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.
Good grief!
I don’t believe it 🙁
Delph if nothing else is a LIAR.
I don’t blame him going for the money and trophies but he should have kept his trap shut.
Bye then.
I’m sorry but this has to go down as a million times worse than the way hodge, Yorke, Bosnich or downing conducted themselves. At least they made it clear they wanted out. The only people looking worse than Delph are the club and the local press. Gregg Evans claimed that Delph wasn’t going to Portugal due to his mrs expecting a baby – the cheeky twat is off to Australia now according the the man city website.
Can’t wait to hear sherwoods thoughts on this.
I completely and utterly agree – you knew that all of those others wanted to go, this was just bullshit of the highest order.
I’m looking at the two lineups for that friendly tonight and I’m shaking my head – I suggest we move on from Benteke and Delph very quickly and buy some quality because we look like all we have is weakness in depth.
Sherwood was delighted earlier in the week when he found out Delph was staying but I do believe he was already preparing for the new season on the assumption that Delph and Benteke were leaving.
Hopefully we will see a few signings when Benteke finally goes. Hopefully over the weekend.
No player is bigger than the club. Delph has made himself look a bigger Pratt since Unsworth and his MRS.
Let him and Benteke go. No problem. I’m confident Sherwood will get quality replacements in. Obviously, the full fee for Benteke must be paid up front. Anything else would be ridiculous. Get the 40 million for both and rebuild.
1991. Big Ron takes over a much bigger shambles than what TS has got now. He wants to keep David Platt and build around him, but Platt goes for a then record fee. Big Ron rebuilds and basically buys a whole new team. Villa finish 7th, with some great football along the way, then finish runners up the following year, with even better football.
Let them go. Just make sure the money is banked and spent wisely. This is what TS is paid to do. I think he will do well.
UTV
Probably got grief off her indoors, imagine you go home and tell the good lady wife you’ve been offered a new job on 3 times the money but you turned it down because your loyal to present employer and you’re happy where you are.
F**k me your dinner would be in the dog for next year.
He’s just a bare faced LIEING wanker,hope he’s reading this site.
Happy we got rid of delph, been well overrated. 8m for an England international is maybe a bit low but at most we could have got about 12m so not too bad. Hopefully Benteke follows suit now and Sherwood can start to rebuild with 40m at his disposal. Benteke will be a big hole to fill but the money should improve our all round team which is desperately needed. I’m personally Really excited about this transfer window and some of the names we’ve been linked witih.
Reality is that he could’ve gone for nothing so it’s an extra £8m really.
i would ease up on the old optimism if i was you Adam the spine has gone and will be replaced with average foreign or young players that will take a season or two to gel if they do at all i see nothing good coming from loosing these 2 i can see us struggling big time this season all the talk of big money take overs and exciting times ahead pure shite sorry for the negativitu but im afraid i am rightly pissed off with these turn of avents all we need now is that lazy bastard from spurs to come in to replace Benteke top it all off nicely
My views entirely, Muzz, as is confirmed by my headline thoughts.
And no, I didn’t read any comments before I wrote it, before anyone suggests it.
lets not blame the club – no club could have prepared themselves for such a dishonest judas…… ! Now lets go and buy some decent players !
watching the game now benteke is there he has a muscle strain in his back i reckon delph was told to do one alongside vlaar, cleveley,given, lowton, and benteke, they were told to find new clubs and it looks like they have
I that was the case Delph would of gone last week.
If*
but the amount of shit he got on twitter and facebook frightened him to death
Why on earth would Delph be told to do one, when there’s an £8 mill clause in his contract?
That makes no sense whatsoever Billy’s, I’m afraid.
Villa will keep moving on.So what if Delph goes! So what if Benteke goes. That’s £40m for new players.
Did Ron Saunders cry when John Gidman and Andy Gray all desert Villa? Hell no, he built a team that won the title within 3 years.
Did big Ron cry when David Platt left? Hell no,we went on to win the League Cup.
Exciting times for new players to come and make themsleves into Villa legends. Who are they? I don’t know, but I’m looking forward to the journey.
Although, could an exciting future be at hand?
* Okore – I rate
* Clark – maturing
* Gueye(?) – replacement for Delph
* Gil – real skill
* Grealish – exciting
* Sinclair – good past record
Who knows?
Tim, it’s up to you to buy, develop and build a team in your image. I for one am excited and still think mid table can be achieved this year.
I don’t think 6 decent players equates to an exciting future!
On a plus note looks like Vlaar is struggling to find a club. As long as we don’t have him back.
The grass isn’t always greener.
at least when we play citeh if we keep attacking down the left delph will get bored and disappear for a goal or two
LOL
Don’t worry, he’ll be on the bench
he is hoping to compete for a place on the bench
If players want to leave let them go. With the 40M I’m sure we can buy some quality replacements. I’m sure Sherwood and Wilkins will put villa back to where we should be.
We have enough quality to avoid another relegation fight and maybe finish mid-table.
I’m confident we’re on the up and looking forward to more attractive football next season.
Who do we buy remains to be seen – A proven premiership goal scorer in Charlie Austin or
Will we go Europe.
Keep the faith and move on, no player will ever be bigger than the Villa !!
Absolutely speechless and excuse my language but Delph is a little XXXX!!! [Edited; word not allowed]. How dare he give us patriotic I’m villa this is my club, I’m captain, looking forward to a new season and want to put rumours to rest.
He is a by far the biggest twat in football right now!
Good day sir and I look forward to your reception when you next visit villa park.
Tiny little twat!
By all means go to city, but don’t say your staying and then leave!
Literally gobsmacked!!!!
Just heard on talkshite that pool won’t be paying the full amount upfront is assume 32.5 but make that figure up with incentives & add ons?? What the fuck does that mean anyone
If the club agree to this, then I’m sorry, but enough positivity, they are complete and utter morons, and that is putting it extremely politely. Anything other than all the money, now, is completely unacceptable, and without wishing to sound alarmist, suicidal. The only way to get quality replacements is to have money to buy them with. I would add a ‘FFS’ but trying not to lose my rag…
I actually can’t believe Delph’s behaviour – disgraceful! He’s gone from legend to loser in a matter of days. Good riddance. Now let’s get some new faces in.
There are actually no words strong enough to describe Delph’s behaviour. He is a disgrace to mankind. He should be ashamed and embarrassed. If his passing is as indecisive as he is, he’ll be spending a lot of time in the reserves. He is an absolute disgrace.
Just read his comments about leaving Villa / joining City and unfortunately they’re all absolutely fair enough – it is the BULLSHIT from January but especially last Saturday that is the difficult bit to take.
I have decided to take back my statement that Delph and Benteke will stay this summer. That has proved inaccurate.
Let’s get some quality in – this can become Sherwood’s team very quickly, a chance to shape it himself.
And do you know what, I’d take Adebeyor for a season – he did well under Sherwood and like someone said about Ballotelli, he’s never been the big player at a club. Trust him and play him every week – I think it would work.
I really feel for him and would like to wish him all the very best for the future at his new club MCFC. i cannot see what all the fuss is about, so if you are reading this Delphy then thank you for what you did for us you lying 2 faced wanker, you deceived the fans and led us to believe that you really had the club at heart. I hope you rot on the bench. Good riddance we do not want your type at our great club. It not the money it is the 6 months of bullshit you have given us. Rant over we move on UTV.