tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post2236418529814499420..comments2024-02-29T09:58:18.342+01:00Comments on The Swiss Ramble: Aston Villa - Prophets And LossesThe Swiss Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11423088862174893998noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-51419286668667667472012-10-02T18:45:21.216+02:002012-10-02T18:45:21.216+02:00Thanks very much for your in depth analysis of Vil...Thanks very much for your in depth analysis of Villa's finances. Whilst MON brought some exiting times back to Villa Park he made a complete mess with his transfer policy.<br /><br />To best some this up, Gary Cahill (can't give him first team football at Villa) now has a Champions League winners medal and Curtis Davies is STILL the only Englishman ever signed for more than 10 million pounds without an England cap.<br /><br />Then there's Zat, Warnock, Beye....<br /><br />Thanks again Swiss R<br />UTVAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-25614616195071099872012-05-26T04:05:21.529+02:002012-05-26T04:05:21.529+02:00It's amazing, the amount of money sports playe...It's amazing, the amount of money sports players can spend. I think their salaries are ridiculously extravagant, too.Richest Countrieshttp://www.top100arena.com/news/104/top-10-richest-countries-in-the-world-2011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-21019715493549507222012-04-18T14:59:58.073+02:002012-04-18T14:59:58.073+02:00Excellent assessment and don't talk to me abou...Excellent assessment and don't talk to me about O'Neil!! The Celtic fans were warning us what would happen and boy were they right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-91226513292534881152012-04-18T14:40:19.358+02:002012-04-18T14:40:19.358+02:00its all martin oneils fault, but at the end of the...its all martin oneils fault, but at the end of the day it was randy that gave him so much power.<br />hence, in any comapny if there is ever a problem, the mistake will ultimatly be at the highest point.<br />randy is clueless in running a football club, those accounts that show so much misuse ultimatly are villas burden.<br />doug ellis should have never sold to randy, as at the time of selling with the right new owner we were such a great proposition.<br />now after 5 years with randy at the helm we are a complete mess.<br />seems like for the next 5 to 10 years under randy we will be mid table/ relegation candidates.alihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09503334675754012732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-18211211087925039782012-03-28T16:13:32.605+02:002012-03-28T16:13:32.605+02:00Exceptional evaluation! This could be a good sourc...Exceptional evaluation! This could be a good source for all football fanatics. Keep it up.Footballhttp://sportssupply.com/Football/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-81484145489254161732012-03-22T11:00:57.394+01:002012-03-22T11:00:57.394+01:00Brilliant analysis on Newcastle- really helpful an...Brilliant analysis on Newcastle- really helpful and clear. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-89528854741628453632012-03-20T00:38:37.103+01:002012-03-20T00:38:37.103+01:00very true dan, well said.very true dan, well said.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-87229442519481911842012-03-12T10:28:37.235+01:002012-03-12T10:28:37.235+01:00With FFP looming, Villa can do no more than strive...With FFP looming, Villa can do no more than strive to be a consistent 5th-8th place team. The ship has already sailed sadly, thanks to G14 and now FFP. Prepare for a lifetime of mediocrity...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-81775608458541356852012-03-12T10:26:33.226+01:002012-03-12T10:26:33.226+01:00Apologies SR - I wasn't very clear there. I w...Apologies SR - I wasn't very clear there. I was commenting on general perception, not yours. Your stuff on MCFC is generally excellent..! It's the hand-wringing from the media "experts" at City "killing the game" whereas Randy Lerner is seen as some sort of white knight...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-64646366824211616352012-03-11T19:20:13.033+01:002012-03-11T19:20:13.033+01:00What on earth is going on at Rangers?
Can we have...What on earth is going on at Rangers?<br /><br />Can we have an article on the fall of serie A at the turn of the century.<br />thanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-42108312755618044602012-03-10T12:30:32.532+01:002012-03-10T12:30:32.532+01:00Good article but just one thing - Luke Young &...Good article but just one thing - Luke Young & Nigel Reo Coker were both very good players for Villa, the former even warranting a call up to the England team. I'm not sure how either could be referred to as 'dross'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-51781499638642770342012-03-10T08:09:07.448+01:002012-03-10T08:09:07.448+01:00It yakes a brave (or foolish) owner to appoint a m...It yakes a brave (or foolish) owner to appoint a manager that has a CV as bad as McLeish has. His performance in the EPL was dire with two relegations in 3 years. OK he won a cup but he rode his luck to the hilt in doing that.<br />Perhaps a more alarming 'entry' on his CV that should have prompted pertinent questions was the fact that in SPL he was the only manager in recent history that managed to finish 3rd in a two horse race - not that really is some achievement!!<br />It has very little to do with him managing the Blues - after all one of our cult heroes in Peter Withe played for them before he came to VillaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-33370361801558043592012-03-09T23:33:14.997+01:002012-03-09T23:33:14.997+01:00Excellent analysis, more or less as I see have bee...Excellent analysis, more or less as I see have been calling it for ages. Good to see someone putting the reign of Longball O'Hissyfit into perspective, backed up by some forensic analysis, whilst his slathering pals in the mainstream media continue to spunk themselves silly over his latest little ego trip. Most of his critics amongst Villa fans are happy to acknowledge that Lerner must share some responsibility for allowing him such a free reign, but it is nauseating to see his many failings continually glossed over by his apologists - performance in the transfer market is part of a manager's remit and his was, when viewed overall,reckless, self-serving and verging on lamentable.<br />I agree with some of the comments in defence of Houllier; it was refreshing to see someone who wanted to have us playing some football - by all accounts he was let down dreadfully by some of O'Hissyfit's minted plodders, and his health failed before we could find out whether he had what it took to move us on to the next level.<br />The reply about the pub team manager is spot on - most of us were and are far more concerned about the fact that he is terrible manager, wholly lacking in charisma,ineffective, negative, defeatist, and incapable of playing anything other than antediluvian style of football which makes the O'Hissyfit era look cultured and stylish. In this context his grubby past is, unfortunately, just another stick to beat him with, and lazy media have their excuse to distort the truth and bypass the real storyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-24727452495707900602012-03-09T17:34:36.777+01:002012-03-09T17:34:36.777+01:00Yes but when he was informed that this was no long...Yes but when he was informed that this was no longer acceptable, he walked.....! He choose to walk the week before the season started to cause as much chaos as possible. Judge each manager on his merit, money spent and backing received, MON is the reason where Villa are where they are....a bad position!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-1738148627810199662012-03-09T16:00:07.167+01:002012-03-09T16:00:07.167+01:00I do find it amusing that O'Neill still gets c...I do find it amusing that O'Neill still gets constantly bashed. <br /><br />You have to remember that somewhere up the line people where approving his spending where they not?<br /><br />Second, who was negotiating wages etc MON alone? Please be serious. <br /><br />If you allow someone to waste your money then your responsible and so Lerner must take some culpability as well.<br /><br />Yes O'Neill wasted money on dross but he was ALLOWED to. Which is the bigger travesty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-89954648780799073552012-03-09T13:19:55.466+01:002012-03-09T13:19:55.466+01:00Thanks, I'd be inclined to agree with your ass...Thanks, I'd be inclined to agree with your assessment. As you say, a shame we don't have access to more information to form a proper view.<br /><br />RichardRichardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-6036342694097966972012-03-09T12:05:48.468+01:002012-03-09T12:05:48.468+01:00Insightful an very interesting article apart from ...Insightful an very interesting article apart from the Houllier = unmitigated disaster comment. Finishing 9th hardly constitutes a disaster and there is an abundance of "mitigation"- the squad he inherited was a lot less talented than the wages and transfer costs imply, "senior" players revolted, worst injury crisis for many a year. It was Houllier's signings in January that prevented Villa possibly going down, and the players he had reportedly targetted for Summer could have had us challenging at the top end again. And we were starting to play some proper football - you know passing and moving, that kind of stuff. It's arguably O'Neill's reign that will come to be seen as the unmitigated disaster, a waste of the best financial backing a Villa manager has ever had, and along with it Villa's best (last) chance to join the elite. All because MON thought it a good idea to blow millions on overpaid journeymen. Although the recruitment of McLeish may prove to be an even bigger disaster...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-87200675826136120622012-03-08T20:54:41.920+01:002012-03-08T20:54:41.920+01:00With sharper football people and football industry...With sharper football people and football industry heads on board, Villa's brand and identity would be worth far more. I look at some of the clubs outperforming Villa and am left shaking my head at how they have got themselves above Villa. Arsenal? Twenty five years ago they were the dullest football club on the planet. Spurs, Man City and Chelsea? Clubs all, traditionally, not as successful/big as Aston Villa. Liverpool and Man Utd? Two clubs totally built up by the media...nobodies prior to the fifties and sixties.<br /><br />Villa need to plan and invest for future growth in three areas:media/PR; on pitch success and Villa Park expansion. Obviously, the most important area that needs addressing is on pitch success, the bottom line being that the club needs new outside investment to get the club up and running once more. <br /><br />On the subject of Martin O'Neill, his timed departure of Villa was designed to cause as much harm to the club as possible. His behaviour was unprofessional and thoroughly self-centred leaving the club high and dry with a group of demotivated journeymen on high wages. I pity Sunderland.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-62708857754776190972012-03-08T20:06:52.859+01:002012-03-08T20:06:52.859+01:00According to a coach whom I know, with a link to t...According to a coach whom I know, with a link to the club, this was one of the reasons O'Neill legged it. The club were so concerned about future transfer dealings that they suggested bringing in a director of football to oversee transfers. Taylor and Houllier were both suggested/ approached and both apparently very keen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-64271519008089771502012-03-08T17:42:00.915+01:002012-03-08T17:42:00.915+01:00Wonderful work as ever. RL "went for it"...Wonderful work as ever. RL "went for it" & missed (CL). Now re-trenching. Quarter of a billion £. wow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-10522520944073561662012-03-08T16:41:16.949+01:002012-03-08T16:41:16.949+01:00The management charges are indeed a little mysteri...The management charges are indeed a little mysterious, as I noted in this piece a couple of years ago:<br /><br />http://swissramble.blogspot.com/2010/04/randy-lerners-money-talks-at-aston.html<br /><br />Looking at the accounts, they have been mentioned in the Note on Related Party Transactions in two years since Reform Acquisitions Ltd was incorporated: 2009 £7.7m and 2010 £0.8m. In both of those years that amount was also included in Creditors.<br /><br />What is interesting is that this year's accounts include £25.2m owed to parent undertakings, but this is not explained, beyond the fact that it is unsecured, bears no interest and is repayable on demand. It's probably worthy of more investigation, but I simply do not have the time available for such a forensic job.<br /><br />I don't believe that the debt financing element would provide any guarantees in the event of a sale, but it might potentially give him more (ahem) leverage. Incidentally, as far as I can see, all the loan notes are unsecured, so offer no protection in the event of bankruptcy.<br /><br />As regards whether this is an elaborate device for an LBO, it is impossible to answer without seeing the accounts of companies further up the chain, but I would note that the funding is very different to, say, the mechanism used by the Glazers when acquiring Manchester United.The Swiss Ramblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11423088862174893998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-56594135575924887602012-03-08T15:40:39.332+01:002012-03-08T15:40:39.332+01:00Have you read my work on Manchester City? I think ...Have you read my work on Manchester City? I think you'll find that it's rather more balanced than you seem to imagine.The Swiss Ramblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11423088862174893998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-33460879452782328102012-03-08T15:29:01.668+01:002012-03-08T15:29:01.668+01:00Always found the perception of Lerner interesting ...Always found the perception of Lerner interesting and you, like many otheres, refer to him as a "model owner". He respects the fans, hasn't done too much hiring and firing, invests his own money into the club, pursues community projects etc. <br /><br />Sounds like a perfect description of the much-maligned Sheikh Mansour to me.<br /><br />Amazing how the depth of your pockets makes the difference between you being a model owner or an evil sugar-daddy...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-68737889268093234162012-03-08T13:59:03.857+01:002012-03-08T13:59:03.857+01:00Bang on Dan i hate everything MON stands for,footb...Bang on Dan i hate everything MON stands for,football wasnt great under him alarm bells rang for me when cahill went and Zat Knight came in ? im a season ticket holder and i still her fans say bring back MON it make my blood boil,Great football under (Sir) Ron Saunders / Tony Barton , Big Ron and spells under Brian Little / John Greogry /Graham Taylor apart from nothing to shout about 30 year in limbo ? same old same old one season forward three back . VTID!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487486960623783530.post-46452726728137089602012-03-08T12:53:21.283+01:002012-03-08T12:53:21.283+01:00Hear, hear. It has become very tiresome hearing th...Hear, hear. It has become very tiresome hearing that from the uninformed.<br />Excellent analysis, well done and thanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com