So while Doug Ellis had a tiny dig at the board and Randy Lerner, he has basically blamed the players for our poor performance this season.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for Ellis.
But it’s only because of his age.
Even now, in his very advanced years, he just can’t help putting himself forward can he?
‘I was one of a few chairmen who got together to form the Premier League, way way back.”
Yes, we know Doug.
But you were also the first Chairman to pay yourself, remember, you greedy bastard?
And then there’s this line;
“Dozens of people have approached me and asked me to come back.”
Really?
Who would want a 92 year old back running the show, when it’s common knowledge that the bloke has sadly lost the plot?
Still, it doesn’t really matter. He’s an old fella and I’m happy that he thinks how he does, if it pleases him.
And this post wasn’t really meant to be about slating the man anyway, even though I’ve done so many times previously.
His day has gone and his opinion isn’t important really.
But what does annoy me is the fact he blames the players in the way he has, in saying they haven’t been good enough.
Perhaps it’s a matter of semantics, but I got the strong hint that he was suggesting that they weren’t performing.
Whereas I’m more minded to think that they just aren’t good enough, full stop.
Which is where you have to look at where the blame is for that.
And it ultimately comes down to whoever was responsible for advocating and then signing them.
And whoever sanctioned those signings.
I suppose in fairness that Ellis would have found it difficult to have actually said that the blame lies with the man who has the ultimate shout, in Randy Lerner.
I mean, criticism seems to mean an immediate ban from Villa Park these days, doesn’t it?
But it’s no surprise, as it’s far easier to blame those at the bottom.
In my experience I’ve found that if you have a poor workforce, the management have invariably got something badly wrong, whether it be incompetence or just having taken their eye off the ball.
I’m not talking about supervisor level necessarily (Garde).
But heads need to roll.
Back to Ellis’ comments then and we have this one;
“It’s my life. Thirty-five years, just ask my wife she’ll tell you. I’m married to Aston Villa.”
Hmm, we’ll ignore that indiscretion as a Blues Director then, eh Doug?
Sorry, I just couldn’t resist that one and at least it was before he married the Villa.
Oh and weren’t you associated with the club before 1981 Doug? Apart from a certain period that you seem to have glossed over (again)?
Good grief, he’ll be telling us how he invented the bicycle kick next. And actually played as a professional.
Excuse me while I puke.
Fair play to the bloke, he still keeps turning up to watch a load of rubbish every other week and in that sense he’s a better man than me.
Although no doubt he doesn’t have to pay and gets a splash up meal thrown in as repayment for the torture.
I think I might have hit on a marketing idea there, that might stem the colossal fall in attendances we’re going to see next season.
Just the three courses for me, Foxy, me old fruit.
Yep, free admission and a nice bit of steak or roast beef and I reckon you might get me back down the Villa again.
Even under this clown regime.
Much more likely that ticket prices get frozen and we’re sold the shit that “it’s good because there are more games” rubbish, in reality.
I can’t think of another single area where poor quality doesn’t mean a price reduction.
I’m sorry if it seems I’m being harsh on the old fella, but if he keeps coming out with the BS, I’ll keep countering it.
“Never in the field of footballing conflict, has one man owed so much to so many”, imo.
I can’t stand the bloke, I’m afraid 🙁
Badger very well put, he should also remember that it was himself that had chosen Lerner, I as you know worked for the man and as you’ve said puts himself in the limelight nine times out of ten. If at anytime a camera was being used he’d be on it, the day they take his name out of Villa Park ,I’d be happy. Ellis move on to Villa partly for money from Sun holidays after being turned down from Birmingham city board, the name deadly speaks volumes for things he did. Blame the players ? shows you how he thinks ,get on your boat and stop drinking.
He might be 92 and deserves respect but if he puts himself in the press then he’s fair game for comment. He may be ‘married’ to the Villa but he’s never forgiven them for having a great ‘fling’ in the European Cup whilst he was off elsewhere. He’s shown complete disrespect for that team and for Denis Mortimore in particular. That’s unforgivable in my book.
He just can’t resist bigging himself up and Badger – bang on about the players. Poor managers always blame the workforce (which they hired in the first place) for their own shortcomings!
Can we rename the Trinity Road stand the Mortimore Saunders stand – now that’s true respect.
“…he was suggesting that they weren’t performing.
Whereas I’m more minded to think that they just aren’t good enough, full stop.”
Head or Coffin and Nail come to mind.
something this site hasn’t mentioned yet. or maybe you have but i missed. is the hate coming from media and past villa players, managers or just other club supporters towards our club. talk about kicking somebody while they are down. i never noticed before how much we are hated. i can understand footy fans from rivals. but media and ex players and managers all seem to have it in for us.
i would be interested to see your views on this and reasons why ??
Nath – completely agree and tried to mention it in a previous post, the media hate us and are so smug we are going down – But then I have heard the club are arrogant beyond belief – not returning calls, banning people who are negative, almost impossible to get comments from the club etc.
I often speak to an ex player who is still involved with the club and he says its rotten to the core, no-one from the administration upwards gives a damn, they are treated poorly and want to take the club for all they can…Very sad times ahead I think !
Natch, said myself there is a definat hate for our club, And its been given to us by bad leadership.
Bill if I worked for an owner that couldn’t be arsed and never visited us, I have to say I probably wouldn’t give a damn either….. he’s poisoned us and God only knows where this will end !
i agree bill & saddened leadership and lack of it is the cause of the villa hate bandwagon.
always bad news every week. never any positive news. new chairman needs to hurry up, to be seen doing something surely or is he waiting until summer ??? its frustrating times now and ahead. they all need a good shaking and slapping.
Garde news conference –
“I don’t see the commitment from all the players every day in training sessions,” said Aston Villa manager Remi Garde. “If I had the choice of other players I would like to select I would like to, but I don’t have the possibility.
He confirmed that he’ll be at Villa until the end of the season’
That means come May he’ll be off then,
Can’t blame him 🙁
Pat57 – I saw it, and he can’t wait to be off, and nobody could blame him.
He is picking players he doesn’t want to, this is becoming more frightening as the days go on.
Relegated without a manager – Proud History, Bright Future !
Could the remit to Hollis ( and King?) be to refinance the club (not to provide new investment I hasten to add) or am I being ridiculous?
As I understand it all our long term debt is ‘owned’ by Lerner – he (or his family trust) hold all the loan notes. The club has significant assets in terms of property (if not players!). If he refinances the debt (I.e. Takes out his loan notes by ‘selling’ them) then together with receipt of the parachute payments it would probably be enough to see him taken out financially – he could then let the club go with its debts for a nominal sum or he could put it into administration.
I ask this because everything seems to point to trying to increase income, whilst slashing running costs and withdrawing any capital investment which might weaken the balance sheet. Running costs were first reduced under the guise of the FFP rules and latterly because of our upcoming demotion. This all could be part of a refinancing exercise designed to allow Lerner to get rid of his ownership without being out of pocket. It would also explain why there is such a negative malaise running through the club – everyone has picked up on ‘proud history – no bl**dy future’.
Of course he has to secure the refinance to make it work!
Or perhaps I’m just being overly pessamistic. No doubt someone with a better grasp of such matters will put me right.
QUOTE….” completely agree and tried to mention it in a previous post, the media hate us and are so smug we are going down – But then I have heard the club are arrogant beyond belief”……
I was so embarrassed and just could not respond when my son in law told me
about the Villa’s non response to a plea from him…….He wrote to a lot of local football clubs and stores etc asking for items to put in a charity auction.Some might have heard of the Decembeard beat bowel cancer appeal.
Anyway he did not get a response off a few but as I say I was so embarrassed that the Villa could not even reply in some way…even the Albion got all their players to sign a ball….he had to buy the ball though.
Bearing in mind that he lives around Great Barr and THE local club deafed him out just left me speechless …and ANGRY.
Sad times……..