I think Norwich have had the worst window. They have gone up a division and sold their best player to us. Hardly a statement of ambition is it?
Can you imagine the scenes had we done that with you know who in summer 2019?
I think we bought him in the January window before we went up, and was always targeted as a championship level player. Smith doesn't rate him so the loan is the best move for all.
Classy message from a classy player. He has played a pivotal role in getting us back to where we belong and I am sure most Villa fans will fondly remember his time with us.
To last over four years at Villa in the modern era is the equivalent of getting a testimonial in the old days.
Well yes they won the Youth Cup and we have sunk millions into the academy bringing the best talent from a catchment area north of London to the whole of the midlands.
A few points
People keep saying it is a net negative spend but transfer fees are only a part of it. Buendia, Bailey and Ings will all be on a fair whack.
I think we may have a more consistent season this year but perhaps not such a good run without he can't be named. He did miss usually at least 3 months of each season which is quite difficult to build an entire team around.
I wouldn't be surprised if we dust ourselves down and go again in the January window. Cantwell hasn't signed a new contract and if Norwich already looked doomed by then they might cut their losses and sell him for £10-15 mil.
I'd rather we start to carefully use our promising youngsters then getting in a panic 5 or 6th on the list signing which could waste a lot of money and stunt player development.
If people think this is a bad window can I gently remind you of summer 2014 when we brought in Phillipe Senderos, Ally Cissoko, Carlos Sanchez, a past-it Joe Cole and Kieran Richardson?
Thank you and goodnight.
We brought in Young first.
You do wonder how many of the players (Buendia, Bailey, Ings) brought in we would have got had Grealish stayed. One, none, all of them?
No there really isn't. He is borderline premier league quality and Smith obviously doesn't think he is good enough.
Didn't cost a lot and didn't play a lot. File under random players who turned out for Villa for a bit. Its quite a big folder.
All the things I'll never see
All the things I'll never be
All there is that's left for me
Is here in this eternity
Of isolation
The cavalcade, the jamboree
Of life, I thought was meant for me
I never dreamed that it would be
Replaced by this eternity
Of isolation
H.Moon