joey55

But people involved in football have been telling fans this for years. We need to start listening. Players have the power. Nothing is stopping Bale going on strike. Nothing was stopping Modric. Bale just doesn't want to go and Modric wasn't the type. But there are players out there that prove they will do it. Some clubs are in a more vulnerable position than others. Man City are better placed to handle such a situation than say Fulham.

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.

Cracking post, that sums it up completely. Simple fact is Spurs want to apply one set of rules to Bale and another to Benteke, utter utter hypocrisy. Neither Spurs or Villa fans get to set the price or apply rules. For some reason some people in this thread have acted as if we are negotiating price and reacted very negatively. As Toela said, it came across as weird and has prevented a proper discussion. There is a fraudulent tone that still exists as if posters think that those involved in the deal are influenced by what is posted here. This could have been interesting discussion about how transfers really work and the power held by players and agents. But if anyone were to try and point out the real points of influence in this deal, half the posters here would go crazy. I don't see why, as it wont influence anything, as everyone involved in the deal know the score and in my opinion this deal was well under way before it was announced Benteke had handed in a transfer request. What is weird is despite you explicitly stating you would not post on here again, you have returned at least twice to my knowledge since that. Even odder is your apparent compulsion to come back to patronise the posters on here regarding what they post and how they do so, utterly deluding yourself that anyone cares what you think on that subject. To use your argument, "I don't see why, as it won't influence anything". Cracking post, that sums it up completely. Simple fact is Spurs want to apply one set of rules to Bale and another to Benteke, utter utter hypocrisy. Neither Spurs or Villa fans get to set the price or apply rules. For some reason some people in this thread have acted as if we are negotiating price and reacted very negatively. As Toela said, it came across as weird and has prevented a proper discussion. There is a fraudulent tone that still exists as if posters think that those involved in the deal are influenced by what is posted here. This could have been interesting discussion about how transfers really work and the power held by players and agents. But if anyone were to try and point out the real points of influence in this deal, half the posters here would go crazy. I don't see why, as it wont influence anything, as everyone involved in the deal know the score and in my opinion this deal was well under way before it was announced Benteke had handed in a transfer request. This possibly the most ironic post ever, You came on here stated that in your opinion Benteke is worth 15million and we rate him at 25million, you then went onto say you thought a deal would be done in the region of 16-18million, clearly with those Spurs spectacles on. You caused furore with those stupid comments then say theres something wrong with our tone. The only thing that has happened here is you've been discussing a deal with CB and his agent, not the right channels, but you've done it now. Then expect us to sit back and allow us to sing and dance to Levy's tunes. No one here has said Benteke wouldn't join Spurs, however the arrogance of you in your first post is what started this, you honestly think AVFC will just roll over because we're negotiating with Levy. I didn't say it would be a simple £15-£18 million. I also said there would likely be huge (£10 mill +) performance related payments. But you constantly ignore this. Also it isn't my opinion on what I think the price should be, it's my opinion on how a compromise could be reached. I clearly stated that would only be "if" a deal could be done. But you ignore this. If you didn't ignore these points there would be no need to get angry. Read the Benteke threads on RAWK, ArsenalMania and Bluemoon and they will give you something to get properly angry about. If you don't like the prices I think might happen wait until you read what the fans of the other clubs linked with him are saying regards price! I don't expect you to do anything for Levy. You have no say in this deal, in the same way I don't. This is what I find so weird about this thread. There was no arrogance in my first post. The is no arrogance in any of my posts. I've not said anything condescending or rude about Villa at any stage. The same can't be said of Villa posters regarding Spurs, but that is their choice and this is a Villa form after all. But I don't see why people need to go out of their way to find offence when there was simply nothing to get offended about. I asked previously for posters to point out what was wrong with what I posted and in response I was misquoted, attributed things I'd never even said and then told to look for myself. I've even seen people replying to my posts as if they are replying to what is claimed I wrote, rather than what I did write. I think the truth is Villa are in a difficult position and most of the power lies with Benteke and how much he wants to move. The second factor is how much premium potential buyers place in doing a deal early. Basically Benteks and his agents bargaining position is very strong, but no one is discussing this and hence I used the term "false tone."

Cracking post, that sums it up completely. Simple fact is Spurs want to apply one set of rules to Bale and another to Benteke, utter utter hypocrisy. Neither Spurs or Villa fans get to set the price or apply rules. For some reason some people in this thread have acted as if we are negotiating price and reacted very negatively. As Toela said, it came across as weird and has prevented a proper discussion. There is a fraudulent tone that still exists as if posters think that those involved in the deal are influenced by what is posted here. This could have been interesting discussion about how transfers really work and the power held by players and agents. But if anyone were to try and point out the real points of influence in this deal, half the posters here would go crazy. I don't see why, as it wont influence anything, as everyone involved in the deal know the score and in my opinion this deal was well under way before it was announced Benteke had handed in a transfer request.

What could be the possible reason for doing this...? Levy has a history of doing this. He definitely did it when we sold Robbie Keane to Liverpool. He managed to use the press to change the focus away from the fact we were yet again selling one of our prize assets, to the fight he was in with Liverpool. Our fans backed him, yet remarkably we sold Keane for the exact amount mentioned in the NOTW the day the story first broke. It was almost as if the deal had already been struck. If this time last week it was announced, out of the blue, that Benteke had been sold to Spurs for £25 million, wouldn't most on here gone mental? Lerner et al would have been crucified. But the way this story is evolving is making such a deal far more palatable. Why did Villa announce he'd made a transfer request? Often we later learn that players make these requests, but they get instantly turned down, so at the time we don't know about them. For example, the window before he joined you, Bent wanted to go to Turkey, but Sunderland refused and no one knew. I don't see the benefit of telling the world a player has asked to leave when he still has 3 years left on his contract. Why accept the request, especially given he has 3 years left on his deal? Man Utd have been very clear that Rooney isn't for sale and he's only got 2 years left. If you really want to keep him, then just say no. Surely the only reason can be that there is a price you'd actually be happy to sell at. With that in mind, why do Midlands based journalists continually talking about a £25 million fee? £25 million seems low for setting a price. If you want £25 million it would be normal to quote £30-35 million. Nothing has been said by the club itself about the actual price, but it's journalists that report on Villa and are based in Birmingham that are saying it. They aren't going to want to low ball Villa, as their livelihoods depend on good relations with the biggest club in the region. If you were trying to sell a player for £25 million, wouldn't you get your allies in the press to talk much higher numbers? Wouldn't the likes of Moxley and John Percy be suggesting figures of £30-£40 million? It seems really odd. Why would Benteke's agent seemingly be so dismissive of other viable options? I've never heard of an agent ruling out big clubs the way he has. Chelsea don't even have a decent striker at the moment bar Lukaku. It seems odd to rule them out stating worries about playing time given their strikers last season were Demba Ba and Torres. I'd imagine any £25 million striker going there would expect plenty of playing time given his competition. Can any of you remember an agent saying things like that before? If you got £25 million now, I bet most of your fans would be a lot less disappointed than they would have last week. It all seems very similar to when we sold Robbie Keane and Levy used to the media to take the focus away from the fact we were yet again selling one of our star players and onto the deal itself. Doesn't it seem to you as if the focus has now shifted onto whether Lerner can hold firm and get his £25 million? It's almost as if it's now becoming more about whether can stand firm and get the £25 million, rather than the fact another star player is being sold. I just don't get why Villa didn't flat our refuse to sell and now journalists with links to Villa and quoting £25 million. It's almost as if it's being managed so the deal is seen as a triumph. I would never had thought Levy would or could pay so much, but now I wouldn't be surprised if a deal for around £25 million was announced in the next couple of weeks. I thought you said you wasn't going to post on this site anymore?? Also, how come you now think £25M is a realistic price when previously you have claimed otherwise? Contradiction after contradiction. All gonna end in disappointment for you when the real big Clubs in Laaaaanndon enter the fray. Face facts. You've lost Redknapp & your on the way down & before you look around Bale will have **** off to Spain. Arsenal are the big team in North London followed by Arsenals under 5's. **** off to your own forum & don't come back. I don't think £25 million is reasonable. I don't want Benteke really, as I think the price is far too high. So there is no contradiction regarding the price. I still don't think £25 million is an acceptable price. That isn't the point I'm making. I'm pointing out that the was the deal has portrayed so far seems very odd and therefore it wouldn't surprise me if something hadn't already been agreed. Something may well have been agreed "illegally" between Levy and Kismet, but everything that I know about Randy Lerner tells me that he is not party to any "Levy" type deals. So what do make of the reporters who cover Villa quoting £25 million? Doesn't that seem low to you?

What could be the possible reason for doing this...? Levy has a history of doing this. He definitely did it when we sold Robbie Keane to Liverpool. He managed to use the press to change the focus away from the fact we were yet again selling one of our prize assets, to the fight he was in with Liverpool. Our fans backed him, yet remarkably we sold Keane for the exact amount mentioned in the NOTW the day the story first broke. It was almost as if the deal had already been struck. If this time last week it was announced, out of the blue, that Benteke had been sold to Spurs for £25 million, wouldn't most on here gone mental? Lerner et al would have been crucified. But the way this story is evolving is making such a deal far more palatable. Why did Villa announce he'd made a transfer request? Often we later learn that players make these requests, but they get instantly turned down, so at the time we don't know about them. For example, the window before he joined you, Bent wanted to go to Turkey, but Sunderland refused and no one knew. I don't see the benefit of telling the world a player has asked to leave when he still has 3 years left on his contract. Why accept the request, especially given he has 3 years left on his deal? Man Utd have been very clear that Rooney isn't for sale and he's only got 2 years left. If you really want to keep him, then just say no. Surely the only reason can be that there is a price you'd actually be happy to sell at. With that in mind, why do Midlands based journalists continually talking about a £25 million fee? £25 million seems low for setting a price. If you want £25 million it would be normal to quote £30-35 million. Nothing has been said by the club itself about the actual price, but it's journalists that report on Villa and are based in Birmingham that are saying it. They aren't going to want to low ball Villa, as their livelihoods depend on good relations with the biggest club in the region. If you were trying to sell a player for £25 million, wouldn't you get your allies in the press to talk much higher numbers? Wouldn't the likes of Moxley and John Percy be suggesting figures of £30-£40 million? It seems really odd. Why would Benteke's agent seemingly be so dismissive of other viable options? I've never heard of an agent ruling out big clubs the way he has. Chelsea don't even have a decent striker at the moment bar Lukaku. It seems odd to rule them out stating worries about playing time given their strikers last season were Demba Ba and Torres. I'd imagine any £25 million striker going there would expect plenty of playing time given his competition. Can any of you remember an agent saying things like that before? If you got £25 million now, I bet most of your fans would be a lot less disappointed than they would have last week. It all seems very similar to when we sold Robbie Keane and Levy used to the media to take the focus away from the fact we were yet again selling one of our star players and onto the deal itself. Doesn't it seem to you as if the focus has now shifted onto whether Lerner can hold firm and get his £25 million? It's almost as if it's now becoming more about whether can stand firm and get the £25 million, rather than the fact another star player is being sold. I just don't get why Villa didn't flat our refuse to sell and now journalists with links to Villa and quoting £25 million. It's almost as if it's being managed so the deal is seen as a triumph. I would never had thought Levy would or could pay so much, but now I wouldn't be surprised if a deal for around £25 million was announced in the next couple of weeks. I thought you said you wasn't going to post on this site anymore?? Also, how come you now think £25M is a realistic price when previously you have claimed otherwise? Contradiction after contradiction. All gonna end in disappointment for you when the real big Clubs in Laaaaanndon enter the fray. Face facts. You've lost Redknapp & your on the way down & before you look around Bale will have **** off to Spain. Arsenal are the big team in North London followed by Arsenals under 5's. **** off to your own forum & don't come back. I don't think £25 million is reasonable. I don't want Benteke really, as I think the price is far too high. So there is no contradiction regarding the price. I still don't think £25 million is an acceptable price. That isn't the point I'm making. I'm pointing out that the was the deal has portrayed so far seems very odd and therefore it wouldn't surprise me if something hadn't already been agreed.

What could be the possible reason for doing this...? Levy has a history of doing this. He definitely did it when we sold Robbie Keane to Liverpool. He managed to use the press to change the focus away from the fact we were yet again selling one of our prize assets, to the fight he was in with Liverpool. Our fans backed him, yet remarkably we sold Keane for the exact amount mentioned in the NOTW the day the story first broke. It was almost as if the deal had already been struck. If this time last week it was announced, out of the blue, that Benteke had been sold to Spurs for £25 million, wouldn't most on here gone mental? Lerner et al would have been crucified. But the way this story is evolving is making such a deal far more palatable. Why did Villa announce he'd made a transfer request? Often we later learn that players make these requests, but they get instantly turned down, so at the time we don't know about them. For example, the window before he joined you, Bent wanted to go to Turkey, but Sunderland refused and no one knew. I don't see the benefit of telling the world a player has asked to leave when he still has 3 years left on his contract. Why accept the request, especially given he has 3 years left on his deal? Man Utd have been very clear that Rooney isn't for sale and he's only got 2 years left. If you really want to keep him, then just say no. Surely the only reason can be that there is a price you'd actually be happy to sell at. With that in mind, why do Midlands based journalists continually talking about a £25 million fee? £25 million seems low for setting a price. If you want £25 million it would be normal to quote £30-35 million. Nothing has been said by the club itself about the actual price, but it's journalists that report on Villa and are based in Birmingham that are saying it. They aren't going to want to low ball Villa, as their livelihoods depend on good relations with the biggest club in the region. If you were trying to sell a player for £25 million, wouldn't you get your allies in the press to talk much higher numbers? Wouldn't the likes of Moxley and John Percy be suggesting figures of £30-£40 million? It seems really odd. Why would Benteke's agent seemingly be so dismissive of other viable options? I've never heard of an agent ruling out big clubs the way he has. Chelsea don't even have a decent striker at the moment bar Lukaku. It seems odd to rule them out stating worries about playing time given their strikers last season were Demba Ba and Torres. I'd imagine any £25 million striker going there would expect plenty of playing time given his competition. Can any of you remember an agent saying things like that before? If you got £25 million now, I bet most of your fans would be a lot less disappointed than they would have last week. It all seems very similar to when we sold Robbie Keane and Levy used to the media to take the focus away from the fact we were yet again selling one of our star players and onto the deal itself. Doesn't it seem to you as if the focus has now shifted onto whether Lerner can hold firm and get his £25 million? It's almost as if it's now becoming more about whether can stand firm and get the £25 million, rather than the fact another star player is being sold. I just don't get why Villa didn't flat our refuse to sell and now journalists with links to Villa and quoting £25 million. It's almost as if it's being managed so the deal is seen as a triumph. I would never had thought Levy would or could pay so much, but now I wouldn't be surprised if a deal for around £25 million was announced in the next couple of weeks.

Do any of you think this could all be staged managed and that a deal for around £25 million has been agreed for a while?

Fine I wont post, but you are all taking your wrath out on the wrong people. You all keep posting comments as if you represent Villa's thinking. But if that's the case instead of having a go at Spurs fans and leaving messages to Levy etc, why don't you tell your own board to do the right thing? Surely you should be telling Lerner that Villa should refuse the transfer request, wont sell at any price and that Benteke has 3 years left on his contract, so has little choice in the matter? But you all know that isn't going to happen. Anything of note that has come out via the media is from the Midlands. Villa want to sell Benteke. I don't why that is, maybe it's because he's expressed he wants to leave and therefore would rather not keep him. But make no mistake, Villa could have made it very clear that he wasn't being sold. In fact they didn't even need to confirm he'd handed in a transfer request. All that needed to be said was the Benteke will be a Villa player next season. It wasn't and now from midlands sources we are seeing a £25 million price tag. I understand why you are annoyed and as i said, I wont post anymore. But in all honesty, you all know the reason this story is so prevalent at the moment is because of Aston Villa. I'm not saying you actively wanted to sell Benteke, but from the moment he informed the club of his desire to leave, the club have not made any real effort to keep this out of the media or discourage suitors. Villa are selling Benteke and it's their choice. They can set a price, but there is no point in criticizing potential buyers if they don't want to pay it. I suspect this post will fall on deaf ears, as being reasonable about things isn't the order of the day around here at the moment (and yes I understand why), but really, don't you think this could have very easily been handled very differently?

Yeah can't have anything positve can we. God forbid, lets just play along and sell him for 15. ffs Where did I say that I didn't want the article to be true? I just said that in my opinion it's not a great article. Why because it makes villa look good? because they have the stance we all want them to have? pay up or shut up. Whats not great about that? Because firstly it looks like it was written by a child, and secondly, it's just his opinion but he's stating it as fact, which is never good. I'm not saying he'll be wrong, he's been in that job for years and has more contact with the people connected to Lerner than any of us ever will, but it's still just his opinion. But we shall agree to disagree on the quality of the article, and instead just agree that we hope it ends up being true. Theres a reason he's written that article to give a perspective from Villa end, every article you read is solely by London is solely written to drive the price down. These are the same papers who are writing tosh such as 130million for Bale. Spurs do not want to pay 25million, they are using the media to keep the story in the limelight thinking that Villa will back down, we have never backed down in a player sale. Every club sells, and if we sell Benteke it will be the best deal for Aston Villa. But the main stories on the Benteke deal in 2 of the 3 biggest tabloids have be written by Villa fans. It was Villa who announced that he'd handed in a transfer request and Villa who said he'd not gone to Germany. The Sun article about our interest is actually written by an Arsenal fan. So the 3 main pieces, all which state a £25 million fee, seem to come from people who absolutely don't have Spurs interest at heart. Basically Villa have announced the player is for sale and and in the Mirror and the Mail, Midlands based journalists have said they want £25 million. The rest is of the media stuff seems to come from the likes of talksport who make things up to get people listening. There has not actually been anything to really confirm our interest. All we know is that we missed out on our number 1 target, David Villa. All the Benteke stuff of note seems to be coming out of Birmingham. When we didn't want to sell Modric, we announced he wasn't for sale at any price and refused to comments further. This whole thread has turned so strange over the last few days! To read this thread you'd think Villa fans are negotiating with Spurs, via the media. Villa fans are not negotiating at all Joey. Have you not understood the numerous F**k off Spurs posts on this site? Either way it's the same thing. You are reading things in the media and responding to Spurs in this thread.

Yeah can't have anything positve can we. God forbid, lets just play along and sell him for 15. ffs Where did I say that I didn't want the article to be true? I just said that in my opinion it's not a great article. Why because it makes villa look good? because they have the stance we all want them to have? pay up or shut up. Whats not great about that? Because firstly it looks like it was written by a child, and secondly, it's just his opinion but he's stating it as fact, which is never good. I'm not saying he'll be wrong, he's been in that job for years and has more contact with the people connected to Lerner than any of us ever will, but it's still just his opinion. But we shall agree to disagree on the quality of the article, and instead just agree that we hope it ends up being true. Theres a reason he's written that article to give a perspective from Villa end, every article you read is solely by London is solely written to drive the price down. These are the same papers who are writing tosh such as 130million for Bale. Spurs do not want to pay 25million, they are using the media to keep the story in the limelight thinking that Villa will back down, we have never backed down in a player sale. Every club sells, and if we sell Benteke it will be the best deal for Aston Villa. But the main stories on the Benteke deal in 2 of the 3 biggest tabloids have be written by Villa fans. It was Villa who announced that he'd handed in a transfer request and Villa who said he'd not gone to Germany. The Sun article about our interest is actually written by an Arsenal fan. So the 3 main pieces, all which state a £25 million fee, seem to come from people who absolutely don't have Spurs interest at heart. Basically Villa have announced the player is for sale and and in the Mirror and the Mail, Midlands based journalists have said they want £25 million. The rest is of the media stuff seems to come from the likes of talksport who make things up to get people listening. There has not actually been anything to really confirm our interest. All we know is that we missed out on our number 1 target, David Villa. All the Benteke stuff of note seems to be coming out of Birmingham. When we didn't want to sell Modric, we announced he wasn't for sale at any price and refused to comments further. This whole thread has turned so strange over the last few days! To read this thread you'd think Villa fans are negotiating with Spurs, via the media! To read this thread you would think it was a spuds thread. Your fans forums must be really crap as you seem to be spending a lot of time on here! We are definitely a much friendlier bunch. No Spurs fan has said anything in the least bit hostile or rude in this thread and really just wanted to discuss the transfer as we are being linked in the press.

Yeah can't have anything positve can we. God forbid, lets just play along and sell him for 15. ffs Where did I say that I didn't want the article to be true? I just said that in my opinion it's not a great article. Why because it makes villa look good? because they have the stance we all want them to have? pay up or shut up. Whats not great about that? Because firstly it looks like it was written by a child, and secondly, it's just his opinion but he's stating it as fact, which is never good. I'm not saying he'll be wrong, he's been in that job for years and has more contact with the people connected to Lerner than any of us ever will, but it's still just his opinion. But we shall agree to disagree on the quality of the article, and instead just agree that we hope it ends up being true. Theres a reason he's written that article to give a perspective from Villa end, every article you read is solely by London is solely written to drive the price down. These are the same papers who are writing tosh such as 130million for Bale. Spurs do not want to pay 25million, they are using the media to keep the story in the limelight thinking that Villa will back down, we have never backed down in a player sale. Every club sells, and if we sell Benteke it will be the best deal for Aston Villa. But the main stories on the Benteke deal in 2 of the 3 biggest tabloids have be written by Villa fans. It was Villa who announced that he'd handed in a transfer request and Villa who said he'd not gone to Germany. The Sun article about our interest is actually written by an Arsenal fan. So the 3 main pieces, all which state a £25 million fee, seem to come from people who absolutely don't have Spurs interest at heart. Basically Villa have announced the player is for sale and and in the Mirror and the Mail, Midlands based journalists have said they want £25 million. The rest is of the media stuff seems to come from the likes of talksport who make things up to get people listening. There has not actually been anything to really confirm our interest. All we know is that we missed out on our number 1 target, David Villa. All the Benteke stuff of note seems to be coming out of Birmingham. When we didn't want to sell Modric, we announced he wasn't for sale at any price and refused to comments further. This whole thread has turned so strange over the last few days! To read this thread you'd think Villa fans are negotiating with Spurs, via the media!

Not to mention Spurs fans who want to milk Real for every penny on Bale yet think we should compromise on our own prized asset. **** the **** off already. Patronising rocket polishers. It's not patronizing. Villatalk can be so frustrating at times, as you take offence to the slightest of things. I'm not saying I think you should compromise, but that I think a compromise will be found. I think we should look at other targets, that's my opinion. I'm not or haven't patronized Villa in the slightest, yet, as is often the case the posters here go into ultra defensive mode. The patronising is probably unintentional. We're being talked down to because Spurs happen to be in a better position at the moment. There seems to be an attitude that we won't get what we want for our player - hence this compromise - when in reality we hold all the cards. There is no reason for us to compromise, in the same way there is no way you will compromise with Real. But you aren't being patronized or talked down to by me though. I'm not brokering a deal here or trying to get you too do what I want. I'd rather we focused on other options. I think Benteke is a good player, but not a priority for me. We have compromised with Real. We did so with Modric. Most transfers are essentially compromises. That you are unaware you are doing it doesn't make it less true. If you find the site so frustrating you are free to post on a Spurs one. Point out the patronizing parts Trent.

In the meantime, why do you think Villa will be interested in compromising from a position of strength on their prized asset. For context, think of Spurs selling Bale to Real Madrid. Why should Lerner not spit on his knob and bend Spurs over? Because Villa have said they'd sell the player and have a price in mind. They have access to our accounts and no what sort of fees are viable. The compromise works both ways. I doubt Levy would want to potentially pay over £25 million for the player. But I think it's far more likely a resolution is found than Benteke stays at Villa. This is of course if he is even a real priority for us or if the options are as limited as has been suggested. It's only been a day since we lost out on our number 1 target. You think we give a shit what is viable for you? We don't want to sell, a fee non-viable for you suits us very nicely. As to you giving offence, I've never taken offence before at any of your posts and have generally found them a good addition to this site. However, that complete bollocks about you effectively coming in and taking a highly prized asset and doing it on your terms was offensive. Your notion that we should give a **** about whether the signing would be any kind of risk for you and one we should "share" or we should have any interest in "protecting" you against a potentially bad investment was astoundingly arrogant and verged on the moronic. I had come to expect better of you and you deserve any hammer you get for that crap. It's not offensive in the least though. Go and read my original post of the subject. I start with the works "if a deal can be struck." I've not suggested we'd take a player on our terms. I used the term compromise. There is nothing arrogant is suggesting both sides of a deal what want to protect themselves as much as possible. But we don't want to do a deal - we don't NEED to do a deal, so why would we compromise? Then a deal wont be struck. It's that simple. But most of the responses from Villa fans have been as if Spurs will dictate a deal to them. If a deal can be struck there will have to be compromise. I've outlined how I think that will most likely play out. There is nothing arrogant or patronizing about it and I make no apology for daring to say it.

Not to mention Spurs fans who want to milk Real for every penny on Bale yet think we should compromise on our own prized asset. **** the **** off already. Patronising rocket polishers. It's not patronizing. Villatalk can be so frustrating at times, as you take offence to the slightest of things. I'm not saying I think you should compromise, but that I think a compromise will be found. I think we should look at other targets, that's my opinion. I'm not or haven't patronized Villa in the slightest, yet, as is often the case the posters here go into ultra defensive mode. Weren't you on here listing Spurs rejects we could have in part-exchange? I imagine a Madrid fan offering their cast-offs in exchange for Bale would hardly be lauded on a Spurs forum. Just quote the post you are referring to and point out exactly how it was patronizing. You'll have to find the post yourself. I didn't use the term 'patronising'. You talk about VT being 'frustrating at times'. I think posters have been amazingly patient with Spurs fans in this thread patting us on the head and telling us how this will all pan out. What do you mean by patient? The Spurs fans have been polite and offered their points of view. No disrespect has been shown in any way. The only insults have come from Villa fans. This is always the case, but I understand that and if it bothered my that much I wouldn't post.

In the meantime, why do you think Villa will be interested in compromising from a position of strength on their prized asset. For context, think of Spurs selling Bale to Real Madrid. Why should Lerner not spit on his knob and bend Spurs over? Because Villa have said they'd sell the player and have a price in mind. They have access to our accounts and no what sort of fees are viable. The compromise works both ways. I doubt Levy would want to potentially pay over £25 million for the player. But I think it's far more likely a resolution is found than Benteke stays at Villa. This is of course if he is even a real priority for us or if the options are as limited as has been suggested. It's only been a day since we lost out on our number 1 target. You think we give a shit what is viable for you? We don't want to sell, a fee non-viable for you suits us very nicely. As to you giving offence, I've never taken offence before at any of your posts and have generally found them a good addition to this site. However, that complete bollocks about you effectively coming in and taking a highly prized asset and doing it on your terms was offensive. Your notion that we should give a **** about whether the signing would be any kind of risk for you and one we should "share" or we should have any interest in "protecting" you against a potentially bad investment was astoundingly arrogant and verged on the moronic. I had come to expect better of you and you deserve any hammer you get for that crap. It's not offensive in the least though. Go and read my original post of the subject. I start with the works "if a deal can be struck." I've not suggested we'd take a player on our terms. I used the term compromise. There is nothing arrogant is suggesting both sides of a deal what want to protect themselves as much as possible.

Not to mention Spurs fans who want to milk Real for every penny on Bale yet think we should compromise on our own prized asset. **** the **** off already. Patronising rocket polishers. It's not patronizing. Villatalk can be so frustrating at times, as you take offence to the slightest of things. I'm not saying I think you should compromise, but that I think a compromise will be found. I think we should look at other targets, that's my opinion. I'm not or haven't patronized Villa in the slightest, yet, as is often the case the posters here go into ultra defensive mode. Weren't you on here listing Spurs rejects we could have in part-exchange? I imagine a Madrid fan offering their cast-offs in exchange for Bale would hardly be lauded on a Spurs forum. Just quote the post you are referring to and point out exactly how it was patronizing.

Not to mention Spurs fans who want to milk Real for every penny on Bale yet think we should compromise on our own prized asset. **** the **** off already. Patronising rocket polishers. It's not patronizing. Villatalk can be so frustrating at times, as you take offence to the slightest of things. I'm not saying I think you should compromise, but that I think a compromise will be found. I think we should look at other targets, that's my opinion. I'm not or haven't patronized Villa in the slightest, yet, as is often the case the posters here go into ultra defensive mode. The patronising is probably unintentional. We're being talked down to because Spurs happen to be in a better position at the moment. There seems to be an attitude that we won't get what we want for our player - hence this compromise - when in reality we hold all the cards. There is no reason for us to compromise, in the same way there is no way you will compromise with Real. But you aren't being patronized or talked down to by me though. I'm not brokering a deal here or trying to get you too do what I want. I'd rather we focused on other options. I think Benteke is a good player, but not a priority for me. We have compromised with Real. We did so with Modric. Most transfers are essentially compromises.

In the meantime, why do you think Villa will be interested in compromising from a position of strength on their prized asset. For context, think of Spurs selling Bale to Real Madrid. Why should Lerner not spit on his knob and bend Spurs over? Because Villa have said they'd sell the player and have a price in mind. They have access to our accounts and no what sort of fees are viable. The compromise works both ways. I doubt Levy would want to potentially pay over £25 million for the player. But I think it's far more likely a resolution is found than Benteke stays at Villa. This is of course if he is even a real priority for us or if the options are as limited as has been suggested. It's only been a day since we lost out on our number 1 target.

Not to mention Spurs fans who want to milk Real for every penny on Bale yet think we should compromise on our own prized asset. **** the **** off already. Patronising rocket polishers. It's not patronizing. Villatalk can be so frustrating at times, as you take offence to the slightest of things. I'm not saying I think you should compromise, but that I think a compromise will be found. I think we should look at other targets, that's my opinion. I'm not or haven't patronized Villa in the slightest, yet, as is often the case the posters here go into ultra defensive mode.

No, you're trying to explain what you believe the most likely outcome to be. You seem to think Villa will be interested in a compromise. That's where I believe you are wrong. We're in a massively strong position here and you aren't the only Spurs fan I've heard from who has this annoying belief that Levy will win out here. He won't. You pay what we want or you don't get the player. It is that simple. You really really need a strikeforce and we really really don't need to sell. That's a reasonable response. I think we'll just have to wait and see.

Then he wont be going and the compromise is you keep your pittance of a fee that undervalues our player and we keep our player I'm not saying either set of fans are going to like it. But you don't do the negotiating. In reality a compromise is most likely to be met, that gives adequate protection for both sides of the deal. Yes but it won't be near the fee you are mentioning, absolute no chance. The point is no one knows what the final fee will be. The idea of such a structured deal is that it gives a decent degree of value to both sides. If Benteke proves to be the player your fans think he is, then you'll get the sort of fee you want. If he doesn't then you'll get a decent fee for a one season wonder. Honestly mate, we're not interested in helping Spurs out, in any way shape or form. The price has been set at £30m, every single source coming from the club has indicated that to be so. Yes, we may settle around £25m to get a quick sale. If you think by walking in the room with £15m in change that you stand a hope in hell of walking out with a Christian Benteke under your arm I'd think again. We've made our stance clear. You pay the money or you don't get him, it's quite simple. He has three years left on his contract and as we have proven many times in the past we're happy to deal with the consequences of holding out for what we believe is the right deal for Aston Villa Football Club. Basically, you lot can't afford him, so jog on. We aren't the one's negotiating here! Why do people keep answering as if we are brokering the deal. I'm just trying to explain what the most likely outcome will be. You aren't being asked to Spurs any favours. Any deal we be a compromise than satisfies both parties. This compromise is therefore most likely to be one that gives a chance of getting the fee you want, but also protects us uncase he proves to be a flop. Your fans might not like it and the same can be said for many of our fans. But we don't do the negotiating and have to try and see it from the point of you of those that do.

I Then he wont be going and the compromise is you keep your pittance of a fee that undervalues our player and we keep our player I'm not saying either set of fans are going to like it. But you don't do the negotiating. In reality a compromise is most likely to be met, that gives adequate protection for both sides of the deal. Yes but it won't be near the fee you are mentioning, absolute no chance. The point is no one knows what the final fee will be. The idea of such a structured deal is that it gives a decent degree of value to both sides. If Benteke proves to be the player your fans think he is, then you'll get the sort of fee you want. If he doesn't then you'll get a decent fee for a one season wonder. We actually do, it will be closer to what our board want. You ain't dealing with a mickey mouse club here. And no one would treat you as such. A compromise that satisfies both parties will most likely be met. Neither set of fans will be happy, as your want a big fee up front, whilst most Spurs fans are unsure about Benteke and wouldn't value him very highly. But the clubs will come up with a deal that offers protection for both sides of the deal, which is why a lump sum with possibility of significant performance related add on's is the most likely outcome.

Then he wont be going and the compromise is you keep your pittance of a fee that undervalues our player and we keep our player I'm not saying either set of fans are going to like it. But you don't do the negotiating. In reality a compromise is most likely to be met, that gives adequate protection for both sides of the deal. Yes but it won't be near the fee you are mentioning, absolute no chance. The point is no one knows what the final fee will be. The idea of such a structured deal is that it gives a decent degree of value to both sides. If Benteke proves to be the player your fans think he is, then you'll get the sort of fee you want. If he doesn't then you'll get a decent fee for a one season wonder.

Then he wont be going and the compromise is you keep your pittance of a fee that undervalues our player and we keep our player I'm not saying either set of fans are going to like it. But you don't do the negotiating. In reality a compromise is most likely to be met, that gives adequate protection for both sides of the deal.