QldVilla

Pep Guardiola in 2009: ”Modern football sometimes makes me sad. Nowadays there can be more focus on big-name signings rather than promoting youth and that makes me sad. Why buy a striker for £50 million when there is one waiting in the youth team?” No way they go for Messi…

We’ve all been emotional the last few days, but when the dust settles we support Aston Villa, not just one player. We had a personal connection to Jack because of his background, but we now know that connection only went one way. Its disappointing, but we are now only 2-3 players away from having a very good football team and I couldn’t be more excited.

Yep, the trust has been broken.

One summer transfer period, doesn’t make up for the last 25 years.

I think Tuanzebe is supposed to coming in on a loan.

What are you thinking mate, two more signings? Either another wide player or AM and a DM? Suddenly looks a better squad than last season.

Pfft, when I used to run, it would be six, with a cut up banana and honey, now I would look at that and feel full…

I don’t buy into Villa are a one man team, no team is. Our defence was still very good during the period Grealish was injured, it was our creativity and taking our chances which were the issues. These issues now appear to be solved. Ive had my dummy spit and moved on, he’s gone to the soulless. Villa are bigger than any one person, we are only 2-3 signings away from a very exciting team and hopefully Smith can make us even better than last season.

3 of course.

Well this signing seems to have changed the mood. A little surprised to wake up this morning and see that we’ve signed Ings, as I spat out my weetbix. A few of us have been saying we needed a second striker, the argument seemed to stall around Abraham, but Ings is top quality. He can take the pressure of Watkins, while helping him become a better player and the competition can only be good for the team. I know what my next jersey purchase will be.

McGinn, Emi could both do the job, aren’t prone to the odd howler and respected by the rest of the players.

Don’t know if I agree with that, the rumours where around prior to the Euros saying a deal was done, someone in the know just went off early. IMO, it was agreed last year when Manure were interested, he signed the new contract, but with the release clause as he wanted to go as long as someone stumped up the cash. The club has kept this quiet.

I’ve supported the club for a long time, there’s a lot of things I remember and some I forget. I personally have a thing about players who are appointed captains and believe they have an extra level of responsibility. Captains make sacrifices and if your not prepared for those sacrifices, don’t accept the job. Wasn’t a fan of Jack being made captain and think it’s important who Smith appoints as the next captain, not convinced it should be Mings.

Sorry, but it was a year after we made an FA Cup final and finished 6th, the season he left we finished 8th, both seasons way in front of Middlesbrough. It had nothing to do with Villa’s ambition and more to do with players having there heads turned. We may not have been able to compete with some of those clubs throwing money around, but what eventually happens to them? Leeds etc.

He was a Villa captain, they should be leaders, not walk out on the club and to Middlesbrough. They were a blip, they are not Villa.

I grew up wanting to play football for Villa since I was 4 years old, made rep teams etc but when I became a teenager I became a very good runner, athletics eventually chose me. I became a coach later, also coached football, but have designed my life around my coaching because it’s my love. I could be earning twice, three times as much for work, but I still have a good life doing what I love. Villa will always be my first love, don’t tell the wife…lol, so I don’t get the soulless City things, shiny things don’t make you happy. We wanted Jack to be a Villa legend, but he’s only interested in his own legend.

Same, but think it’s a generational thing, there’s no where near the loyalty these days.

It’s quite obvious he was ready to go at the end of last season, but Manure didn’t come to the party. IMO there was agreement with the club that if he signed a new contract and a club met their valuation they would allow a Jack to leave. The club easily could have said no, but they didn’t. Ive come to the conclusion that the days have past when players are loyal, they don’t care that a club like Man City stink to high heaven through greed, game the system through FFP etc etc, but as long as the players get paid and win shiny things, it’s dismissed. Maybe I’m reflecting my age, but no real fan of Villa especially a captain can walk away as easily as he has. I took a while to warm to him initially, thought he was more flair than substance, but he won me over, but that jersey with his name on it, will be going on the fire pit this weekend. He goes into the same bucket as Southgate and others. People will say maybe that I’m being harsh, but we will see how that view resonates if we end up playing City in a Cup final and Grealish scores or assists to make the difference. Grealish could have made a real difference to the forward projection of the club, he now has set it back.

If we keep Grealish, believe we’ll get 65-70 points, if he leaves, think it will be 50-55 points.

I continue to find it amazing that people come up with their own theories, but don’t see it through to its logical conclusion. All these ITK’s seem to have theories that contradict each other and are far worse than any click bait the media regurgitates out. Villa haven’t been acting like a club that knew Jack was ready to go at the end of last season, nor have they been acting like they knew a £100m bid was incoming and just waiting for the Euros to be finished or Jack to be back etc etc whatever narrative suits your ITK. It’s frustrating considering the cone of silence the club has put around this issue, I just hope they are fighting to keep Jack, but I’d also be surprised if Jack didn’t know what he wanted to do.

Modern day journalism.

Yep a few of us have been saying that for a while, but may not suit the game Smith wants to play, he would suit a league like Italy.

The games have been a pretty tepid tempo, but your right it all adds up. Will be interesting who they play in the final, if Japan, they play a high fast press and will be a struggle in the heat.

Photos? We will want proof…

What about being paid in oil, they have plenty of it and when the price goes up we cash in….?