Well, this is a turn up for the books isn’t it?
Fabian Delph has come out with a totally unequivocal statement that says he’s staying. Here are the actual words that have come from the horse’s mouth, as reported on the OS;
“I’m aware there has been intense media speculation surrounding my future in the last 24 hours and I want to set the record straight.
“I’m not leaving. I’m staying at the football club and I can’t wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club.”
This is fantastic news, in my opinion, as I’ve always liked the player and think he would be a major loss to the team.
That said though, it’s all quite embarrassing, as without re-reading my previous replies on here, I’m not 100% convinced about if I slated the man or not.
After all, all the papers were reporting things as though it was absolutely a done deal, with some suggesting that the only barrier to the player actually signing, was the medical.
And well, when so many papers get on the bandwagon, it’s difficult to argue and it’s easier to accept it as fact isn’t it?
In my defence, I did think the idea of Delph going to Man City was a bit preposterous, especially at the £8 or 10 million that was mentioned.
Ah, I remember what I previously said.
It was that Gueye was obviously a replacement for Delph. That’s obviously been proven incorrect and I’m happy to say that I was wrong. It was a criticism more aimed at the club than the player though and yet again AVFC haven’t come out in a good light in my opinion.
While behind the scenes, the club might have been laughing their proverbials off, knowing the story wasn’t true and with me understanding that they won’t resort to answering every little bit of rumour, I think they should have nipped this rumour in the bud much, much faster than they did.
I mean, it wasn’t as though we were talking about a player we didn’t rate, hence him being insignificant, was it?
This was the club captain, who had pledged his loyalty only a few months back.
Of course, the same bastard papers that started this rumour are now saying that it’s a U-turn on Delph’s part, which hints that the club have massively upped Delph’s wages.
I don’t believe this for one minute. I think the player had no intention of leaving and it was frankly pure lies by certain papers. Lies that even sucked other papers in, so strong was their case.
I totally welcome this statement and if the team does start to perform better and indeed move upward, I reckon Delph could well go down as a legend in years to come because he didn’t abandon a sinking ship. I’ve added a poll, to see if you agree or not.
Comments
171 responses to “Delph is staying; A Legend in the making, agree? (POLL)”
I reckon as soon as Stirling goes to Man City the transfer merry go round will begin.
Also think that as it stands we have a decent side except for a LB. Hoping that we can get Amavi. If we can then I’ll be more than happy with what we’ve got.
I’d like to see Bacuna at right wing back with Richards at right CB as cover for when he bombs forward.
Gil and Kozak will be like new signings anyway.
So my team might look something like this –
Guzan
Bacuna Richards Clark Amavi (hopefully)
Gueye Delph
Gil Grealish Sinclair/Agbonlahor
Benteke
This side would really have some pace but hopefully still keep it tight at the back
I’m sure Tim in his wisdom will pick a quite different team but, whatever team plays, I’m findng that, for the first time in many years, I’m actually looking forward to the new season.
UTV
Agreed Pat, I’m also looking forward to the new season for the first time in what seems a long time. It seems we have loads of options available to us that we haven’t had in previous seasons. If we can get Amavi and a decent Keeper I’d be more than happy going to war with that squad.
Decent keeper?…..have you disowned ‘Bunn the hun’ already? 🙂
Let’s put things in context shall we ? I was initially encouraged, not to say gobsmacked, when I went on to the Villa website and saw the words “Fabian Delph Statement” Expecting to then read some form of farewell speech from Delph where he attempts to patronise us all by justifying his reasons for totally going against his “loyalty” speech just months earlier. How surprised was I to read that he said he was staying and looking forward to the new season. Then we find out that his decision to stay was purely and simply because of comments like these on various social media outlets and the fact that he finally realised he would not get as much game time as he would want and was only being used to make up the English players quota.. He fell short of saying that this would affect his England career, which is no doubt another factor. I am not criticising Delph for being tempted by a bigger wage but if he was as loyal a person as he was at pains to point out then he should have killed the link with Man City as soon as it came out. We had a similar situation with Benteke when he asked for a transfer after only one season and then signed an extended and improved 4 year contract. Delph now needs to knuckle down and lead from the front before he can begin to recover from this as far as I am concerned. Lack of respect for the club that has been there for over 140 years before these pretentious individuals and there agents and will be there long after they have gone.
Tried, in vain to put that very point accross on here for the last 2 days. As you rightly point out ‘he should have killed the Man City link as soon as it came out’ 100% spot on mate. Too many people on here trying to overcomplicate a very simple situation!
Of course I haven’t, I just think the keepers we have at the moment won’t provide him with much competition. 😉
Benteke rumours starting up again but I find that I’m not that bothered.
He either stays (great) or he goes for 32.5 million (also great).
Just hope if that happens that Sherwood gets it all as extra money though.
UTV
And Randy pockets most (if not all) the £32.5 mil……not so great 🙁
I thought that ages ago MATE,I can’t see Randy being out of pocket this window,unthinkable.
Giddy…there is a cheaper version of that item that I sent you details about last week. Just bought one for my daughter and it works perfectly. Shall I mail you the details?
Please MATE nice one
Ok…give me 30 mins or so!
I want one ,I want one,? What is it.?
A brewery 😀
Have you emptied the last one I bought you already……hang on, thats a very stupid question 🙂
Bill Pearson….if you want the details you can ask Badger for my email addy and I will send you the link…it really is a MUST have item! (But only if you can stand to watch Villa lose every Sat) 🙂
Cheers Langford, just thinking to myself, all on about a legend at villa ? Its got to be me mate , I’ve had to stand for things down there, Deadly for one he was an awkward Sod at times.
Charlie Aitken….he’s still my all time favourite…..a real legend IMO
Yeah, i hope we end up playing something like this…although this maybe a bit too attacking:
Guzan (or new keeper)
Bacuna Richards Clark/Okore (New LB)
Delph Gueye
Gil Grealish Sinclair
Benteke
I’d like to see Sanchez in there – possibly if we’re setting up a little more defensively away from home.
This is interesting;
https://twitter.com/Jbuckers/status/619968418704420865/photo/1
L’pool except mega bucks for Sterling so only a matter of time pool get after Benteke…..that should get Man U started as well…..bye bye Benteke.
If that’s the case then fine. Benteke goes and we get a lot of cash, if he doesn’t want to stay then offload him ASAP.
He cost us £7 million – who’s to say that we can’t get several players of his standing for 32.5 million?
Not worried if he stays or goes, we’ll still benefit.
UTV
Interestingly they have to pay QPR 20% of any fee.
Just have to say having seen the BBC Sports item – £49 million for Sterling, has to be the most overpriced, stupid transfer of the decade. Man City deserve everything they get with him, inconsistency, tantrums and will someone tell Citeh HE’S NOT THAT GOOD. Okay some days and absolutely rubbish others.
Hope they get relegated.
And pool have to pay qpr 20% sell on fee no wonder they’ve held out for 50m
£49M for Sterling. Wow, what a lot of money for a player with all the attributes of a Tart. So the Bin Dippers will have to pony up the full 32.5 for Benteke and still have 16.5M profit. Gabby disappeared down the 1 metre concrete death-trap at Anfield, and Benteke is another left sided forward who likes to get to the touchline left of goal. I hope the Scouse Gits spend some on the insurance premium.
The ultimate in bin dipping – selling Torres and Sterling for £50m each. On that basis Benteke should be valued at about £75m
If benteke never had this buy out clause I’m sure he’d be marked up a hell of a lot more.yes it seems the bin dippers value all their top players at 50mil for some unknown reason so if they did get him at 32.5 mil all their Xmas’s have come at once imo.
Just wondering when we all thought Benteke was going for the first time would we have gone for him keeping us up and then making £25 million profit on his sale? I’d have bitten your hand off.
I’d be sorry to see him go, which is probably inevitable now that Liverpool have the money, but that certainly sweetens the pill a bit.
UTV
But didn’t they buy Carroll for £35m and we all know how that worked out! Benteke might play well in a Villa set up but will he at Liverpool?
With money in the bank, does that mean they’ll push for Benteke now?
The profit is all well & good we made on him it’s just finding another gem like him is more concerning.
If Benteke goes I can see C Austin coming in I could be wrong.
I’ve thought the very same thing,but while this benteke saga drags on someone like the geordies might just snap him up.
Goog point Giddy, surely we should be trying to get Austin – Can see us selling Benteke without a replacement, it smells of financial tightness by Lerner as normal.
Your right saddened no way would Ebenezer sacrifice that sort of figure without the additional cash from benteke saying that GUEYE & this LB plus Austin he wouldn’t be out of pocket so far this window.
ebenezer lol
i honestly think that gueye was signed as a replacement for delph . unless benteke leaves we will only sign a few squad players. its still sell to buy. lerner got caught out by delph . why did it all go quiet about gueye then just when it was looking like delph was going to city villa announced the signing of gueye. delph threw a spanner in lerners plan lol. lerner does not want to spend unless benteke is sold and even then i dont think sherwood will get the full amount to spend on new players. ebenezer just about sums lerner up over the last few years.
If benteke goes we should get Ben Yedder and Charlie Austin. Can also pay for amavi and chery.
I think one will follow the other.
Stirling to man city
benteke to liverpool
austin to villa
why hasn’t anybody else signed austin already.
We should be going for Austin anyway Steve, for two reasons, the first being we could sell Benteke and be without a replacement, but on top of that, once Benteke has gone they will know we have cash and can up their asking price.
If Benteke is hell bent on leaving and Sherwood has accepted it then this is what I would try to do:
1. Bung him 1/2 mil to cancel the £32.5 mil release clause
2. Encourage a bidding war between interested parties. We all know how much the bin dippers have in the safe now. And if indeed Manure are interested, then there is NO way that they wont outbid their most bitter rivals!
Make it work in OUR favour!
Does anyone think this plan could work? If not, why not?
MATE the only way of doing that is offering him a new contract,no way could they start deleting clauses & bunging him cash to do that.one minute the clause Is there then the next minute gone clubs offering the buy out clause would have some serious questions for club & then report us for irregularities.
Benteke wants the club not to price him out the market hence this amount I gather pleases both parties but obviously not the fans.
Giddy.. I guess your right mate. Its just a thought as the buy out clause is too low IMO. I dont know if BP is interested in ‘that item’ but feel free to give him my email addy if he wants it. The other option is that you simply forward that link to him.
LOL ‘forward that link’??? That’s beyond my knowledge MATE I’ll just send the addy now that’s in my capabilities. 😀
Lol….ok mate. Did you read my comment about ‘the brewery’ on page 2 of this post? No offence mate 🙂
Yes MATE bang on 😀
If anything is real in the distorted world of football transfers then £32.5m for Benteke is a good deal and one, I suspect, Villa fans would accept if it wasn’t for the ridiculous sum being paid for Stirling but then it is Citeh after all. The other major concern is whether our illustrious owner will pocket most of the proceeds rather than reinvesting in the team – we will have to wait on that one.
However, what concerns me more is that this will be played out to the last day of the transfer window and we’ll have no time to get in a sensible replacement. Villa may well have to compromise in order to make their own moves
H60, the biggest distortion for me is this;
Pool offered Stirling £100k a week, which he apparently knocked back.
So then Citeh are rumoured to have offered him £200k.
Did they really need to offer to double his wages to get him to come in?
Probably not but I think it says more about Stirling than Citeh in this instance
Hmm, I think both are major indicators of what’s wrong with the game 🙁
“Aston Villa ‘favourites to sign 96 goals in 192 games striker in shock transfer ”
and who is this striker the metro is reporting we are going to sign .
have a guess ?
its the one and only .
Emmanuel Adebayor
the london media will not let this fecking made up bullshit story go will they lol
i actually got excited by this headline till i read the fecking story.
feck you metro !
Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if we got him,Sherwood would be nothing but praising the signing.
he is on £100k a week at spurs . the only way we will sign him is if spurs paid about half his wages and we all know Daniel Levy would never agree to that.
Domingo, that’s exactly what the rumour is.
Spurs pay a chunk of his wages.
They (the club and fans) quite simply want him gone.
really cant see levy agreeing to paying half his wages. everyone knows how tight levy is . they will want someone to take him off there hands lock stock and barrel and would Adebayor allow them to ship him off. he must be loving it £100k a week for doing feck all living down in london. he will sit out his contract then go and play in china or the middle east for another fat paycheck.. well that’s what im hoping 🙂
and now i just read spurs want £5m for him. i would rather have no-one than pay £5m for this lazy fecker. hopefully even if sherwood wants him tom fox will say NO !.
nearly 31 on £100k a week and spurs want £5m for him lol. feck me.
Fcku me I agree. They should pay us £5m to get shot of him ffs. I’d take him in a straight swap for vlaar that’s about it I’d rather have Giddy and Bill Pearson up front tbh!!