QldVilla

I find it amazing that supporters are writing off a 23 yr old striker with two years experience playing full time as a striker in the PL, who is no where near the finished article. Different games suit different strikers and to have either Abrahams or Watkins on the bench to change things in a game when required would put us ahead of most teams in the league. Sometimes you need the ability to change things during a game, something we weren’t able to do in many games last season. Do I believe the rumour, No, Smith said he would be waiting until preseason to determine where Wesley is at, but nothing would surprise me.

Just don't see Jack wanting to leave this season, appears to be a lot of media driving these rumors. We all know the price and we all know Guardiola is an admirer, a journalist doesn't need to be a genius to generate a story, especially considering the focus on Jack during the Euros, it creates interest, click bait...etc The rest is just white noise.

Tend to agree, Jack knows what us fans are like, we won't cop his agents leaking crap to news sources, he would know we want him to come out and say it.

Would of thought that there would need to be some form of corporate governance around how individual clubs make bids for auditing purposes, the days of a phone call/fax would be long gone.

Hadn’t heard that rumour, but if true means he would have been a big part in taking a club from the middle of the Championship to European qualification. Pretty good learning curve.

Well done to John, he’s going about his coaching development the right way, rather than jumping in the deep end under prepared. Some will question why he hasn’t taken the jump to management, but he’s developing and learning more just were he is. Some people aren’t meant to be Managers but can be very good coaches, it will be a dispcision he will have to make in the future. Can still see him hanging round for another couple of seasons.

Yes but if you have a Fetch box you can watch on TV. $14.95 each month is pretty good to watch every match each weekend. It used to be free on FOX sports but how often did you get a Villa game live?? only against the top teams, so far better than before.

Interesting to see the fee we got for him, presuming it would only be around half what we bought him for which was up to 9m reportedly, but don't believe he would of met many clauses in that deal. Seemed a nice guy and put in some promising performances early on in his Villa career, hopefully he can reignite his career again in an easier league.

Agree with your comments on Smith, it’s one of the few things I wish he did a little better was rotating the squad. Thought it cost us some points during the season.

He was and was one of the most consistent for us during the season, but doesn’t guarantee he will be available for every game next season. I don’t have an issue with the one off games, I said it earlier, I get it. But the elephant in the room is if there is a long term injury to Targett, will Young at 36 be up for short to medium run in the team in the PL? We’ve seen it with Elmo, he could put in the odd 1-2 game solid performance, but the performance fell away after that. I was apprehensive about Barkley last season and I’m apprehensive about Young. Doesn’t mean I’m right, I’d prefer to be proven wrong, time will tell.

Yeah sorry, dont see him starting over Targett when fit.

Your right no one can know for certain, but you can minimise the risk. I agree, he hasn’t been bought to play 10-20 games this season, but in a worst case scenario, he was required to cover Targett for 6-10 games or more, could Young handle that week in week out? I’m not so sure.

Peak for the Italian league? Probably is. But is his peak as a 35 yr old the same when he was 30? No. Are the physical demands of the the PL higher than the Italian first division, absolutely.

My concern is we may have to play him regularly in that LB position which I don’t think he has the legs for. The Italian league is different it is known to lengthen players careers for a reason.

Not making any point. But don’t see a well thought out methodology why we need a 36 yo player either. All I have seen is some revisionist history about the player in his previous time at the club and others cherry picking stats to support their narrative on the signing. My contention is the club said they wouldn’t be making these type of signings moving forward, hence why I made the comments I did at the time when the rumour surfaced, as many others on this forum have made over similar players. Yet they have. I support the club they’ve made the signing for a reason, I get it. Just not going to cop anonymous trolls trying to be smart after the fact.

And your point is?

Yeah ok champ. What was I thinking when the club said it was looking to buy young hungry players with resale value and not get caught with old players past their prime on big wages???? Oh yeah that’s right, believe a rumour about a 36 yo past player has been looking for one final pay check… yeah your right!!! Still doesn’t take away from you being a troll and having no idea yourself until it was announced. By the way can you tell me what the lotto numbers are this week, oh that’s right you only find courage after the result…

Don’t be a troll.

Funny how you don’t put yourself on the line until he’s signed. What did you win? Its a poor signing and again goes against what the club said they would do in the transfer market, But then again they also said they would never make a loan signing without a sell on clause.

There’s more chance of us signing the best player from the planet Mars than Ashley Young.

Anyone who's made their mind up on Sanson already, doesn't know football.

Southgate is a very good politician as a coach. He doesn't upset anyone, especially his employers and is able to put good people around him to cover his deficiencies. It's also why he doesn't take risks and why he won't start Grealish. I think he underrated him and Jack has proven him wrong, but he will never admit it, because politicians don't admit when their wrong.

Your right, on the face of it, it does seem unthinkable. But Southampton are treading water and the question is whether JWP wants to tread water for the rest of his career or make a move in the prime of his career? Go to Villa, possible play in Europe in the next two seasons... Remember a certain Villa captain moving to Middlesbrough FFS, how does that happen, so not the long shot as some may think, if we are indeed interested?

JWP is the better player between him and McGinn. Don’t needs stats to tell me that truth.

Can’t believe this thread is still alive, everything we know says this won’t happen.