QldVilla

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….?

Yep was watching the game also, had a good game, some of those passes…

The club would have done their due diligence.

There’s always going to be fans who have different opinions. I’ve supported the club since the mid 70’s so my opinion of what a legend is would be different to someone who’s watched since the 1950’s or since 2005. Yes Jack potentially is the best player Villa has ever developed, but for me that is different to being a club legend.

I think everyone’s emotions will be different, for me when players like Southgate, Delph left, I just hated them. I was gutted when Barry left and my opinion of him changed but would have never hated him. Same with Bosnich ran down his contract and got into Yorke’s ear to leave, never forgiven him. Its different in the relationship we have with those players as we all have our favourites. For me Jack would never be a club legend if he left, he would go into the Yorke, Bosnich, Southgate barrel. Legend is only for those players like Withe and God!

Watched this about an hour ago, didn’t think it was that bad, Andy was being honest in his opinion, believes the lure of Pep etc will sway Jack. Im lucky I live in Australia and outside the bubble, it would be driving me crazy.

The only opinions that matter are the coaching staff, his team mates, family and himself and they all have confidence in his ability. I love his honesty and bringing difficult topics to the public to discuss.

I want some Ferrari’s on the wings…

Optus wouldn’t know anyway just following the sheep media, Schwartzer tipped Villa to be relegated last season that’s how much faith I place in their news. If it isn’t in the top 6 they don’t pay any attention to what else in going on in the league. I’d love to get a job where you can be 66 % ignorant.

I was excited when the rumour first surfaced and very happy to see it nearly finalised. The signing gives us quality and depth in the wide areas and we will be very difficult to set up against.

Always believed a real Villa fan would put the club in front of their own ambitions, as playing for the club was the achievement. Ive followed the club since the mid 70’s, people have changed, the game has changed. You have clubs like Man City, Chelsea that have no heart, no soul, but they win trophies. It would be one thing if we were struggling and had no ambition, but we aren’t in that mindset. I have no doubt in my mind that we will have European football within 2-3 years and making another cup final to have the chance of winning a trophy. But will it be enough for a Villa fan? It should be, to be the first captain to hold aloft a cup final trophy in over 25 + years, it will be worth far more, than 3-4 bought trophies at Man City. Jack can buy into the media’s narrative of needing to be at a big club or being a club legend and be talked about for the next 100 years and probably be more important than any Villa player in history. Easy answer for me, but I’m not Jack.