Pez1974

This is rather splendid. Gotta love our owners, and the way we just get our business done (hoping it doesn't go wrong now). And as a bonus - we have Arsenal fans in meltdown. Combination of **** fans insisting they weren't really interested, and that they have someone better lined up (Grealish is their main pipe-dream) and more realist fans, who have just sighted 4 weird looking chaps on horseback riding over the Emirates car park.

Not looking for an argument - and as someone else said, image rights are often part of a contract, so it would depend on that. But you asked what the club could do... The first thing we could do (contract dependent) would be around sponsors. When you have a recognisable face, it gives the club something they could use in negotiations, and can change the companies you can target. Gillette uses various Liverpool players in their ads, and the club (and probably players) benefit from it both financially and from a profile perspective. Perhaps slightly left field, but with the Kappa kit, could Jack and few others given the range of internationals, do something there? They are big in Italy, and it doesn't always have to be UK centric. As an aside - get John McGinn on Irn Bru cans!!! My only point is that we have a footballing asset who is recognisable on the international stage for the first time since Platt in 1990 (who didn't stick around long). These assets can make a lot of money. There are also potential tax implications for image rights, rather than salary. For example, a player could set themselves up as a Limited Company, and image rights could go through that. They could then take dividends or even hold the earnings for when they are retired, meaning the tax rate they pay could be much lower, and avoid national insurance on both sides - which could be a lot. I would expect the club to do the right thing by Jack with regards this.

Don't agree mate - the club has to make sure that it's Jack and Aston Villa going hand in hand. Otherwise you end up with a position whereby the player becomes 'bigger' than the club, like with Beckham at Man Utd (obviously not that literally, but it was all about Beckham for a while, then Ferguson got rid). We really could set ourselves up as a club if we get it right.

Check out the story on Ian Wright's twitter (4th June at 9:46am) about Jack. Wright met a young lad in London wearing a Villa top (a London lad by all accounts) because he loved Jack. Wright messaged Jack, and he replied with a message to the kid within 5 minutes. Top bloke, not an isolated case and totally outside the image of a pisshead who some seem to have. I really think that in Jack, we have the most marketable player that the club has ever had - and can't help but feel that we aren't making the most of it. I actually think we have one of the most marketable players in the world today, and a bit of magic this summer could sent it into the stratosphere. I'm not saying we're doing badly, but all I ever seem to see is Leeds fans moaning that he dives too much, and dumb-as-**** Arsenal and Man Utd fans saying they should sign him and how he's really a fan of their club. There's something outside of this whereby a lot of young kids think Jack is the dogs danglies, and I really hope the club know how to leverage this for both our and Jack's benefit.

Gutted for him. I hope that one of the (many) RBs gets a knock and has to drop out - and reckon Southgate will replace him with either Ollie or Ward-Prowse - showing that the squad was a popularity contest, and not based on balance and need. And if it's Alexander-Arnold who gets the knock, I suspect Henry Winter will need therapy. I usually rate Winter as a journo, but he must have photos of TAA all over his wall. I also hope that Maguire and Henderson don't make it, showing that taking injured players is just **** stupid.

The Daily Mail reporting that the 7 to miss out are... Alexander-Arnold, Godfrey, Greenwood, Lingard, Ramsdale, Ward-Prowse, and White. (I haven't put a link, because you are better than that; but it sounds about right). If this is correct, then personally I feel that Ward-Prowse is the unlucky one there, and is out because of injury issues around Henderson and Phillips. Obviously delighted for the Villa-3 if true.

It's gonna be Ramsdale, Greenwood, Lingard, and the 2x Bens left out. Mings and Coady go as they are leaders and have some experience, and with Maguire an injury doubt, there is no-one else in the backline to bollock anyone. Probably a RB, so Alexander-Arnold? Wouldn't have a problem with this, not least because the other 3 are the RB for the title winner (and his teams best player in the CL final); the RB for the Champions League winner (and his teams 2nd best player on the night) and the RB for the winner of La Liga. And probably Ollie, I'm afraid. Really think he should go as he offers so much, but reckon he'll take Saka for versatility, Rashford because he fed some kids, and all the other midfielders, because of injury doubts around Jack, Henderson and Phillips. Personally, I'd leave out Henderson, if Phillips is fit. He's not played in months, and taking such players never works.

This. People writing off a 21 year old, in a Burnley team, and wanting Rashica (for example) who they have probably never seen play outside of You Tube highlight videos, are probably the same people who think Des Bremner was terrible. I also think the price could be quite reasonable given the quotes of £40m for Buendia. Burnley have been hit hard by Covid, and won't see McNeill as the only way they can survive in he PL - which will make Norwich demand a premium for any of their players.

Dwight MacNeill? 3 or 4 years younger. Played 3x full seasons in the premier league. Maybe hasn't got the goals/assists stats of the other 2, but is attacking output for a winger for Burnley that much different to WBA and Norwich in the PL? Given the £40m price tag going around - he'll probably be cheaper too.

I think price is key. I suspect Pereira will be much cheaper, which might sway it. For the same price, probably Buendia. We can look at Buendia tearing up the Championship last season, but the season before he was quite poor in the Premier League - 1 goal I think. Pereira didn't do as well in his season in the Championship, but he was still very good in his first year in England, and that Boggies team we nowhere near as good as Norwich have been. In their comparable PL seasons, Pereira had the far better return; both teams were shit and it was both players 2nd seasons in England. Pereira is almost a year older. Not sure that matters.

Ah. But Anwar isn't English, so the 'buying clubs are **** idiots' clause might not apply. And Bournemouth are skint, not. You point is valid, though.

I think this is why we'll keep Guilbert around next season - as he can cover RB and LB. Get the kids out on loan, let them develop, and save a fortune.

Similar thoughts to me. Not convinced he'll ever become our first choice winger unless there's a raft of injuries, and to that end, if we got a big offer - £15m+, I really would be tempted to take it. Down to the coaches, I guess, who see him day in day out.

There is a 17 year old lad, Seb Revan. Just won the FA Youth Cup. Mainly a left back, but can play across the back line I'm told. Local lad too. Just a suggestion

Not in the final Dutch squad for the Euros. Shame for him. Neither is Steven Bergwijn. Looking at comments on Twitter (which is the only source of facts I have), it seems that a lot of neutral supporters think that El Ghazi is the more unlucky of the two not the get selected. Given Spuds paid what, nearly £30m for Bergwijn, I think we did quite well. The Arse paid £72m for Pepe, from the same club, and they both got 10 goals this season. Madness.

There's a lot of people not getting that. And they should all watch Blazing Saddles 20 times as punishment - lucky bastards.

He will never face us. He is off the the land of Scott Cason and Stuart Taylor; where the the removal of splinters from bum cheeks is a 9:00am appointment every Monday. But good luck to him - he came in did a good job, got injured, and was replaced by someone who was better. No hard feelings.

That thread was total pollocks (Sorry - I remember the thread, but the only content I can recall was the silly stuff)

Thank you. I was wondering is the Kenneth WIlliams gifs were broken.

We do our business early. I'm convinced Sanson was a summer '21 target who we got in really, really early - for a price we liked. He has 6 months to settle and get up to speed. The Spurs approach, of wheeling and dealing, might look good, but it doesn't allow time to settle into the team and can effectively waste the first years wages, and contract depreciation.

As others - Top 8 is good progress, with more points than this season. We might not get some of the results we had this season against the amazing and mighty Sky6, but need to improve results against the likes of Burnley to make up for it. Also - want to see continued development of the wider playing squad. Whether it's youngsters out having successful loans, or making a impact in the first team - both are good next season.

I think he's above that level now. Walsall as a minimum, but I'd like to think a League 1 club might take him on for a bit, especially if we can give then the full season. Suspect Championship is a little high for him to get the games required, unless its a shit team - but we want him to get a few goals too, not just kicked about.

I know exactly what you are saying. What I would point out from yesterday was his awareness. He broke their offside trap so often that the commentators made a point of it when he finally got flagged offside in about the 80th minute. That sort of timing and awareness from an 18 year old is great. He's also a worker - maybe the closest to Watkins that I've seen at the club, and we know the difference that has made. He's 6 foot tall - who wouldn't like an extra couple of inches. And as you say, he isn't slow, but could do with work to add a little pace, which can be trained to a degree, but he'll never be lightening fast. Last year, I saw him as another who will move out on loan a couple of times, then leave on a free. Now, I expect him to make first team appearances, and we go from there. Good luck to him.

He's head and shoulders above Alan Wright. As are most adults

Staunton in his first stint with the club - good defender and quality going forward - might be on a par. For me, he is better than Bouma due to his delivery. Alan Wright was solid, but not as good as Targett this season.