisal. Claiming that any compensation is proof that MON was some how in the right is complete speculation and therefore utter bollocks. Indeed.

Sorry, how do you know what conditions MON would work in? The only way MoN would stay is if he could screw the club up? And you truly believe an independent tribunal who heard all the facts awarded a large compensation package to Mon because he refused to sort out the finances and just quit? Really? No, MON wouldn't have anyone above him interfering.

I was albeit I didn't say he was crap just didn't get all the adjulation he was getting. To bring some perspective this is the guy who struggled to get a regular start for Leeds last season So what if he struggled to get first team football with Leeds last season. That was last season. Up until this season he's been getting regular football with us and doing very well.

Ridiculous. Mon wasted some money like every manager but the issue we had wasn't just about money spent. Our problem was the money spent in relation to money coming in and I don't know how anyone can argue that MON should be on top of that more than the owner. After training should MON have popped over to the ticket office and sorted out pricing, corporate seats and advertising for match day deals? Should he then have gone over to the merchandising department and sorted out our national and international sales. Then I guess he'll ring up the sponsors and negotiate a new deal and then contact sky about how much we're getting. Then after sorting that out he should have sat down and forecast future incomings to the club. There is one man who should know more than anyone else the incoming and outgoing of money at this club and that man is the owner. If its not then it's another reason to show randy as a poor owner making poor decisions. I actually never said that. Of course Randy shouldn't have given MON such a free reign, but MON wouldn't work under any conditions except his own. When Randy finally tried to sort the problem out, MON quit, which you also blamed Randy for. So in other words, Randy's to blame for letting the finances spiral out of control, but when he tries to address that problem and the manager quits, he's also to blame for that too?

Must say I don't recall that bit - the overriding sentiment on here was anti-MON, almost regarding him as a traitor, with Randy cast as the innocent victim who had his money spunked away by a reckless manager. And a brave few seem to be sticking to that view even though it has become increasingly apparent that Lerner/Faulkner's judgement has been suspect throughout their stewardship of Villa. And in denial of the obvious point that any properly functioning organisation needs to monitor and approve its spending separate from the managers who actually do the spending. If Lerner wasn't doing that, it truly was a rubbish operation. Strange, I don't recall much anti-MON resentment on here when he threw his toys out of the pram.

How come there are so many people saying he's crap/we should sell him? Before this happened I don't remember anybody saying such things.

Yes, Randy was a bit of a fool to give MON such a free reign. However, we all know MON is a control freak and wouldn't have accepted anything less anyway. I guess the lesson here is that we probably could've done better with a better manager.

Twist what? He's the boss, he has the final say on all money spent and he makes the decisions on who will become the manager. I'm afraid part of being the boss is taking responsibility for making the wrong decisions. Well for example, you won't seem to accept that MON is just as much if not more to blame than Randy for the finances going out of control. It's Randy's money, the buck stops with him. O'Neill was nothing more than an employee, and as owner, seemingly gave him carte blanche to spend what he likes. That's the sign of a bad owner, and a shit businessman. An owner can't be expected to know which purchases would be worthwhile and which wouldn't. Do you really think MON said to "I'm gonna buy Beye and leave him on the bench the entire season"? The thing is, when Randy finally step in, and MON resigned, he was roundly criticised on here for not backing the manager.

Ah yes, the great footballing nation of Qatar.

Twist what? He's the boss, he has the final say on all money spent and he makes the decisions on who will become the manager. I'm afraid part of being the boss is taking responsibility for making the wrong decisions. Well for example, you won't seem to accept that MON is just as much if not more to blame than Randy for the finances going out of control. I didn't realise MON did the books as well as manage the team? Why can't you understand, Randy signed the cheques and the contracts NOT MON! At the end of the day MON brought more sustained success than any recent manager and for all his faults is head and shoulders above ANY of Randy's own managerial appointments. Who is it that signs the players and negotiates the contracts? I was under the impression it was the manager... Yes, I'm not surprised MON has done more than Houllier and McLeish, what with the former having less than a year in the job and the latter having only a few months as of today. Great comparison there! Under the same conditions as MON (top teams weaker, same amount of funding etc) Houllier and McLeish would both get us where MON got us, if not higher. All Saint Martin did was get us three 6th place finishes, which had been bettered by a number of predecessors under a more difficult ownership.

Twist what? He's the boss, he has the final say on all money spent and he makes the decisions on who will become the manager. I'm afraid part of being the boss is taking responsibility for making the wrong decisions. Well for example, you won't seem to accept that MON is just as much if not more to blame than Randy for the finances going out of control.

What a shock that you've got no clue. Care to elaborate instead of just throwing out insults? Well firstly I don't think anyone has claimed randy is a bad owner just because he can't compete with man city financially. IMO he's a bad owner for a number of reasons. 1) allowing finances to spiral out of control 2) that financial breakdown leading to a good manager walking out 5 days before the season started. I also think there were other factors that led to this happening which considering MON was awarded a large compensation package Lerner must take some blame for the breakdown in their relationship. 3) appointing a manager who pretty much destroyed all the strengths of a squad that just achieved its highest points total in years. 4) leaving us in a position where Roberto Martinez wouldn't even talk to us and then going for the likes of mclaren before finally getting a manager who relegated a team twice in 3 years And even though my knowledge of NFL is minimal i do know he makes similar poor decisions which hold his other team back and that's in a sport that he fully understands. A poor sports owner who inherited all his money and has managed to do **** all with both teams he's invested in. Yes I got a scarf, a flag and once had my coach fare paid for but I expected so much more and I don't believe he needs to be stupidly rich to have done better. The problem here, is that you're blaming practically everything on Randy. According to you, it was Randy's fault finances spiraled out of control, not MON's. You then go on about how he's to blame for letting a supposedly good manager go despite the fact that that was all about him trying to get the finances in order, something you blamed him for not doing in your first point. As I've said countless times, it's a catch-22 for him. Finances spiral out of control - Randy's fault for not controlling them A "good" manager leaves - Randy's fault because he didn't back his manager Houllier or McLeish perform poorly - Randy's fault for appointing them And it goes on and on. Basically, when anything bad happens people will always twist it so that Randy is to blame.

no other prem club would come in for him imo You just keep telling yourself that.

Burkina Faso is therefore too equipped to host a tournament. How about Somalia? Would not put it past FIFA having the tournament hosted there someday. Fist the bill perfectly. Poor facilities, no real interest in football, dangerous etc.

At least try and hide your anti-England agenda. I just said it doesn't bother me that England didn't get it. Who cares if Russia haven't hosted it yet? Are we going to keep on going to more and more obscure countries to host one of the world's biggest sporting tournaments? By the looks of it, we are. Russia, Qatar. What next? Burkina Faso?

More like, Russia got it because it paid the most bribe money. On footballing grounds, it's impossible to justify Russia getting the World Cup ahead of England, Spain & Portugal and Netherlands & Belgium.

What a shock that you've got no clue. Care to elaborate instead of just throwing out insults?