I’ve always liked Delph, as I’m sure many of you will know.
Even at his low points, where he looked poor in an even more poor team, I always supported him.
Ok, I might have slipped occasionally in that view, but basically I always liked him.
And the fact is whatever you think of him, the price he sold for was daft for an England international.
So I felt somewhat abused in the way he left, after all the spiel that he came out with (although in fairness, I think much of this was encouraged by the club).
But a big part of me wished him well, even though I felt he’d betrayed us.
I could understand the basic reasons behind him leaving, which are miles more money and a chance of winners medals, if he can actually get a game. They’re undeniable points.
But at the same time, that spiel wound me right up, so much so that I, (jokingly, I hasten to add) hinted that he might break a leg.
Well, he hasn’t quite, but after having done his hamstring after a short time in pre-season training, he’s now done it again while playing for England.
The absolute truth is that when I heard the news, I nearly wet myself laughing.
But I really shouldn’t.
Or should I?
I’ve very mixed feelings here, as he’s a traitor in my eyes, after the way the club looked after him.
But he’s also an England player, where we want all of the squad playing and on form.
That said, this is surely one of the most average England squads I’ve seen in a very long time.
Which is something I’m sure many of you will class Delph as.
I know.
Some of you will be asking why I’m talking about him.
The truth is, there isn’t much going on really, is there?
I know many of you have said he won’t be missed, but I feel he’d still be an asset, as he’s a very solid, reliable type player.
Feel free to call me out 🙂
I too had to smile Badger, but I did also like the guy at Villa, if you can remember I often said he was an erratic player at times and to be honest a victim of his own eagerness when he pulled that hamstring, he started off at a greyhound pace then grabs his leg , less than 30 seconds on the clock,, I still wish him all the best but what comes around goes around, bet he’s wondering if he did the right thing?.
Once this team starts gelling he’ll be easily forgotten if not already FUCK the snake,time move on.
Time TO move on *
What’s that word – “Schadenfreude”?
I don’t wish any ex-Villa players personal ill, but Delph was certainly tempting Fate with his recent ‘snake’ tweets.
As you say, this was a player who’d spent a lot of paid time on the treatment table – perhaps longer than his actual game time – while at Villa [rather like Judas Downing] and then chose to repay the club by taking the silver as a bench warmer for Citeh.
There’s a lesson here for any future deserters who might become stars with us and then move to somewhere ‘bigger’: if you’re going to leave then do it quietly, with some respect and dignity.
Slightly off-topic, but as you mentioned the England game – it was so ‘exciting’ that I actually nodded-off for about 20 minutes either side of half-time.
Now I may be getting on a little, but don’t think I’ve ever actually fallen asleep during a football match before [ & hadn’t even got a beer to blame for it]…
Have I missed something here?, snake tweets, I don’t do face book or twitter, so has he been saying thing? Enlighten me please.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3222484/Raheem-Sterling-appears-poke-fun-abuse-posing-snakes-plane-snap-Fabian-Delph-England-jet-away-San-Marino-Euro-2016-qualifier.html
Bill – neither do I, but this was on the football-gossip pages at the weekend…
Cheers Ardent, now I get it, well happy days for both players later.
I made a late decision to go to the England match yesterday. Enjoyed shouting “snake” when Delph was announced in the line up. I have to confess I did have a giggle when he hit the deck within seconds of the match starting. It is with mixed feelings though. Delph is a symptom of Villa’s problem. We don’t really compete with the big boys, so any player with ambition will want to leave, later if not sooner (cue Oohah). That’s what really upsets me. Not the loss of Delph as a player as I think his replacement is going to be so much better.
I rated his attitude rather than his ability. He was the best performer in a dog awful squad, which really ain’t saying much.
How very true Bum bum, he did show ability, he must have to gain England cap, but bad what he did to Villa fans, never mind he’s history now.
Can’t agree with anyone who claims he was the best performer. His long range shooting is awful, he scored nothing despite supposedly being our best attack minded midfielder, mediocre defensively, awful dribbler, average at best passer, vision was awful. Westwood all season was better than him and Sanchez for the most part (despite that one game where he gave the ball away and seemingly that’s the only game any fan remembers). Benteke, Clark, Guzan, etc were all better.
Well, Andrew you’d better tell that to Hodgson.
Now he plays for a sky bore club he will be a regular even if he sits in bench all year
I would but Hodgson wouldn’t listen, neither do most fans, been claiming this all of last season.
Plus Hodgson thinks Shelvey’s good enough and I’ve never seen a worse midfielder.
Now that I agree with about Shelvey, hit and miss player him, as Oohah’s saying Delph will be on the bench more times he’ll play. And I think our new lads will come on strong this season, cannot wait.
I liked Delph in a Villa shirt and was impressed by the way he has fitted in to England set up, but he was injured for a long time and the club stuck by him. However when I think back to his set the record straight speech and subsequent actions I have nothing but contempt for him and I genuinely think he deserves every bit of bad luck he gets.
He is history now. And if I had been given the choice of keeping one of Delph Cleverley or Westwood it would have been westy – a seriously underrated player by many fans but luckily not by Tim.
Like every other Villa fan I hate the way he left, but I’ll always remember his stunning strike against Southampton and his incredible finish at home to Chelsea, it really was Messi like.
I’ve a friend who’s a Leeds fan and he thought Villa had signed the next big thing when we nabbed Delph, it didn’t quite turn out that way but I did get the feeling he was finally starting to shine when he decided to leave. He’ll never realise his potential at Citeh that’s for sure.
Gana will be a better player in time. Looks like he is out with a hamstring strain which is a shame as he was prob best player last game alongside Sanchez.
I see Sherwood saying our skilful players will be targeted in games now, he’s asking them to toughen up, is this why we are getting injuries in training? It looks like it to me.he’s singled out Gil, Grealish, as main possible and couple more,asking for refs to get tough. Where is the big boys today if a player was getting stick they would give them a reminder to play the game.well they did in my time, mark you I did hobble off a few games.
Isn’t that what pre season is for getting fitness strength etc right fit the games. What the hell are they doing at BMH
I am with Andrew on the subject of Delph. Apart from his record short appearance for England, he holds another unwanted record. No player in Villa history (who played in more than one season) has a worse record for home defeats. He frequently appeared amongst the defenders at set pieces and failed to follow the run of the player he was marking. When the defence was looking to hit the ball long he ran towards the player on the ball – often obstructing the long pass. He would switch into the defensive funk mode as soon as Villa were pressured, when defenders needed him running away from them into space for a pass.
Suitable for the England midfield but no good for an EPL team.
Once in a Blue Moon he played well, so he has gone to the right club to be reminded of that.