The Randy Lerner thread

[Marka Ragnos]

1 minute ago, Stevo985 said:

Nope. All I meant was that Sherwood seems to have been absolved by many of any blame for our transfers in the summer, despite the fact he was, by all accounts, a vital part of the team that brought the players in.

People seems to have taken a report in the media as gospel.

I hear you. I admit it DOES seem like the pendulum has swung a bit towards the Sherwood-As-Hapless-Victim notion. But I also notice that no one seems to be rushing to sign Tim up for a job, so perhaps there's poetic justice at work.

[HanoiVillan]

1 hour ago, Marka Ragnos said:

I hear you. I admit it DOES seem like the pendulum has swung a bit towards the Sherwood-As-Hapless-Victim notion. But I also notice that no one seems to be rushing to sign Tim up for a job, so perhaps there's poetic justice at work.

It really hasn't - I haven't seen that from more than one or two posters. However, the club being badly run predates Sherwood's time, and his successor still hasn't got a win after nearly 10 games in charge, so the notion that Sherwood was all or the main problem at the club has taken a battering (and I was very quick to turn on him, so this isn't coming from a Sherwood fan). 

[Marka Ragnos]

1 minute ago, HanoiVillan said:

It really hasn't - I haven't seen that from more than one or two posters. However, the club being badly run predates Sherwood's time, and his successor still hasn't got a win after nearly 10 games in charge, so the notion that Sherwood was all or the main problem at the club has taken a battering (and I was very quick to turn on him, so this isn't coming from a Sherwood fan). 

I don't think you were all that quick, tbh. It seemed to me that you were fair. There were not a few haters from the moment he signed.

The problem for me came almost instantly, and it was when he started suggesting that the new French players were foisted on him. That was a really stupid, stupid, demoralizing message to send out to his own squad. 

[HanoiVillan]

Yes, I agree with that. He clearly handled the new signings dreadfully, which was quite a surprise - until that point, I had assumed that building morale and maintaining relationships in the squad was one of his strong points. Maybe he'll always be a better manager at rescuing seasons, rather than building teams. 

[hycus-flange]

23 hours ago, Grasshopper said:

How a human being could ever take pride in the taking of another persons life or possesions is well and truly beyond me.

i cherish life as the most important thing one could ever relish in

someone who instigates or perpetrates the taking of someone elses life or possesions is scum of the earth

 

general K is that scum

I'm ashamed of his association not only with AVFC but as a member of the human race

Holy shit, I'm not endeared to the useless marines but it's thanks to people like him, and me and anyone else that has wore the uniform and put themselves in harms way so that people like you can have opinions like that and voice them, sometimes though opinions should be thought and not heard/written, sometimes they cross a line.

[imavillan]

back on topic...Randolph Lerner, one of, if not, the worst custodian in Villa's 141 year illustrious history.

No direction, no leadership, shocking appointments and and and....

[maqroll]

3 hours ago, Marka Ragnos said:

what he won't do is settle for the status quo in Div. 2.

He's settled on relegating us, so I'm not sure why you think he'd do an about face. He doesn't care, will not spend and can't/won't find a buyer. He also employs complete idiots at the highest levels of the operation, so I'd prepare to get used to the status quo. He is.

[TRO]

On 6 January 2016 at 17:23, villa4europe said:

 

He ended up replying to every comment with "ring Nicky Keye"

He was good at the start, think I used him as a service to ask stupid questions, usually about my match day experience, I don't know why some fans thought he'd start answering questions about why we sold Milner etc it's not going to happen

I was half joking about the pastie / pie comment in the AGM thread, half joking because I do suspect that the AGM will also dodge questions about players being sold and what the **** we're doing but happily discuss catering at VP and painting bridges if the train station was going to get renamed and maybe even the PA system... That was the kind of stuff you could hope to get an answer from krulak

The problem is with all these attempts by the club in the past to answer the fans they are usually staged managed....and if they can't do that, they lose interest in doing it.

They only want to answer questions we have little interest in ....unless the heat of the chips is important or the head on the beer is too big.

The pertinent questions will always be dodged.....probably the same at every club.

Edited January 8, 2016 by TRO

[TRO]

5 minutes ago, maqroll said:

He's settled on relegating us, so I'm not sure why you think he'd do an about face. He doesn't care, will not spend and can't/won't find a buyer. He also employs complete idiots at the highest levels of the operation, so I'd prepare to get used to the status quo. He is.

He does care....He has lost too much money not to care.

He just can't do the job....but its his money.

= Dilemma.

Edited January 7, 2016 by TRO

[TRO]

3 hours ago, Stevo985 said:

Nope. All I meant was that Sherwood seems to have been absolved by many of any blame for our transfers in the summer, despite the fact he was, by all accounts, a vital part of the team that brought the players in.

People seems to have taken a report in the media as gospel.

I think its more to do with no knowing to what extent he was involved, rather than blindly negating him from any responsibilty.

The pendulum of hate or blind faith is equally as unhelpful....He is gone now, so its irrelevant.....but a balanced view is generally the popular option.

[The Fun Factory]

I would sum Villa up as a analogue club in a digital footballing world. We just don't fit in at all. We have failed under Lerner to become a modern footballing power, yet have to much history and baggage just to be happy to aim for mid table. I mean right now I would rip your hand off for mid table, but long term most Villa fans deep down want more than that. We are not like a Norwich or Watford just happy to be part of it.

Villa are hard to package, hard to categorise. Who else would get 5,000 more at a game versus West Ham than when we played Arsenal? We have never really adapted to 'new' football post 92. Our support base has never really expanded in the last 15 years. That might be down to the performance on the pitch but I am sure Lerner hoped we would fill VP more than we when did even under MON. Since 2000 Villa Park has expanded by 3,000 seats. In the same time Arsenal has increased by over 20,000, United by 20,000, Newcastle by 15,000, City by over 20,000, West Ham soon by 30,000, and Liverpool soon by 10,000.  And Spurs and Chelsea may have new grounds within 10 years.

Meanwhile, the mid ranking clubs have catched us up, and now have overtaken us. That is Lerner's legacy. A golden and perhaps last chance to become a big club again. Now we are sliding into obscurity with a owner that does not really care anymore. Heartbreaking.

Edited January 8, 2016 by The Fun Factory

[Kingman]

4 hours ago, Marka Ragnos said:

Man, you really don't like Tim Sherwood, do you? I am somewhat baffled by this apparent, enduring animus, which perhaps I'm misapprehending?

At least MON's ears have finally stopped burning 

[Marka Ragnos]

26 minutes ago, The Fun Factory said:

I would sum Villa up as a analogue club in a digital footballing world. We just don't fit in at all. We have failed under Lerner to become a modern footballing power, yet have to much history and baggage just to be happy to aim for mid table. I mean right now I would rip your hand off for mid table, but long term most Villa fans deep down want more than that. We are not like a Norwich or Watford just happy to be part of it.

Villa are hard to package, hard to categorise. Who else would get 5,000 more at a game versus West Ham than when we played Arsenal? We have never really adapted to 'new' football post 92. Our support base has never really expanded in the last 15 years. That might be down to the performance on the pitch but I am sure Lerner hoped we would fill VP more than we when did even under MON. Since 2000 Villa Park has expanded by 3,000 seats. In the same time Arsenal has increased by over 20,000, United by 20,000, Newcastle by 15,0000, City by over 20,000, West Ham soon by 30,000, and Liverpool soon by 10,000.  And Spurs and Chelsea may have new grounds within 10 years.

Meanwhile, the mid ranking clubs have catched us up, and now have overtaken us. That is Lerner's legacy. A golden and perhaps last chance to become a big club again. Now we are sliding into obscurity with a owner that does not really care anymore. Heartbreaking.

Dude, you missed one big thing. Analogue is COOL and SEXY and AWESOME ...

 

Edited January 7, 2016 by Marka Ragnos

[Rugeley Villa]

1 hour ago, The Fun Factory said:

I would sum Villa up as a analogue club in a digital footballing world. We just don't fit in at all. We have failed under Lerner to become a modern footballing power, yet have to much history and baggage just to be happy to aim for mid table. I mean right now I would rip your hand off for mid table, but long term most Villa fans deep down want more than that. We are not like a Norwich or Watford just happy to be part of it.

Villa are hard to package, hard to categorise. Who else would get 5,000 more at a game versus West Ham than when we played Arsenal? We have never really adapted to 'new' football post 92. Our support base has never really expanded in the last 15 years. That might be down to the performance on the pitch but I am sure Lerner hoped we would fill VP more than we when did even under MON. Since 2000 Villa Park has expanded by 3,000 seats. In the same time Arsenal has increased by over 20,000, United by 20,000, Newcastle by 15,0000, City by over 20,000, West Ham soon by 30,000, and Liverpool soon by 10,000.  And Spurs and Chelsea may have new grounds within 10 years.

Meanwhile, the mid ranking clubs have catched us up, and now have overtaken us. That is Lerner's legacy. A golden and perhaps last chance to become a big club again. Now we are sliding into obscurity with a owner that does not really care anymore. Heartbreaking.

i grew up with us occasionally going for the title, but more so in and out of the top six quite a lot. yes there was the odd relegation battle but back when i was a bit younger we were considered one of the big clubs.

[Marka Ragnos]

52 minutes ago, Rugeley Villa said:

i grew up with us occasionally going for the title, but more so in and out of the top six quite a lot. yes there was the odd relegation battle but back when i was a bit younger we were considered one of the big clubs.

They were Div II the first time I saw them. 42 two years ago haha.

[Rugeley Villa]

32 minutes ago, Marka Ragnos said:

They were Div II the first time I saw them. 42 two years ago haha.

we were in div 2 when i was four but i cant remember it  think i'll remember this relegation though.

[TRO]

My worry is .....it just seems they don't know, why we are ,where we are.

which leaves me thinking, if that is the case, how on earth are we going to get back.

[VillaCas]

 

The Emperor’s New Bicycle

 

Once upon a time, many years ago there was an Emperor so exceedingly fond of bicycles that he dreamed of owning the fastest bicycle in the world.  The bicycles in his own kingdom were not very good at all, so he travelled to a far-off land and bought a beautiful claret and blue bicycle from a kindly but miserly man called Mr Deadly (Mr Deadly was very well known to everyone who loved bicycles for he was the man who had invented something called the “bicycle kick” – but that’s a story for another day).  The Emperor cared nothing about reviewing his soldiers, going to the theatre, or going for a ride in his carriage, all he wanted to do was look at his beautiful new bicycle

Although the Emperor and Mr Deadly were both very rich, neither of them really knew how to ride a bicycle so whenever the bicycle was in a race, Mr Deadly had always asked a magical leprechaun to ride the bicycle for him.  The leprechaun could peddle really fast and always finished near the front of the race.

Race after race the magical leprechaun always finished right near the front, but as time passed the leprechaun became very mischievous and began asking the Emperor for more and more shiny new parts for the bicycle.  The Emperor was confused because the leprechaun didn’t really use all the expensive bicycle parts he already had so he refused the leprechaun’s request.

The leprechaun got very angry and ran away just before a very important race (taking a lot of the Emperor’s money with him!)

The Emperor was very sad, but after talking it over with the leader of his army, General Clueless, they decided to ask an old Frenchman to ride the bicycle in the big race for them.  He had once ridden a large, fast, red bicycle and so was very experienced and wise.

The Emperor and General Clueless thought that the Frenchman might do very well in the next race.  In fact, General Clueless, who had a very loud voice,  boasted to the whole town about how fast the bicycle would go, but sadly, although he tried his best the Frenchman was just too old to ride fast anymore and he had to stop before the end of the race as he was so puffed out!

The Emperor and General Clueless then asked the advice of the angry, red-nosed man whose bicycle always seemed to win the race, but the naughty red-nosed man was not very honest and he tricked the Emperor into employing an out-of-work Scotsman

The Scotsman could not make the bicycle go very fast at all.  In fact, he mostly liked to park the bicycle so that all the other bicycles could not get where they wanted to go.  After not very long the Emperor had to ask the Scotsman to leave

Not learning his lesson, he employed a second Scotsman who had shown he could ride a little bicycle quite well, but it turned out he couldn’t ride a big bicycle very well at all.  The second Scotsman tried to put some new parts on the bicycle to make it go faster, but because the Emperor was now getting a bit fed up with bicycles, he would not give him much money and so the parts he could buy were not very good

The second Scotsman tried and tried but failed again and again.  The Emperor by now was sick and tired of bicycles and hardly ever came to watch the races.  General Clueless refused to speak to the townspeople and eventually the Emperor announced that he was going to sell the bicycle.

Time past but no-one came forward to buy the bicycle.  The Emperor hated bicycles by now and so asked Mr Fox to look after the bicycle until it could be sold

Mr Fox had great plans for the bicycle and vowed to the townspeople that he would make the bicycle very fast again like in the olden days.  The people cheered (but were a little bit doubtful!)

In the great city where he lived, life was always gay. Every day many strangers came to town, and among them one day came a swindler known as “Tricky Tim” – he claimed to be a bicycle expert and could make the most magnificent bicycle imaginable.  Mr Fox was smitten and asked the swindler to start work at once.

To begin with it looked like “Tricky Tim” might know what he was talking about and he qualified the bicycle for a very big race but when he got there he fell off the bicycle in front of everyone.  People from all the other towns laughed.

During the summer “Tricky Tim” and Mr Fox decide to rebuild the bicycle – “that’s the trouble” they thought, “We need new shiny parts to make the bicycle go faster!”

With their helpers they bought lots of new parts, but to the dismay of the townsfolk they sold what seemed to be the best parts of the old bicycle.  “Tricky Tim” wheeled the new bicycle out of the workshop and it looked very odd indeed!  It had lots of parts in some places and not very many parts in others.  The wheels at the front were tiny and it looked like the bicycle would not go very fast at all.

Undaunted “Tricky Tim” wheeled the bicycle to the start of the race.  “Watch me go!” he shouted (for as well as being a swindler, he was a massive knobhead too).  The flag dropped and “Tricky Tim” peddled as fast as he could and at the start it looked like everything might be alright but soon the oddly-shaped bicycle overbalanced and “Tricky Tim” fell off,  he kept getting back on and falling back off – he tried putting all the parts in different places but that just made things worse

It became very obvious to the townspeople that “Tricky Tim” had no idea about bicycles at all and very soon Mr Fox had to ask him to get off the bicycle for good. 

Things had become very bad indeed and the Emperors once proud claret and blue bicycle was always last in all the races.  There was no more money for new parts and no-one knew what to do

In desperation Mr Fox asked another Frenchman to try and ride the bicycle in the race.  The Frenchman got on the bicycle and had a go – “mon dieu! zis bicycle iz terrible” said the Frenchman

The Frenchman was right - some parts of the bicycle could go backwards but not forwards and other parts of the bicycle would go forwards but not backwards.  At the very front of the bicycle was a massive heavy bell on the end of the handlebar.  The whole thing creaked and groaned as it moved forward.

The Frenchman tried again “Peddle faster! Peddle faster!” the townsfolk shouted but nothing would work.  Although it was not really the Frenchman’s fault, some of the crowd jeered and threw stones as they were by now very, very angry.

When last seen the bicycle was moving very slowly in very last place in the race.  The Emperor had not been seen for a very long time but people said that he still wanted to sell the bicycle.  The Frenchman gamely kept talking about how he might make the bicycle a little bit faster.  The General shouted something from a long way, away and Mr Fox just stood around with his minions looking very, very confused.

The townspeople cried.  People from nearby towns laughed and pointed. The townsfolk were never happy, ever again. 

THE END

Edited January 8, 2016 by VillaCas

[Marka Ragnos]

2 hours ago, VillaCas said:

 

The Emperor’s New Bicycle

 

Once upon a time, many years ago there was an Emperor ...

The townsfolk seem like fools. I blame them. 

Emperors once proud [Emperor's]

Peddle [pedal]

[VillaCas]

21 minutes ago, Marka Ragnos said:

The townspeople cried.  People from nearby towns laughed and pointed. The townsfolk were never happy, ever again. 

The townsfolk seem like fools. I blame them.

Harsh!  The townspeople were simple folk and only wanted what was best for the bicycle