Of course there’s been much debate about if we should sell Jack Grealish or not.
I’m going to stick with my stance that we definitely shouldn’t.
Look, I know we need the money and indeed, he might bring in £30 million or so.
But to be honest, if I put my neutral hat on, I’m not really convinced he’s worth it and I can see where neutrals are coming from.
Jack had a decent semi against Liverpool and then faded back into the background as a useless, lazy so and so, just the same as I’d criticised him for previously.
But it seems that kidney injury really opened his eyes and he stepped it up another couple of gears, in bulking up and working massively hard in the gym.
He’s apparently much nearer the figures Bruce wanted to see, although there’s still room for improvement.
So much so, that he’s now a much more complete player, although he still has a lot to learn.
Remember, he’s still only 22 and there’s plenty of time for him to learn the art of becoming the “playmaker”.
Which I believe he should do at the Villa.
Yes, ok, Delli Ali is crap for England.
But he’s actually quite good for Spurs.
Will Jack be able to jump in and replace him?
I’m not so sure, even if Poch encourages kids.
So will Jack actually get much playing time at Spurs?
Again, I’m not convinced.
Much better for him to stay with us, where Bruce will base the team around him.
He will play every game, as long as he’s fit (as much as Bruce supposedly doesn’t trust young players) and will learn in a tougher league than the Prem.
Hence next year is the year we should look to sell.
If we haven’t been promoted.
All that said, the over-riding biggest reason we shouldn’t sell, is because of the signal it sends to the fans.
We sell Jack Grealish, we’ve lost all ambition.
We keep him and show that the Prem clubs that we are not going to bend us over and we retain some optimism.
It’s as simple as that.
And in the meantime, I saw a report this morning saying Jack’s going nowhere.
Followed about half an hour later, by a report that said that he actually wants to leave.
You have to laugh.
The next point is that Sawaris is Executive chairman, while Edens and Xia are co-chairmen.
That’s an interesting one, as although Sawiris and Edens have put the same money in, it would seem Sawaris is the one willing to spend.
So where does it leave Xia?
I’d suggest it’s an honourable climb-down.
The media says he will be bought out gradually and that does make sense.
I don’t see any conflict here.
Xia has gambled big time and lost.
And now, he’s easing his way out as slow as he can.
Thanks for supporting us while you were here Tony.
I do not understand how you can vote in a poll about sacking a manager for not being good enough – not misconduct – unless you know who the intended replacement is.
My answer would be different if the replacement was a/ Maclaren b/ Henry.
OLL The polls only offer a choice between Bruce and Henry. There was a different poll (before the Henry rumours) that asked the question whether Bruce should stay as manager or be replaced and the result was pretty much the same – over two thirds voted to keep Bruce.
Hear hear, a unbelievably bad way to run your business, I know one is a Egypion the other a yank, but we are British, you don’t mess us about like we are nothing. I say asked the fans.
Am i missing something here.
Last week villa was going over the cliff edge.
These 2 blokes (apparently we now have the third richest owners in england) have put there money in and as far as i’m concerned can bring in who they want to manage the team.
All managers and players are sounded out these days before moving. A agent or friend normally spills the beans to the press.
At the end of the day Bruce had a remit to get us promoted. He had the squad to easily do it.
He failed playing backfoot football.
Yes, I think you are.
The debate is really about whether Henry is the right choice if Bruce is going to be replaced not whether Bruce should be replaced on the back of our failure to achieve promotion. However you are correct in saying that the new owners are at liberty to bring in their own man if they wish.
I would rather have henry with the new owners than bruce with the old.
Whether henry will be a success nobody knows but i do like the idea of bould as coach.
At half time at wembley the fans i spoke to all said the same thing “this is what we have been watching all season – giving the opposition to much respect” if we had not been a goal down i doubt our tactics would have changed.
New owners new attitude.
Steve, whether Bruce stays or Henry comes in it seems it will continue to divide the fans although, tbf this seems par for the course with many football clubs.
Whatever the owners decide to do only time will provide an answer as to whether right or wrong.
It would be good to get this sorted ASAP.
Bruce is staying. So we all have to get behind him now.
So Bruce is staying…..
“Aston Villa can confirm manager Steve Bruce has met majority owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens and will continue as manager with their full support.”
For all, I hope the supporters can get behind him for the start of the season.
For those looking for change, it just means Bruce has 10 games to prove himself.
As much as I’d prefer a better manager I think that’s the best decision all round, it would be suicide to bring somebody new just before the season starts.
Lads Villa on u tube in 5 minutes,
This for all you supporter
Steve Bruce has been given “full support” to stay as Aston Villa boss after meeting with new majority owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.
Ex-France striker Thierry Henry had been heavily linked to replace Bruce, amid speculation following the recent arrivals of the two new investors.
Bruce, 57, led Villa to the Championship play-off final last season but they lost to Fulham at Wembley.
He has won 42 of his 89 games in charge since arriving in October 2016.
The decision to retain Bruce comes after several high-profile departures since the end of last season, including former England captain John Terry from the playing staff and chief executive Keith Wyness and director of football Steve Round from off-field roles.
The financial environment Bruce will work in will have been eased by the new investment by billionaires Sawiris and Edens.
However, with a reduced parachute payment from the Premier League in their third season outside the top flight and Financial Fair Play regulations to meet, there are likely to be restraints on transfers.
Villa needed fresh investment after their play-off final loss brought to light financial issues, exacerbated by missing out on the £160m-plus windfall that would been generated by a return to Premier League football.
The club missed a £4m tax payment in June, with now co-chairman Dr Tony Xia understood to have cash flow problems because of strict rules about money leaving his native China.
Villa reached an agreement with HM Revenue and Customs over the payment soon afterwards