Forget the player in Holt and look at the circumstances of his signing.
We can all have our own thoughts on the player but when a Premier League club signs on loan a Championship bench warmer and they still pay half his wages that says it all.
You do not have to be mystic mug to realise there is no money available to Lambert for either wages or a fee. Other clubs IF we needed to replace Kozak would have brought someone or not bothered. We have seen the Holt signing and possible Hoolahan one (certain he will join) and Lambert has had to change policy to go back to players he knows and cheap.
No long term planning there is it and totally different from last winter and actually we are in a better position (convinced we will not go down).
You remember Henke was signed then got another job, the club did not replace him, there is no Chief scout, that makes no sense as well
So why do I say this is the end of Lerner ?
Simple.
The £90M injected has clearly not been used for the team. I believe 100% we are financially in a position to spend. Not massive amounts but more like £5-10M players on 40k a week (PL average wage). So I listened to the stuff from Faulkner last night to Tom Ross and it told us nothing and interesting nothing for the future. except it will be better. Tom gave him an easy ride, was that the terms of the interview ?
I believe the club will be sold and has been on the market since Houllier left (that is when Lerner gave up), this £90M and very low wage bill for a club our size means it should be easy to sell to a person or company with ambition.
So if the club is about to be sold why spend more money than you really need to keep us up, in other words a mixture of cheap signings and loannees.
Ian…good theory, but only guesswork mate IMO. Have you really got anything tangible?
Fuck off Lerner, the Villa is OURS
Do you think Randy has been reading my comments on here? 🙂
course it is a theory based on the available and public facts.
Is speculation not part of football ? what I do know for sure is the money is there to increase the wages, speculate as to why this is not being released ?
My theory is as above and only idiots would think it is for sure what will happen.
Ian..dont take it the wrong way as I am not knocking your theory. It is indeed very interesting speculation. What you have written is very feasible the more I think about it. Grateful if you would update when you have any more info!
Fuck off Lerner, the Villa is OURS
More garbage and guesswork…
There are a lot of rumours floating ATM.Stan Collymore has been on about Red Bull.I do think it is weird that we arnt doing proper business on quality players.I hope if Lerner does sell it will be to SM1 worth while UTV
the point is Jay we have the cash to do that. OK Winter is not perfect BUT as Hull have shown you can get the players and actually quite cheap it seems. All we need is only quality midfielder IMHO and around 24-26 that would show intent eh ?
Yes mate it would I would like to see one good quality signing and yes a CM but also CB.Just heard Ireland has gone to Stoke permanent UTV
and we have our one in one out and saved loads on wages, it does not figure …
It makes sense Ian and am I correct in assuming its more tax efficient to keep it as debt rather than an asset, which could make you think something is imminent…..I think he would sell if he could, but there are better propositions out there, the Midlands doesn’t count for much any longer. I also believe Lerner has been to the UK on a number of occasions recently but has chosen to stay in London.
good point I had not thought off, if you have debt then interest payments etc can be written off against any profits.
I have just submitted an article on this very subject, if it get published…
IANROBBO, as much as I love your thoughts and views, may I ask why you sound so sure? I mean, just because the club is possibly for sale, im not sure there are to many people in a cue to buy us or any other club IMHO
IMO the signing of holt and the probably signing of Hoolahan (happy enough with hoolahan) to me says that Lambert is like a cat lost in a cars headlights.. he is up shit creak without a paddle and hes using players he knows that might just make his iidea work
good point and that is where I differ. I believe Lambert though a limited manager is right when he says he and Lerner have no issues over policy. What you see on the pitch is of a direct result of Lerner’s policy.
can you think of any reason why 90M came in when it did just before the winter window opened and yet at this stage no quality has been brought in ?
That is what we speculate about
Well it hurts me to say it but Villa arnt exactly a big successful team at the minute, with 1 top player whom most expect to leave in the summer..
I think that for every top half quality player villa go for, another club would be interested aswell, then its a case of the players preference, football or hoofball? 25k or 30k etc…..
the £90m being pumped in could mean anything, I have no idea on financing.. but lets just say, if I were the potential new owner I would damn sure to make sure only the best signings were made
so what about Lambert…. lets say a deal is close for the sale of villa. what happens to Lambert?? Why would Lamert hand around knowing a new invester will want a top name? it doesn’t make sense
I am convinced the club has been sold, although I have no evidence or proof, I’m a speculator, all this behind the scenes money dealings and share selling is not for nothing, a silent partner first then a total buy out when it’s right
that is my conclusion that a deal is near to be completed. You would agree that those who say it is a ‘tidy up’ exercise are wrong to say it ?
Ireland confirmed permanent move to Stoke….thanks for nothing Stephen!
Fair post ian sums it up how i feel atm,i can see hoolahan following maybe a grand total of 1.5 mil for this transfer window.i agree i also think lerner is whinding down now for the sale.what happened to this naughton bollox?yeah bollox.i really think it’s going to be a hard slog right to the very end of the season now.depressing days ahead.
Could the Red Bull rumour be real?
Put the re-branding argument to one side and imagine the shit storm that would kick up if it became a reality, Man U, Arsenal ruining to UEFA crying about fair play, the status quo of the Premier League all upset.
F**king great bring it on.
JayDEE after reading Robo and others I bloody think thats the case, thing is is it for the good of Aston Villa, I don’t want name change, i dont want to start again and lose our identity I want my Aston Villa as a well know football team and its history.
Aston Villa Red Bulls? I could live with that Bill and football sold it’s soul in 1992 mate.
Call me old fashioned B W S but I’m not yet into these name changes hated it in rugby don’t like to think its coming in football, if in time better days fall our way I might change with the rest. I’m wandering if Lambert knows things looking at his face lastnight he has massive things on his mind. And its not just football players.
If that is what it takes to compete at the very top level then so be it mate, all the tradition in the world don’t save you from the abyss of the lower leagues look at Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves, Leeds to name but a few.
We formed the league and we aint even got a museum down there FFS Bill.
You forgot Ackrington Standley Bill, museum wtf do we need that for its for old fossils.
yep I am a cheep whore I don’t mind the Villa bulls….. Mooooooooooo
can’t see it happening though
Lol
I’m just a Boy who cain’t say no,
I want a Villa with wings!
If Hughes can turn Ireland into a footballer again, who knows with Holt? Maybe Lambert will have the same effect? I don’t know, but if Holt does make an impact (on or off the pitch) paying only half his wages is a great bit of business.
Now prior to the transfer window Lambert had made comments that the club was now looking for quality (experienced players) rather than quantity (cheap young talent who can grow into the team). All words we wanted to hear from the club, but with the frustrations of the continuing “wage bill” and “price of business” in January I am being to agree about the lack of a long term vision for the club. I believe this window will truly show where Lerner’s ambitions are. Either there really is no money for Lambert to invest or we finally spend a little now that Ireland is off and possibly Hutton as well.
As for the 90m in shares, could this be an investment from Red Bulls (or X investor) as a proposed transfer of ownership over the next few years? Or do you see it as a way for Lerner to increase is profit percentage before buy-out? Because I just can’t see Lerner selling the club to Red Bull. As a proclaimed fan of the club, the one thing Lerner has proclaimed himself was that he was going to be a good steward to the club’s rich history. Now I know quite a few despise Lerner on here, but never once did I think he would change our identity (colors, name, grounds) for the sake of a profit and to be honest I really can’t see him starting now.
Changed the badge from the Lion Rampant to some kind of cute, cuddly, Disney type pussy cat.
Sorry there was a lot of ‘proclaiming’ going on in that sentence.
The badge, sure. I prefer my Lions to have actual claws too, but it was supporter designed and driven if I’m not mistaken.
I think looking at the £90m as an injection is a red herring, as it was pre-existing debt to Lerner regarding money that he’d already put in and presumably has long been spent. He has therefore just converted it to equity, thus removing the debt from the balance sheet. This better secures his debt and does make the club look in better financial shape to a potential suitor. It also enables Lerner to sell a majority stake and keep a chunk of shares for future sale if the club’s value rises. What hasn’t changed is that our club is presently owned and managed by buffoons and that if Lerner doesn’t either sell or pump in more cash, we are in danger of falling into the championship, losing 000’s of paying fans and, in this day and age, risking our whole future. On top of that, Lambert is proving that he his the poorest man-manager, prioritiser and tactitian in the game. He’s already had quite a bit of money and I wouldn’t trust him with another penny. Please Sir, can we have our beloved Villa back?
Yes Kezz…… But if it remains as a debt he can offset tax against some of it, once it becomes an asset he can’t, therefore its not financially beneficial to transfer …. So I have been swayed and think something is going on !!
If the shares have been bought by Lerner by writing off debts all that really does is stop Lerner taking out interest payments. I can’t see that it makes any difference to the sale of the club. Say Lerner bought the club for £100M and lent it £100M and wants to get his money back. He can sell for £200M and waive the loan, or convert the loan to shares (so now he has paid £200M for the club) and sell for £200M. It’s just the same. I can’t see why a buyer would care unless there’s some tax advantage to them.
I do think it is just tidying up, otherwise why didn’t he issue enough new shares to swap all the debt? If it was important to clear debt in order to sell up then surely it would all need to be cleared?
He did issue enough shares, there is no longer a cap remember …
I would ask why the 90M then because most of the loan notes are not yet up until at least 2016 and I think most are 2018.
Losing track on this! Another thought. Have the shares actually been bought or just authorised? I think you can have share capital that is unpaid/issued. I think you only need to record ownership of the shares on the company annual return. Has it been stated anywhere who (if anyone) has bought the shares?
There is nothing anywhere on internet re takeover. It’s pure speculation thou I’d love to see it.
New branding new colours where ever you look in the ground a fecking bull stareing at you.nah call me old fashion AVFC playing at VILLA PARK in the CLARET & BLUE that’ll do nicely thankyou.
Don’t give me that Bull Giddy. 🙂
Lol mate aren’t cardiff city known as the bluebirds yet they play in red lol it’s a fucking joke bill.
That’s hard to swollow Giddy. 🙂
If Lerner is looking to sell surely he would ensure our premiership status first. Else the value would drop considerably.
I hope I am fucking dead before fucking red bull interfere with the history and tradition of this great club. I would prefer to watch Villa in the conference than sell our name to that load of shite!……and I refuse to have my two Villa tatooes changed ..
Fuck off Lerner, and Red Bull, the Villa is OURS
Totally agree with you there and certain things are red lines in any club, should be colours and the name of your ground (when not new build). Can you imagine how much Man U could get for renaming OT ? Even they would not do that.
Hear hear mate. 😀
I support Aston Villa who play in claret and blue at Villa Park. I am here for life, good times or bad. If necessary, I would rather die happy with fond (and terrible) memories of this great club. Do NOT sell out to this shower of corporate shit…please let me die first!
Fuck off Lerner, and Red Bull, the Villa is OURS
p.s… Dickhead Ellis pulled down the best football stand in World football, that was unforgiveable and Red Bull would be far, far worse!
Come on Langford where did you have them tattoos, 🙂 🙂
Bill…in a back street tatooist inRea Street just behind Digbeth Coach Station. I was only 14. My Dad said good job you had the Villa tatooed because if it was anybody else I would have killed you! 🙂
I guess we’ll only know for sure on september 1st where Randy and spending money is concerned but it certainly does seem to be heading the way Ian has suggested. Id bet any midfielder bought in now will be as cheap as p/ss too.
Anyway someone else agrees with Ian here>>
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23avfc%20red%20bull%20&src=typd
To me it all seems to make sense now.
Oops sorry this is the right link>>>
https://twitter.com/maizy4/status/423088731374243840/photo/1
SSN…Grant Holt has been confirmed….I didnt even know he was a Catholic 🙂
OS…Lambert ‘we are still looking at another couple of signings’…..dont shoot the messenger!
Fuck off Lerner, and Red Bull, the Villa is OURS
although as has been said it is all speculation the article rings true for me, I just cant for the life of me explain the incredible things going on off the pitch at villa, a few seasons ago were were in this position and took a risk and spent a wedge on bent and boy did it turn out money well spent coz no doubt we’d have gone down without him.
it odes seem to me also that from lamberts bizarre recent comments re getting sacked, honest comments ok but bloody stupid to say out loud to the press, how that inspires confidence and motivation I don’t know its totally defeatist, you’d never hear fergie or wenger say any thing like that no matter how true. add to this the links with players he’s worked with before I get the feeling all is not well in the dressing room, it shows on the pitch too, I don’t get the feeling of unity that there was last season, we we’re in the shit then but it felt like we were all in it together where as im not seeing that this season.
I’m sorry to say this guys and I know it’s all speculation my gut feeling is Villa has already been sold, it’s only a matter of time before it’s released as news.
I fear it won’t be for the liking of many either.
Hope your right about sale but wrong on the other bit
Holts signing has me bamboozled .. the loaning of a 32 year old championship player ..
honestly has caught me off guard.
as for the selling up rumours.
I don’t know what to make of the 90m share swap thing. does anyone know an accountant that could opine on the possible motives for that?
otherwise its interesting to read the different takes on it but thats all it is.. just interesting unqualified opinions
What is the story with the twitter link above? why is so much weight being put into a random twitter comment posted by no one of particular relation or insight to the story?
Red bull
no no no for me .. If we are to be bought out .. great! but unless its a sheik/ oligarch we are not going to progress.
Chances are though if its just another billionaire egoist – they will respect most of the Villa identity.
Red bull .. please no ..
As for Lamberts comments about not being immune to the sack ? ..
honest to christ. we have articles that slate him for saying nothing .. articles that slate him for being honest .. and the biggest joke of all is why anyone listens to any managers comments pre or post game or puts any stock in them what so ever!!
Its mandatory PR media duties ..
whether they are entertaining like mourniho or inaudible like Lambert they mean the same .. nothing.
Personally i am confused now.
confused by the holt signing. and what it means for the long term plan.
I really hope Lerner has sold,
BUT Ian one flaw being, why would a prospective buyer take a team in the championship? Surely Lerner needs to ensure Prem survival, something which is not guaranteed.
I see two possibilities
1, Lerner has already sold. But if that was so a new owner would not sanction HOLT or Hoolahan, so it suggests NO SALE.
2, Lerner is simply moving money around his empire for other reasons. Remember Lerner has many other interest and sometimes its necessary to move assets.
Lerner out. More Likely,
good points Ted and maybe we only need short term to survive, I do believe no chance we will go down, hence why we were determined to keep Benteke in the summer
thats an interesting point Ian,
If it was a question of preparing to sell or just maintaining the mediocre why go to the lenghts they did to keep benteke and not cash in.
is it because there has been a change in course since the begining of the season? ie sale or prem table targets or long term plan?
lol i am so confused by the holt signing!
Why confused…player breaks leg = get short term replacement until player recovers from broken leg…lol…cant sec how anyone can be confused by that!
You’ve got a laugh Stoke purchase Ireland on a perm to free funds up for a loan deal on another player, and from our freed up funds from Ireland we bring in a loan deal of Holt pmsl says it all about Lambert…………