The Fun Factory Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 Assuming we can get relegated and then come back up again is a very dangerous plan. Sure some come back but there are a lot that don't. Much better to struggle in the Prem and rebuild within it..... plus for those of us that live in other parts of the world. Watching Villa on TV would be gone.... actually it has been torture watching recently so that might be an augment for going down!! Relegation can never be part of a plan but if we have new owners with money and a long term plan then it wouldn't be a complete disaster. If we get relegated with Lerner still in charge and still no takeover that is when I would really fear the worst for the club. Obviously all hypothetical as we may stay up regardless of who is in charge. You have to treat relegation as a disaster, until it happens. Otherwise, it'll happen all the more likely. Presently, it hasn't happened yet, so it's a disaster. Should always be prepared for a disaster. Should that be the new wording over the rampant lion crest? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenz Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Paul Merson???........ Alcoholic Paul Merson? Yeah, I'd believe anything he says to his mates while on one. Grow up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srsmithusa Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 I believe merson said those things. I don't believe Merson knows what's going on. It would make no sense to delay an announcement till september. Actually it would make a lot of sense to delay it, if the new owner was somehow able to sanction/fund spending in the meantime. The second we get new owners you can guarantee that selling clubs will bump up the asking price quoted to us for players. At the moment we're seen as paupers and as such that actually puts us in a better bargaining position. Saying that I don't believe it. I actually wrote a post here yesterday, then deleted it before posting. I have a feeling we are already sold, but delaying the announcement. The problem is, I couldn't think of any reason that would be the case. Something about the whole situation smells "funny" or false. I know many think the aroma is just that the whole situation stinks. But I just keep feeling there is something of a facade. If the deal was done, but being kept secret for some reason, a lot o things that don't make sense to me, suddenly do make sense. Then this merson tale.... I'm not one for jumping to any conclusions, but I just have to say that this, to me, would explain a lot of mysteries. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OkoreLoveChild Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Lambert really wasnt a fan of Keane apperently, but the new owner was and they agreed to have him come in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tayls Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 I believe merson said those things. I don't believe Merson knows what's going on. It would make no sense to delay an announcement till september. Actually it would make a lot of sense to delay it, if the new owner was somehow able to sanction/fund spending in the meantime. The second we get new owners you can guarantee that selling clubs will bump up the asking price quoted to us for players. At the moment we're seen as paupers and as such that actually puts us in a better bargaining position. Saying that I don't believe it. I actually wrote a post here yesterday, then deleted it before posting. I have a feeling we are already sold, but delaying the announcement. The problem is, I couldn't think of any reason that would be the case. Something about the whole situation smells "funny" or false. I know many think the aroma is just that the whole situation stinks. But I just keep feeling there is something of a facade. If the deal was done, but being kept secret for some reason, a lot o things that don't make sense to me, suddenly do make sense. Then this merson tale.... I'm not one for jumping to any conclusions, but I just have to say that this, to me, would explain a lot of mysteries. These are the sorts of thoughts that I am clinging onto at the moment, but then there are so many questions that remain, simple things such as: Contracts for the main senior players? Money for transfers so we can get ahead of our rivals for once? A new contract for Lambert who only has one year left? And probably the main one, why wait to make an announcement especially when it's season ticket renewal time? Until I start to see some of these questions being answered, I'm afraid to say that we have not been sold, yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OkoreLoveChild Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 I believe merson said those things. I don't believe Merson knows what's going on. It would make no sense to delay an announcement till september. Actually it would make a lot of sense to delay it, if the new owner was somehow able to sanction/fund spending in the meantime. The second we get new owners you can guarantee that selling clubs will bump up the asking price quoted to us for players. At the moment we're seen as paupers and as such that actually puts us in a better bargaining position. Saying that I don't believe it. I actually wrote a post here yesterday, then deleted it before posting. I have a feeling we are already sold, but delaying the announcement. The problem is, I couldn't think of any reason that would be the case. Something about the whole situation smells "funny" or false. I know many think the aroma is just that the whole situation stinks. But I just keep feeling there is something of a facade. If the deal was done, but being kept secret for some reason, a lot o things that don't make sense to me, suddenly do make sense. Then this merson tale.... I'm not one for jumping to any conclusions, but I just have to say that this, to me, would explain a lot of mysteries. These are the sorts of thoughts that I am clinging onto at the moment, but then there are so many questions that remain, simple things such as: Contracts for the main senior players? Money for transfers so we can get ahead of our rivals for once? A new contract for Lambert who only has one year left? And probably the main one, why wait to make an announcement especially when it's season ticket renewal time? Until I start to see some of these questions being answered, I'm afraid to say that we have not been sold, yet. if its anything to go buy, the b mail and other papers are saying contracts are to be dealt with soon regarding delph, vlaar and gabby, if this does occur then it hints towards goings on, but could just be part of the £10 million apparently given to lambert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smetrov Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Just joined on here after watching over about speculation talk the last few weeks, but today heard something which i thought i could share. You can disagree with me all you want but the simple thing i've heard is that Merson has said we've sold to an American owner who he said will be announced actually in September and also that he was the one who wanted Roy Keane in and Lambert wasn't actually a fan of the idea. This has come through a friend who is close with Merson and drinks with him, alot. Again i know how this works with most people calling stuff like this rubbish, but this is no lie, we will just have to wait n see. Depends when Merson said this ....such a theory was rife straight after the Lerner announcement, Doug, Graham Taylor and one or two others were saying it. I am bit old fashioned - I believe we will know the identity of owner long before the deal is finalised - not the other way around Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 When Randy sold the Browns a few days previous he released a statement saying that he was in talks with Jimmy Haslam about a deal and a couple of days later the team was sold. I think we'll get a similar thing happen to us. Maybe our statement will just be to announce the club has been sold. Some might have guessed the name but I don't think it will have leaked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McGrath1874 Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 I do find the appointment of Keane a curious one. I'm suprised Keane would have chosen coaching a struggling premiership club he has no previous connection to, over Celtic ( a club which he supported ) . I know he says the fact he can remain coaching Ireland was a factor, but we are meant to be in Limbo. Does he know something we don't? It feels to me someone higher up than Lambert wants Keane involved and I doubt Lerner would be meddling with Lamberts coaching staff, as he has always pretty much let Lambert take care of footballing matters. I've got a feeling there has been some kind of shift in power at the top. Just a feeling though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smetrov Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 I do find the appointment of Keane a curious one. I'm suprised Keane would have chosen coaching a struggling premiership club he has no previous connection to, over Celtic ( a club which he supported ) . I know he says the fact he can remain coaching Ireland was a factor, but we are meant to be in Limbo. Does he know something we don't? It feels to me someone higher up than Lambert wants Keane involved and I doubt Lerner would be meddling with Lamberts coaching staff, as he has always pretty much let Lambert take care of footballing matters. I've got a feeling there has been some kind of shift in power at the top. Just a feeling though. if a new owner comes in and sacks Lambert and Keane - then Keane is no worse off than before he took the job, in that respect Keane is in a unique position. With the club in limbo the pool of available coaches was small - but i beleive his appointment is unrelated to some new cloak and dagger owner goings on 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samjp26 Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Agree with Smetrov, Keane has a job still even if we sacked him. He's earning extra cash, getting back into the Premier League and keeping himself busy, all whilst having the security of his ROI post. Good move for him and good move for us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackbauer24 Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 It feels like, understandable, clutching at straws. I don't for one second think that we are secretly sold - it makes no sense. If they were keeping it secret to keep prices down when buying players, the likes of Merson would know jack all. With one massive bid all the clubs would reveal we do have money to the press and furthermore, I'm not sure other teams care if you can't afford things - the price is the price for 90% of the teams, they don't give discounts for poor ones and we're not going to be a £50m a player team regardless. I think, for once, what we know is the truth. We're for sale and we're not sold. Let's be honest, us small fans are the last to know: Chairman/ Board first, Manager then players. Players tell mates across the premiership. Maybe they let slip to one genuine ITK on a board who no-one will believe (for good reason because of the other 99%), press pick it up, write a story we believe or don't depending on journalist/ paper/ player and slant! Finally we get told last. We might hear before it is official but really that's just an ever so slight edit of the grapevine: Chairman Board/ Execs Manager Players Players Mates, Coaches, Other team players, players families, pundits and very occasional ITK slip Rumour Press 'Hardcore' fans on forums etc BBC/ Sky/ Official All the other good fans who enjoy matches but aren't on Villa Talk! I think it gets stuck between the first two for ages but once it gets to players I think the gap between that and official is days not weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dn1982 Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 If we was secretly sold it wouldn't make sense to wait until after the transfer window before announcing and if we started bidding for players of a certain standard that would raise a red flag. The quicker a sale was announced would benefit all involved Lerner, New owner, Players and most importantly an apathetic fan base. A sale would rejuvenate the club and fans immediately (apart from the eternally pessimistic) and the buzz would feed ST sales etc. for me it s non starter any hidden sale would be better served announced before the season starts otherwise you'd question the owners football,and business nous immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilS Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 We are not secretly sold, that would not be possible. Surely players would like to know who they are signing for? Talks may be happening behind the scenes with potential buyers, but I highly doubt this is all some smoke and mirrors trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG_Villa_Fan Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 After Mickey Arison's Heat empire seems to be falling apart since losing to the Spurs, let's hope he decides to go with something new and bids for Villa. We need some speculation again, everything seems so dead about this takeover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zhan_Zhuang Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Anything is possible with Villa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limpid Posted July 7, 2014 Administrator Share Posted July 7, 2014 We are not secretly sold, that would not be possible. How so? If the club were sold as a simple contract between two individuals then no-one other than they need to know about it. The first time they would need to involve anyone else would be to fulfil the FA's "fit and proper" owner test. I suspect that process also be followed pretty quietly as there is no consultation. (I'm not claiming to have any knowledge). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilS Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 We are not secretly sold, that would not be possible. How so? If the club were sold as a simple contract between two individuals then no-one other than they need to know about it. The first time they would need to involve anyone else would be to fulfil the FA's "fit and proper" owner test. I suspect that process also be followed pretty quietly as there is no consultation. (I'm not claiming to have any knowledge). What I mean is (and I probably worded it wrongly, should have said it was highly unlikely), when buying players a contract would be made between the all of the parties involved. I highly doubt any decent players would sign for us without knowing about who exactly they are signing for? Which is why we have only signed free agents so far. As mentioned above by Jack Bauer24, as soon as we start to flex any kind of financial muscle or go for any decent in demand player then surely the cat will be out of the bag. We have been down the smoke and mirrors route before, and we always end up being disappointed (Marlon Harewood). So I am taking this viewpoint that it is not likely to be the case, mainly to avoid disappointment further down the line. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliffy Biro Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Anyone seeing this Lerner statement via @doogan_brian? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa89 Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 (edited) Randy Lerner statement - This statement is intended to provide clarity regarding the status of the sale announcement I made early May Over last 8 weeks we conducted a targeted process during which we explored the sale of the Club. In advance of this process however I committed to our Manager to become completely focused on the upcoming season should there be no agreement to sell by the time players coaches return to training. Given that no agreement has as of yet been reached, I feel that it is time now to turn my full attention back to Villa matters at hand. While the sale process has been productive and remains ongoing, my priority at this point in the summer,heading into the upcoming season, is that the Villa organisation’s sole focus be football - undistracted by any sales process. Reverting to common practice, I do not intend to comment further on a potential sale or related rumors unless and until I have reached a definitive agreement to sell, at which time I will be prompt and clear. Nothing much in it really. Just saying that he won't comment on the any sale unless we are sold which probably won't be for a while (if ever). LINK Edited July 7, 2014 by villa89 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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