ReasonforRevolution

This is an excellent point! They'll be in awe of him.

Anyone else feeling slightly excited by the proposition of Stevie G as manager? Big name who players both domestic and abroad will want to play for. They'll have grew up watching him. High press football. Statement appointment with global outreach. He won't accept anything below 100% effort. Ryan Kent in January anyone? He shunned Newcastle with all their money. So it must means he believes in the project and the goal of Europe. In his latter years, he played DM. We've finally got a DM! Just really hope he doesn't caress the 'This Is Anfield' sign.

Anyone else thinking of the hypothetical Liverpool away fixture? Absolute cringe-fest. Bit of advice for Stevie G. Don't caress the 'This Is Anfield' sign. And if we lose 3-0 don't say "If I have got to lose 3-0, I would prefer it to be to them as I like Liverpool." That said, on the whole, I'm all for it. Players will respect him and he's a winner. We've always had a soft centre. Wolves at home, we should of took a booking and fouled Traore on the half way line. Corner flag, fake head injuries the lot. But we rolled over. We're too honest. Stevie G will change that. If we're serious about Europe we need to have that nasty streak. Gutted about Smith, honestly prefer him in charge but that ship has sailed. So, I'm coming to terms with this and think it could be a great appointment.

Great ice-breaker though.

Anyone remember the Gerrard tackle on Boateng in our 3-1 win at Anfield? Boateng is currently U23 coach.

@ITKAstonVilla

I'm always sceptical of Twitter in the knows. But the account that's reporting on Gerrard has got plenty right recently. They reported Mings getting dropped the day before the game. Then the Dean Smith sacking a few days before the actual event. They're saying Gerrard announced Friday. Highest paid Villa manager ever and a big budget in January. Compensation with Rangers agreed. Not sure, it's true, but as I say, they've got a few Tweets right over the last few weeks. That said, if I had that insider knowledge I'd be on Bet 365 not Twitter so we'll see.

The signings bought in to replace Jack (Bailey, Buendia and Ings) have been on the pitch together for a total of 35 minutes. Regarding last season, I'm convinced we'd of got Europe if Jack would've stayed fit. Sure, some may say we were too reliant on him but Liverpool would miss Salah. It's nothing new building a team around a spine or your best player. Not to mention the Covid outbreak the same season. I don't think these challenges were Smith's fault. I do concede the defence has been woeful at times this season. The backroom staff shuffle has obviously affected us here. The Terry depature is going to be a loss in this department and from what I'm led to believe the wasn't Smiths doing either. So again out of his hands. We'll never know if he could've turned it around. But considering all the adversities, I think he's done enough to earn the chance to give it a go and with a full squad and new backroom staff.

Most of the managers listed are a sidewards step. Welcome to the merry-go-round. I hope they prove me wrong, but I think this could be a rash decision. Newcastle, a team with £350BN, the best they can do is Eddie Howe. Gerrard distanced himself from that job, so I'm sceptical he'd come. But, Nigel Reo-Coker said we should go for Diego Simeone... I'll go for that.

Gutted. I'll always love Villa, but Dean Smith made me proud to love Villa again. With Lambert, Bruce, and the likes, it is easy to forget how disenchanting it all was. Only a few years ago, I was genuinely convinced we were heading to League 1. Six weeks ago, we beat Man Utd away. We owe him a huge amount of gratitude for getting us to where we are now and for connecting us with our team again. Even within this bad patch, there was always comfort knowing that he wants what was best for us. I feared this season would be difficult with Jack leaving. Injuries and the late-in-the-day backroom staff shuffle haven't helped. But he can be proud of what he's achieved. I just hope the board knows what they're doing because it'll have to be a big appointment. Must admit, it feels like they've misread the room and for that, I'm quite angry. Looking forward to him coming back to B6 as an away manager and giving him a standing ovation. He deserves that.

I wanted to avoid football today. But thought it'd be cathartic to write this. Ref gave them everything. This aside, we were the better team. Unfortunately, that's nothing if you're going to capitulate like we did. We missed Dougie's composure in the last 10. But, understand the reasoning behind the substitution because of international duty. McGinn world class. Anyway, jeez, Villa. This one will take some getting over. How many times have we seen teams take the lead and kill the game. Learn from your fellow professionals. As soon as it went 2-1, I saw it happening and was so helpless to stop it. Traore has run from left back for their third. Foul him on the halfway line, take the booking, be done and be disappointed with 2-2. Don't let him waltz through. I watch team's week in week out kill of the game. Have we not learned anything?! Go corner flag, have a head injury, anything other than what we did. We missed a captain. We'll be nothing other than a mid-table team if we don't learn to have a nasty streak. Get into the ref. Do the dark arts. Fight, battle and foul when you have to. It's what the best teams do and we need to learn that fast. One last thing, during lockdown, we win that game. The nervousness from the crowd seeped into the team. Not having a go at the crowd, their first goal resigned me to disappointment, and I was as nervous as everyone else. But as professionals, they need to learn to block that out and get the job done. It hurts when it's Spurs or Man Utd but this is another level. Close to a perfect derby day win, instead it's turned into a nightmare. For me, it's down to a soft centre. I'm not on about a hatchet man, I'm on about what they now call 'professionalism'.

Get in, you beauties! This one means a lot! Dean Smith doesn't get the plaudits like Pep and co. But his tactics are on the money. With him all the way. We look dangerous from set-pieces thanks to Nanny McPhee's genius. This was not a smash and grab. We deserved it and let's be honest, we could've been out of sight at halftime. Every single one of those players, take a bow. Not loved a Villa side like this for a long time. Never a pen and a special mention to the Harry Maguire last man challenge on Mcginn. I think we can actually say... Proud History, Bright Future. Up the Villa! Now let's do the same to Man City in November.

Jack was the last sacred blossom. He was me and you.. Leeds, West Ham, the lot. I'm a musician, this is Little Mix vs Velvet Underground. This transfer is the death of football. If it can happen to him, It'll happen to anyone. We're a bigger club than City. We're a bigger club than Chelsea Just a shame Jack didn't see that. I'd die for Villa. Shame Jack doesn't see Villa is worth more than anything. The admiration of AVFC is worth more than a trinket.

I'll never accept Jack turning on this club. Aston Villa is the most beautiful club in the world. To wear the lion on your heart is worth more than 5 Champions League medals. Best club in the world. I cried today watching people turn up in their thousand. It was an act of solitude. We're a family.

Do you know what? I nearly died during the pandemic.. I went into a DKA. Embarrassing, but I'll speak about it. Turns out I've got Type 1 diabetes. When I was in A and E, I begged to be able to watch Villa against Sheff Utd. But I was half gone. Nearly dead. I've held a season ticket since 1992. The love and admiration is deep. We've all been through tough times, Jack had the opportunity to prove something. He didn't. He's just another isn't he?|

Yes! He's lost so much. I honestly see Villa like a family, and I'm just some nob head who goes home and away and chats nonsense. Love this club, don't understand how you could turn on it.

He's regretting it.

Fast track to a trophy. When you're Villa, you bleed claret and blue. You stand by the club. Never true Villans. Because if you are... you'd die by this club. This was the chance to make the change and pronounce Villa against the big 6. Instead he spoke of his "dream" to play for Man City. Man City.... Media love it... As corrupt as Rodris offisde.

Love it! Remember that? Give me legacy all day. I'm sorry but as a true Villa fan. I'll never accept it. Give me the £200,000 and the captaincy at Villa all day. Man City are the eneny. Human rights violting shambles of a club. He's joined the darkside.

Great album! Whole heartedly agree with @mjmooney on this one!!

Do you know the beauty of being a Villa fan? We always fight back. I believe Aston Villa is the best football club in the world. We've lost our captain and I've seen people today turn up in their thousands to get behind the team for a training session. Losing Jack was difficult, but chatting to people was cathartic. We're better than Man City. I'll never forgive Jack for that. "Villa have amazing support. If you hung 11 Villa shirts on a washing line five thousand fans would turn up to watch them!" Tommy Docherty

It hurts on so many levels. We'd go over to Burton on a random Tuesday night and watch Jack play to nobody. We knew he was going to be a superstar. Chatting to his Dad after friendly games. Jack was like us, except with amazing footballing talent. Of course, I'm thankful for the memories and what he did while wearing claret and blue. I've never seen a better player in a Villa shirt. And I understand it's a short career. But what he could've achieved at Villa is something much more than trinkets at City. The opportunity of immortality at a football club comes around once every 'blue moon' (excuse the pun). Jack had this at his fingertips with Villa. Instead, he chose this path. A well-trodden path. He is not a Villa fan. It's not only a sucker punch to Villa fans, but to every true football fan. This was a chance to fight back against the 'Big 6'. An opportunity to turn the tide. The media celebrate like ostriches with their head in the sand, forgetting what happened a few months prior. A club that tried to monopolize sport. I think it symbolizes how out of touch football has become. The haves and have not. I thought Jack was the one to break the chain. He wasn't. I thank him for the memories, but essentially this is a player that has said he doesn't want to play for Villa. So right now I'm taking that at face value. Dean Smith got us promoted... include Neil Taylor, Jed Steer, Elmo, Jedinak, McGinn, Abraham, Whelen many more. Don't buy into the rehtoric one man got us promoted. 2 Like

I understand disparity wages because of natural talent etc. But jeez, if ever there's an example how out of touch footballers are this is it. Lend me a tenner until payday Jack.

Heartbreaking, this is. Feel like I'm going through all the stages of grief. Shock, denial, pain, anger. But the upturn is this. We've still got a Villa fan who will remain loyal and will always do what's best for the club. That man is Dean Smith. You can take our Jack, but you'll never take our DEEEAAANNNOOO!!! I have every faith that he'll see us right.

Genuinely feel for you, mate. You should enjoy these times because it's the stuff of dreams. You'll have witnessed Wright-Phillips and players leaving. Not that it's on the same scale. I was having a good chat with some older City fans at the final a few years ago. True gents and grounded. But the large majority acted like Man Utd fans of yesteryear. Arrogant, condescending, and spoiled.