GrassyNoel

No nibbles? Not even “King Canary”?!

Perfect!

This on the back of reading Arsenal regret the decision to sell Emi (blimey, Sherlock) and Arenal's hopes of signing the Brentford goalie dashed - Emi is a phenomenal signing for us, and agree @TRO, he seems an honourable man who will stick around.

Shame is, Villa are on a major upward curve - he could've been a part of that. For whatever reason(s), he's missed the bus.

Yeah I agree, one of a small list of teams I have no animosity towards, same for Forest personally. I wish them well, regardless of how some feel about us signing RB. I've seen a few decent tweets from Everton fans wishing him and us well for the season - I'm sure it's just a minority of 12 year olds acting up. And yes, hope we stuff them home and away!

They see our revival and sense the danger.

Can't wait to hear what TalkS***e make of this...lackof ambition for RB no doubt...

Welcome Ross!

Impressive!

Bit like Samatta agreeing terms with FSK. That parts done, now the moneymen get involved. Should be a formality, unless one side gets obstinate which I doubt in the Rashica case. Next few days should see the details sorted (not ITK just seems logical). Good times.

It'll be an amazing perch-is

This is not a good use of the net.

Any guesses what his induction song might be?

Absolutely. Got a bit emotional myself watching that. Hey, I'm getting on a bit...

So happy about this. Welcome!

Long may it continue. Next time it'll be Real Madrid.

So true and has been for so long. Amazing how badly wrong some have got it until now.

Big. Very, very big. Massive signal to other clubs that we can keep our best...NSWE are the real deal.

“No matter who you vote for, the government always gets in.”

At the behest of the mods... Full article here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/ollie-watkins-ticks-most-boxes-for-a-modern-striker-except-top-flight-experience-q0tbvgwfn?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1599616897 Posted in response to a request for the full article which is not behind a paywall i.e. is free to anyone who simply registers with The Times. ———————— Eyebrows will be raised at the fee but there is no doubting the talent of the player: Ollie Watkins is about as sure a bet as there is in the Championship. It was a blistering season for the Brentford forward, who is quick, skilful, athletic, intelligent and a scorer of all manner of goals. The 24-year-old ticks most boxes in a modern forward — apart from top-flight experience, hence those questions about that hefty £28 million fee. It was the £20 million sale of Neal Maupay to Brighton & Hove Albion last summer that prompted a shift into a central role, which neither Watkins nor Brentford could have envisaged being so successful. The pace and trickery to terrify defenders was always there but in the past 12 months Watkins has also shown the knack of finding a yard of space inside the penalty box, of being in the right place at the right time consistently. Watkins will be under pressure to deliver goals in the Premier League He uses his frame well to link play with his back to goal, but Watkins is at his most dangerous playing on the defender’s shoulder, splitting the opposition’s back line with clever, incisive runs. And he can finish. Of his 26 goals last season, 11 were scored with his right foot, seven with his left and eight with his head. None came from the penalty spot. It helps, of course, that Watkins spearheaded the most fearsome forward line in the second tier last season, in a team filled with movement and creativity. Chances for Villa in the Premier League will be more precious. But those who know Watkins — who spent a half-season on loan at Weston-super-Mare in the Conference South in 2014-15 — say he has the temperament to be a success in the top flight. Brentford’s remarkable return in the transfer market, meanwhile, has now yielded almost £150 million in player sales since 2014. Exeter, whom Watkins joined as an under-11, can expect a windfall too: the 15 per cent sell-on clause inserted in their sale amounts to more than £4 million.

What the hell happened to the Mail? Tragic.

Not signing a proven, top class forward last summer and placing all chips on Wesley was a howler. It wasn't quite like playing with ten men at all times but felt that way sometimes. A lot of us felt it at the time, then the football fan rationalisation starts to kick in where you convince yourself it'll be OK. We should never, ever have been in that position.

Yeah but Brady & Co have probably put them on a 1M per man bonus if they win. Long memory that Brady!

Can’t say it better than this. It was bang on the other night. More please.

And what bugs me is I can never see a team like Chelsea getting relegated. All sorts of action would be taken the moment it seemed even remotely likely. Villa, on the other hand, now seem to aim lower.