Aston Villa, Randy Lerner’s other athletic baby, lost in the finals of the Carling Cup in February against Manchester United, spoiling a chance for Randy to add his first piece of hardware as a pro owner. The Browns, further from that goal, to be sure, now have Holmgren at the helm and a suitcase full of draft picks for this week’s draft.
It’s as good a time as any to check in with an actual Aston Villa fan and a reporter familiar with the team and delve a into the schism in perception of Mr. Lerner between us Browns-lovin’ Yanks and the Villa-lovin’ Brits.
There’s a clear favorite sports owner in Cleveland — Dan Gilbert. You couldn’t find a single soul who wouldn’t pick Gilbert at the top. Finishing the rankings, Lerner would fall second, not because any fan would want to give him credit, but because Larry Dolan is so miserable and cheap that he has to be dead last on the list. If there were a category for “Would beat him with a tire iron,” then most fans would probably pick that option.
So Lerner falls in the middle by default, for now, and about the only nice thing a fan might say about Randy is that he has a lot of money and he doesn’t mind spending it. Beside that minor compliment, there’s a whole busload of hate directed at Lerner.
I think, fundamentally, it stems from three things:
This article appears in Apr 21-27, 2010.
Is the perspective of these British football fans any different than Browns fans? They like their team to win- so do we. They like their history respected- so do we. They appreciate gestures like naming rights on jerseys or stadiums- so do we. They don’t want a loudmouth owner getting in the way of things- neither do we. The big difference is that Lerner lucked into a competent guy to run things over there and not so much over here. Hopefully, Holmgren is the Browns version of this O’Neil guy. (Maybe literally if he ends up coaching the team next year).
Obviously not the ‘success’ in Cleveland he is in Aston 🙂
Can’t say he’s done much wrong with us at Villa, he’s hit the right notes, and song it beautifully and all his promises have been spot on and some have been delivered.
Now however, his limited spending on players, 20 million per season is likely to be even more limited its rumoured.
So check back in 12 months
That BBC guy needs to check his facts, pedantic maybe, but the statue RL provided was of our most famous Owner/Director, the guy who started the whole concept of soccer as a competitive sport, William McGregor, and came about thanks to fans suggestions. The ‘pub’ he refurbished happens to be part of the clubs site/stadium and was an eyesore. His investment has improved the ramshackle building and nearly made it a commercially viable enterprise. Smart moves, yes, commercially viable ones too.
I’d also suggest if he decided to sell Villa today his investment would show a tidy little profit, but then does he need to, would what he received increase his wealth more than marginally, I doubt it.
His low profile, is often a minor cause of complaint here too, but as I suppose we have little to complain about in comparison to your underachieving selves its of less importance.
He’s doing ok for us, so far, 4 season in, few complaints
You say Lerner is “middle by default,” but it is not default. He is in the middle because he has earned the middle. Gilbert has spent a bundle and managed the team expertly. Lerner is willing to spend, but has managed poorly. Dolan is a miser. Lerner deserves the middle spot. Give the man his due. Money spent is money spent.
I believe Lerner has strong feelings for the Browns. I know its popular to take shots at the rich guy, but it is not serious, reasonable analysis. His wealth is a benefit. Only one team wins the Superbowl each year. Are all the rest poorly managed? No. That’s not a serious comment. Lerner has been at this for a short time. It looks like the Browns have a very solid front office now, at long last. I am already impressed with the way this offseason has unfolded. No matter what, it will take some time to see what we have on the field and in the front office. Is waiting for a championship since 1964 frustrating, hell yes. I was born in 1963. But the past is the past. You can’t judge this front office by the past. You can certainly be frustrated. I am. But this is a new page. Lerner is second in town. He could compete for third and not spend anything on the front office. That is not what has happened. He’s second.
I am real encouraged with the mentation and don’t search like adding anything in it
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Anne
Holiday Cottages
Please ignore Damian’s views. He does not go to Villa games, he doesn’t even live in England. He is out of touch with us Villa fans and his point of view is not representative of that of the vast majority of Villa supporters. Randy has done a fantastic job so far and we will be patient for the success.