Apologies.
I didn’t realise that comments had closed on the previous article. The site does that because old posts attract lots of spam and it’s just more work for me having to get rid of it.
The truth is I don’t really have much to say, but thought some of you might like somewhere you can continue to comment to each other, if you haven’t forgotten about the site that is.
You all know that I’m not in the slightest bit interested in speculation about who we might sign and it’s a view backed up by Smith-Rowe having signed a new contract with Arsenal after our signing him was in the bag.
Likewise, Grealish was a cert to move to Citeh and while I guess he still might, my opinion says it’s looking less likely. That’s after even I fell into the trap of posting that it was a done deal.
What is factual is that we beat Walsall last night either 4-0 or 4-1. I genuinely don’t know because I couldn’t even be bothered to read about it. Friendly results mean nothing to me after Villa players looking poor in pre-season, the year we won the league!
Am I just a tight git, or am I correct in saying watching the game on VillaTV for a fiver is bloody expensive?
I can understand a fiver if you’re going to watch at the ground, but…
Anyway, I actually found a site that was streaming it and started to watch it. Until every time I went fullscreen I was bombarded with adverts. I turned it off after a few minutes.
Buendia seems a great signing. I wasn’t at all convinced about us signing Ashley Young, but my son-in-law(ish) has convinced me that his versatilty will prove to be a big plus. It’s a very good point and apparently he looked the part last night. From the little I’ve read about his signing, he jumped at the chance to come back to Villa and didn’t want to go anywhere else. We also apparently aren’t paying him a massive wage.
The cynic in me wonders if he still owns a house around here, meaning the move doesn’t disturb much for him.
I think a big part of me was annoyed that he left us, but along with Barry, Delph and others, I don’t suppose you can’t blame him.
I’ll wish him luck. He does now play for us again, after all.
Elsewhere, we’re going to sign the world, as per usual.
August the 14th can’t come quick enough.
Do you all realizes, if Grealish said I’m staying !! How much an icon he would be to the club, he would would be in Villa’s history forevermore , that in its self would be history to our club. JUST A THOUGHT. or does money mean everything.
Yep, he’d go down as a ledge in the fans’ eyes.
Don’t build your hopes up too much though Bill.
I don’t for one minute think Jack is underhand, but it really wouldn’t surprise me i f the club think this is too much money to turn down, hence he’s going.
Like you, I really hope not.
I know people say ‘our owners are loaded and don’t need the money’ but we’ve knocked up some pretty big losses over the last two or three seasons and £100m would cover that and then some for FFP or whatever other financial regulations are put in place.
Unlike Manure and Pool we are debt free because the owners have provided funds through share issue so in a very strong place.
I don’t want Grealish to go because he is Mr. Villa but, if he does, he’ll have been instrumental in further strengthening the clubs financial position.
Villa have announced they have reached agreement on the transfer of Leon Bailey from Leverkusen subject to a medical.
Of course Sky are interpreting this as meaning Grealish is leaving the club!
I’ve seen it before and I have a feeling we will see it again.
If Grealish is to leave who in our current team will step up? When I say step up, I mean feel responsible and take ownership of villas attack. Sometimes big players leaving takes the shackles of the most unexpected. I have a funny feel Ramsey could win a few doubters.
As fans we just have to turn this saga into a positive and 100 mill through the books at villa could just give us a leg up.
I think is fair to say another mid table finish this season to give this (almost) new look team some time to gel is a good season. At least our defence appears to remain familiar and with decent back up to call up on.
Badger, Hutchins and Tom
It’s U2 – ‘With or without you’ regarding Jack!
With Jack, Bailey and Buendia we are two players stronger than last season over Barkley and a Trezeguet/ El Ghazi combination. That will allow us to challenge top 6. My faith is based on Lange’s excellent talent spotting to date.
Without Jack, Bailey and Buendia are plus two on last year. Then it comes down to Sanson, Ramsey, Chuckwuemeka or McGinn stepping up. Or a new buy out if £100m.
If one of the above steps up and operates at above Premiership average, then we are making a big step forward. Moreover, there will now be the opportunity to attack down the right, middle and left, whereas last year it was predominately Jack down the left. Then we are a better side.
With my heart, I really hope Jack stays. In my life time my top 4 Villa players are Gary Shaw, Gordon Cowans, Paul McGrath and Jack Grealish. If only he would stay and help propel Villa to the heights he and we have always dreamed of!
Sid, if Grealish goes – and Ashley Preece is saying the Grealish camp is split and he’s backing Grealish to stay – then expect NSWE to invest the £100m in a couple of top class signings in addition to those already done / announced.
Have NSWE pushed the Bailey deal to prove to JG their ambition? Rather than Sky’s take that he’s replacing him?
Why, having signed up to NSWE’s Villa project 10 months ago, is Grealish now thinking of abandoning it? Has he had his head turned (tapped up) at Euro 2020 and what part did Southgate play? How can a player valued at £100m and recognised as a game changer not get a start in so many games?
Questions on a postcard to Gareth Southgate.
In my opinion villa have to replace 4 players anyway from last years squad to strengthen and thats ignoring whatever to grealish.
Barclay, trezeguet, el ghazi, engels
Replaced by
Buendia, bailey plus 2
I also think we need a DM.
So i don’t believe buendia and bailey were ever intended to repace grealish.
Steve, my moneys on a loan move for Tuanzebe as the replacement for Engels. Would make massive sense and might, ultimately, lead to a permanent transfer.
With Bailey coming in, it’s odds on El Ghazi will move on and it’s being reported Villa want £15m for him. I like El Ghazi but he lacks the consistency of performance at the level we’re aspiring to reach.
Hmm, a bid for Ward-Prowse is in and now a Bailey bid is confirmed.
We either mean serious business in trying to persuade Jack to stay or the deal’s already been done.
Anyone know when Jack gets/got back from his holiday?
I heard he’s due for talks on Monday, so am guessing it’s around now.
Badger,I believe it’s the former – we mean business.
According to reports Southampton have rejected our bid for JW-P but it wouldn’t surprise me to see us back in with a bigger bid. We moan about the big six in transfer dealings but we might just be about to join them in overwhelming some of the ‘smaller’ clubs. We’re becoming the hunter rather than the hunted so we need to get used to it – it’s the way of the football world!
Just to add to that. If Grealish goes there will be a number of clubs concerned over Villa’s financial power in the transfer market and the ability to keep their quality players.
Completely random: if anyone thought Mike Dean was an attention seeking theatrical referee, Google Roger Kirkpatrick from the 70s. That is, of course, if you have nothing better to do!
p,s. Don’t leave, Jack! F*** off City!
I liked Roger Kirkpatrick. He refereed with a smile on his face, which defused many player flare ups before they got started. Not that I keep a list of great English referees, but he would feature if I started.
My absolute #1 voodoo doll would be David Elleray, still infecting FA refereeing today. Incompetent, biased, self deluding and self important – an awful referee!.
After watching Nakamba in the games he featured in towards the end of last season and in the friendlies so far, I think he would be one of the first names on the team sheet. McGinn looks really hungry too. Add to that Luiz has forced his way into the Brazil team, then we have a good trio to pick from. Buendia can play the No 10 role and we also have Sanson, Ramsey and Chukwuemeka all pushing for midfield roles. This has me questioning whether we need any more midfield players. Cantwell or JWP will add quality but I would think a couple of players will be struggling to get first team games so will either be sold or go out on loan.
I think we most need a striker who can offer the same qualities that Watkins has, which is pressing and putting the ball in the net. Definitely not Wesley or Davis. If El Ghazi goes we will need back up for LW, assuming Grealish is going. We also need a replacement for Engels as a right footed CB.
I like nakamba. He needs a run of games. I also saw something on youtube saying bailey is a free kick specialist. If so do we need JWP.
I think we will find out about Grealish sometime today. I think the club have been quite clever in accepting the £100m which is a massive fee for somebody as good as is but injury prone. But by saying we want you stay but its your call his decision is his alone. He has been going OTT this last year on how much he loves the villa. So hopefully he will see the owners project through. But i doubt it. I think rubbing shoulders at england camp has gone to his head. I hope i’m wrong.
Hi not been on for a while family health problems plus fed up about all this grealish talk.
I think he’s been sold at end of last season. That’s why not been in the side at the end they said he not quite fit enough. They couldn’t play him because they had instructions from man.c also I think that’s why he was not picked much for England as well.
I think the West ham match was what decided the management that team’s had worked out how to stop him and he was unable to respond.
We have some talent coming through and by selling grealish it makes room to come through.
Remember these owners are business men and have to balance the books at some point.
Plus whatever is wrong with his shin’s maybe has something to do with it and the decision was if enough money was on the table they would take it.
Also been clever and putting the decision on grealish if he goes.
I think villa will be better as a TEAM without him.
Sorry it’s long post
No need to apologise Roy.
Interesting take on the Grealish saga. Pretty sure we’ll know within a couple of days one way or ‘t’other.
Hope your family are recovered.
Thanks hitchens60 by the way he was my favourite player back in the day.
Wife halfway through chemotherapy and doing well so far apart from being bald but that’s ok in this heat😂
Definitely think when grealish signed his contract he had a clause put in that if it was triggered he could leave.
Otherwise why haven’t villa refused and demanded more?
Trouble with grealish is everything has to go through him well if he’s no longer there then it’s all 11 players involved in. Look at the Saunders team it was a collective effort everyone playing for each other.
But I do think that there should be a monopoly commission investigation into how one team can buy all the best players and so guarantee success without anyone else able to challenge them.
Where is the fair competition here?
I’m getting very annoyed with the situation in the premier League now it’s just the same team’s winning all the time.
In fact the top six is as before,no point anyone else trying fed up with football now 👀😠
Goodbye JG enjoy your stated £360.000 a week at man city but I wish you well you did us proud a loyal servant in a Villa strip so goodbye good luck hope your dodgy shins hold up VTID AVFC
Warrior – No idea whether these numbers are true or media fantasy but if Grealish goes purely for cash then he’s not the player I thought he was.
Let’s wait and see – Villa have neither accepted nor rejected the offer – I think we can safely assume it is £100m.
Villa’s response will be decided by Jack Grealish alone. Either he wants to buy into our owners vision or he doesn’t.
Grealish is a brilliant footballer but our owners are experienced and canny businessmen; can only admire their strategy. Seems to me it’s a win, win for them and the club.
UTV
Here’s another theory re jack going to man.c.
Maybe he has a problem with his shin’s if so then to prolong his career a move to city would suit him better because then he gets more rest as he’ll be rotated where with villa he plays nearly every game? Just a thought but whatever I think villa will be the winner in the long term.
Grealish is training with Villa unlike Kane who it’s reported has not turned for training at Spurs.
Is that a positive sign that he’s decided to stay?
The fact thatVilla haven’t yet accepted ManC offer suggests Grealish is undecided.
Changing the subject – absolutely fascinating to read Tyrone Mings’ comments about his mental health during the Euros. May I be controversial in today’s climate? Is it me or is this a movement, like so many others today? First Osaka at Wimbledon, then the American gymnast at the Olympics, now the big man, who’s not afraid to stick his head over the parapet on social media – all coming gout publically with mental health problems.
I’m not that old (middle aged), but didn’t they just used to call this pressure? I recall Lee Evans joking that he’s just “shit my pants” when he walks out to tens of thousands to perform. Is it not the same for every professional? Newsreaders, athletes, entertainers? I’m sure I recall the late Marti Caine also saying she was physically ill before going on stage. Not nice, but isn’t all this part of being a human with feelings. We get nervous because everyone’s judging us. Totally understandable, but is the ‘mental health’ things being over-egged? Apologies if I don’t get it, as I know it’s a sensitive issue, as is everything these days. I have to say, big Tyrone is the last person I’d expect to come out with this, but then again, I don’t know him, so shouldn’t judge.
Can you imagine how much therapy Nigel Spink probably needed when he was told he was going on in the European Cup final? In those days you just sucked it up and got on with it. I can’t help but believe that social media has screwed everyone’s mind up. Pull the plug if the scrutiny gets too much.
BFR, I totally get the pressure put on athletes is intense and today’s social media means that toxic comments are making the situation worse. I’m in my mid fifties and come from a philosophy that if things were getting me down I would just have to get on with it. Life is full of ups and downs and when things aren’t going your way the best thing is to confide in someone you can trust and talk to. You know that saying “a problem shared is a problem halved”
BFR, don’t start me. Mings ought to get on with trying to not make massive blunders on the pitch and keep his trap shut. If Osaka is so bad, she ought to go into therapy, the poor darling.
You mentioned Marti Caine. Tommy Cooper was another one. He used to have massive panic attacks and it’s why he sweated so much when he was on stage.
As you say, they just used to get on with it.
If these people are finding it so difficult, perhaps they’d do best coming back into the real world, where there’s very little pressure but the wages are tens of thousands of pounds a week lower.
As if.
They make me puke, the lot of them. But if you say so, wokesters come down on you like a ton of bricks and people are just too scared to say what they think anymore .
Cancel culture, I believe they call it.
The only agenda that should be demonstrated in sport should be sport related and nothing else.
No talk of mental health, no taking the knee and no talk of sexual preferences either. Just sport.
Oh, back to the point in hand.
Bailey has apparently had a medical in Florida. Now all we have to sort is personal details, a work permit, a visa and other stuff.
It would seem someone is confident.
And now Kienan Davis’ loan move to Stoke is off because he’s injured and will probably miss half the season.
Surely another striker is a must now or is Smith happy with goals coming from other areas?
Is it time to get rid of Davis he seems to be for ever injured?
Time to get Tammy and Watkins on the left and get rid of Jack he obviously had his head turned during the Euros.
We seem to have this problem when players go away on international duty.
We don’t want this uncertainty 2weeks before start of an important season for the club.
And if Jack loves the club as much as he said he would come out and say he’s staying.
I think he may want to stay but the club actually have sold him or at least want him to go so they get some of the money they’ve spent recently back.
If so are the owners as good as we think???
Update on ‘Grealish to leave Villa’ odds. Having been 3-1 to leave with ManC odds on to to buy him, in the space of a few days his odds to stay have shortened to 4/6 odds on to stay. ManC have gone out to evens.
I’m told, by those much better qualified than me to comment on betting, that some bookmakers are no longer taking bets on Grealish to stay at Villa!
Make of that what you will – still in the squeaky bum arena then 🙂
On other rumours front – Mail reporting Villa making second bid for JWP.
I don’t think our business is done yet whether or not Grealish goes.
I know it’s all media hype and click bait mania but can’t think of anything else to post 🙂
Rory not too sure about your comment about our owners.
They have demonstrated superb judgment to date with our beloved club. Further, their track record in other sports is outstanding. They know how to build a brand. Make no doubt we are a brand with immense potential that I believe they can fulfil.
However, if Jack wants medals in the short term such as Premier and Champions League, it’s going to take us more time. Hence he will leave.
I’d love it if he signs a 3 year contract with City. Wins these titles. Sees his contract out and rejoins us on a free!
If he does leave, I believe the money for investment if spent wisely will make the team better and less reliant on one individual.