Thursday, 11 March 2010 09:08
You've all heard of The Clowns - they are a football team that play at The Circus down the road. They have a new Ringmaster who has instilled this belief that anything is possible. It isn't really new manager syndrome, but it is, sort of.
The thing with The Clowns is, not even Sinbad the Sailor, borrowing three wishes from Aladdin, could turn that poor excuse for a travelling Circus into anything worthwhile or valuable. They are the typical yo-yo club and this is a great season for them, but we all know it is temporary.
But why do I bring up The Clowns? Well, last night, our reserve team played their reserve team and well, we won. But it wasn't just a cheeky 1-0, it was a fairly convincing 4-0 and really could have been a lot more.
I'm not going to try and pretend that I saw the match, I am one of those that really doesn't see enough reserve team football but if I could, I really would - in fact it is something that I would pay for, if the quality stream was good enough.
Goals goals goals
Nathan Delfouneso scored twice with Marc Albrighton and Andreas Weimann picking up the other two. The reserves also had two goals disallowed - so all in all it was pretty much a rout and that rout secured a five point lead at the top of the table for Aston Villa reserves.
Aston Villa team
Bevan, Lichaj, Bouma, Hogg, Clark, Davies, Albrighton, Salifou, Delfouneso, Weimann, Bannan. Subs: Forrester (Bannan, 84), Collins, O'Halloran (Bouma, 82), Hofbauer (Salifou, 79).
Still a slim chance of a bright future
So, a great win and a well deserved one by all accounts but it is worth pointing out that we have had a very good reserve and academy team for a very long time and when you add it all up - not very many have actually made it, in fact, if you wanted to get specific about it, only one has really come through and some would argue that he is still to really make it.
Some would argue the manager doesn't have faith in them and that he is more interested in players that will run themselves into the ground for him other than having something about them as players, but I say, there is still time to be proven wrong.
I'm not trying to put a downer on things and it is very very easy to get carried away when the reserves are doing well and the first team is sitting in the semi-final of the FA Cup, but like I said above, a successful reserve and academy team isn't new - we have had it for a number of seasons and it doesn't mean any players are going to come through - it does likely mean that the academy does pay for itself though and possibly makes a profit.
Back in the real world
Not much other news at the moment and I'm getting sick to death of rumours linking us to players that really wouldn't strengthen our first team, but there are bits and bobs.
Martin O'Neill thinks Gabby will be fit for Saturday. The virus he picked up is thought to be a 24 or 72 hour thing. I think he should be dropped personally - only to see if Heskey and Carew can do again what they did against Reading - surely they deserve that opportunity? Gabby is nowhere near a player that should start every game.
The FA Cup semi-final date is set for April 10th, kick off is 5pm. I won't be going to this match, so we'll be doing the whole thing from the blog but it will be a fairly late start as it is my sons birthday and we are having his party on that day.
Season ticket prices for next season have been released and there is an increase. Basically, that increase goes straight into the pocket of Randy Lerner - it is his management fee and the dividends on his investment.
Last bit of news is that Nigel Reo-Coker appears to have been given the all clear to resume training. This is a perfect opportunity for him to display his ability before the end of the season and his eventual departure. I suspect, after you floor O'Neill, you don't get many more chances and his days have been numbered for some time now.
Right, that is it and before I go and retreat into my little space, I want to return to The Clowns for a moment. You see, I predicted they'd be relegated this season but they got a new owner and that 'new owner syndrome' effect has well and truly done them good, but it is only a temporary thing.
They will do well this season, there is always one team that is promoted that does okay - but here is my prediction; next season they will be relegated. They really are the stuff you don't want to get on your shoe.
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Jonathan Dixon
said:
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... Not going to wembley Damian?!!? That's a strange one. You have to enjoy these moments, as they may not happen again for a while!! |
Chris Harper
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... I like how you conveniently forget to mention that ticket prices have gone down in some areas too Damian. |
Max
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... I think we should get rid of Lerner, new buyers come in, run up £700m debt, give or take a few hundred million, we continue not to win the league and we go out of business when the bubble eventually bursts and banks finally realise this money is never getting repaid... ever. |
Nathan Price
said:
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... A healthy Youth Academy is brilliaint even if not many of them break into the first team, you can still sell the dross the likes of Blooze and Bolton. |
Andi
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... Compared to a number of clubs in and around our position our season tickets are one of the most competitively priced out there. You have also failed to mentioned that you can now get a family season ticket for 2 adults and 2 children which again reduces the cost of taking a family. It would be nice if the view given was that of both good and bad points thus giving a fairer picture of the club in general instead of the usual cheap shots !! Example Season ticket prices for next season have been released and there is an increase. Basically, that increase goes straight into the pocket of Randy Lerner - it is his management fee and the dividends on his investment No need at all for that, Mr Lerner is entitled to make, take or loss what ever he wants seen as though its his money, his investment and his club. Its not just the increase its the whole damn £450 but does it really matter ? really ? |
Chris Harper
said:
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... Mine has gone up by £35 (Upper Holte) which is only £1.84 extra per game. Plus if you renew by a certain date, you get a cup game complimentary ticket. |
Andi
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...I think we should get rid of Lerner, new buyers come in, run up £700m debt, give or take a few hundred million, we continue not to win the league and we go out of business when the bubble eventually bursts and banks finally realise this money is never getting repaid... ever I have got a fairly good credit rating anyone fancy getting a loan ......... |
Damian
said:
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... Carlos is a centre back!! sons birthday. sorry, but i'll take that day every day over a semi-final. now, if it was the final, the love for my son might be severely tested Villa_Chris i'm not having a pop at prices. ironically, i think they should be higher - but i'm not a fan of paying higher prices so lerner can make more money. if the prices were higher and the club was making a profit - by all means, let the owner take the profits, but when the club is making a loss and the owner still takes over £7mn - well, it doesn't seem entirely right - it isn't wrong, but also doesn't seem entirely right it was just a passing comment - overall, prices have increased, but yes, in some cases prices have gone down and there is the family ticket and lots of other nice things |
Andi
said:
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...Mine has gone up by £35 (Upper Holte) which is only £1.84 extra per game. Plus if you renew by a certain date, you get a cup game complimentary ticket. that £1.84 is going straight into Lerner's pocket Chris !!! that's a tub of Vaseline that is  |
DavidC
said:
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... I think ticket prices are very, very reasonable at VP. Just compare it to our competitors (Spuds) and our local rivals (Blues). I know there's historical reasons for this (ie not London prices, bigger ground therefore less demand for tickets). But all in all, we're very well treated. |
Freelancelot
said:
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... This anti-Lerner sniping is getting boring. The Academy and Reserves success should be appreciated for what it is - the possibility that one or two players may be able to take the massive step-up to PL-level football from time to time. Delfouneso will. At least a couple of others probably will. That's a very good return. The profit comment is just a bit childish. As for season ticket prices, it is still good value and there are some good new deals too as people have pointed out. And no, the extra income doesn't go into Lerner's pocket - it increases club turnover and goes towards reducing that important wages to turnover ratio. But some people are never happy. |
Chris Harper
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...that £1.84 is going straight into Lerner's pocket Chris !!! that's a tub of Vaseline that is  Keef do you realise what you've started here!?! |
Andi
said:
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...but i'm not a fan of paying higher prices so lerner do you have a season ticket Damo ? |
Damian
said:
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... Chiefy no but you know that, so i will answer the loaded question - but i'm not just referring to season ticket prices. generally, prices have gone up since he has come in like i've said, i'm all for higher prices - if the money was going to the club to pay the wages of that £100k a week player, but lerner took over £7mn in management fees for the last financial year |
Max
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... Forgot to mention after my whiney, sarcy outburst (everyone gets 1 a day!) - agree that Carew & Heskey should start... why change a winning team, I'm sure MoN has said something along those consistency lines before... |
Nathan Price
said:
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... The £880 for a family of four is an unbelieveable offer and a very good idea from the club. That much wouldnt even buy you one ST at some clubs in and around our position. Plus it means lots more kids getting into watching Villa at a younger age. genius. If only my kids were older Id be doing that for sure. |
Keith
said:
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...Season ticket prices for next season have been released and there is an increase. Basically, that increase goes straight into the pocket of Randy Lerner - it is his management fee and the dividends on his investment. Can't you just leave it alone? Show me some evidence that the money will go "straight into the pocket of Randy Lerner". Pathetic attempt at trying to discredit Mr Lerner. My season ticket will be cheaper next season thanks to this wonderful man. K1 in upper Holte is £390, brilliant value! Randolph D. Lerner, I love you xxx |
Damian
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... I just think it ironic that when Ellis started taking a salary, he was lambasted for it - even though he was allowed to and he was the majority shareholder but now, even though lerner can take his management fees, he takes a huge amount and its okay - even though the club is in debt and making a loss - but again, if the club made a profit of £20mn next season and lerner took it all - its fine by me - simply because it would be a profit his club made - but making over £7mn when your club made a loss ... ah - its fine, i'm getting carried away. i apologise keefvilla the evidence is he took over £7mn out of the club in management fees based on the last files accounts while the club is in more debt that it ever has been in its history |
Chris Harper
said:
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... http://soccernet.espn.go.com/n...nd&cc=5739 Liverpoop apparantly interested in taking O'Neil from us |
Keith
said:
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... Aston Villa only have debt to Randy Lerner. Doug Ellis did not put 1p of his own money into Aston Villa, Big f**king difference there!!! |
Matt the bluenose
said:
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... I've only read this blog because it was a link on newsnow! I find your comments quite entertaining! Considering the pink half have only won one f.a.cup in 90 years and one league championship in 100 years i think the 'history' tag has gone to your heads!  |
Damian
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... Villa_Chris it woudln't be a sideways step for o'neill - i dont wnat to do liverpool a disservice - they are a bigger and better lcub, but it wouldn't be the step up a manager like o'neill would possibly like to take - or should take. he is getting on now and he either puts down roots or he leaves for one of the really big jobs - liverpool is no longer one of those really big jobs - i couldn't see him leaving for them |
Chris Harper
said:
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... But...as someone mentioned a couple of days back, Liverpool could be regarded as the pinnacle of a management job by someone such as MON who has lived and played through their best years. It might be a dream job to him. Hope I'm wrong, but Im sure many, such as Simeon, who will willingly pack him a banana and rope swing and send him on his way. |
Darragh McGeown
said:
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...I suspect, after you floor O'Neill, you don't get many more chances and his days have been numbered for some time now.Sorry but did I miss something? I knew they had a spat but did he actually hit him? |
Jake Gardner
said:
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...Carlos is a centre back!! Damian Express the love for your son by taking him to see the villa, what more love could a father show and im pretty sure my season ticket is £5 cheaper |
Max
said:
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... I don't want MoN to leave anytime soon... probably done before, but who would we get to replace him if he left at the end of this season? I can't think of anyone who fits the "who we can attract / who is a good manager / who would get confidence going" tag. Roy Hodgson (not sure that is how it is spelt)? |
Chris Harper
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... Anyone know when the Semi-final tickets will come on sale? Season tickets first again?!? Cost? |
Andi
said:
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... This rumour is old and rubbish. MON going to liverpool Pro's if he went Liverpool used to be a great team in his era Would get to work with some big names (if they hadn't left) Would be further north Would get broken into often May get a big pay packet ( even though he is top ten in the league now) Con's would work with stupid yanks would have no money would have no relationship to the team or the fans or the owners would have to start again At the minute MON can do what he please's when he please's such is the relationship with Lerner. MON is doing a tremendous job and I am sure he is aware of that as I am also sure he is aware of the investment Lerner is going to make to take us to that "next level". MON is a clever man and i can not see him risking moving to what could be a poisoned chalice just because "in my day" liverpool used to be a force. The same could be said about VILLA so MON wont be moving and hopefully they will take on MCLEISH to cut costs, then we can all point and laugh and the BLUES when they employ DOL !!! |
Andi
said:
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...Anyone know when the Semi-final tickets will come on sale? Season tickets first again?!? Cost it will probably be done as it was before with the same costings of 38, 54, 80something, I have heard that the ticket allocation for the semis is massive and almost halfed for the final |
Chris Harper
said:
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...“I always feel there’s goals in the team,” he insisted. “People have told us we haven’t got a natural goalscorer in the side and they cost an awful lot of money but what we’ve had to try and do is to get goals from other areas of the field. For the most part that has stood us in good stead. Ver interesting points from O'Neil. Just shows he's not blind to our needs as many like to think. I like the last sentence... 'see us through'. What? See us through to the end of the season and then start the hunt for an expensive goal poacher? We can all hope. |
keith
said:
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... saf retiring utd want mon? rafa for the chop, pool want mon? wellyface in wormwood, spurs want mon? mons got money, pompey want mon? did'nt realise i was so promoinent |
Keith
said:
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...Damian Express the love for your son by taking him to see the villa, what more love could a father show Buy him a season ticket, the under-eights can attend Villa's Premier League home fixtures next season for as little as £4 per game Under Ellis, Villa were a PLC so as a shareholder I could dispute the amount that he paid himself. Lerner owns Villa outright, I have no say about how much he takes out of Villa to repay the millions he has spent on us. Under Ellis the share price hit rock bottom and he failed to make us successful as a PLC or as a football club. That is why he got the abuse he deserved. |
Andi
said:
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...See us through to the end of the season and then start the hunt for an expensive goal poacher? or see us through till EMULE finds his Vaseline |
Nathan Price
said:
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... MoN rubbised being linked to Manure last week, talk is cheap but I do think he would have to be offered a bigger job that 'poo to be tempted to leave. He is on the crest of something very big at Villa, that might mean trophies or it might mean chumps league or it might mean more than that, but anyone who denies that potential is basically just anti ONeill. |
John Samuels
said:
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... Luke Moore, Stephen Moore, Steven Davies, Gary Cahill, Boaz Myhill, Peter Enckelman, Craig Gardner, Peter Wittingham, Liam Ridgewell, Jay Lloyd Samuel, Richard Walker. We earned a tidy little packet off that lot and most of them play in the best league in the world. What would you imagine Gabby is worth in the open market? £10m? £15m? A 23 yr old engalnd international who has pace can play as a one or in a two and regularly scores 12+ goals a season? The academy is brilliant for our club. We get at least one player making the step up and getting a first team squad number every season and at the moment we have Delfouneso, Albrighton and Clark regularly making the bench. We have some of the cheapest tickets in the league so who cares if the price goes up, they're still pretty cheap. As far as Lerners managmenet fee goes, who here would run a business and not take a wage? Surely Lerner needs and income? The figures in the report tell one side of the story, but how much is the club worth in assets now compared to when he bought the club? The borrowing power of Aston Villa is considerably more these days, the turnover has increased, as has the value of it's assets, as has the value of the club. Isn't it right that expenses should increase too in order to take the club forward. The trouble with Ellis is he just let the club tick over, never took a financial risk and we never kicked on. Now we have a chairman prepared to put us out there and give sustained long term success a go and everyone criticises him. I suppose we should not spend anything and qualify for the CL, if someone could show me how that is done i'd be interested to see it. |
Nathan Price
said:
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... I just completed the predictor league on the bbc sport page. this is how it finished... Manure Ars Chelski Villa City 'Poo Spuds I tried to be as objective as possible, (losing to Chel and City), just shows we dont have to have Disney finish to the season for fourth. |
Andi
said:
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...PaulMcGrathsGoneAWOL I am with Damo on this one, can you imagine "we are the champions" on volume 25 every where i went |
paul mclafferty
said:
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... damian.. villa are in debt to who? and after you have answered that question then you will realise we are not going to go into melt down any time soon are we? the bloke has put hundreds of millions into the club and takes 7 million out, the bloke truely must be a leech sucking us dry!!! at wembley twice in one season and fighting for a cl position which is STILL in our very own hands and people still want to have a pop at the ownwer!! |
Andi
said:
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... off the big mans facebook fans page John Carew has done all these things in his spare time... Add your own on the wall! |
Nathan Price
said:
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...funny. i had us winning the league when i did it You must have been doing the 1981 predictor league. OK I know its just opinion and theres as much chance of us finishing 7th or 8th as there is 4th, but the point is we are on the verge of something bigger. We havent put together a decent run of 5/6 wins yet this season and the next run of games is a very good oportunity to do that. I know you hate being positive Damo, but you have to admit we have a great chance of "progression" (5th upwards as you would say). |
Damian
said:
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... PaulMcGrathsGoneAWOL yes - we have a great chance. like we did last season. and it isn't that i hate being positive, its that i find it hard to be positive about things in the future just for the sake of it. if we finish 5th this season (i predicted 4th at the start of the season) then positivity will shine out of every orifice next season, because i doubted we could do it and i was proven wrong, although my doubts came in to play during the season - but if we finish 5th or better this season - real progress - you will see a very different website next season |
Andi
said:
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...but if we finish 5th or better this season - real progress - you will see a very different website next season is that a promise ?? |
Damian
said:
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... Chiefy yes it is ... and it is the only thing that this site could do .. however, i'd love it if we finished 4th - only to have got the last 3 season predictions right - but it would also show that i lost faith through the season, but it would have been restored. if we progress in the league |
Keith
said:
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...but if we finish 5th or better this season - real progress - you will see a very different website next season  |
Damian
said:
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... in fact - it would be perfect for me and everyone else that has a little pop at me, as i'd never be able to mention anythign like it again - all you would have to say is look at season 09/10 - you lost faith but we did it .. i'd not have a leg to stand on ever again when it came to me doubting the manager |
Nathan Price
said:
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...but if we finish 5th or better this season - real progress - you will see a very different website next season You said that about us getting to the CC Final! |
Chris Harper
said:
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...You said that about us getting to the CC Final! It does ring a bell Damian...is he right?!?  |
Andi
said:
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... There are numerous witness's Damo and we can link back to this very blog if we do achieve and you do revert back to complaining. Not only will Villa kick on but the blog will change what more could you ask for ???? DAMO dont suppose you got kelly brooks number ? |
Damian
said:
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... Villa_Chris show me .. search the site i think you will find that what i said was i'd give up progress in the league/finishing 4th if we won silverware ... but at the end of hte day - league progresss is a true marker of a football team getting better |
Freelancelot
said:
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... OK last thing in this from me before moving on to something else (but related): the club made a loss mainly because it's investing in players and wages like everybody wants, and the management fees are an accounting entry between AVFC and its holding company and not cash from the club. People shouldn't mistake ill-informed assumptions for facts. But rather than keep banging on about how misleading Damian's representation of the owner is, I'm thinking of adopting a silent protest on here like the Green and Gold anti-Glazer idea. I can then come on to the blog for the decent bits (I've been avoiding the blog for a while, but there are some worthwhile aspects left I think) without it looking like I am part of the anti-Lerner thing. Any suggestions for an icon, name add-on, etc I/we could use? |
Happy Villan
said:
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... I can tell you did not go to the match last night, we had THREE goals disallowed, not two! As regards your continual attacks on Randy, perhaps you should do more of an in depth study of the accounts and you might not write such rubbish. Look where all the money to finance has come from. It is not just from Randy personally, there are family trusts involved as well. Such Trusts very often, if not always, require investments to produce income. I wont bore readers with accountancy principles but the way payments out, be them interest, Fees, dividends are treated in P & L accounts varies as to many differing requirements of the recipient and tax etc. The only thing we , as supporters, need worry about is the net position that shows Randy has put in far more than he has received! In your synopsis his pocket, even after the price increases (which are fair considering they have basically stayed the same for last two years)will still be empty if history is anything to go by. As regards comparing with Ellis, I think you need to learn the difference between Equity purchase and money introduction - very very different. |
scott harwood
said:
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... just done the predictor being realistic and had arsenal chelsea manure citeh villa spurs liverpool |
Damian
said:
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... Freelancelot so, where did the money go to within the holding company? Happy Villan i dont try to pass myself of as an accountant and with all due respect in the world, or as much as i can give someone on the internet, i didn't compare him to ellis i merely said that there was outrage when ellis took money out of the club and while i can see, clear as day, he has put more in that he has taken out - it isn't as if the money he has put in isn't safe nor that he isn't getting a return, in the form of interest payments on that money but by all means, enlighten us on GAAP and they are hardly what i would call attacks on lerner - if you consider them attacks, then you are either too defnesive of having anything but something positive said of the owner or living in utopia |
Andi
said:
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... It doesnt matter that season tickets have gone up anyway its not like we fill the ground every week nor we sell our allocation of season tickets every year so once again MOO point |
Damian
said:
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... where does this moo point come from? i assume not everyone is making the same mistake and getting it wrong by not writing moot |
Andi
said:
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...where does this moo point come from? i assume not everyone is making the same mistake and getting it wrong by not writing moot a MOO point is like a cow's MOO a nothing doesnt matter not important got it from a huge t.v show |
Thomas
said:
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... Damian, honestly now if you owned a business, would you not take a profit for yourself? cut it with the anti-lerner talk the man is a revelation and in it for the longhaul. We need to learn to take the rough with smooth mate. |
Damian
said:
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... rushe10 i'm not saying there is anything wrong with it as it is legal. but £7mn in management fees when the club made a loss, albeit with his money but even on the money he has lent the club, he is earning interest off that too .. but, like i said on the day we posted news about this - we dont know what he did with the money - it could have been used to purchase delph .. time will tell but what i ultimately mean is, if you run a business and it makes a profit and is at the top of its game - the big number 1 - for sure, take what ever the business generates as a profit and do with it as you please. but when these accounts were finalised, we were hardly setting the world alight were we |
david
said:
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... Damian, I thought you said in a previous post that you were seeking some advice on the accounts and wouldn't comment again until you had it. When you say Basically, that increase goes straight into the pocket of Randy Lerner - it is his management fee and the dividends on his investment.is that comment based on the feedback you've received? If not, and what you've said is potentially inaccurate, shouldn't you take your own advice and keep such thoughts to yourself until you have authoritative feedback? |
Damian
said:
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... r0bb0 first - i'm not commenting on anything that i haven't commented on from day one i.e. the management fee and interest payments second - i've had the email and basically it says there is very little that we didn't already know - club is in debt and making a loss money - interest paid to foundation and management fee paid to holding company there is more in the email about the state of the club and what it needs and what is likely to happen based on comments from the club since the accounts were released - but they are coming up maybe this week, maybe next |
Andy Scarborough
said:
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.... Unsalted butter |
Richard Smith
said:
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... I'm an eternal optimist and nearly always agree with you Damian but your comments today annoyed me for a minute mate. Why so bloody pessimistic? You've presented your opinion as fact and bashed Lerner on the head with it. If we do not bring in enough cash, we cannot afford to pay to keep Milner or Ashley or to buy the goal poacher we all want. I'm sure any season ticket holder is willing to pay an extra few quid to help fund these players, especially when the prices are still incredibly low, especially for such a club. |
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