I think it’s pretty safe to say that this deal is going to happen anytime now.
All parts of the media are saying it should be done today and when that happens, you know they’re not far off the mark and can’t all be wrong.
So how do I feel about it?
First thing, it would seem it’s not the rumoured £100 million and is actually nearer £75 million with a lot of performance based add-ons that might take it to £100 million. That seriously disappoints me if it’s true, as it would suggest the club has just folded and conceded defeat far too soon. I said previously that the Manchester evening news had said that Man City didn’t expect to actually sign Jack for £100 million and it was just an opening bid.
I can only conclude from the fact that we’ve accepted the bid so quickly, two possible options. First is that there was indeed a transfer clause in Jack’s contract and we were pretty much powerless to try and stop him leaving or he’s dug his feet in and insisted that he will leave whatever. I massively prefer to believe it’s the first option.
I believe we’ve let him go too cheaply. I’ve said for a while that he was worth £130 million to us and I would like to think we’d have held out for at least some more from City, but I suspect the club’s hands were tied.
There have been rumours that our talks with the player involved offering him a new contract in the range of £150-200k a week. But that’s massively less than the rumoured £300k that City are going to pay him.
Be absolutely honest now and ask yourself if you would turn down the chance of a 50% pay rise. I suspect most of us wouldn’t, but we’re realistic and it would be more than fair to say that Premier league footballers are already in a position where one contract at far less money means they’re made for life. So it shouldn’t be about the money at all really, when you’re already earning £5 million a year. Are players really that greedy?
I suspect not, but when it’s very much in the advisor’s interests for a player to move, you can see how things work.
And as has rightly been pointed out, what happened to the “my city, my club” bollocks that Jack was coming out with just a few weeks back?
That’s the sort of thing that wrankles, just the same as when Fabian Delph (spit) left.
Us fans hate that sort of thing and Jack really should have known better.
Except I truly believe that at the time, he probably wasn’t planning on leaving.
I’ve no doubt whatsoever that Jack had his head turned while he was at the Euros. It’s a mixed blessing these days, being selected for England, as it means you get to talk at length to players at all the top clubs. Not that I think any of them are decidely better when it comes to the work environment and facilities. We just don’t have the glamour that you get in London and Manchester (I blame our useless city leaders for that latter part) and most importantly, we don’t have the one vital thing that anyone would like in their career and that’s success.
You can argue all you like that we’re on the cusp of something and you may well be right. But who has more chance of winning silverware this season, Aston Villa or Man City?
I don’t need to say, because it’s plainly obvious. Let’s face it, winning stuff is good, it’s as simple as that.
You can argue that if he’d waited, he’d have won with us and that’s a much better achievement. And it’s a fair point.
But it’s still a maybe, whereas with City, it’s odds on.
I get that he’s taken the easy option and sold his soul for a few (million) pieces of silver.
And from what I’ve been reading, many fans are massively upset or even angry that he’s going to leave. Which means he will start getting abuse which is going to hit home. And he must know it’s going to come.
Me, I’m pretty sanguine about it all.
There’s a big part of me that thinks that as much as he was brilliant to watch, so he also slowed play down too much a times. That was an ongoing criticism which he hasn’t had coached out of him and it’ll be interesting to see how Pep manages that side of his game. That said, I also believe he had to slow things down so players could catch up with the play. It could well be that better players at Man City mean he doesn’t have to slow it down so much.
And if that’s the case, he’s going to be even better for them than he was for us.
It’s going to be strange not having Jack in our side. But as has always been the case, no one player is bigger than the club.
Ha, I’ve just read that it’s been leaked that PSG have offered Messi 40 million Euros a year, NET!
Of course, that’s had nothing to do with him having to leave.
Pass me the sick bucket.
So Tuanzebe joins us on loan for the season AFTER signing a new contract at Manure.
I think this is a good signing for us and a clever move by Manure. With a longer contract, just increased the price we would have to pay for a permanent transfer – or am I being too cynical?
I don’t understand this signing. I don’t see that he’s going to step in for either Mings or Konsa, so is he just happy to sit on the bench?
It makes no sense at all to me. Unless we’re selling someone and I don’t see that either.
Badger, it’s simply to replace Engels who has left the club leaving us with only three centre backs.
Tuanzebe will be competing with Hause which, as Steve says, also strengthens the bench.
I’m just surprised he’s agreed to come rather than going to a club where he’s likely to get more playing time – or where we the only ones prepared to pay United’s loan fee and his wages?
I know why we’ve got him. I mean I just can’t understand him coming, Hitch.
With that I agree.
It seems we paid a £5m loan fee – a lot for a player not to start many games so I wonder if we’re going to see more of a rotation policy this season? Smith knows Tuanzebe and I assume trusts his ability which he clearly didn’t with Engels.
To challenge at he top nowadays you basically need a bench equally as strong as your starting 11. Villa are starting to do that.
I also think we could experiment with the occasional 3-5-2 this season. Mings, Tuanzebe, Konsa, Cash, Targett, Mcginn, Buendia, Bailey, Watkins, Ings. I actually like the sound of that.
He also played for United as a right back last season which gives us more defensive options.
Where I think we might still be light is goal keeper following the departure of Heaton so wouldn’t be surprised to see an experienced, older keeper come in as third choice.
I see the premiere league allowing 9 subs to be named on the bench this season ., the way we’re going not a bad thing that..
Whilst I can (not agree but) understand Grealish transfer to City, I do wonder if Grealish looks at the emotion around messi leaving Barca makes him think how it could have turned out at villa. I know Barca and Villa are two very different teams right now but a Top 4 finish and maybe an FA in Grealish career at villa would mean the world to us. It’s not to be and I’m sure that Grealish will be drenched in titles and medals in the coming years. Just a tiny piece of food for thought maybe.
I have also seen a few mention Grealish will return to villa one day. Not that I have any hate for the lad but When you walk in that situation I don’t think there’s much going back for me. However, young did a similar act with united I guess and I don’t mind his return. I guess Grealish meant a little more to us that’s all.
Sorry to bring it up again, I’ve watched everything related to his transfer, I wanted him come on for city and I think after this I can just get it out my system and look forward.
It seems El Ghazi and Wesley are free to find other clubs.
We apparently want £15 mill for El Ghazi. I can’t see us getting that much.
Wesley? 15p should cover his fee. Disastrous signing and someone had us right over there.
MESSI AGREES TO JOIN PSG
Lionel Messi has agreed to join PSG on a two-year deal worth £25m a year plus bonuses, with option of a third year, after leaving Barcelona.
The Argentine will also receive a £25m signing-on fee.
That will help him get over his broken heart bit i think !!!!
Personally i’m still a bit torn over Wesley. I was liking him before he got injured and I thought he was beginning to show signs of settling in and looking like a strong CF. I’m trying not to judge him on what I’ve seen since as his horrendous injury can end careers. I think we need that 3rd out and out striker (not a winger come striker) I dont see Davis being that player and Barry is out on loan, I’d also expect Brad Young to go out on loan before the end of the window. So for me I’d like to keep him a bit longer and see how the start of this season goes as we wouldn’t get much for him now on current form anyway!.. El Ghazi, another one i’m torn over. It’s tricky as you cant deny he scores goals and some big ones at that but his all round play probably isn’t good enough if we want to progress. IMO in todays market a player who has just scored 11 goals in 31 games and 10 of those in the Premier League, still only 26 years of age should easily be £15m+.
I’d be disappointed to see Anwar leave. His goals, assists and general threat in the attacking third make him worth at least 20 million in my book, by today’s standards. Massively underrated and when I look at the squad, I can’t see how he’s surplus. Trezeguet’s is out long term and one more injury to a forward will see us struggling. Ollie has already taken a knock. Ings’ injury record is hardly spotless. And we all know about Wesley and Keinan. It would be a MISTAKE to offload El Ghazi. Not until January minumum.
UTV
Having said that, it looks like Bidace and Chuky will play a part this season, so maybe he can go? Hmmmm
Bidace may well start against Watford given that Bailey, Watkins and Buendia may not be available
Zlatan Ibrahimović on Olof Mellberg:
“I’ve been lucky when it comes to Olof. Firstly because I got to play with him, and secondly because I got to know the person. In my opinion he is the best Swedish defender of all time, I think the person Olof is even better.”
Any chance the board can make a call and replace Terry sharpish?
Talking of JT, apparently he also had a hand in Jack’s departure, telling him there’s nothing better than hearing the CL anthem. Personally, I prefer a bit of Oasis or Bon Jovi, but hey ho, each to their own…
I have no doubt JG sought Terry’s advice – he credited Terry with getting him sorted after that horrendous kidney injury which was, I think, the turning point in his career.
Mellberg in for Terry – sounds a good call and a popular one with Villa fans but maybe MacPhee is his replacement given that Dean Smith was a central defender in his playing days.
Random comment: don’t forget there’s a French guy, goes by the name of Sanson, in the squad. Could he be a wildcard this season? Or just a joke(r). See what I did there? Wow, summer’s getting boring…
Tammy off to Roma for 34 million, allegedly. May we regret? I’m sure Tammy will regret ever meeting old Jose when he misses a couple of chances and gets hung out to dry by his gaffer.
Not for me – too similar to Watkins. I think Ings at £25m is a steal