GENTLEMAN

I don't think it was created. I think City's interest is serious. I also think Villa's ambitions and want to keep him are serious. I think Villa hierarchy released the most recent stories to wrestle back control of narrative.

Very smart by the Owners, forced control of the narrative. They will offer Jack the world to stay but if he does go that is on him. He will have to force the move and turn his back. This is an ownership with their finger on the pulse.

So glad we've not go the cuck Randy Lerner in charge anymore...

They ‘speculate’ transfer stories up to gain clicks, and drive advertising revenue AND to push transfer/manager betting markets to also drive advertising revenue from bookies. It’s a good business model. Do you think Sky Sports want you to bet responsibly on transfer activity with SkyBet or other betting companies?

Come now. Do you not think that is a tad naive? Can you not see a conflict of interest at all?

You believe that retaining the Sky brand, using Sky employees to advertise, largely advertising on SkySports, clickable betting links to SkyBet through sky sports articles, paying SkySports a referral and advertising fees is entirely separate? On another note, I have knowledge of a Nigeria prince with large amounts money that is stuck in BoN, all he needs is access to british bank details. If you could kindly pass on you bank details you will be handsomely rewarded..

To the sea with you

I thought bull, but then the coded tweet from Villa….

It’s like playing for the Harlem Globetrotters

This guy?

Athletic (paywall) reporting: It's a market we've been in before and perhaps will again this summer.

One thing is for sure, the waving of bank notes at Barry shook Citeh fans to their very core. Sure, it was a one-eyed, tribal gesture with a heap of pantomime. But, the truth smarts. They know that the identikit Abu Dhabi club structure could have been airlifted to any club/city in the major European leagues without a squeak of difference.

omgerdddddd

Exactly. It is like a race to the bottom, sacrificing attacking quality for 'endeavour' . Take a Leeds/Burnley hybrid if you want a team full of runners. Worst of all Jack works hard, FFS. This decision not the build the England team around Grealish is causing me so much internal anguish. I feel sorry for my work colleagues who I am unloading to daily. Better out than in I say.

Jack () is the most productive offensively (control, retaining the ball, drawing defenders, carrying the ball, chance creation, intricate link-up) & is pulling similar defensive numbers to the other forwards. He simply has to start. If he does not, England will regret it. Interestingly, I do not understand the clamour to bring back Mount with no tactical training. Is he such an important player? He presses well, in an England team that does not really press. But his attack outputs are average. There was an interesting comment from a Chelsea fan:

Exactly. The defence stats from that game are also twice of Sterlings' and comparable to Sakas', even with less minutes.

Yeah I seen it. Smacks of an Aunt Sally, and with the amount of negative traction it is getting it may be a successful one. The stats and my eyes don't back what the guy is saying too. He conveniently does not mention any stats to back his statements. When he wrote: I knew it was a hatchet job.

brilliant

I really enjoy most pieces on the Athletic… except for his stuff on Villa. It’s OK to not have the inside scoop, that’s not what the Athletic is about for me. It’s about narratives. Searching out the meaning to the sport. To better understand the game and why it’s so engrossing, and beautiful, and painful. I don’t really understand Evans as a writer. The narrative of Jack staying at Villa is far more compelling. He’s intertwined with the clubs fortunes. From Lerner relegation to near bankruptcy with Xia and carrying us back to promotion. Now with serious owners with a serious plan. Even the small possibility of him dragging us to the champion league or a title is enough. Especially if you’re a club specific writer. There’s an originality and a multitude of possibilities that could unfold and be told within that story…….Or you could write about Jack getting a transfer to the English title contenders every week, because that hasn’t been done before.

It is just me? But the England games have not felt like a tournament so far, more like low intensity friendlies. Both games tonight had full tournament vibes. Hoping that it will be ramped up against Germany. Hopefully the 40k in attendance will add more too.

I just think you’re both words removed

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57581976

My hope is that the incessant lateral passing seems to be the 'tactic', as we try to draw the opponent before a 'blitzkrieg' vertical phase. I could see shoots of 'this' beginning to emerge against the Czechs. Furthermore, that England are settling into this rhythm and will get better and better at it as the tournament progresses. Big caveat is that we don't get dumped out before this is realised. My fear is that the 'tactic' is incessant lateral passing to bore down the clock and hope to nick a set piece goal, and that these vertical phases are actually the players unshackling themselves from GarethBall. For me, Jack&Sak™ have earnt their start in the round of 16 matchday starting lineup.

To those who doubt..