joey55

As a Spur fan, I can't understand why no Premier League club has come in for him. He's a really good player and I don't get why Conte doesn't seem to want him in his squad. He's had an up and time down with us, as he's had some injury issue's, but there is no doubting his quality and he is suitable for the Prem. I think he's more of an all round CM, than an ACM, but in either position, he's easily good enough for most teams in this league. He'll end up going to Spain, for a low a fee, whilst Prem clubs will splash cash on dross. Usually the player we actually want to sell aren't going to improve teams with European ambitions. But this year we've got three in Lo Celso, Sanchez and Bergwijn. Ajax have already got Bergwijn at a great price. Clubs in Spain will do the same with Sanchez and Lo Celso. Sanchez in no Bobby moore, but he's a very under rated CB and I think clubs on the continent in the CL will want him. I'd steer clear on NDombele. He's hugley talented, but he just doesn't work hard enough and I doubt that would suddenly change.

I'm really surprised he hasn't been more heavily linked with City. I've read the odd link, but it's mainly been about Jack to Utd. If I were Pep, he'd easily be my number 1 target to replace David Silva. I've watched him carefully since we almost signed him and I think he's absolutely brilliant. Most other Spurs fans think I over rate him, but I'd go as far as saying he's a generational talent. I'd honestly rather sign him than Sancho or Sterling. In the past when I've been on here and you had a decent player, I always thought your fan base massively over rated them. I never thought much of the likes of Downing, Milner or Benteke etc. But in Grealish, I think you've got a genuine star, who could play for Juve, Real Madrid or Bayern etc. It's crazy to me that Mason Mount has played for England and Grealish is uncapped. Kane, Rashford and Sterling would be a terrifying prospect if Grealish was creating for them.

But that's why I used to Kane example, so you can see it from a more clear headed perspective. I'm not a Villa fan, so it's pretty easy for m to see that realistically you aren't keeping Grealish for much longer. He's way too good to spend his peak years as part of a rebuilding period. With Kane, Villa fans can so easily see that he won't stay at Spurs if we don't have CL football for 2 or more seasons and he wouldn't be with us now had we not consistently been in the CL. I think it's a question of accepting he's going to leave and then it becomes a case of recognising when the best time for that is. I think that's now, as it's a buyers market. There are so many decent players around that are potentially available for transfer that you will be in a uniquely favourable position to buy. I mentioned Eze, Brooks and Zaha. But there is also Benrahma, Sarr, Doucoure, Godfrey and Cantwell. I think this window is a great opportunity to spend money. When we sold players it's always been harder to spend the money as we've generally had pretty decent squads. Your squad is pretty rubbish. For example, I'm not a massive fan of Callum Wilson, but he's got be an improvement on Wesley. In a normal window, I think you'd be pretty down the pecking order to sign him, but not many clubs are going to have cash to spend. I'd say you'd normally have no chance with Zaha. But I think he's just had it with Palace now and feels like a prisoner. But I can't see a CL club going for him and suddenly anyone who can put a decent wedge down, is in with a shout. There are just so many examples like that around at the moment. So I don't see a better time to cash in on Grealish. I think if you asked other non Villa fans if they think the idea of building your team around Grealish is wishful thinking, I think they'd say it was. Most Spurs fans wanted to build long term around Modric, but anyone without emotional attachment could see he was always going to go to an elite club.

Hey mate, if we don't make the CL this season, then I think Kane will be off. I actually don't think many Spurs fans would hold it against him. He'll be 28 next summer and he has to be in the CL. He's played 26 games in the CL and scored 20 goals. If he played every season, he'd get right up there with the best strikers in the competitions history, but to do that you obviously have to be in it. I don't think people fully recognise how much we struggle to beak teams down. If Kane was playing for City, I think he'd be getting 40+ per season, which you just don't see in the Premier League. Naturally I'd hate to see him playing for another club, but I'd love to see him benefit from playing with some of the best creative players in the world.

Yes I thought about it all, that's why I made the post. The kind of club that can afford Grealish are in the very few that will be spending this summer. Utd's profits are so huge that Covid isn't going to hold them back. That means you will have an advantage in the market you've not had in the past. It seems as if you are suggesting there will be little activity because of Covid, so how does that help you, as the status quo means another struggle for Villa? In the past when you've sold you best players the conditions haven't been as advantageous to you as they will be this window, when the clubs that usually would be competing with you for transfers are going to struggling.

The point i'm making is that ultimately and more likely sooner, rather than later, you are going to have to sell Grealish and that this window is uniquely advantageous time to do so. The financial might you'll possess in this window will be much greater, simply because other clubs aren't going to be able to compete. Some good players are going to be up for grabs, that pre covid, I wouldn't have seen going to Villa, that now I could. I'm a Spurs fan and we've sold Carrick, Berbatov, Modric and Bale. Yet we continued to progress, despite set backs for a season here and there. Let's be honest, if we hadn't had CL football for the previous 4 seasons and been towards the top of the league, had I told you Kane would stay, you'd have all called me delusional. Most Spurs fans would have conjured up narratives saying that if we "show ambition" or "make him captain of his the club he came through" and will be persuaded to stay. But all non Spurs fans would have said we were being totally delusional. The same is true for your fans with Grealish. He's so good, he needs to be playing in the CL and winning titles. I think he should replace David Silva at City and if I were Pep he's who I'd want to sign. If I was Klopp I'd spend all of Liverpool's budget on him. I'd rather buy him than Sancho at Utd. I get why you all want him to stay, but I think your hearts are ruling your heads here. The conditions for spending the money will never be as favourable to you as they are now.

From a non Villa perspective, if I were you I'd want him sold now. I think you have to recognise that as fans you'll have an emotional attachment to him, as he's your star player and the fact he's one of your own. But realistically, surely you must all recognise that his long term future isn't at Villa and therefore now is the perfect time to sell him, as due to Covid the disparity in the market is greater than ever. There is a very small group of Prem elite clubs, for whom covid isn't going to impact their transfer activity and the fact they are the one's currently spending has made it seem as if the market hasn't been as effected as it has. Grealish will go to one of the Manchester clubs in my opinion and they can both spend as if Covid hasn't happened. But they are the exception, not the rule. The rest of the Prem are soon going to have to recognise that when not dealing with those clubs, prices are going to have to deflate and quite dramatically. So any club that gets to sell to one of the Manchester clubs, is at a tremendous advantage. If you took £70 million from City, for Grealish, to get it done quickly, rather than try and drag it out for £80 million, I think it would benefit you greatly, as you'll be one of the few clubs that genuinely has decent money to spend and can actually pay upfront. You could probably sell Grealish and be able to buy Brooks, Eze and Zaha with the money. There is no way Villa, with your current status, could normally do that. Look at the average players you were able to attract last season. So many clubs are going to be strapped for cash, so anyone coming in with a cash deal, without loans or staged payments etc, will be king in this market. You've seen with Benteke, that trying to cling onto your prize asset is a thankless task in the long run. Trying to keep Gealish for another season or two, won't be as beneficial to you as selling him now, in my opinion. This is a buyers market and selling Grealish will allow you take advantage of that, in a way 80% of Prem clubs can't, so it's a fairly unique opportunity to rebuild your status quickly. You could easily buy 2 or 3, really exciting players to replace Grealish and I seriously doubt you'd be able to do the same in a more typical transfer window.

I'd be very disappointed if we sold Dembele and if he were to go he'd have his choice of lots of clubs all across Europe. I can't see Villa being able to attract him at this time. Dembele is a lovely player to watch but he dosen't produce enough season in season out, he should score more goals and set up more. Would still take him though. Spurs's transfer policy always amuses me, you sign 5-6 new midfielders seemingly every summer and yet who ends up playing majority of games.....Bentaleb and Mason, two academy products. Holtby's back at Spurs aswell isn't he....Paulinho's still there... I think Joey you're simply overrating a few of your squad. IMO the reason you finished 5th was hugely down to Lloris saving you in games like leicester away, Kane having an unbelievable season and Eriksen scoring loads of last minute winners first half of season. This Spurs team is nowhere near the level of Jol or Redknapp eras. I'm not fussed on Townsend, I actually thought he was really good half season on loan at QPR but people seem to have a downer on him because he scored twice on his debut for England and of course the press started hyping him up to ridiculous levels. Just worried we're going to get totally mugged off on the fee. Would also suggest we'd play 4-4-2 a lot next season which I'm not sure about either. I'm don't think I'm over rating them though. They are top 6 quality players and we are talking about them in the context of selling them to a club that have just finished 17th. It's not like I'm saying they are good enough for Man Utd. It's difficult to buy top 4 quality players, hence we tend to end up stock piling top 6 standard players. For example, we don't have a top class CM, but we've got 4 or 5 that are good enough to start for Europa league teams. Players like Paulinho are seen as flops as they don't get into our team, but in reality he played an important role in us getting 69 points in 2013/14 and scored 6 Prem goals. He's not the player we hoped he'd be, but he's still actually a very decent player. Any team looking for a goal scoring CM could do a lot worse than Paulinho. Generally speaking, we have very few players that aren't good. We've just got very few that are really good. There isn't much difference in quality between Lamela, Townsend and Lennon for example. Basically there is little difference between our 3rd choice RW and 1st choice. That's pretty rare and why there are quite a few bargains to be had from our squad. We've got players that have been labelled as flops that really aren't much if any worse than those that started in front of them in a top 5 team.

I'd be very disappointed if we sold Dembele and if he were to go he'd have his choice of lots of clubs all across Europe. I can't see Villa being able to attract him at this time.

Southampton offered £12 million for him last season and they aren't keeping Elia, so might well come back in for him this season. But I'm not sure Poch wants to sell him and he doesn't really want to leave. He'd be a great signing as is under rated. His attitude is first class and as much as anything I think that's what Villa need. Many Spurs fans don't like him as he had periods of keeping Lamela out of the team, so they seemed to resent him for that. Also at Spurs we play very narrow and Townsend is better when things are more spread out. I read someone on here say he was "woeful" for England the other day, which is typical of how he's spoken about. Townsend played pretty well and certainly didn't look out of place for England. But ultimately Lennon would be the much better signing. He's half the price and Tim constantly picked him over Townsend. Everton fans were very pleasantly surprised by Lennon and he totally won them over. People judge Lennon too much on stats alone, and don't look at the effect him being on the pitch has on the opposition, as they are terrified of his pace. This opens up so much more space for other players. I wish we'd still play Lennon. I'm unsure what is happening with Everton as they seem to be entering into a strange deal with Barca for Deulefeu, that means they get him very cheap. If Lennon is available, I can't see Tim going for Andros. There will be plenty of clubs looking to buy Townsend and will pay over £10 million for him. Lennon will be a bargain. Capoue is another potentially great signing. He didn't lose his place due to form. He's probably go to a CL club in Europe, but Prem clubs have got more money. His Spurs career has been misunderstood. He only lost his place last season due to injury and this season was 1st choice in midfield, until he, Lennon, Kaboul and Adebayor got into an argument with some of the other players and were pretty much banished from then on. There is a misconception that they were dropped and couldn't get into the team, but it's not true. Someone is going to get a good deal with Capoue. We got him cheaply in the first place as he only had a year left on his deal, so Levy will only want around £8 million for him.

Why would Sherwood want Townsend, when Lennon is the better player and available for half the price? Sherwood prefers Lennon to Townsend. The only reason to buy Townsend is if he's going to be played on the LW. If Tim wants a RW then he'll go for Lennon, who he always picked ahead of Townsend.

I said he should be at an Everton, Villa or Newcastle status club. I'm not saying he's Michael Carrick. But a fan base that is used to watching Westwood, Sanchez, Cleverly, KEA and so on, really shouldn't be disappointed by the idea of signing Tom Huddlestone. If you are, then you will be very pleasantly surprised as the level of midfield play will be going up a notch.

Let's be honest, it's rare any of us really know much about players from other leagues. I think it's fair to say that most, in fact all of you, are probably shocked by Hudd's work rate and defensive stats. But that's normal, as why would any of you have really watched him carefully. You must all read and hear things about your own players on other forums that constantly shock you as they are so far wide of the mark. I can see why it's depressing being a Villa fan. I'm actually giving you a positive review and highlighting some stuff to show just how false the perceptions of a player you look like signing are and some of you just don't want to take it. It's like you want to be negative. When you signed Darren Bent, I came here and warned you it was a huge mistake, so I'm not just backing old Spurs players. In the same way most had a false perception of Bent, the same is true for Huddlestone, only this time it's a good thing. Darren Bent belonged at a club like Charlton, Sunderland or Hull. Huddlestone should be at an Everton, Villa or Newcaslte type of club. If Huddlestone was a crap signing I'd tell you, like I did with Bent. I got dogs abuse on here and was told I was "jealous" when you signed Bent. But this time I admit, I'd like Hudd back.

He's not the slowest player in the league and he has very good awareness and reading of the game. That's how he manages to win the ball, despite lack of pace. Here is a full games highlight for you, so you can lose this preconception you have of him and see how he's change Villa's style. It think watching a full games highlights will shock you, as he's nowhere near this immobile lump people seem to think he is. The main thing to observe is how he stretches the play so quickly by spreading the ball out wide constantly. Forget the likes of Cleverly, KEA and Sanchez etc that you've seen in recent years. Huddlestone is on a different level.

He was 6th. Whilst probably accurate my point was it is hardly something to shout about considering how awful Dawson is. That said Ashley Westwood made the list and is about the same of Huddlestone, so again it's a pointless stat. What has the list got to do with quality?

Just to really hammer home how far wide of the mark the idea of him being lazy is, here are the stats for the 2014 season that show he was in the top 10 for distance covered. Not bad for a lazy player! http://www.givemesport.com/453987-hardest-working-premier-league-stars-clubbyclub-guide I just get the impression that he's one of the players that is judged on perception more than reality. To be fair I think most football fan would see him as a luxury type of player as he's known for lacking pace but being technically great. He's seen as a bit of a CM Matt Le Tissier. But the reality he runs himself into the ground and this is why he's able to get his tackling and interception stats.

Considering how we setup, I don't see it. Also another pace merchant for me with again very little end product. But how you set up was dependent on the players Tim had when he arrived. He loves Lennon. Tim was always a big fan of Townsend and loved the idea of his academy players establishing themselves. But even so, he always picked Lennon for the right wing, as he wanted his work rate and defensive cover. Work rate and defensive cover? I class him as one of the laziest players in the league, although i do rate the offensive side of his game, i think he's been at spurs for too long now and probably needs a fresh challenge He's not lazy at all. He's not fast, but that isn't the same as being lazy. How does he make 2.4 tackles per game this season and 1.5 interceptions, if he's lazy? It's not as if the opposition players go looking him when they've got the ball.

Here is a MOTD discussion about him from last season. They talk about his form in general, not just that game. It's worth watching as it looks like this deal may well happen:

Considering how we setup, I don't see it. Also another pace merchant for me with again very little end product. But how you set up was dependent on the players Tim had when he arrived. He loves Lennon. Tim was always a big fan of Townsend and loved the idea of his academy players establishing themselves. But even so, he always picked Lennon for the right wing, as he wanted his work rate and defensive cover.

He really wasn't. Nowhere near. Last season, not this season that has just ended. Last season they were campaigning for him to go the WC.

He's was probably Hull's best player last season. The reason they went down this season wasn't to do with their midfield. They didn't have any strikers. The blew their money on Hernandez and Jelavic missed half the season. If Hull had Benteke do you honestly think they'd have only been 3 points better off?

I can't believe you lot are complaining about signing Tom Huddlestone. We've (Spurs) have just finished 5th and I'd take him back in flash. You were hoping to sign Tom Cleverly and are disappointed to be signing Tom Huddlestone! You are all in for a very nice surprise if you sign Hudd. He's in a different league to anything you've got now. I know Delph is in the England squad, but that's due to a shortage of his kind of player. If you liked Gareth Barry, you'll be delighted with Huddlestone. And don't worry about his apparent lack of mobility, as his ball winning stats are always fine season after season. You certainly don't need to build a team around him either. He's perfectly capable of adapting to different styles. With him in the team the tempo at which you play will dramatically rise. Whilst he isn't quick, his movement of the ball is. The ball will be moved from side to side much quicker and things will transition from the defense to attackers much quicker. I suspect Tim will after Lennon as well. I'm sure there will be lots of moaning about that, but Huddlestone hits diagonal balls better than anyone, so you need some real pace out wide. If Huddlestone and Delph play 30 games together next season, there will be no relegation battle for Villa. Top 10 or maybe higher depending on who else you bring in.

It's not inferior, it's superior. He's only lost 4 Prem games! He's got the highest win percentage of any Spurs manager in Prem history. If the league started from when he took over, we'd be in 4th place! Yet virtually every football fan is somehow convinced Sherwood is doing a bad job, as if we are usually fighting for the title. Things can go downhill quickly and we still have 3 games to go, but up to now, Sherwood has done a very good job. His crime is that the vast majority of Spurs fans and football fans in general decided he was going to be a disaster right from the start. Football fans never like to admit they are wrong, so every good result we have gets totally ignored and when we lose it's seen as proof of Sherwood not being up to it. Spurs forums are an absolute joke at the moment as to read them you'd think he has taken us into the relegation zone, instead of having the best points per game of any of our Prem managers. To date he's left many of our fans looking pretty silly and they resent him big time for it. As for Sandro, he just doesn't even look close to being the player he was before his injury and shouldn't be in the squad. He was an immense DM, but now he's slower than Huddlestone. I think he will get back, but it often takes a season.

If Kaboul was fit there is no way we'd even consider Lescott. He's our best CB and one of the best in the Prem. But he can't get fit. We haven't even offered him a new deal as far as I know and his contract runs out in the summer. You don't let players like Kaboul leave for free at just 28 years old unless there is a good reason.

Fair enough, you're entitled to 'think the truth is' that Villa are in a difficult position. I'd like to know how you've come to that belief though. It must be because the player has handed in a transfer request. You seem to assume that weakens Villa's hand. It is my belief that in fact all that does is weaken Benteke's hand. If Lambert and Lerner decide the player has a particular value that must be met (and the club statement suggests they have) and that suitors have a deadline to buy him (see club statement) and that he'll be back in the squad permanently from the 2nd week of August (see club statement) then nothing changes with regards to the player's big long contract and paltry wage. It doesn't actually matter how desperate the player is to move if our chairman and manager will not be moved. The Barry saga shows you Lerner won't be moved and if you doubt Lambert's resolve ... well, then, let's see how that works out. I'm all for discussing it, but you'll have to educate me on how it's so strong. Ostensibly they have no plausible destination at the moment. Unlike last year when we'd met Genk's valuation, this year he has no concrete deal to push through. We've been as nice as pie to him. We accepted his transfer request and we've set out the conditions by which he will be allowed to leave. And I hate to bring it up but this is a world cup year so if you think he's going to sulk and strike come September then you'll probably be sorely mistaken there too. If Benteke is really determined to leave, he’ll do everything he can to make Villa want to sell. This includes going on strike. This puts Villa in a very precarious position and makes this situation different to those experienced in the past with the likes of Barry and Milner. It happened to us with Berbatov, who in the end simply refused to play. For Villa, the threat of him refusing to play is more significant than is being acknowledged in this thread. Each time it’s mentioned, it’s also pointed out that’s is WC year, so he wont do this. But that suggests you’d be happy to let him strike for the whole season, which is very unlikely to be the case. Even Man City, with all their money, relented and brought Tevez back into the fold with the hope he’s re-ignite their title challenge. If you are in a relegation fight, which most would predict without Benteke you will be, he’d be back in the team in no time. No matter how much pride is at stake, it simply isn’t worth getting relegated over, which would be catastrophic for the club. If you look at the fixture list, Benteke might simply have to refuse to kick a ball until October and by then it might all ready be too late. He and his agent know that either his goals or quality additions to the squad are going to be key to your survival. Lambert knows it, Lerner knows it, all fans know it and Benteke/his agent certainly know it. So come the start of the season, if Benteke is on strike refusing to play and there is a £20 million bid in the offing, don’t you honestly think Lambert will be urging Lerner to accept and Lerner will probably be pleased that his manager is doing this? If Benteke is adamant he wont play, then there does come a point when it’s simply foolish to refuse a half decent offer. Hence Benteke and his agent are in a very powerful situation. However, everyone involved knows this, but it isn’t just Villa who have something to lose by letting this go to the wire. For buying clubs there is s significant advantage in having Benteke in their squad asap. So the buying club have a reason to pay a premium to get the deal done. This is where Villa do have some power, but not to the extent most on here seem to think and why I believe, it’s being leaked by Midlands journalists that a deal can be done at £25 million, rather than figures of £30 million+ being banded around. If Benteke really wants to go, a deal at a lower price will almost certainly be available in the last week of the window. People can say things like “you don’t know Lerner” etc, but the reality is Lerner hasn’t been in a position like this before, so no one knows how he’ll react. In the past he’s always done what it best for Villa and is a business man after all, so in this case, the chances are very high that he and Lambert will conclude to sell is the best for Villa. They simply can’t afford to not have either their star striker of decent replacements, as the threat of relegation is too real. This simply wasn’t the case with Barry. I know most of you will reject that, but I think it’s very likely and am sure the vast majority of non Villa fans would agree. So, if he had somewhere lined up, I think Benteke can and will leave if he really wants to. However, I doubt many clubs would want to buy him that way, as it puts them at a disadvantage concerning their own planning. I doubt Benteke wants to do it that way. I also doubt Villa want to do it that way. So something in between will most likely happen, which is why I believe this £25 million price tag is being leaked. As I have alluded to before many pages ago in this thread: 1. He has no legitimate grievance for which to strike. He cannot simply say 'I don't want to play for Villa anymore and I want to dishonour the 4 year contract that I willingly signed last year'. 2. Villa can afford to leave him on the sidelines for the whole season if they so wish, he is only on £20,000 per week. 3. It IS World Cup year next year and no matter what you say to the contrary he will want to be in contention for a starting place and therefore he needs to play regularly and well. 1.) Teves did it. 2.) But can you afford to lose his goals and not have the money from his transfer to find replacements? That is how Lambert will view it. That's just the reality of the situation. 3.) I'm not sure he does need t play regularly and well to keep his place in the current Belgium squad when you look at alternatives for the central striking role. But he doesn't have to miss the whole season. Tevez didn't.