pas5898

1st season improvement 2nd season: do very well, probably qualify for CL 3rd season: leave a trail of destruction and unhappy players. They are back to same position and a lot poorer. Arsenal need to build and do it properly with a long term manager. They've tried with Arteta but he is just too inexperienced imo. Ironically when Pochetino inevitably gets sacked he would be a good shout and the most suitable.

It's a large budget due to commercial revenue. That will dwindle the longer they are a mid table club. Even corporate hospitality, shirt sales etc. A few more seasons not qualifying for the CL, mid table finishes and the rise of a new club (us, West Ham, Leicester) will ultimately over take them in every aspect. I can't see them qualitying for the CL ahead of Man u, Chelsea, Liverpool or Man City this season at least.

Will fit into this team perfectly after Watford then.

I'm having nightmares of Saint-maxim running at Matt Targett. As poor as Newcastle are, he's a right good player. A bit like Watford and Sarr.

They had to. Jacks 100m release clause was up on 8th August. Of course his 100mill release clause and termination date was legally confidential but somehow City knew how much to bid and by what date . The fact they've already bid for Kane (and been rejected) means they have every intention of spending 100mill+ on a striker. Grealish being first is inconsequential, they just had a deadline.

You mean Christopher Samuelson?

Honestly I think around 6. 2 pre season friendlies missed Dean Smith isolating Bailey and Ings barely integrated. Sanson, Traore, Buendia and Watkins missed a lot with injury. Luiz late from Olympics Talk of new formations with Ings and Buendia. Lost best player 10 days before season. Its going to take a while to integrate this squad. Once we get going I'm sure we will solidify towards top 10, but we might need to be patient.

Perfect Mourinho signing. He tracks back, works hard, covers his full back, completely anonymous some games yet somehow still scores goals. Expect it to be 17million including some ambitious addons. Probably be more like 14.

French colleague (General nerd about European football) states he's definitely a CL quality midfielder. Worth 30million and we basically stole him for 14m with the French TV deal in tatters.

Not in denial or justifying it. I want him to stay badly, but it's not doom and gloom. But speaking to a few non villa friends who work in football. -100 million pounds. Another couple of season of spending we would be in trouble with FFP. Gives us breathing room to heavily invest another few seasons. -He's missed 1/3 of games with what is an inherant issue which will only get worse. - As highlighted by last season we were too reliant on 1 player. If we are to grow as a club, we need a squad where anyone can be out and we perform affectively. Losing Grealish is a bump in the road, but we are heading in the right direction with these owners and set up

Every day longer the more likely he is to stay and/or we will outright reject any further approaches.

It is business as usual. Unless Man City table an offer which we accept, then Grealish will build up his fitness and captain us against Sevilla at the weekend. Twitter and Journos think because we are so blessed that Man City want to give our billionaire owners some pocket change, we should be grateful and hand deliver Grealish to the slums of Manchester. Until that moment, just because man City want him, he is now their property by default and we need to wrap him up.

Bruce may be the most boring, awful, coma inducing manager. But he will keep them in the Premier league, on a fairly modest budget. They'll finish 12-16th every season. Thats all Ashley needs to promote his businesses until eventually a ludicrous offer to sell the club comes in.

FWIW this is how I think it will play out. Firstly, Villa will have a deadline and a ridiculous price which I don't think man City will meet. It will have a high premium to lose our best player 2 weeks before the season starts. If its not met Jack will play his best this season, and captain the club. Been reported he won't kick up a fuss. There will be a gentleman's agreement and fee agreed for next season. We will have targets to work on for 12 months in preparation for Jack leaving. Only way he stays next summer is if: -He gets injured so man City get cold feet. -We have a ridiculous season and qualify for CL. ......... Probably the plan all along as Man City don't need Grealish yet, they'll switch to Kane or a striker which they desperately need.

Anyone know an English club who needs a combative midfielder and can smoke Arsenal and Juve financially? A club that's happy to trounce Arsenal, and would drop 40/50 on a 23 year old.

Pogba just doesn't show up enough for me, regardless of whose around him. He should be carrying that midfield and driving them forward. He goes missing for me. Add to that the yearly merry go round the agent puts on the club each season. They can get 50million and 300k a week off the books. That should bring in a more consistent performer.

Decent first team on paper. AWB. Varane maguire Shaw Mctominay Pogba Bruno Sancho. Cav /Greenwood Rashford. Sell Pogba for a proper midfielder who actually turns up most games and they can't be far away. Obviously a major limiting factor will be OGS.

Bruce is good at steadying a ship and keeping heads just above water. Despite having a championship quality squad (except ASM) they will stay in the PL. For me, he can't do anymore with those resources. He did the same with us, when he took over from RDM we were candidates for a double drop. He sorted us out, steadied the ship. Where Bruce falls down is when there's an expectation to go out, win and dominate. Our squad in the championship should have absolutely walked that league. Grealish, Tammy, mcginn, Tuanzebe, hourihane, Chester, Bolasie. But he only knows how to play a certain way, which is only good in select circumstances.

Years and years of underhand tactics, openly tapping up players like Coutinho, Griezmann from clubs and the fans feeling arrogance believing its their right to win the CL. Mortgaging their future, buying players for 120 million then crying at the English clubs for spending money. Presidential elections creating spoilt brat fans. "Elect me and I'll sign <insert name of popular young player>". Then begins a cycle of tapping up players, transfer requests and mortgaging 100s millions of euros to appease the fans. Also, I genuinely believe back in the late 00's there was match fixing involved in some cases (Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, many R Madrid games etc). I can't lie, it's great to see them suffer.

Buendia will occupy players and could find my dad with a pass (haven't seen him in 35 years) Grealish will get doubled up on and still create chances. Pacy winger and 2 full backs bombing on with the space. Watkins must be a very very happy man right now and targeting 20 goals.

8-10th for me. If we sign a class 40m + central midfielder then 6th. Sanson struggling with injury. Luiz played copa America and Olympics. Look a little weak there.

He's not better than Mings depending on how you judge a defender. Commanding, leadership, strength and old school defending - Mings Cultured, good on the ball, reads the game very well, positioning - White

Good idea if the clock is stopped, will stamp out timewasting. After Italy scored against Belgium, the ball was only "in play" for 9 of the 21 minutes left. Only concern is, if Fifa, Uefa etc can "control the clock", expect mid game ads, maybe even the equivent of a 2 minute warning (glorified ad break) etc.

Jim White and Co are just pawns for Agents and clubs trying to disturb a player. Anyone who gets paid off clicks or views in completely untrustworthy. Anyone who is English and not at a "top 6 club" now will be touted for clicks. I saw Declan Rice to Chelsea and Kalvin Phillips to united mentioned in the last 2 days. All of it is utter nonsense.

Caught my OH searching for Jack Grealish on TikTok this afternoon. After agreeing that I'd let him in, tuck him and her in bed should be ever visit, she showed me the comments. Looks like we have a Beckham'eque symbol on our hands. Girls are going mental for him. It's literally page after page and fan video after video of girls drooling over him. Coming back to villa, surely his commercial value now to the club is ridiculous? He sold the most England shirts as well. If he re-signs, we actually now have a superstar which should assist our transition into a "top 6" club.