- Mar 18, 2005
- 34,468
- 84,136
It's been fascinating seeing them decline over the last 8 years, surprising considering how dull they are.
The chairman backed O'Neill and as a result they built a huge wage bill, the 2nd higher wages to turnover ratio in the Prem for a while. Their net spend was big too and any money they got for Young, Milner etc was eaten by the terrible and expensive signing of Reo Coker, Harewood and the 11 players they let go on a free transfer.
Then they had the difficulty the likes of Newcastle and West Ham had. They had to tighten the purse strings after a period of poor financial management but their fans see them as a big club and have high expectations.
In hindsight Lambert was doing a better job than given credit for but it was deemed not good enough.
Villa have no long-term strategy and have not developed their academy sufficiently. They are now paying the price.
A lesson to all fans who think the chairman should always be funding the next big purchase.
The chairman backed O'Neill and as a result they built a huge wage bill, the 2nd higher wages to turnover ratio in the Prem for a while. Their net spend was big too and any money they got for Young, Milner etc was eaten by the terrible and expensive signing of Reo Coker, Harewood and the 11 players they let go on a free transfer.
Then they had the difficulty the likes of Newcastle and West Ham had. They had to tighten the purse strings after a period of poor financial management but their fans see them as a big club and have high expectations.
In hindsight Lambert was doing a better job than given credit for but it was deemed not good enough.
Villa have no long-term strategy and have not developed their academy sufficiently. They are now paying the price.
A lesson to all fans who think the chairman should always be funding the next big purchase.