So Jhon Duran has got the move he, or more likely his agent, has longed for and signed for Al Nassr in the totally meaningless Saudi Arabian desert league.
There’s only one reason you’d want to go there and we all know what it is. Money. Boatloads of it.
I’ve seen talk of £300k a week as the basic wages. Get your head around that, just as I am as I type it. Let’s say he’s signed a 3 year deal. That would be just shy of £48 million tax free. While it’s easy to say that he’ll be a rich man wherever he goes or even if he stayed at the Villa, consider that he’ll only be 24 or so when that contract is done. Then the money is earned and he gets the choice of doing what he wants.
Seriously, would you turn that down? I’m not sure I could or would have, looking back at that age.
It is an odd one though. The Saudis are throwing money at all sports to try and improve their image, but when it comes to footy, they generally target superstars who are nearing the end of their career. Are they signing Duran because they believe they can keep him for many years or have they simply seen him as the big name throughout Europe over the last six months? If it’s the latter, we should be grateful just for that extra exposure he gave us, I suppose.
Whatever, while I quite liked Duran as a striker and much better finisher than Ollie, I have no qualms about him going.
To my mind he’s a petulant sort who will never be happy with his lot. I’m guessing that he caused Emery a world of grief with his moaning, which is why we’ve let him go. If Unai couldn’t control or mould him, I pity any other manager who has to try. On the other hand, he was seen handing out gifts to the mere low life staff in the tunnel after the Celtic game and that makes him much more my kind of guy.
While I think he’s made a mistake, where he risks his reputation (any decent striker can score lots in Saudi, surely?) I wish him well. Where he goes from here is a good question. I honestly believe that if he applies himself as much as he can, he’ll become another Harlaand and score loads wherever he ends up. But I’m inclined to think he’ll become complacent and just fade away.
The really big question is who are we looking to spend it on? I’m seeing loads of talk about attackers, but I don’t see it. Maybe one striker , but way more important are defensive players. We’re apparently interested in Rashford and I don’t see that either. Good grief, why would we? Yes, on song, he’s a great player. But he seems to have serious issues and I wouldn’t touch him with a bargepole. Then again, there’s been a few instances where I’ve thought Unai was wrong, but ultimately he’s doing a stunning job and you can’t argue with where we are.
Which is 8th in the Champion’s league table. I’m still struggling to get my head around that too. For a neutral, we’re brilliant to watch, but for a fan, we’re a nightmare. It’s a roller-coaster and while we play well at times, so we are awful at others, which leads to me being probably overly-critical. It’s just the frustration in not getting what we want and I guess that’s the difference between a fan and a more knowlegable manager who sees the bigger picture better.
And so onto the Dogheads tomorrow.
Again I’m laughing to myself, as it’s another where I don’t have a clue as to how it’s going to go.
Squad news first and Matty Cash will be out for around a month. If that doesn’t lead to us getting a Right Back in, I doubt anything will, I’ve said all along that I see this as by far the most important position that needs shoring up, but it hasn’t happened. I’m not convinced it will in this window either.
Tyronge Mings is apparently close to being available, but this game is too soon, which contradicts a report I saw saying we’ve underplayed his injury. Ross Barkley is still training on his own and is about a week away from rejoining the squad.
As for Wolves, striker Jorgen Strand Larsen is out and Joao Gomes is suspended after a red last weekend. Carlos Forbes is a big doubt and they have another three or four players unavailable.
Despite a good start under the new manager, Wolves have lost their last four games, with a GD of 1 for and 10 against, which would indicate that having a striker injured doesn’t make much difference.
This ought to be easy really, but it’s a game of jeopardy, where we’re a gift to any team on a terrible run.
I’m tempted to think we’ll tear the heads off those dogs and beat them soundly, say 3 or 4-1.
But I think we’ll look really tired again and will do well to get a win at all.
I’m going for a safe draw. 1-1.
And while I don’t think that is enough for a team aiming at CL qualification, I do think it’s about as much as we can expect if I’m trying not to aim too high. Hence I’d take it as better than nothing.
UTV!
Comments
345 responses to “Duran moves to the desert and the Dogheads on Sunday.”
For those who doubt the post CL slump the mighty Real Madrid lost to relegation threatened Espanyol yesterday, a team they would normally demolish. Even with their extensive squad they still couldn’t manage a win.
We’re finding out just how hard the grind of the CL is and so finishing in eighth is an even greater achievement as it gives us a window to just concentrate on the Prem.
Sorry Ron luke roper on the utv podcast on you tube check him out
Sorry again it’s luke Robinson Sorry I even brought it up now
No problem L8 I’ll give it whirl 😁
Watching the Villa ladies and they are far better organized that the men, on channel 2 BBC.
Romano says Asensio is having a medical today, with us paying all his wages until the end of the season. No buy option.
And we’re pushing hard for Disasi;
https://www.footballfancast.com/aston-villa-now-insisting-on-the-signing-of-axel-disasi-chelsea/
They’re discussing Ollie to Arse and quite rightly saying that there’s no way Emery would let both strikers go.
But not a mention that they’d probably need to double the £40 mill offer before we’d even think about it anyway.
Absolutely deluded, imo and I find it insulting.
Emery has said that Ollie is happy to stay where he is, after all.
SSN saying Felix will not be coming to Villa.
Chelsea want £60 mill and we won’t do anything like that.
Yeah, I really feel we are getting this all wrong.
An outfit such as a premier league club surely has 1,2 and maybe 3 or 4 realistic options for replacements in every position of the pitch that they continually monitor and are ready to pounce should either a replacement be needed quickly or it’s the right timing.
Surely a healthy squad has 2 players every position with some versatile defenders, midfields and forward players who can play across their respective lines
Ideally yes, but at what level do you want those realistic options?
We have them, if you think kids are good enough.
But they’re not.
And anyway, I don’t want back-ups.
I want improvements in what we have already.
But we can’t buy them because of PSR.
I still firmly believe that the defence is more important than the attack, but it appears Unai doesn’t see it like that at all, which is crazy, imo.
Thought Arsenal offered £60m for Ollie?
I read £40 mill and SSN just mentioned the same figure.
It matters not. £60 mill is a piss take too, imo.
Big nose deal done?
https://x.com/SamC_reports/status/1886157425708814783/photo/1
Nice to see the lad with a smile on his face, hope this works out 🤞
Now now, Badger.
It’s official! Rashford has signed on loan till end of season with a £40m option to buy. I have heard anything from 75% to 90% of his wages. The question is if he plays like the Rashford of a couple of years ago, can we seriously afford his wages without upsetting the rest of the squad?
I have seen something about Nedeljkovic going out on loan to Leipzig with an option to buy. Is the plan to get rid of as many defenders as possible without any backup?
Also Bailey to Manure possibly which will be a great addition to their failing team. Did anyone notice McGinn trying to get Bailey to his feet yesterday much to the annoyance of Bailey. I think Emery and probably a few others have had enough with the flake!
I’m still not sure about Rashford, but if he does come good, £40 mill would be a steal.
I really hope Man U have messed up big time. Again.
https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/february/02/villa-announce-marcus-rashford-loan-signing/
Apparently, the big pull was Champion’s league.
No mention that Amorim is an utter cXXX and the team are shite.
🙂
Re Bailey – I refer to my earlier post.
We have signed Malen, Garcia and Rashford – if we sign Asensio and Disasi that’s five new players.
We can only register three new players for the CL.
Which three and will the other two be pissed off?
Good fun this isn’t it 🙂
That’s a very good point, Hitch.
Hence Emery must be looking at things from a Prem pov too.
Bloody good job, as we need to get our fingers out!
Who’d be a football manager?
Assuming we do sign the five I would register Rashford, Asensio and Disasi. The first two because we probably promised them CL football to persuade them to join and Disasi because we can’t go into the knockout stages with only two fit CB’s and fingers crossed for Torres.
Garcia won’t have expected to be in the squad which leaves Malen – we may have an unhappy player which ain’t good.
I agree Hitch, but whoever gets left out won’t be happy.
Which is exactly what we want. Players that are aiming high.
Rashford is my kind of signing… a winger who is fast but also has the height to contend with the tall defenders in the Premier League. Was getting increasingly bored of being able to predict the outcome of most of our long balls, lets hope Rashford can change things up.
From his social media post he looks ready and fit for Spurs on Sunday, but, let’s be honest does he even know what was written on that post, or was it his PR team.
What, world class?
Good ain’t it?
But let’s not get too carried away, they don’t happen too often VP.
We shop at Lidl not Harrods? 😁
Lidl (and Aldi) sell some pretty good wine at reasonable prices.
Only downside is they don’t mature very well 🙂
There’s no doubt we’re looking at top level players now.
And yes, if they come good, we are indeed talking world class.
The reality is that this is what Unai has brought to us and we should be appreciating it.
(even if it’s difficult because the footy is utter gash at times).
Just hope we do a Portsmouth 🤦♂️
I know I should embrace and enjoy the moment but it’s the Villa fan in me, you know every silver lining has a cloud 😁
Asensio, just having a gander on YouTube and that fella can hit a football ⚽.
I want Disasi more than anyone else.
And ideally another CB.
And a bloody RB! Still!
https://youtu.be/Wwnd3UiMf8M?si=Elw2X74XpzEbY2Tm
Wow. Beautiful goals. Watched 1 minute. So that would be Duran’s explosive left foot replaced, then. But we haven’t signed him yet…
If we get him, I wonder if we’ve seen the last of Ollie. 😔
Keep the faith Badger.
Monchi will pull a rabbit out of the hat before the deadline.
Yep, Disasi, is my guess. They want him off the books and we are not being browbeaten.
I think a deal will be done, last minute.
I don’t really know anything about him?
He any good?
I’ve read that Chelsea don’t want to deal with Villa on this, as they’re top 4 rivals. Spurs also interested…
We already have three (RB’s) – seems Monchi is collecting them 🙂
A sort of safety in numbers approach 🙂
We already have players who can do that, but it hasn’t been happening, has it?
Hopefully, he’s an upgrade, but I still want defenders more.
Do we?
When did they fly in? I must have missed that 😂
And please please don’t put Chesty in the same bracket,
I know your feeling run deep Badger but…
Certainly McGinn, Tielemans and others can do that. As I said, it just hasn’t been happening. Watkins could do 30 goals imo, but that isn’t happening either.
Elsewhere, I’ve just seen Rashford has 17 million followers on Instagram.
Jesus, that’s a phenomenal figure and can only add to our pull.
He’s a different level mate.
Never mind followers. I’ll take 17 goals before the end of the season.
And half a million likes from his statement. Wow, these are monster numbers!
It looks .like emery has decided if can’t stop us conceding goals then let’s score more than opponents
Play more attackers than defenders could be very exciting or a catastrophe
Bit like Keegan with Newcastle of old.
It’s a good point Roy.
I don’t see Emery setting us up for clean sheets but the real issue has been conceding early and late. That’s something he needs to address.
It’s wrong if true and will get us nowhere. Emery played Watkins, Ramsey, Rogers and Bailey against Celtic. He can’t go any more attacking unless he morphs into Ossie Ardilles. The defence is the problem and if it’s not sorted, I fully expect the season to peter out. It’s been off from August. No excuses for not sorting it.
I wonder if after last nights result if Arsenal are bothered about signing a new striker now
Bailey linked with Spuds. That might be a good move…
French forward, Mathys Tels, 19 has been linked with a move to the Premier League with Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea or Aston Villa.
What a difference. A few seasons ago we’d be competing for a player with Leicester, Wolves and Middlesbrough.
I’m not convinced at all. Concerned, in fact. He looks a mess in the press conference, like he hasn’t slept for a couple of days. Reminds me of Coutinho. He used to look super slick, clean shaven, sharp haircuts etc when he was producing miracles for Liverpool. The he turned into a scruff and it showed in his play. Dele Ali is another very similar case. If you dont feel good, you look shit – basic psychology.
If he’s not right physiologically, there may be trouble ahead. I really really hope I’m wrong and I rate him. But…
I’m not the only one who thinks so. Just spotted this on social media:
“That’s a bad photo of Rashford
Honestly looks like he’s been on it all weekend and just rocked up to the photo shoot without any sleep lol”
Shave and a haircut, minimum. The club should have demanded it. Not a good look and doesn’t bode well. I hope he showered. 🤦
https://www-dailymail-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14354099/amp/Marcus-Rashfords-rough-appearance-sparks-concern.html?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17386469341998&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Farticle-14354099%2FMarcus-Rashfords-rough-appearance-sparks-concern.html
*psychologically