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Randy Lerner put quite a bit of money in to Villa when he took over, didn't he? I remember them spending a lot on Darren Bent and Charles Nzogbia, though I think Downing and Young's money paid for them? Then they got players in like Shay Given and Richard Dunne. Perhaps he's had enough of putting money in and getting little in return?
Recently it seems they are happy to sell off bigger players and bring in younger, less expensive replacements. Perhaps Lerner has lowered his ambition and is happy with a financially stable but less successful club.
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Yeah, McLeish was a weird one. Never quite understood why Martin O'Neill left. No doubt they've been prudent, but with no star names to service wages for and a very healthy crowd each week, I do wonder whether the money is simply making ends meet or becoming profit. I don't know, but am curious. In today's climate, it makes sense to be prudent but it also makes for a boring football club. Villa used to be a big club - it's sad to see how they've become. Old Doug was the same, if not worse, for killing little Villans dreams.
O'Neill left because they wouldn't give him the money from the Milner deal and they basically told him that it was time to cut costs. He knew for sure that meant losing his prized assets like Young so he jumped ship - I didn't blame him.
The biggest surprise came the next January when Lerner decided to give Houllier 30 million for Bent and Moukoun, if he had offered this money to O'Neill then I think he would have stayed on for at least another couple of seasons, and then maybe we would have been able to keep players like Young and Downing.
Deadly Doug had his moments of splashing the cash, he made a right effort in the late 90's when Villa spent quite a bit under Gregory but we could never push on for an entire season and would normally finish around 6th or 7th.
The funny thing about Mr. Deadly Doug was Villa had their most successful period in-between his two stints as chairman when we won the league and European cup in the early 80's. I don't know if that means anything but it certainly doesn't look good on paper for him.
Randy Lerner put quite a bit of money in to Villa when he took over, didn't he? I remember them spending a lot on Darren Bent and Charles Nzogbia, though I think Downing and Young's money paid for them? Then they got players in like Shay Given and Richard Dunne. Perhaps he's had enough of putting money in and getting little in return?
Recently it seems they are happy to sell off bigger players and bring in younger, less expensive replacements. Perhaps Lerner has lowered his ambition and is happy with a financially stable but less successful club.
Lerner has certainly put money into Villa, no doubt. Just looking at the Bodymoor Heath training complex shows there is loads of investment behind the scenes. And the players you've mentioned above is also evidence but the major problem came when O'Neill signed older players on big wages who didn't even play. Luke Young, Beye, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Knight, Harewood and Heskey to name a few. Some of these guys were late 20's to early 30's which meant they would never have any sale on value and were given massive 4 year contracts on bumper wages - it was just a massive loss.
On the same note, maybe Lerner himself has financial troubles as he recently sold the Cleveland Browns which obviously set-up the rumors about him trying to sell Villa as well. This could be another reason why he's hesitant to invest at the moment and just break even.
We up for tipping this weekend? Here’s Larwo’s tips
Saturday
Arsenal v Fulham 2-0 Everton v Sunderland 2-0 Reading v Norwich 1-1 Southampton v Swansea 2-1 Stoke v QPR 2-0 Wigan v West Brom 2-1 Aston Villa v Man Utd 0-2
Sunday
Man City v Tottenham 2-1 Newcastle v West Ham 2-0 Chelsea v Liverpool 2-0
Mine:
Saturday
Arsenal v Fulham 3-1 Everton v Sunderland 2-0 Reading v Norwich 2-1 Southampton v Swansea 1-2 Stoke v QPR 1-1 Wigan v West Brom 1-1 Aston Villa v Man Utd 1-4
Sunday
Man City v Tottenham 2-2 Newcastle v West Ham 1-2 Chelsea v Liverpool 3-1
I’m betting against Villa with my head and not heart this weekend… we should get smashed over the next few weeks.
An extra special tip for Alffy.
Peterborough v Crystal Palace 1-2
You’ll be top come Saturday night if they win. Good luck to your boys.
Coop, way to go on the Palace prediction! Shame you haven't done too good with the premier league games lol.
Seen as I've missed the early games here my prediction for the Villa v Utd game: Villa 5 Utd 0. I wish lol. Villa 1 Utd 3. Unfortunately I think this is more likely.
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Sunderland v West Brom 0-1 Everton v Norwich 2-1 Man Utd v QPR 5-1 Stoke v Fulham 2-2 Wigan v Reading 1-1 Villa v Arsenal 1-2
Sunday's games
Swansea v Liverpool 1-2 Southampton v Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea v Man City 3-2 Spurs v West Ham 1-1
Was anybody else surprised by the sacking of Di Matteo? I know Abramovich has a habit of pulling the trigger but this guy won the clubs first European cup 6 months ago and they were top of pile until recently. Tough for any manager to succeed at Chelsea it seems.
Less shocking was the sacking of Hughes - Rangers have been awful!
Di Matteo's sacking was ridiculous in my eyes. He won the FA cup and Champions League but gets the boot for a bad run of results. Roman should take a look at Arsenal and Man Utd and notice how long they kept their managers. Fergie was nearly sacked at Utd but they gave him time and look at them now. Pep won't go there as his reputation will be bashed if he's sacked after 6 months and lets be honest, I could pick a Barca team that would win most games.
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I agree with that the sacking of RDM is a disgrace...
But as far as Rafa taking over I honestly wish him all the best, he did a great job for us and was poorly treated by 2 clueless owners... , He needed to work, and he deserves to work at a club with good players - but in taking the Chelsea job he's also signed on with the devil. It really is a shitty classless club.
Di Matteo's sacking was ridiculous in my eyes. He won the FA cup and Champions League but gets the boot for a bad run of results. Roman should take a look at Arsenal and Man Utd and notice how long they kept their managers. Fergie was nearly sacked at Utd but they gave him time and look at them now. Pep won't go there as his reputation will be bashed if he's sacked after 6 months and lets be honest, I could pick a Barca team that would win most games.
Although I agree with you, Alffy and I don't want to defend Chelsea because it isn't great that they've had 9 managers in 9 years under Abramovich.
But you have to admit that when they do sack a manager mid-season, it does normally do the trick and they end up winning a trophy come the season's end. Just look at Di Matteo after he took over from AVB last season or Hiddink who led them to the F.A Cup when he took over halfway through a season. Even Avram Grant got them to a European Cup final.
And let's be honest, most clubs and fans would jump at the chance of a trophy every season if it meant sacking the manager mid-season - in fact, I hope Villa follow this model from now on as it can't get any worse for us.
Lambert out - I've heard there's a little Italian fellow who just the European Cup who's come available.
I think Di Matteo got sacked to try and the lift the team for the City game. Rafa is hated by the Chelsea fans so it seems an odd appointment by Roman but I guess he thinks Pep will be in charge at the start of next season. Di Matteo didn't help his own cause though when playing Juventus without a striker. They are struggling for forwards but they're happy to loan them out at the start of the season...another weird decision.
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I forgot to get my predictions in again, life's not been good these last few weeks which explains my lack of visits to SS but as I started this thread I should keep it goingl. No excuses lol.
With no midweek league games I'll get my weekend predictions in early and lets see if we can get a few more to participate....
Villa on a roll at the moment, Coop but think they should have gone for the win on Saturday. I think they'll be safe enough come the end of the season.
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