M_Afro

1 minute ago, stegzy said:

I think the owners would like to consider it but wouldn’t want to risk the wrath of the fans so will ultimately give him what he wants.

I think history will tell that the Arsenal owners couldn’t care less about their fans. It’s almost enough to make you feel sorry for them. Almost!

I have a feeling that he may be off. We can’t just keep buying players without cashing in now and then. He hasn’t signed a new deal and he is relatively valuable whilst also being replaceable. If the rumours are true that we are also after a dcm then it is even more likely that Doug will move on.

I can never remember an occasion where we have prised away one of the big sixes top young players and that club seemingly being powerless to stop it happening. If this happens it will be huge.

17 minutes ago, Creeper said:

Probably means nothing, sorry if already mentioned. Noticed he's went from 6.00 (5/1) to 4.50 (7/2) in the betting on skybet (Transfer specials) in the last 2 hours. 

Could just be mug betting because of the media talk or may be something in it, especially if the price decreases drastically by end of tomorrow. I'd imagine if there's anything concrete in it Ornstein will break it tomorrow morning.

I got in at 6-1. It just feels as though something is happening here. It may end in nothing but I believe we are having a good go. 

Has Emi become our best player? I don’t mean highest value player because keepers will never be valued as highly as forward players but more his status and ranking above his peers. He is in the world’s top 10 keepers in my view. Maybe even top 5. He is our best signing since McGrath.

So, pre season starts tomorrow. We are 6 weeks away from the resumption of the PL and we still have a bit of work to do! 
My view is that we need a reserve GK (Gazzaniga was linked but that’s gone quiet), a young CB, a defensive midfielder and an ACM. We seem to be focusing on the ACM. I suspect we want to get him in asap and then we will see where we are. I suspect that anything else above that will be young players with potential such as Sarr and Alvarez but a lot will depend on how much the key players cost and maybe how many leave.

Should be an exciting few weeks. Hopefully we will get another signing this week purely based on the fact that it’s all gone a bit quiet!

4 minutes ago, Laughable Chimp said:

I don't know why being a "big" club is something to even be proud of. I don't care how "big" our club is, I care how successful it is right now.

You can take pride in its stature and history too. Surely that’s really important.

20 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Guys England are winning 3-0 without Jack.  Would it be 6 if he was playing?

10

Even though I don’t want us to sign Tammy, purely because I think the money would be better spent elsewhere, i kinda want us to, just to justify the effort that @nick76 has put into trying to convince us all that he is right. Unbelievable commitment my friend! I’m guessing it’s not been a very productive week in the @nick76 house!

9 minutes ago, AvfcRigo82 said:

You're spot on here.

Yes Alli has it in his locker, we know he has.

I thought with Jose's arrival at Spurs he would have got him going but it turned out to be the other way.

As you say, I think Nuno will reignite the lad's career and wouldn't be suprised to see him in the England squad for the world cup either.

If Safegate is in charge at least 10 other players will have to suffer career ending injuries for this to happen. He can’t stand Jack despite Jack being a really hard worker. Alli has got no chance.

1 minute ago, DakotaVilla said:

So Mourinho bullies a player relentlessly and it’s the players fault? People questioned Shaw’s professionalism. Lingaard another great example of a player that was questioned and resurrected himself. 

Alli was being spoken about as one of the best players in the league only a few years ago. He just needs an attack minded manager and a loving arm around the shoulder.

 

The media are massively biased towards certain clubs. They spin a narrative that suits their own agenda and lots of people, including most pundits who are incapable of thinking for themselves, lap it up as a statement of fact. It obviously also works in reverse too. Jack would be a mainstay of England if he played for a different club. The media are just so powerful.

Alli has never been the player that the media made him out to be. Spurs were awful last season and he didn’t get a look in. Mourinho is no fool (although the media now like to spin it that way). If Alli was the answer Mourinho would have got him playing. I will trust one of the greatest managers of modern football over some fat hack from the Sun every single day.

45 minutes ago, claretman said:

I can’t be bothered to read back and I agree with the sentiments about not buying other teams casts offs but occasionally they work.  

Paul McGrath anyone?  Dodgy knees, heavy drinker-a massive gamble albeit a bit cheaper.  

We would have gone nuts if we’d have signed Lingard yet look how good he was for West Ham.  I think we’re concerned about these links with other clubs because Drinkwater and Barkley were shite.

Paul McGrath was still playing exceptional football every week though. The same cannot be said for Alli. Big no thank you.

Will Hughes is a good player and Shakespeare is a massive fan. I’ve been expecting this rumour for a long time. Having said that you can’t read anything into a few footballers messing about. If we are interested and can get him for less than £15m, I would be happy.

It’s all gone very quiet on the transfer front. This is exactly how I like it. Usually when we expect nothing NSWE pull it out of the bag and it is Thursday after all. 

Welcome Remi to the worlds greatest football club. 

4 minutes ago, Craigy1874 said:

Any news on Abraham?

Never heard of him

1 minute ago, nick76 said:

 

Deano wouldnt have had Grealish on the bench to start with...

Nor Sancho, Foden or Mount. Would be fun

Value just doubled

I love Jack and can’t believe the way that Safegate treats him but we are doing ok here. We will win this in spite of Safegate and his boring tactics.

I can’t believe we are even interested. It would just be a really odd move in my view. Tammy is a cherry on top signing and we are far from finishing the icing at this point! Glad we have a separate thread now though as it was becoming somewhat distracting.

13 minutes ago, The_Steve said:

We don’t have release clauses and never will. The situations are vastly different under previous ownership and big-name players. Delph and Young were able to leave much cheaply due to their contract situations and the horrendous mismanagement.
 

You don’t sign a 5 year deal just to put in a clause. The ambitions centre Jack and the signings are there to play alongside him. 

I agree that we are really well run now and anything they will have agreed will have been the most beneficial position for Villa given the set of circumstances but two things to consider; firstly there are two parties in the negotiation here and if Jack insists in the release clause then we are likely to allow it rather than risk upsetting him. Secondly, a release clause, set at the right level, is actually very beneficial to the club and actually provides protection. A high release clause makes life simpler. Pay £130m, if you want him or go away. No prolonged game of cat and mouse.

8 minutes ago, tomav84 said:

if there was a release clause, the deal would already be done IMO. none of this 'preparing a bid after the euros'.

there was probably a relegation release clause but that's it

i don't think we'll mess about. we'll sit him down as soon as the euros are over. we wont let it drag on

I hope you’re right. I guess if their priority is a striker and they then have to sell, it may explain why nothing has happened yet.

I am a little intrigued as to how well Grealish would play in a Pep team. I think he could go up a level or two more. Hopefully we can talk Pep into taking over from Dean in a couple of years when he heads off to manage England! Win, win, win.

I am still a bit worried about a potential release clause. It was definitely reported last summer as being in his contract. 
Even so, if city want a striker first, they will probably need to sell a few to make way for Jack. I just hope this doesn’t get strung out. Either sign a new contract or reach agreement to leave. If he does go, I hope we are able to sign replacements before it becomes public.