AntrimBlack

Or not. It's 50/50.

Liverpool seem to do all their bidding through the newspapers, and I doubt if they have actually offered anything.

Not the way anyone does things; even clubs with money do not go in at the price they expect to get a player for, I would think.

Staff looking good. And MacDonald back in charge of the ``kids''. Also much needed.

Yeah! Fantastic move FFP. Something like what Blatter would think up, I think that was happening even before FFP, the moment Sky came in and created their brand where the powerful clubs need to be kept as a worldwide monopoly and the rest are just their to be lined up and beaten. I can't believe there isn't yet a euro super-league where Sky, BT et al and all the superpower clubs can just get on with it. When Sky came in we were one of the richest and most successful clubs in the country. Don't know where it's all gone wrong.... Doug Ellis.

Of course, but in that case why use it to attack the club. And I still maintain that my scenario is the most likely. I'm not using it to attack the club. My thoughts are that when he signed the contract he intended to stay for another year or so (may well still do). I don't think the club would have made such a fuss over him signing up, if there was an agreement in place that he signed just so we can get £8M for him in the summer. I was not referring to you, Useless, it was a post by another poster. And I agree with you, I think he and the club both envisaged that he would be staying for several years. I suspect he still may do so.

Of course, but in that case why use it to attack the club. And I still maintain that my scenario is the most likely.

Well in that case no one can praise his loyalty then. Last I checked, loyalty didn't mean "I'll sign so long as I can leave if a better team comes knocking". I also don't care that this would mean we would get some money for a transfer, am I supposed to be happy he is a kind enough gentleman to let us keep him temporarily? Such a low release clause totally undervalues his worth and it wouldn't even be a profit so what is the point? I just hope it's all untrue, if it's not then I point to my early points about our administration and what this would mean in my eyes for a player that waxed lyrical about signing to stay. Becasue Villa getting £8m for him is better than getting £0m surely? My point would be that £20m+ is what he is worth in today's market and that's the kind of fee we should be aiming for. Again, IF it is true, you wouldn't catch other clubs acting in such ways, where the hell is our pride? We are acting like the prison bitch You seem to be intent upon attacking the club. I reiterate, this was all the club could do in order to keep him, and £8m was what he was worth at that time.

Did someone say that?

You're assuming he wants to leave though. Why would he insist on an £8M exit clause if he wanted to stay ?!!! £18m maybe but £8M ? Because that is all he was worth at the time of signing? Maybe he didn't want to risk pricing himself out of a move but at the same time made sure we get back what we paid for him. I personally think he would be crazy to want to stay at Villa under the current regime. After speaking to new owners though this could change. I think he would play a lot of games for City. With top players around him he could really shine. And surely even more crazy to go to City, where he is only good enough for their bench. If he goes, it will be to a club at Spurs level. You trying to confuse me? Anyway, VLV, we will have to disagree, I do not think he is good enough to get many appearances for City. That would be a bad move for him. As I said, possibly Spurs, Liverpool, Everton - good enough for that level.

You're assuming he wants to leave though. Why would he insist on an £8M exit clause if he wanted to stay ?!!! £18m maybe but £8M ? Because that is all he was worth at the time of signing? Maybe he didn't want to risk pricing himself out of a move but at the same time made sure we get back what we paid for him. I personally think he would be crazy to want to stay at Villa under the current regime. After speaking to new owners though this could change. And surely even more crazy to go to City, where he is only good enough for their bench. If he goes, it will be to a club at Spurs level.

You're assuming he wants to leave though. Why would he insist on an £8M exit clause if he wanted to stay ?!!! £18m maybe but £8M ? Because that is all he was worth at the time of signing?

Before attacking the club, try to remember that Delph's performances at that time were very poor, and £10m would have been good money for him.

We really do not want the club to start responding to every newspaper article and rumour.

By not triggering the release clause, they are putting themselves out of the running.

Throughout his time with us there has been a complete dearth of clubs wanting him.

Seems there is loyalty in football after all. Nice one.

Well put.

Now that is what I call real speculation. You are in the the right thread.

To give him the benefit of the doubt, perhaps he meant what he said at the time, and he will now confirm that he is going nowhere.

It would have been at that level at that time to reflect his playing performances, which were very average. And at that time other clubs were not interested. I do not remember any offers.

I do not care who he plays for. I refuse to get any emotional attachment to any player.

The problem there is we would look weak, why would we back down from a release clause we have agreed with CB and his agent because the player throws a strop? It opens the door for more players to follow suit in the future. As stated by others, with the Euros coming up he can ill afford to be sitting on the sidelines and risk missing another major tournament for his country. I would say that one good thing about Lerner is that he has refused to be pushed around and underpaid in the past. I am convinced that he will insist on the release clause being met.

He has 2 years left on his contract, so I doubt it would have any effect on any possible takeover.

As should Vlaar. Vlaar's comments are reasoned, ours are abusive.