brummie

Freddy LOVES the Toon blueyes.gif Actually - that's an interesting point. In theory, at least, haven't you already *got* the local boy done good running the club?

Were we, are we open to offers ? first I have heard of that. Fair point on the last point. Apologies, I didn't mean to put it so literally, what i actually meant was believed to be receptive to offers - much like West Ham talking to potential buyers / FS talking to Belgravia. FS will only sell if he wants to, I guess, much as Ellis only sold due to being at death's door, he beat decades of protesting fans without breaking sweat.

I detect a touch of jealousy, Skirge. So, if there are three clubs which everyone knows are open to offers, and Lerner looks at them all, and rejects the ones with debt, and chooses the one with no debt, that makes it his third choice, does it? That's bizarre logic. Ignore Ellis, his number one priority has always been, and always will be, to promote Doug Ellis As for whether Lerner will be a good chairman, well so far, very good. A few examples - his right hand man on the board (General Krulak, former head of the US Marine Corps - how fucked up is that?) has been down in the Holte End several times during matches, meeting fans and listening to concerns, has called in the main fanzines to talk to him at Villa Park, and actually posts on one of the fanzine's boards (verified as him by the editor who met him at Villa Park). How many clubs have board members that do that? Within one week of the takeover going through (the next day, in fact) he had the building work on the new training facilities restarted after Ellis mothballed it for lack of money. Also on the board is Bob Kain, founder, president and former CEO of IMG group, which is probably something to do with why we're currently in talks with "a local multinational" (rumour is Cadburys) over a 100m sponsorship deal - this will be over several years obviously, and does *not* include ground naming rights. Again, confirmed from the board to the fans. He's also resurrected plans to rebuild the North Stand end of the ground - this is good news for you lot as it means you'll have more room to maneouvre to take your shoes / shirts off on your once a year visit in the future. He has also made it absolutely clear that this wasnt an "I've always loved the Villa" purchase. He does love football, which he developed during his time spent in the UK, both as a student and with MBNA. Yes, he obviously saw us as undervalued - £64m is peanuts, and thought he could make the figures stack up, but there are far easier ways for an already wealthy man to make more money than football. The new board have gone out of their way to make it absolutely clear that they are in it for the long haul - he has also spoken several times of how he understands sport and the way it makes a difference to peoples' lives. He seems a very humble bloke - avoids publicity, most of the time he actually sits on the steps of the stand with his kids rather than in the directors box. He's not going to be like Abrahmovich and spend stupidly, and we don't want that, but he IS extremely wealthy. His personal wealth is only around the 2bn mark, but he is managing his family's trust, and the family is worth more like 8bn). Oh, and anyone who thinks MON would have come here had he not known Lerner was on his way in to replace Ellis is kidding themselves. I really hope the Toon are as lucky as we are, that you get as lucky as we were with the new board when you get shot of FFS, you deserve it too.

No, but the cancer which has seen him have six operations in two years and his age (82) aren't suggesting "reading really long books" as a suitable hobby to take up in his retirement.

I think the selecting the team stuff has been overdone. I'm no Ellis fan, but even I wouldnt believe that. As for ignoring the fans, he specialised in that, though. And he only sold because he's clearly not long for this planet.

OMG! URE OBSSSESSD WITH OTHER TEAMSS!!!!11!! Not usually, just the new chelsea! Hardly.

OMG! URE OBSSSESSD WITH OTHER TEAMSS!!!!11!!

I don't understand why so many people throw fits about supporters of other teams having even a passing interest in what goes on at their club. Nor me. Trolling, yes. Generally positive contribution? *shrug*

It just doesn't cut it any more. There's nothing to moan about now we never lose. except for always drawing

There was a thread about this a while back, and I'd have tagged this on there but can't find it. Thought it might be of interest. Bit from article in the local press down here re Ellis selling to Lerner... http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/sport/page.cfm?objectid=17993758&method=full&siteid=50002 So maybe your hated chairman actually is worse than our old one ....

i think I'm even more chuffed at the West Ham result. couldn't happen to a more loathesome, odious set of fans.

Good innit? I fancy our chances of winning that cup, yet again. Now if only we could manage the proper cup .....

I'm sure I saw an interview with Beckham a couple of months ago, where he spoke at length about the fact that the only English club he would even consider playing for would be Man United (which obv isn't going to happen). He'll move to the States.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4138/oopsgk0.jpg Am I the only one who thinks this guy looks distinctly out of place - like he took a wrong turn for Gay Pride?

I can think of more appropriate measures of success, to be honest. I can also think of fans who stand by their teams more through thick and thin and can be bothered to travel to away games to prove it, like West Brom We have very good away support, for what it's worth. I'm still struggling to find the point you are trying to make, though. the chant "Your support is fucking shit" comes to mind! you must be looking forward to picking up the "great support trophy" at the end of the season, then. Oh.

I can think of more appropriate measures of success, to be honest. I can also think of fans who stand by their teams more through thick and thin and can be bothered to travel to away games to prove it, like West Brom We have very good away support, for what it's worth. I'm still struggling to find the point you are trying to make, though.

I can think of more appropriate measures of success, to be honest.

I wonder if this has got something to do with why he didnt end up as toon manager - John Robertson and Steve Walford do almost all the training, MON shows up 2 days a week at training, apparently. He takes his team everywhere, which I guess would rattle cages at some clubs.

He's done nowt yet and I liken much of Villa's early season form to that of ours under Roeder just after Souness got sacked. Basically Souness going was the big lift, same with O'Leary who had a similar effect on Villa that Souness had on us, minus the money spent. Lets see if he can do to Villa what KK did to us or Sir Bobby even. I'm not so sure, although it does seem like he'll get lots of money to spend so he might. Either way we'll find out whether he really is as good or as great as many make him out to be. Agreed. He might be good, but you can't say he is yet. If he, say, repeats what Bobby Robson was for Newcastle then we can rank him alongide that as being a good appointment, if not then he isn't, its pretty straightforward. Worth noting, is also that O'leary, when he went to Villa was touted as the next big manager just like O'Neill is supposed to be now, and he got to the semi Final of the European Cup, far superior than the UEFA Cup Final. But time will tell. O'Leary took an already top 6 team, spent 100m pounds, nearly bankrupted it, got it to a CL semi final, but won nothing. MON took a shit squad in a shit league to the UEFA cup final. I'm a Villa fan, and DOL was the worst manager we have ever had. Worse than Billy McNeill, worse than Tommy Docherty. He created a situation whereby, last summer, most of the squad wanted to leave. He constantl talked the team down, alienated the supporters, turned good players into bad ones, and created an atmosphere of doom throughout the club, from top to bottom. I pity the next club who employ this man MON has, in a very short time, turned the team around beyod belief. Don't forget, he took the job less than 2 weeks before the start of the season, and the transfer window closed before the Lerner take over was finalised, so he has had no money other than that spent on Petrov. He's also lost Milner (considered our best player last year), and De La Cruz, so strictly speaking, he's got an even smaller squad than DOL had. We're now still unbeaten, along with Everton (not forgetting the fact that we've had away games at Arsenal and Chelsea, whereas Everton have barely been tested). He's turned things around entirely, in pretty much no time. I don't expect us to qualify for the CL this year, but UEFA qualification is a possibility. This is with a squad which most people had written off last year as "shite". I honestly would not swap MON for any other manager you care to mention, working anywhere. He has instilled a buzz, a confidence, and a feeling that we can be great again in every part of the club, from top to bottom. He took the job and *immediately* understood what the fans wanted, got a feel for the history of the club, recognised what the problems were, and talked about how he was going to solve them. Belive me, this man is a great manager, and an extraordinary motivator. I find it amusing that you suggest achieving what SBR did for Newcastle as the benchmark of a good appointment - he's going to do a lot more than that Isn't it funny how one finds so many doubters of MON's ability on the boards of teams who he was linked with but rejected / not appointed for whatever reason?