Given the credible media coverage over the last three days, the following have emerged to be all be done:
- Johan Manzambi from Freiburg to Villa – 70m euros.
- Youri Tielemans from Villa to Man United – 35m pounds (RELEASE CLAUSE)
- Lucas Digne from Villa to PSG – Under 10m pounds. (RELEASE CLAUSE)
Well, we’ll start in chronological order – Johan Manzambi to Villa. Whilst I don’t know much about him other than him being a midfielder from Freiburg, I am quite impressed that we have managed to pull out a fee like 70 million euros. Also hijacking him from Newcastle was quite a nice feeling too, hehe. I do believe that we obviously knew Tielemans was out the door so we could spend that kind of money, and I do really hope he lives up to his fee!
Tielemans. To be honest, this one hurts. Although it has opened the door to sign Manzambi, to lose one of our best players over the last few years stings. Youri has been absolutely incredible after a shaky start, and we should be grateful for his achievements. Plus, a 29-year-old with two years left on his contract, who isn’t exactly allergic to injuries – I don’t think 35 million is too bad a fee.
Digne. I think he’s always been reliable since he joined Villa, and was going to leave this season or next season. At 32-years-old, I think it’s an outstanding achievement to be recognised for his World Cup performances for France and I hope it does work out for him at PSG.
Regarding Digne, I did see we were looking at replacing him with Pervis Estupinian, who I would probably class as an upgrade.
Overall, regarding the three players overall net spend of £25m, and with Tielemans out the door I can’t see us selling Rogers now. I also see we’re looking to offload Lewis Dobbin for £9m, which is a great fee considering I can’t see it working out for him at Villa – another player who is constantly loaned out for no reason other than a reluctance to sell for some daft reason!
Overall, I think we’ve made a risk, but a statement of intent with a big money signing and I look forward to see how it all pans out, as well as all of your thoughts in the comments of the article.
Looks like the Villa summer is livening up!
Please forgive me for recording, on a football blog, the passing of the great and unique Sir Garry Sobers at the age of 89.
I had the privilege of meeting the great man in Barbados. I was a gibbering wreck, overcome by the occasion and he was the most generous and humble of men putting me at ease. As a massive cricket fan it was one of the most memorable moments in my life.
RIP Sir Garry, one of a kind -GOAT.
Thanks everyone for your indulgence.
A true sportsman and gentleman. I lived next to the Edgbaston ground but only became a real cricket fan when Sobers and the West Indies Team toured the UK. Remember this moment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h21Y9jHftUY
Manzambi signs
Has anyone on here got any thoughts on the villa park naming rights?
Personally I would not mind providing villa park in the name.
How about fortress villa park as a name but would it be allowed as I think Edens is involved with the fortress company
Be a great name for the stadium though I think.
Any other ideas from anyone I wonder.
Just something different to discuss i thought to bring money in.
By the way signings so far are great
Rogers to Chelsea 117mil here we go! Thats so so stupid it’s just not even believable . I’d rather see him fail there than at Arsenal. Not even champions league and a questionable manager and questionable owners. He went where the money was and I can see why. But you’re a rich man if you play for Villa, Chelsea or Arsenal! I’m never sure how I feel about Roger’s. He’s highs are stupid high and the lows are just him going missing for a game. I’m a believer not many more than Emery could get the very best out of him. Alonso for me and I’ll stick my neck out here is not one of them!
Can’t believe Rogers has gone to Chelsea.
Mental how they can spend 117m though.
I think this is a good thing for Villa. It should really take the pressure off finances but it’s always a challenge when you lose more than a couple of key players to restore that balance. Emery’s gonna have his job cut out even if we bring world beaters. There’s guy who works in betting on another blog I’ve followed for years and while he’s not an ITK – he gets to whispers quicker than most and he’s pretty sure that if we sold Rogers we’d be in Rafael Leao. Personally I’d like to see us go for Ibrahim Mbaye who has a lot of potential.
Emery must have signed this off – we need to revamp the squad so it was always likely Rogers would go but no one else.
Vitaly important we keep Martinez and Konsa – they are really key players for us.
UTMV
The board are clearly quite rightly aware that the average age of the squad and first choice 11 needs to come down significantly. The moves so far reflect that and no doubt, the Rogers money will help. For what it’s worth, Villa should have demanded more than Isaak’s record 125 plus add-ons. They really should have.
I have to add, Rogers going to a club that’s not in the CL is stupidity, unless they’ve convinced him they’ll be PL champs next year! At least Youri gets like-for-like, as well as a fatter salary and a bigger (begrudged) club. What does Chesty get apart from $$$$$$$? Youri deserves an ovation when he returns to VP. Rogers going to Chelsea will be harder to digest.
It was obvious that Rogers was going when villa signed manzabi he carries ball very similar to Rogers i think.
But 117m not really enough, but he does lose ball a lot and goes missing in matches let’s hope they use the money wisely
We paid 8 million for a player and he played incredible football for us, and he did it week after week. Then it seemed his contribution became almost lazy and although he finished the season back at his best you couldn’t trust him. For England it was similar. He has paid Villa back handsomely and his transfer is timely. I think also that it means that Emery will have a new challenge to keep him interested in Villa. I am now more hopeful than I was for a good season.
Agreed Gerry although Emery has a challenge to get a revamped squad playing to the standards he demands in the EPL and CL.
I don’t think we’ve seen the last of our transfer activity but how will it pan out – Liverpool last season comes to mind!
I’m not sure about the Liverpool comparison. Emery is a MUCH better Manager than Slott.
Letting Rogers go for £117m isn’t bad business. There was a lot of talk of £130m but we couldn’t wait until the season nearly starts and we don’t have cover. I hope more than anyone we go for Gibbs White but the fee and salary will be too much. We need to sort the Martinez, Konsa and Watkins rumours out. Either cash in quickly or announce they are staying. As it stands, we are massively low in numbers to mount a challenge on the top 4 and Champions League. With Garcia and Digne leaving, we need those replaced. Another winger would be important with Sancho gone.
I think the next few weeks will see plenty of changes still, so it’s going to be interesting.
I cannot believe he’s given up on not playing in Champion league or even Europa for London nightlife, because for me what’s else is there for him?. Another player looking over the fence thinking it’s a better prospect in a London club. all I can say piss off your a part-time player in a game.
Right on the nose Bill – I wouldn’t be surprised if his form drops off like Palmers. He may well become a ‘celebrity’ footballer. Only time will tell
I’m excited about our future. Teams have to be rebuilt. Sir Ron list Gray, Gidman etc in one go, and built a title winning squad 3 years later. I believe Emery is of that ability.
The last seasons team needed a rebuild as too old and reducing value in players.
Here is too a bright future
Roy – re: your earlier post on ground naming rights.
Calvo has said that the club are looking at stadium naming rights and have absolutely no plans to build a new stadium elsewhere. I thought it interesting that he added 50,000+ is the right capacity for Villa and it would take effort to (consistently) sell the extra 8,000 seats created in the North Stand (which I would like to see renamed).
On the stadium naming rights he was adamant it had to retain Villa Park in the name as Barca have done with the Spotify Camp Nou – not the most elegant of names but financially important.
Sadly Fortress can’t sponsor the name as that would be in breach of the ‘arms length’ rule – although (allegedly) it didn’t seem to be an issue at Citeh. As long as we don’t end up with Poundland, I have no problems with adding a sponsor to Villa Park but it has to bring a substantial financial benefit to the club.
The principal difference between Heck and Calvo is that the latter truly understands and respects football heritage, something Heck will never get.
Rogers? I rate him the same a Saka. On his day he can be a VERY good player, but that’s for maybe 40% of the season but he’s not a GREAT player. Rogers is no master of the game. Going to a team with no CL football is a p1$$ take. With the sales, how little we spent last year (NET), we should have reserves we can invest without falling for PSR. How Chelsea get away with this is nothing short of corruption in the EPL.
3 x £35m players that Emery can improve – WOW! Hurts to see Youri in a ManU kit. Doesn’t he know how much we hate them????
We still have many of Dean Smith’s old guard and we need a refresh no matter how good they have been. We need to get those aging legs out of the door, but slowly. i.e. SJM is going NOWHERE!!!
Kamara is back on grass. Really looking forward to seeing Manzabi play. Any news on the Joao Gomes link???
Has Digne’s move been finalised? And Arsenal can **** Off if they think they’re having Konsa for any less than £80m. It’s quite funny to hear their Rogers deal fell through because they spent more time talking to him than agreeing a sum with Villa as they thought they could get him cheap!!! Nice to see Ezri get an England goal last night too!!! Ollie’s channel running illustrates how he should have been swapped out for Kane in the last 20 minutes of the Argie game. Shame.
We must NOT sell Konsa nor Martinex
Agreed.
Well last night I was cellibrating our 65th wedding anniversary and in the restaurant was two lads in man utd shirts pissed out of their brains. It got louder as the meal went on, then I heard Watkins name mentioned so I responded to them talking about him, as soon as they knew I was a Villa fan the got excited about Teilaman going to them. As I said pissed they could hardly stand. To end the discussion by telling the they had a good player and paid out Bill and left. I did give a parting shot by saying we are now a team to fear.
Congrats on the big milestone, Bill! That’s a rare achievement.
Thanks Texas and Hitch, Photo pride of place next to our Queen Charles and Camilla, waiting for William our Royal fan. Glad the Argentina got beaten, cracking week end .
Congrats Bill – that’s a stunning achievement.
Apparently, Roma can afford 40million+ for Summerville. But fellow attacking Dutchman Malen only… oh never mind…
Don’t go there. Things like this keep you up at night!!!
I’m quite excited about all this. To be honest, I’ve much more of a soft spot for Digne and Martinez than Chesty.
Keeping Martinez and Konsa is crucial for us with the departures already taken place. Unfortunately, when a player wants to leave, there isn’t much the club can do other than hold out for a big fee. What we need to establish is we identify those who want to leave and get them out and replaced as soon as possible. We had a terrible start to last season and we need to hit the ground running this time round. Thats why Emery has to mould his best team during the friendlies coming up and not end up with players possibly leaving when the season is underway.
Anyone else think this half time show is a disgrace? I really feel for the two groups of elite players in the dressing room. Their main event has essentially been hijacked and they have to sit and wait for the ridiculous shenanigans to finish.
Oh wait, Shakira…never mind!
Nice try BFR, your right we don’t want that.
Absolute rubbish – this is the Super Bowl – it’s football.
Typical American c**p trying to hijack our game.
Awful
This isn’t – aghhhh!
England should be gutted they allowed this shower of shit to progress to the final. And what a shite final – dare I say worse than the half time show!
Enzo off. Absolutely perfect. Get off the pitch you f****** little prick. Horrible little shit.
Argentina played non football and didn’t deserve to win.
Reminds me of 1966 when Rattin was sent off in the QF against England, not for foul play, but for trying to influence the referee. Alf Ramsey was so incensed by their ‘black arts’ throughout the game that he described them as Animals which caused a storm amongst the foreign press.
Bit of trivia – it was the many controversial refereeing decisions and failure to adequately deal with foul play during the ‘66 World Cup that directly led to a number of rule changes and the introduction of the yellow / red card system.
A very good “cheer me up on a Monday” article from Canadian Pete.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4TvxDHKSnU&t=454s
For me the stars of the Half Time show were the Muppets, although they did get upstaged later.
Joao Gomes over the line. He looks an outstanding player and at 25, he hasn’t peaked. He appears to be an all-round, old-fashioned ‘box-to-box’ midfielder. The number of tackles he makes to win the ball back is well-documented, but his dribbling and ball-carrying ability are exceptional – watch the videos and you’ll see a very technical footballer. I’m very pleased with this one; over to you, Unai! Make him a world-beater!
*the first video is incredible – well worth a watch!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI2L-4ylLGc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzJ6WBQ7E8g
Looks like a really good acquisition at a very fair price.
RIP Kevin Keegan. A true legend. 🙁
Spookily, believe it or not, when watching the Pedro video earlier, the host has a cool “I would love it” movie style poster of Keegan behind him – when I saw it, I had an inkling that he’d departed, as I’d read about his illness. When I was in love with football, he was one of the main protagonists as a manager. He won’t be forgotten.
I also remember him commentating with Brian Moore for ITV on the Villa-Tranmere second leg. Terrific stuff.
RIP King Kev. One of England’s greats!
A true legend. A true superstar.
Really sad to hear of Kevin Keegan’s passing – it feels like a passing of an era leaving a hole in the footballing world that’s impossible to fill
Who can ever forget his ‘I’d love it if we beat them’ comment aimed at United.
Wore his heart on his sleeve; an unashamedly honest and straightforward guy. Football would be better for having more Keegans.
RIP King Kev
I met him when I worked in sports shop in York late 90s. He came for a tour and happened to be leaving as me and a friend (also a Villa fan) were leaving. He walked over to us and shook our hand – nicest guy. Real loss and so young still.
“an unashamedly honest and straightforward guy”…(stares into the distance wistfully)…
The fact that being honest and straightforward is now something to be ashamed of tells you how far we (haven’t) come since Keegan’s days.