It’s a popular trope, the borderline criminal mismanagement of our once-proud club, and it was given a new incarnation by the rather silly idea punted around yesterday that somehow Paul Faulkner is bravely bucking a gung-ho Randy Lerner to single-handedly restore the sanity to Villa Park by which some are currently so underwhelmed.
I’m usually indulgent, but I’m not really in the mood for it.
As Matt pointed out yesterday, we’ve maintained a rather boring and consistent narrative here at AVL based on facts as we know them. We don’t do conspiracy theories. We don’t do silly speculation. We don’t do character assassination. We don’t go beyond what we know.
The truth is usually not nearly so juicy as we’d all like, and yet, to borrow a phrase Matt and I often knock around, we can’t seem to handle the truth. Even when it’s boring. For example: You might think the missus is trying to kill you…fact is, she might just be a well intentioned but not very good cook.
The truth, as Ian ‘Old Biker’ Gibson pointed out a few days ago, is that Villa haven’t been anything much for a long time. Yes, we’re old. Yes we’re proud. Yes we’ve won a European Cup and been in the Premier League the entirety of its existence. And yes we’re one of the most decorated clubs in English footballing history.
But that’s the past. And the past doesn’t feed the cat. Unlike ST75, who apparently does the feed the cats. I’m sorry, Steamer.
So here we are. Paul Faulkner is a bright, well-intentioned man that Randy Lerner trusts with the day-to-day oversight of his club. He might convince Lerner of a thing or two when they sit down and talk because unless Randy is an autocratic tyrant, he’s going to take things on board from the people he’s hand-picked and entrusted to do things.
But Randy Lerner’s not running around screaming “Someone splash my cash already, please!” only to be rebuffed by someone who’s taken control of his money and his club. It’s Lerner that’s had the final say and backed Lambert’s decisions regarding Darren Bent and Christian Benteke. It’s Lerner who’s signing the checks for Libor Kozak and Jores Okore.
It’s Lerner who put Faulkner in charge of holding O’Neill’s spending in check.
If he’s going to be slagged off for O’Neill’s profligacy, then Lerner gets credit for hiring and backing Lambert. His money, his club, his decisions. It’s not going to happen if Lerner hasn’t sanctioned it. It’s not going to happen via anyone Lerner hasn’t hired.
Lerner, from day one, talked about Villa as a sustainable entity. This has always been his vision. He obviously trusts Paul Faulkner implicitly. And I’m sure Paul Faulkner has some very good ideas, because we’ve seen some of the fruits of his labors. I’m sure they work very well together. Paul knows what Randy wants to see. That’s why he gets so much latitude.
It doesn’t hurt that they’ve finally found the manager who can implement Lerner’s vision: Build a competitive team without running a loss.
Which, of course, after Gabby’s gone and made a pop singer throw up, brings us to Newcastle.
This is a significant game, because after a ridiculous first week and a long layoff, Villa host the sort of side against which they’ll expect to pick up points.
But there are no easy games in this league, and Villa will again face the question: “Can they break sides down at home?”
We’ll find out in a couple of days. Over to you.
The Author
