After my last post, things have become a bit more clearer about what’s happened to cause the worrying that many Villa fans are going through and surprise, surprise, it’s the Villa PR department that seems to have messed up.
While it’s understandable that converting Chinese to English can be problematic, it’s not the first time they’ve messed up (remember they couldn’t even get Remi Garde’s name right when we appointed him?) and it just makes the whole club look amateurish.
Whoever is giving the nod for what goes out needs his position looking at, in my opinion.
Anyway, while the original statement said that Recon hold controlling stakes in 5 listed companies, it now appears The group holding company owns, directly and indirectly, the shares of several publicly listed companies on the Hong Kong and Chinese stock exchanges and many other private companies employing 35,000 people in 75 countries.
Apparently the group controls one company and is about to take control of 4 other companies, which is possibly where the confusion came about.
But if you look at the actual wording above, it’s a meaningless statement. Notice it doesn’t mention a controlling share at all.
I own shares in 13 companies listed on the London stock exchange, but does that mean I could buy the Villa?
Of course I couldn’t.
Which on the face of it, is all quite worrying.
But I was more buoyed by the supposed fact that the Recon group, or more accurately, one of it’s subsidiaries, apparently managed to raise £5 billion as Venture capital money.
The relevant article is supposed to be in here somewhere;
http://www.reconig.com/htm/pps.htm
Except it seems the site has been down for a while.
A coincidence?
I very much doubt it. But I don’t think I find that particularly worrying. It’s probably about trying to keep the media off the scent.
Before you all think I’m nuts, let me explain.
I’m working on the assumption that the £5 billion statement is true(ish).
And if it is, I don’t care where that money came from.
The fact is, if any company can raise that sort of money, it has to have something about it.
If that’s down to it being a pukka company, so much the better.
But I suspect it isn’t and this might be where the Chinese government come into it.
What the £5 billion’s about, I couldn’t say, but it’s probably about other projects that may or may not have anything to do with us as a club.
Quite simply, I’m even more convinced that Recon is basically a front for the Chinese government.
Yes, it’s guesswork, but remember Xia was groomed by the government and it wasn’t without reason.
The biggest concern for me now is will they manage to get this past the PL and FL “fit and proper” tests and my money says they will.
Regardless of what I think of Steve Holis, he’s no mug and will know how the system works, although his comments about China’s “bird nest” stadium do leave some cause for concern.
How could he have got that so wrong?
And then there’s other news, in that Dr Xia apparently knows who our next manager is;
http://english.cctv.com/2016/05/21/VIDEYK6efVnOuvv3qKqT715t160521.shtml
It’s all in the last couple of sentences.
But the previous comments are all along the lines of what we were told originally on the OS and are mostly wrong.
Anyway, I find the comment a bit cryptic;
“As for now the question on everyone’s lips is who is going to take charge in the dug-out at Villa Park.
“I would rather keep it a secret for one more week. And I hope all the fans, including myself, will accept he will be the right one,” Xia said.”
Why would he hope he will accept he will be the right one, if he chose him?
Which quite simply tells me he hasn’t chosen him at all and as I previously suggested, he’ll go with who’s been recommended.
Whatever, if the statement is to be believed, we’ll know who he is in a week.
Which is a good reason to have a poll asking who we want again, now that Rodgers is out of the frame.
Yes, I ran one quite recently, but things change.
And I’ve added Flores, as I’d take him over some of the other choices.[polldaddy poll=9424593]
[polldaddy poll=9424593]
I still think it’ll be Pearson.
Me too. Initially I was more in favour of Moyes but surprised myself by just voting for Pearson. Whole squad need a good kick up the arse and perhaps Pearson might be the man to do that.
Having said that I wouldn’t be disappointed if it was Moyes or Flores.
That’s how I see it Pat.
I actually think Moyes might be the better choice overall in the longer term, but I believe the players, top to bottom, need a change of ethos sharpish, as things have been too slack, for too long.
Badger, trying to define corporate ‘ownership’ and ‘control’ in China in terms of the ‘Anglo-American’ interpretation of those concepts may be impossible: I’m no expert, but suspect that the closest model may be the one that has long-applied in Japan [“Keiretsu”] and South Korea [“Chaebol”].
Those countries have large conglomerates operating in widely-different fields – from heavy enginering through electronics into retail and foods – yet the separate companies within those ‘groups’ are not formally ‘owned’ or ‘controlled’ by any single holding company. Instead, they have multiple, two way shareholdings and cross-links between each other, and with some of the biggest financial institutions. Most of them have shares traded in public, but there’s no way anyone can be said to clearly control them; in fact one of the reasons why they are set up this way is to make it almost impossible to break-up these [informal] ‘groups’ unless all parties within them agree – which is almost never, at least as far as potential predators from Europe or the US are concerned.
If you want a flavour of how it works, just look up “Mitsui” for example, and see how many very-well known companies are ‘linked’ to it: Sony, Toshiba, Toyota and Yamaha for example; Yet each of these are still ‘indpendent’ and aren’t directly ‘owned’ by “Mitsui” – and they aren’t centrally ‘controlled’ by any one board or one single major shareholder/director.
As to the manager question – I’d be more worried if our new owner was actually responsible for picking the manager so soon. Hopefully the appointment has been suggested by people who actually know something about English football – particularly Championship football !!
Ardent, I know exactly what you mean.
I’ve worked (indirectly) for Toyota and Mitsui, as it happens.
And I always like to look at the company I’m working for.
It all gets a bit too involved, which is why I haven’t expanded too much on how I see that side of things.
But the main point was to emphasise that I’m very comfortable with how things are going.
I’m convinced the money is there, along with any required resources.
Likewise, the board as it stands, know who they want.
Xia will run with it, until it goes wrong, where he’ll bullet the board and the manager, imo.
Flores getting a fair amount of votes. Interesting.
And none for DM, which was always a rubbish rumour anyway, imo.
Badger – not trying to be clever but I’ve posted a number of times that I have come to believe Recon is a front for Chinese Government investment in European football. Expect a number of good younger Chinese players to join the development squad or maybe even the first team!
And they will use Villa as a PR tool to promote football in China – not that I’m complaining if it brings us success. It should certainly boost revenue which will help with the FFP rules.
How different is that scenario to Manchester City?
That’s if the Chinese players are any good Hitch!
And up to now, they aren’t, or are they?????
The Man City investment is odd to me.
They don’t normally like playing second fiddle, from the little experience I have.
I can see some parallels with the ManCity scenario: Abu Dhabi went into that fairly openly, although even at the time everyone asked what financial return they could get through an English football club that they couldn’t find in a more conventional investment – and I must admit that I don’t know whether the owners are actually seeing a ‘return’ there now in revenue terms, or whether they’re just happy to see the apparent value of their investment going up each season?
Of course the related [however indirectly] companies there – Emirates, Etihad, etc., have helped City ride around the FFP rules, so if we can find something similar I’d be really chuffed!
Whatever the exact circumstances around the new owners I’m just pleased that something’s happened. All that waiting for news and the years we’ve spent in limbo had me despairing a little.
But now something new has happened and as far as I’m concerned we can at least start hoping and perhaps even start looking forward to a season where it might not be a foregone conclusion that we’ll fold in very game.
Off subject, but I’d just like to wish all the best to Hereford.F.C. in the FA vase final today. The city of my birth and the only club I loved as much as Villa, we may now be known as F.C, but will be forever united. The phoenix is well and truly rising from the ashes, be afraid Kidderminster, it won’t be long till we’re knocking on your door again!
Still remember Ronnie Radford’s goal for Hereford United against Newcastle in the FA Cup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MriONywh2zo
What a belter!
Dave c we’ll have to meet up if the harriers ever get meet the bulls & have a few mate.
We will Giddy, but it might take a bit longer than I first thought, that’s unless Kiddy drop again!????
Yes Pat57, 44 years ago and still gets talked about, my brother was there but I was too young. Almost 20,000 Hereford fans at Wembley today, amazing!
On the manager front,for once instead of long contract do like Celtic one year rolling contract with big bonus system,we need a big character now read all shite out build a team that’s going to win promotion at first attempt ,same with players no more of 5 year contract
wow bookmakers have absolutely no idea who is the next manager of aston villa except its one of three matteo, pearson or moyles. i would go for mcCarthy….. but i like 2 out of the 3 named as likely to take over.
pearson first choice
moyles 2nd choice
matteo if we have too
I see our Jack played in the U21 yesterday, they won 1-0 , mind you it was only for the last 18 minutes. Still its a start.
how have the kids got on against west ham in 7’s i think it was played 11,o’clockish bill
sorry i just found it 2 nil they won another title :)) got to integrate some of these players. hepburn murphy for one
That’s it Nath, thing is its to me two separate clubs, they have not given info out to fans and not played players, its been a them and us.
hey bill you is ur choice for manager ??? looks like its one of three now
Can’t see Moyles leaving his breakfast show. He likes the early finishes and weekends off.
Name sake Nath, he’s a hard knock, players need that in today’s world, plus he’s been there and done it.
lmoa i bet hes related lol any chance for free tickets lol
i think ur right. need a strong manager able to get respect from senior players. even if most of them go. the young players like grealish might improve with his sinister glares and command of authority
Nath, never a true word spoken in jest, my grandfather had a twin, 12 children on both sides, he has the same beak as the Pearsons often wondered if..?if he turns ot to come to Villa, I’m calling him our kid.
well if he can manage to get the team playing, hes welcome into all our families lol. i would get checking them family trees bill
Morpeth beat Hereford 4-1, now I know what a Newcastle fan feels like being a victim of a giant killing!
Watched the match and Morpeth deserved it too.
Hereford were all over them for 25 minutes but couldn’t put their chances away. It may be non-league but it’s still football and I quite enjoyed the game.
Well we might be non league ourselves soon so something to look forward too!
Just read tony xia interview in the mail on sunday ,he is absolutley minted and really seems to say the right things ,feeling really positive about this.
It was a great watch at Wembley…..Hereford just lost it completely in 2nd half…..fantastic that Hereford stayed around when Morpeth got the trophy and them gave them a guard of honour as they came back onto the pitch.Halifax and Grimsby in the next final soon.Love these lower league matches…no prima donnas and couldnt careless t****.
Very true Villaaway and Pat57, Hereford should’ve killed off the game in the first half an hour. Seeing the passion and no nonsense attitude of the players makes me look forward to seeing Villa in the championship, heartily sick of the premiership prima donnas!
Moyes now the fave according to this, after having lengthy talks on Thursday;
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3603372/David-Moyes-considering-formal-offer-Aston-Villa-s-manager.html
Interesting article – Moyes has always been favourite for me. Earlier someone posted Mccarthy – good friend is an Ipswich fan and he has offered to drive Mick to VP!
I’d gladly have McCarthy at VP for next season.
When I think of it McCarthy not a bad manager he did really well with the Rep of Ireland in the 2004 world cup . With money behind him he might do a good job with the Villa .
I hope we do get Moyes. He has the experience and know which is exactly what we need right now.
JVillian suggested giving our next manager a 1 year rolling contract like they do at Celtic. I think in the future that is a great idea but right now we need to appoint a proven manager and give him the time and tools to do the job. It’s going to take a lot longer than 12 months to get us established as a premier league club again.
Right now I’d give Moyes a 5 year deal and see where we are after 3-4 years.
Whoever we get we have to stand by. Even if results don’t go our way to begin with we MUST stick with our new manager.
David Moyes claret ‘n’ blue army.
Seriously. Moyes is another Lamberk a boring grey suited dour Scot with no charisma or personality. At least Pearson has a bit of oomph about him.
My feelings exactly: had enough of dour, quiet managers – that was initially why I liked the Sherwood appointment; get a real extrovert head-case in for next season to get the palce rockin’…
Agree we always appoint these dull grey suited clones who are decent motivators but that’s about it. May as well get Mckeish back if Moyes is best we can do.
Sound like a good description of yourself Oohah. I didn’t realize your were Scottish. 🙂
Ha ha
Lambert new 3/4 year deal sep 2014
Sherwood 3/4 year deal Feb 2015
Garde 3/4 year deal Nov 2015
We. Got about 44 points from 72 games after Lambert contract
Short term contracts with big bonus for both manager and players for a change
I would be happy with either Moyes or Pearson, hopefully exciting times ahead.
Here’s a thought for manager. How about Paul lambert. If he had money to spent on quality players I recon he could do a job and get us back up. Would rather have moyes or pearson but would trust lambert to do a job rather the de matteo. In interviews recently he spoke of players he wanted to bring in that we would have been quality but finances didn’t allow it. All his signings I feel where all back up signings include Benteke imo.
Are you mental? Would rather my 18 month old kid manage Villa than welcome than moron back.