Randy Lerner Archive

Mass clear out in the Summer?

By
Stuart
Published: March 4, 2010Tags: , , , , , ,
Mass clear out in the Summer?

There are plenty of players in the Villa setup at the moment that look like they could be on their way out this summer. But the question on many people’s lips is, will they be replaced?

Habib Beye was rumoured to be in talks with Sunderland in January, but nothing actually come of it, but that doesn’t mean the player is ready to stay at Villa Park beyond the summer. Today’s Daily Star quotes him saying that he’s upset at only playing 10 games in all competitions this season.

Emile Heskey is another who could be on his way. I personally think that Emile has had a good season with Villa, and he’s my choice of striker to play alongside Gabby.

John Carew hasn’t looked himself since he was punished for his of the field antics when he visited a very popular gentleman’s club on Broad Street. When he does play he doesn’t look interested and when he doesn’t play he doesn’t look like he wants to fight for his position.

Nigel Reo-Coker is one player I expect to leave for certain once he’s fit again. It’s no secret he fell out with Martin O’Neill and despite them apparently making up; I can’t see O’Neill wanting to keep him at Villa Park.

So that’s four players who could possibly be leaving, and with Randy Lerner apparently looking for cut backs, will these players be replaced with better players? Or will we have to make do with youth?

Lerner Investment Reaches £138m

By
Jake
Published: January 27, 2010Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Lerner Investment Reaches £138m

Since 2006, Villa owner, Randy Lerner has seen the ups and downs of following the Villa. But it seems he has only seen ‘up’ when it comes to his investment to the club.

According to official documents, Lerner has submitted just under £140m into Aston Villa.

Despite this, Villa announced a loss of £7.3m last year, as a result of almost doubling players wages and more signings in order to remain in competition with other wealthy clubs.

But overall, I think that the Lerner revolution has benefited Villa hugely. And there is evidence, with us reaching our first cup final at Wembley for over a decade.

His investments into the club have been clever ones and he has been able to secure Villa financially for the long run – which is more than you can say at Old Trafford, where the Glazer family have revealed their debt of a staggering £716m! None of that sum being an investment for the club!

Craig Gardner, Carlos Cuellar and O’Neill on spending..

By
Stuart
Published: January 17, 2010Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Craig Gardner, Carlos Cuellar and O’Neill on spending..

The Sunday morning papers are running in overdrive this morning when it comes to Aston Villa and thats not purely because they are taking on West Ham at Villa Park today.

Martin O’Neill has stated in the Daily Star that he would be in fact willing to splash the cash in order to improve on Villa’s season even though its not in Randy Lerners 5-year plan. Randy Lerner is set to return to England this week after a lenghy period in the States and O’Neill has stated he wants to sit down with the chairman.

This is Martin O’Neill talking here remember though, he has a tendancy to say what the fans want to hear, we just need to remember that actions always speaker louder than words.

The Birmingham Mail are going with more talk from Martin O’Neill, this time about our strong versatile defender Carlos Cuellar. The Spanish star has been linked with moves to Barcelona, Real Madrid and Seville this month but O’Neill has stated that Carlos Cuellar is going nowhere.

I dont think you would find a player whos playing in the best league in the world, playing week in week out and trying to break into his countries world cup squad would risk it by moving clubs and possible wrecking his chances wanting to leave really can you?

Another story from the Mail, is about Craig Gardners move to local rivals Birmingham City. Is it on or off? Would he move across the City or not? Apparently they are on the verge of making a new £3.5million offer for the former England under 21 star after already having a lower bid rejected.

Gardner is a good player in my opinion and he does owe it to himself to move clubs and get regular first team football, but would he really move to Birmingham City? Hes always said hes Villa through and through, but this is football and as Liam Ridgewell proved it could work in his favour.

I think this is a interesting one and i will be watching on very closely.

Meanwhile, as i already stated we entertain West Ham today in the battle of the ‘Claret & Blue’. There are still tickets available from £18 – £40 so be sure to get down to Villa Park and get behind the lads. After-all a win will take us joing forth, with Tottenham and Manchester City.

Randy Lerner vs. Doug Ellis

By
Stuart
Published: January 12, 2010Tags: , , , , ,
Randy Lerner vs. Doug Ellis

When Doug Ellis was in charge the majority of us called for change at Villa Park and eventually we got it, but are we really better off for this?

Yes theres no doubt we seem to have consistancy in the team now, thanks to Martin O’Neill but we wanted so much more when Doug Ellis was in charge, and we still want more now but we dont actually seem to be getting it.

Our financies are worst off now than what they were before with us reportedly £70million in debt, and with the club only making £70million a season, that doesnt look to good, compared to Doug Ellis who kept our beloved club debt free.

And lets be honest, no matter who it is, or whos in charge, a debt is a debt.

The highest we finished under Doug Ellis was 4th and we had two league cup victories in that time, while under Randy Lerner we havent won any silverware as of yet and havent finished above 6th yet.

The fact is Doug Ellis was never prepared to take the gamble to move us on to the next level, and up to now neither does Randy Lerner look like doing the same thing.

If we want to be up there we need a chairman whos prepared to gamble by spending big money on pushing us on to bigger and better things. And lets not forget, the bigger and more successful the club, the more money the club then makes from revenue.

As Damo from AVFC Blog said ‘well, everyone feels great and we have a nice mosaic, but we’re a football club. not a restuarant looking for a review’

So for me the verdict is well and truely out on Mr Lerner and his intentions for Aston Villa and the next 12-18 months will show just this.