Sorry for the delay, but I quite simply didn’t know what to say about this.
I started to hear this story early this afternoon, whilst at work, but my immediate reaction was that it was an utter load of rubbish.
“How on earth would it be possible for a player to be seen to be leaving a club and then to refute the story by saying he’s staying, only to change his mind again by actually leaving?” was my thinking.
It wouldn’t be possible, as the player would never live it down.
How naive I’ve been.
Given that I had my suspicions that both the loyalty statements were probably written by someone at the club and not Delph himself, I found myself wondering if all was as well as was being portrayed, but you just take categorical statements like “I’m staying at this great football club” at face value, don’t you?
So any doubt was put to the back of my mind.
Anyway, now the decision has been made, I find that I’m asking myself “what’s gone on?”.
And given that it seems he made his decision last night, my guess is that he found out Benteke is going and just decided enough is enough.
Which means that he really thought a lot about Benteke and his ability or he isn’t convinced about what’s happening at the club, which is somewhat worrying.
One thing caught my eye in Delph’s statement and it was the part where he apparently confirmed that Micah Richards definitely didn’t do anything to put Delph off about going to City.
Indeed, it seems he raved about the club.
Thanks Micah.
Oh, one other thing.
I believe Genk are entitled to around five million Euros from the Benteke sale, via a sell-on clause.
So it won’t be £40 million to spend (plus the usual stingy £15 million).
While a part of me doesn’t blame Delph for moving onward and upward to the Man City bench, I also feel that what he’s done here, is about as bad as anything I’ve witnessed in my forty five years or so of supporting the club.
He’s made himself and the club a laughing stock and the words “two-faced, lying bastard” spring to mind.
And while I agree with the thinking that no player is bigger than the club, this is a big loss when combined with Benteke’s imminent departure.
I just hope Tim Sherwood is as good as he thinks he is, as regardless of how poor you think Benteke, Delph and Vlaar might be individually, we’ve now got the spine of the team ripped out and it’ll take some replacing, especially when you consider that we need a team that can gel quickly, if we aren’t going to be involved in another relegation fight.
Comments
124 responses to “Delph officially confirmed gone; What a shambles!”
I wonder if Southampton fans post like this every time their team is raped by the ‘darlings of sky sports’. Or if they speculate that the manager will walk every time one of their stars gets sold? Never seen a picture of a bed sheet hanging on the gates of the ground with a spray painted message either and they seem to be more than ok! I’m gutted about Delph, not for his skill, as he wouldn’t have got in the teams of yesteryear but because of the way he’s mugged off the fans. Benteke was never going to stay – in fact he’s been here longer than we could’ve hoped. We move on and let’s enjoy the ride. We know the football will be decent and we know that sherwood will instil some belief into the team so I’m going to stay positive! UTV
Saints fans are seeing the money reinvested. Plus they’ve had a decent structure and business plan in place for some time now whilst we still wee wee on our shoes.
SEB – it’s not that he’s gone, it’s the manner of his going that has upset the fans. Personally, I’m not that bothered but feel very let down by his lack of integrity. All he needed to have done was kept his mouth shut and he could have avoided all this.
Totally agree Hitchens, he’s come out of this smelling of the brown stuff. For that reason I’ll never forgive him. I dare say sherwood feels the same!
Gutted about the £8m clause, like I said on a previous post, if ‘Fatty’ Faulkener had put that in we’ll be marching up to Villa Park with pitchforks. Delph’s worth twice that.
For those who think he’ll be bench warming at Citeh I think you’re wrong. Milner’s gone, YaYa’s nearing the end and Nasri is just awful, he could easily become a regular starter.
Think it’s more about who else they’ll be bringing in Dave to be honest – do you honestly think that Delph will be the marquee signing that the Arab owners will want to parade in the champions league? Without the clause I doubt if he wouldn’t have signed the new contract so I’m afraid we’ve got to see it as £8m gained rather than any loss.
Delph is replaceable, Viaar is replaceable as for Benteke? . I trust Sherwood to invest the money wisely from the Benteke sale. As for Delph I just took the knife out of my back that the two faced rat put into yesterday. Let him rot on the bench and move on.
I agree Sir Earl, Delph will not be a marquee signing for them, but he’s great value at £8m, didn’t we pay £7m for him. Also, I really think he’s good enough to be one of the first names on the England team sheet in future.
Can’t disagree more Dave, but only time will tell. Meet you back here the end of next season???
Great value and an England regular but champions league standard? I wonder how long it’ll be before he’s pulling out of England games as seems to be the case for many of the ‘sky 4’ players? Wish he was still at villa but onward and upward!!
A true but sad commentary on the state of England is that Delph probably is now an England regular in midfield but Citeh need to field better players in their Champions League side to have any chance. Sooner rather than later Hodgson will drop players not starting regularly for their clubs, he always does.
I am looking forward to a change of style and change of attitude. I have got my ticket for Bournemouth and I am expecting a quality performance from both sides.
Like Hodge, Platt, Yorke, Barry, Young and Downing nothing but a mercenary rubbing our noses in it.
The Man City fans I have spoken to, do not know when he will get a game, lets hope he is mugged off, just for the sake of their quota…. followed Villa for 40 years and never known such crap coming out of a players mouth…. Cant travel to Portugal, but now on his way to Australia….
Saddened, Citeh can afford Star Trek style teleportation devices, so it only takes seconds for their squad to travel down under. Villa still have to rely on aeroplanes. Therefore Delph can justify this to himself.
First team regular? You having a laugh!?!?!?!??
OGC Nice have confirmed the Amavi deal, now we just need a midfielder and two strikers.
I’m looking forward to Amavi telling the Nice fans that he’s now staying and loves the club and us signing him next weekend after another u turn!
I might buy myself a Nice shirt next week…
We should send Delph a cushion as a parting gift.. to make sure he is comfortable on man city’s bench. What a fraud.
But in good news welcome to Amavi. Brilliant signing and Sherwood persisted and got his man.
I see Gil is having a good pre season, he alone is an upgrade on delph and I expect gueye to be also.
A mid two strikers and a keeper would be a good way to spend the cash.
Welcome Jordon to the VILLA fold.UTV
http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/liverpool-benteke-move-somehow-in-jeopardy-just-get-it-sorted my understanding they want it made up of add ons and appearances. also listening to collymore last night reckons the problems at villa hasn’t bottomed out yet
Paying in installments isn’t uncommon in football, but when yr skint like Villa are (thanks Randy), we need to see cash in hand. Liverpool can go f*** themselves if they think they can call the shots. How I HATE LFC. Jumped up wankers. Universally disliked amongst Villa fans.
https://betting.betfair.com/football/premier-league/aston-villa/premier-league-relegation-latest-odds-aston-villa-fifth-favourites-180715-205.html
It gets worse…
I’m not surprised with benteke departing where the goals coming from,we deffo need the likes of Austin FUCK adebeyor.
Adebeyor will never be at Villa. Costs too much, inconsistent, too old and no sell on fee. Fox and Lerner will never permit it.
so has Amavi joined us or what ,or are villa waiting till benteke leaves to announce the signing to try and take the heat of lerner and co. if adeboyer does transfer to us as our main striker i will give up on villa till lerner leaves as i will lose all hope at that point.
Amavi confirmed on os, very good news
Terrific news.
New post please lads for amavi! Fuck Fabian Delph the absolute disgrace!
Anyone know how much he cost
Delph, what can you say, silly boy. He even looks out of place, can’t see how he will get playing time. He only looked so good coz of the shit around him the past 3 years. Needs to learn to shut his trap, it pissed me right of, complete nob. Who ever put that low buy out clause should be sacked, joke!!! Amavi looks god to solve the left back problem, welcome. Benteke I can understand, he signed new contract and the club didn’t move on. Let’s face it fresh blood will be good, change the mentality, a bid should go in for Austin and another striker. Would also think it would help to have another midfielder with prem experience. Feel for sherwood, he must be pissed after Delphs change of heart, the only good thing is it has given us time