Are Villa showing the way?
Thursday, 04 September 08, 04:41 AM · Comments (78)
There is a great moment in the children's classic movie which reminds me of the situation increasingly faced by Premier League managers.
Wicked Baron Bombast, wealthy and powerful, has managed to get his hands on the legendary flying car. Grandpa Potts, mistaken for the inventor Caractacus, has been kidnapped and ordered to
"make it fly". The consequences for his not being able to do so are gruesome.
The resignation of Alan Curbishley and the events at Eastlands and on Tyneside this week foreshadow some difficult times in English football. When billionaire owners use their power and wealth
to either buy trophy signings, or sell players they don't like, without any reference to their manager, you can see problems coming.
I am sure Mark Hughes feels delighted by the prospect of Robinho's arrival at Manchester City. But I'm also sure he had no involvement in it and will have equally little in future "trophy
signings". Like Grandpa Potts, he will certainly be ordered to "make it fly" and if it doesn't - it will be his head.
You can look at this debate two ways. Either English top flight football has to shape up and get both modern and continental about the way it runs the game at club level. Directors of Football
will manage the clubs' buying and selling of players, and first team coaches will be responsible for making it all come together. That's where the future lies and we had better get used to
it.
Or is it the case that the traditions and heritage of football in this country, of which "the manager" is such an important and integral part, mean quite simply that we don't do things like
that?
The owner of our local corner shop, for example, is a Man City fan and is absolutely distraught. A lot of what he has said can't be written on a family site, but one verbatim extract would be
"it just won't be City any more". That's quite an important comment from a guy who loves his club. Like me, he gives Hughes no more than six months - and if I were you, I'd get onto Stan James
right away.
As this debate on the evils and perils of mega-rich foreign owners rages throughout the media, I've been surprised how little mention has been made of Aston Villa.
Alan Curbishley feels that among the ills of the Baron Bombasts running club boardrooms up and down the UK are "impatience, unrealistic expectations and a lack of empathy for the role of
manager".
Now contrast that with Randy Lerner's approach to Villa. Clear that Villa's rebuilding is a long-term plan, Lerner is interested in a slow and patient strengthening of the club in all its
aspects. Where some cynics prefer to see PR and spin, it strikes me that the deliberate emphasis on the history and heritage of the club demonstrates a benign understanding of the culture of an
important institution like Villa. Lerner has so far shown great respect for the fans of Aston Villa Football Club.
Just as importantly, it goes without saying that Martin O'Neill runs the football club. Lerner's explicit trust in O'Neill's judgement and his now proven willingness to back that judgement
financially means that we not only retain the traditional fabric of a British football club, we also shore it up with financial stability. Show me a club in the Premier League which you think
is more stable than Villa.
As the mega-rich power brokers behind City, Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham, Man Utd and Liverpool take their supporters on ever more precarious roller-coaster rides and largely destroy the
culture of their clubs, Villa are gradually improving. Developing young players through a strong academy, investing in and developing players on the fringes of the England squad, building on
and restoring the tradition and heritage of the club.
I don't want a Baron Bombast to run Villa, even if it means we win the Champions League in two seasons and sign Torres, Villa and Fabregas in January.
Stability, long-term planning and continuity may seem very unexciting at the moment. But I have a feeling, after a few more good managers have been marched to the gallows, that other clubs may
start to long for them.
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78 Comments · Add yours
Great article and i agree villa looking at all the premiership teams are he most stable, that along with having over half our team of englishmen makes villa a hard team to hate to neutrals and opposing fans alike (bar Birmingham). We make no rash signing, and dont get any negative press generally, unless you count the barrygate thing.
Well said Damian, I totally agree with you. There is a lot to be said for building a stable structure. MON knows what he wants and Randy backs him up. There is no knives out like at many other clubs and the team, though not the finished article yet, is a great core of players, a great platform to build on for the future. Man City will soon be a team full of primadonas like other teams I can mention who splash out on star players hoping to plug them in and they'll play to their full potential off the mark, which rarely happens. I'm happy with the way MON has done his job and think these are exciting times for the Villa
EvilDaz - it was Doc Bowles
Well said Doc. I can even see Liverpool fans agreeing with you!
I agree with all of the above! Gave me a shiver reading it. Its a proud time for all Villa fans and the club itself!
I love Randy and O'neil!
Loving the analogy.
Agreed with all of it. I too would rather not win the CL now but rather have a club to go to with my grandchildren that resembles something, if not all, of what it is today and has been in the past.
Here's to Ramsay, McGregor and Lerner!
UTV.
Reply to Villa_Chris:
are you gay?
It's good to see the squad strengthened players fighting for places it can only be good news.
Think MON will have some big headaches trying to pick a team while everyoe is fit.
Well said, Doc. Very insightful.
long time reader first time writer! I have been a villa fan since i was a kid. Due to me being in a wheelchair and living down south i dont go to many home games- but try to see villa away in london whenever i can. The site is fantastic and most (not all!) villa fans opinions are good to read.
Being a charity worker what we have done with Acorns is fantastic. MON is simply the best manager and wont waist money on crap players (maybe wouldn't be able to say that if we signed Doyle!) RL backs the manager so is exactly what you want from a chairman. The sides mainly English, and the club is solvent. We seem to have got the balance right as a club moving forward.
For the first time since i can remember i truly am proud to be villa fan and wear the shirt with pride.
I don't know, you spent all yesterday evening/night with me....what you think?
No im not gay by the way....hes just playin
I hope your right Doc, I really do. I'm just a bit worried that I'm yet to see Chelsea fall and they are now established as a top club. It goes against the life tradition of hard work to make it to the top. I just hope one day we will see this instant success thing fail otherwise football is in trouble.
Doc that article is spot on, I'd sooner have Randy and Mon than a Sheik with a boat load of money because at the end of the day because the club I love is being run well.
I know that Randy is in for the long run and once all the fly by nights have got bored or got fed up with not winning the CL in the second and sell up we will be in a very strong position.
Enjoyable read. I really do think the manager should be the one who decides who's coming in and who's coming out as quite clearly, he's the one that knows what's best for his team. Also, without sounding too patriotic, this is the English way. Our method brings stability and growth, as proven by Manchester United and Arsenal who have been at the top for years with the same managers. I must admit I'm not completely sure how the foreign clubs work in regards to transfer dealings but clearly that works also. But my question is, are there any Arsene Wenger's or Alex Ferguson's in the Serie A? La Liga? Not that I know of. These are two managers that I'd say must be very happy with their job and personally I think it is largely down to the freedom that they are given. Changing manager every couple of years really doesn't help the club and if it were to happen right now to Villa, I'm pretty sure we would start moving in the opposite direction.
So here's to Lerner and Martin O' Neil and let us hope that both are here for many years to come
Reply to Luke_M:
I should really look at the article author before postin. Sorry Doc..... :
Well said Doc, all true and I am a proud Villain.
Doc..Great article and well written....
If only life was so utopian though..?
Reply to Villa_Chris:
Chris that would explain why you hang around in men's toilets!
Spot on Doc - excellent article. Viv La Revolution.
The goalposts have been moved. With there now being no honour in winning, the only honour is to be found in what a club is, and the way it is run. As I've said in an earlier post, only Villa of the top Premier League clubs hold any honour. Unfortunately, such honour and on-field success are mutually exclusive. It doesn't matter that these dishonourable clubs are unstable, because that will not prevent them from winning the (now discredited) trophies. No amount of stability and long-term planning is going to make us realistic challengers for titles.
If enough top footballers were romantics, then we'd have a chance. But they're not, and they'll go where the money is, whether that be Chelsea, Man Utd or Man City, or QPR when they get into the Premiership. Maybe there will come a point when the owners get bored, and these clubs implode, but the players will just move on to the next sugar-daddy funded team.
Aston Villa FC will only win things if we stoop to the level of these other clubs. Personally, I don't want to see it happen, and if it did, I wouldn't bother with football. But if Villa have no chance of winning anything, is it enough to be supporting a club that is doing things in the right way?
I watched Andy Murray play Del Potro in the US Open QF's last night. Del Potro is one of 12 players to win 4 tournaments in one year as a teenager. 10 of those players have gone on to be world no.1. Del Potro is a player. He and Murray produced a phenomenal, exciting match. It was one man's talent, intelligence and desire against another's. It was true sport. And the icing on the cake was that, at the end of the match, the two players embraced out of respect for one another. Given the history between the two, this was a genunely beautiful moment. The class apparent in these two men isn't to be found in football. Certainly not at the top levels. I support Villa because I love the club, but I hate whatever football is. It certainly isn't sport.
Chris Round loves Chicken Nuggets
Reply to keefvilla:
Ha ha well linked there buddy!
......
Hense the reason I've now changed my profile pic! It now includes my 7 year, long term gf too!
Going to be really childish now and have a little bit of fun here..I see on your profile photo has changed Chris...The girl in the photo is either one you have just had a photo with in a bar or your girlfirend does not trust you not to slip the rohypnol into her drink..! (look what she's doing with her finger on her right hand)..
Reply to __AA__:
ha ha ha you crack me up Andy!!
She doesn't need to worry about that....she falls asleep earlier than me!
Oooooh don't have that man! Go on batter him!!!!!
Who says you need a rod to 'go fishing'..!
I think you'll find...I'm 'taggling'
Reply to __AA__:
I can vouch for chris it is his girlfriend but he needs to teach her to support the villa as she is a wolves fan
Reply to Jay_Villafan:
I can also vouch that she is a very good kisser
I took her to the HF the other Thursday of all games.....lets just say she weren't very impressed!
What can you expect from a supporter of Wolves thats had a season ticket for 13 years?
Oh well, I feel sorry for her.
Reply to Villa_Chris:
Yeah we all feel sorry 4 her mate! Having to grow up watching Farm animals! Oh well, could have been a nose!!
Used to go out with Keely Hawes from Ashes to Ahses, but when she said she didn't like football I dumped her. Beauty is not everything..!
Reply to philbob88:
True, true.....
Reply to __AA__:
Really? or am I just being gullable again?
... But then agian, you cant beat havin a gf who wants MOTD on more than you! 
Shes a good catch my friend!
Anyway back to the football stuff...Over the years I have always found us Villa fans can get very fickle, but you know what...With the new guys in charge for two years now and building a glorious club again I see less of the fickle attitude these days. It's quite inspiring and hopeful that we will return to the days of 25+ years ago. How good did it feel then...and it's gunna feel like that again I am sure.
I dodn't want to knock those foreign owners cos that would be a bit hypocritical, seeing as we have a wealthy American owner, but what is the worry for the fans, viewers etc is it's going to reinforce a handfull of elite mega clubs only win anything.
I wonder if these foreign investors know something about this proposed european league or matches played worldwide that keeps getting talked about and they are speculating on that happening?
Reply to __AA__:
ohhhh... and the Uefa Cup of course!!
Reply to __AA__:
It would be a dream come true for me seeing Villa lift the European cup again....I wasn't even born last time! In fact it would be a dream to see them lift the FA cup.....beause it would mean we've beat Man u in the 3rd round!
....Or even the Carling Cup will do for me! 
Carling Cup...! Talk about 'setting the bar' low! Carling Cup..! What?!?!
"Where some cynics prefer to see PR and spin"
Wonder who that is
Reply to __AA__:
Winning is the best thing that can happen for a team, whether its the Carling cup or the Champions league, I'll take them!
Don't worry Chris mate, when i met my mrs, she'd just moved to England from the states and was told to support Man Utd. She could even name quite a few players out the squad... Let's just say 2 1/2 years on she's a Villa supporter and tries to get involved with any footballing conversation i have with someone.
There's hope out there for all deluded footballing women
Reply to Villa_Chris:
We aint gonna win the champion's league.
Jon,
Wheres your optimism mate!! U a closet blue nose or sumat! Glass always half empty!!
Villa_chris,
I agree with you son! I'll take any trophy, i've only seen us lift the coca-cola cup! That was class, but i want more!
great read, spot on, im sorry if this as been said befor but i really think we should be thanking deadly for the sale of our great club to a genuine bloke,..utv
Reply to philbob88:
Same here, Ive only seen us lift the Coca-Cola cup twice! What a game the Man U one was! We have obviously been close to winning the FA Cup in 2000 but that wasn't to be! Im sure this season onwards we'll see some more though!
Anyway you guys we've all forgot. Happy one week birthday to the new forum and blog....Happy Birthday AVFCBlog..!!!
Happy Birthday AVFCBlog!!
After the struggles under Graham Taylor and David O'Leary recently, I am just glad to have a team that is improving and on the up. All the cups are in reach and while it will be difficult I can see the Villa taking a run at a title in a few years. One positive to the Man. City takeover is that maybe some of those excellent young talents that their academy produces might be available in January when Man. City will try to buy every big name in site (like Daniel Sturridge).
For now I will hope for a good performance from the U.S. on Saturday, six points for England in the next two matches and good play from Gareth Barry (with no injuries) while on England duty. Up the Villa!
great piece
UTV
It's very interesting that Villa are 2nd in the 'Net summer spend' league at £36million, but don't get the mega money jaunts that other clubs do. I looked back 4 yrs in the paper this week and it seems that we've only really been outspent in recent years by Sunderland, Liverpool and Spurs... Man Utd and Chelsea in another league obviously, but £36m is a lot of money. I'd say that was real support which Randy feels Martin will do a good job of spending...
Reply to Villa_Chris:
Seriously, never ever mention THAT F.A Cup final! I was only 11!! I was devastated, worst game of football ever ever ever!
Why the frig did David James come to collect that cross from Zola? F*cking southgate had it covered! F*ck sake calamity u absolute knob jockey!!
Arrrrrrgggghhhhhh. . . . . . . . . .
Reply to philbob88:
Ha ha, not laughing at you, just at your wording
Don't worry son, we'll have some new memories next year and im sure they'll be good!
Reply to Villa_Chris:
Yeah i know there will be new memories but until we win something those memories of that final will not be banished!
I can still see it now, "Oh no, and James has fluffed it, DI MATTEOOOOOOOOOO, GOALLLLLLLLL!!!!"
Looking back, we should have had them, the only good players they had was Zola and Di Matteo. We had Merson, Carbone, Big Dion, Southgate, Eggnog and all sorts!!! Boll*cks!!!
Well said, as always, Doc. How things are done is just as important as what is accomplished. If you're real sportsmen, that is. RL may not be English, but he seems to appreciate what the club means to supporters and the community. And he has put his faith in MON, let him get on with the job.
I, for one, feel about as you good as you can, given what professional sports have become, pulling on the Villa shirt.
And good comment, Simeon. There is no honor in "winning" anything if you've simply purchased it. And you do feel a bit hollow at the end of the day, no matter what anyone says.
Reply to Simeon:
I think 'playground for capitalism' might be the words you're looking for. Good post mind.
Reply to brummiedave:
I think Villa might just be the most honourable club left in the PL! When you look at everybody in the premier league, every team has had a reason to moan and slate others, i mean, we've been moaning about liverpool, tottenham have been moaning about everybody, who are most hypocritical i might add! Portsmouth showered with accusations of dodgy dealings, Everton showered with debts, Man u moan about Real Madrid!
And us? We go about our business quietly, upsetting as few a people as possible, doing business privatley, honourably and respectfully!
Also, breaking the trend of multi-million pound sponsorship deals with blue-chip companies by handing the front of our shirts to a humble, local charity with a mission!
Also, Our chairman stays out of the papers, he hasn't come out and said Gillett and Hicks are just orrible wan*ers, and Daniel Levy is just an bald cockney yiddo, or Mike Ashley is a fat f*ck with no money!
Not making arguments with MON, simply letting the dude get on with his job! I like that!
Excellent artical Doc but success brings in predators;
what are your thoughts on MON perhaps being linked again this season, with other clubs and moving for more money? So far MON has resisted press speculation and covert tapping up,linking him to other clubs and the England job. Do you think MON is happy, stable, wants a long term future at Villa Park and does not want to move house? Do you think we have 10 year plus manager? Can or will MON take Villa all the way?
Reply to rightsofway:
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and erm.... yes
Reply to Villa_Chris:
Thats a whole load of yes' from me to!
Reply to Villa_Chris:
I think MON believes genuinely that he can gradually build a side capable of challenging the big 4 and getting into the Champions League. I think he will stay at Villa Park for the remaining three seasons at least. What I would say is that he is a determined and tenacious manager - who does not give up easily on his targets. He wants to - and I think will - do the England job one day and I believe there are more than just obvious reasons why he is building a predominantly young and English squad around him. My guess? Having taken Villa to the Champions League O'Neill takes the England job after England's failure in the 2010 World Cup.
Reply to Villa_Chris:
Just watching SSNand im sooooo glad im not a NUFC fan!
What a joke!
Bigger, better club? Hahah, don't make me laugh! Oh.. I am!
LOVE MON...LOVE RANDY...LOVE VILLA...LOVE YOU LOT!
"we are football people on here lets just remember that we all share the same passion for our game regardless of which bunch of 11 overpayed, undertaxed, page 3 dating, aston martin driving prima–donnas we support. I am a die hard Liverpool supporter who will follow them until my last breath, you will all have your teams who you love with as much passion as I love mine, I have some wishes. .that DIC take control, that Stevie G or Carra scores the winning goal deep into injury time at OT, the Bridge, the Emirates or even Castle Greyskull just across Stanley Park, those of you who do not support my beloved club will be wishing the same although the names will be different and you will also include Anfield Road in your list of grounds but what I am trying to say fellow fans is that the game we love is perched over the edge of a huge precipice and it will not be very long until it all comes crashing down around us. I cant afford to get to many games, I'd like to go to them all but I cant andif and when DIC take over it will probably be worse. I disgust myself when I wish for unknown venture capitalists whose names I cant even pronounce to come and lavish their riches on my club so that they can have the latest fashion accessory for the super rich. A premier league football team. I class myself as being fortunate that I earn around £30 grand a year but these people have wealth that I cannot comprehend and I am left with one two low profile games a season. I love football with a passion but if its a choice between taking my kids out for the day and seeing them enjoying themselves and experiencing the Disneyland style corporate excursion that is a EPL game then my kids win every day of the week and twice on Sundays. My friends, my fellow supporters we are all staring down the barrel of an oil fuelled shotgun and I am scared. Remember the names that made us fall in love with the game in the first place Best, Moore, Dalglish,
even Robson (Bobby and Brian), Butcher Rush, little Sammy Lee, the late great god of the game (who is shamefully underrated and underpraised) John Charles. .what would or do they think? The game of the people has become the corporate game of the super rich and its you and I that are the scapegoats my friends. I call upon you all United, Everton, Chelsea, Spurs, Toon whoever you support even Jacks and Bluebirds. .we are in danger because whenever another £30million pounds of oil money is spent on a South American superstar remember that the people who paid that money want it back, and they want it back from us.
No rumours, no bull, no jokes, just a very tired and scared football nut, I hope you have a good season, who knows how many we have left.
Hits home doesnt it? This from a Liverpool supporter. Makes you feel a little lucky in some ways but also angry and disgusted...football has changed forever.......
Bit off-topic, but what a tit...
"I was watching a TV programme about accents the other day where they said the Birmingham dialect was the most difficult to understand, so I couldn't make out what they were saying."
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's retort after being asked if he was surprised by the abuse he received at Villa Park.
Reply to BrummieDave:
ulriite mayte wots ya poynte
nice article Doc ,proud to be a Villa fan then again I always have been , but it feels good to have an owner that nows about the tradition of the club
lerner always watchs the villa game
thats a good sign
OUT
UTV
off topic i know but keegan has resigned.... kinda inevitable it wasnt going to work out anyway
i know this is off-topic,but, anyone fancy bringing in stephen appiah????
utv!!
Keegan walks again.This man is a disgrace he has walked away from every job he has ever had.Anyone agree.
after seeing both west ham and now newcastle plunge there season into the unknown over the last couple of days it really makes me proud of what we have at villa.
I'm sure it wont always be rosey at VP, but i honestly cant see our club being in the sort of dismay that the two clubs above are in! in MON and LERNER we trust!!!!!! more chants for RL i think he deserves it!
Thanks for the post it's almost an antidote to the disillusionment that I feel with football (I've even dropped the fantasy league this year because I can't be ar**ed with what other teams players are doing anyway). Three games in two managers down already (for very similar reasons) and everyone hedging about who might have the fortune to crack the top 4. Since when did being a top 4 club become an end in itself? Apply that logic to the Olympics and you get the square root of cock all! there is much to applaud in the way Villa are being run compared with any other premiere league side. I think both MO'N and RL are both to be admired (with considerable envy especaially in scouse corner). We are not squillions in debt owing more in transfer money that we can afford, but we are still the biggest spenders in this transfer window (make that second probably) and it does make you wonder where this is all going. Saturday morning, jumpers for goalposts and Saturday afternoon standing on the Holte anyone? Or am I just showing my age?
Reply to smurf07:
yes i agree i dont rate him as a manager what has he ever won its just dillusional newcastle fans hyping up a very ordinary manager without ever getting any results i honestly dont see why he is a king up there it just makes no sense to me at all
respect to docbowle & simone - your comments are always appreciated. We are a team who are quietly creeping up on the rest, be patient....
Reply to DocBowles:
Thank you for your reply Doc, your thoughts deserve a wider audience. I think I should frame your erudite response.
In all honesty, Mandurka City and the rest of the now power hungry 'elite' in the game will be on the nose sooner rather than later. Villa will ultimately, based on the groundwork laid these past few years continue to compete with all comers in the PL, based solely on the club's ability to instil a belief in our players, ultimately meaning that winning will mean more to them. The great shame in what's happened to City is that one of the richest Junior talent pools will now seemingly be swallowed up by business, and i hope that in light of this we make sure we still give our academy guys the respect that they deserve for going through arguably the most gruelling qualification process in professional team sport. I honestly think that if we do this, our ability as a 'club' rather than a franchise will allow us to compete in other aspects than the financial ones in terms of attracting the games elite players. Be patient guys, Success can only be bought for so long. We will be there in a few years time, and supremely respected for the way we went about it. All credit to RL and MON. UTV!
It's all well and good until Randy see's that he's going to make a bob or two and sell out to a mega rich consortium! We will still be supporting the villa and I bet most would think it's great cos we would be able to compete on transfers.
RobL, It's totally stupid to think that the top Premier League players are going to compete for the love of he club. They will playing for oney and anyone that think anything else are naive!
Damian.
Many thanks for posting this very insightful and well reasoned thread. I was a little dubious about whether Randy and MON were taking us in the right direction and in the right manner before I absorbed your thoughtful posting. You have helped me to realise how lucky we are at Villa to have such a great owner and Manager. And how much worse off we would be if we had owners like Newcastle, Scouse Sh*te, and Man City do.
Obvious once it's put down on "paper" in a rational way of course - but perhaps I needed to see the facts stark and cold before I curb my doubts.
Thanks again Damian. Great Blog too.
Reply to sally:
I can't see that he'd sell just to make a bob or two. yes,
he's aware it's an asset which is why he invests in it but it's no get rich quick scheme to him. Plus, he has what most of these billionaire owners lack, and that's a philanthropic streak. Pretty much the only time he gets mentioned in the press is a tiny corner of a a page where he's donated the largest sum ever to the portrait gallery, or given Acorns free sponsorship. His wealth, however inherited it is has been well managed too and he is an incredibly well educated and family oriented man, rather than just being a clever opportunist playboy.
Personally, I think he's great for the club and can't see why he'd want to get rid. And I think he enjoys it.
Reply to Superfly:
Superfly,
Damian posts some great threads, you're right. But I have to confess to be the one responsible for football's only Chitty Chitty Bang Bang analogy.
Ahh.
(Superfly goes to stand in the Silly Corner with EvilDaz who made the same mistake earlier in the thread.) 
Apologies Doc - great post.
I'm still grateful to Damian for providing this great forum of course.