Mic09

I'm assuming if Villa were to splash the cash, they'd have a bit more knowledge into it than we do. Why is this so crazy to think?

Post of the decade might be an overstatement I simply believe we are a well enough run club to not spend £40m on someone that we will have to sack in the next few months. We have no insider knowledge of what happened, so this will be the best indication of where the investigation stands at this point. Surely you'd agree that if we buy him tomorrow for many many $$$ and in a month he is charged with an "X" crime, we'd look like absolute plonkers? I don't think that will happen.

I'd assume that we'd be discussing it with his lawyers, so we would have some knowledge into the progress of the investigation.

If Aston Villa decide to splash a single penny on this player that means nothing is likely to come out of the trial. For me, it's a simple as that.

You can take Mane out of Liverpool, but you can't take Liverpool out of Mane https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59855748

Sure, but that's not the point here.

Well, maybe I'm jumping I to conclusions. I don't know if he tested positive. He has proof that he has. I personally don't think he did, unless he is a dick walking around spreading COVID during events. But the point is, evidence was there - so they had to release him. The Australian gov is very harsh when it comes to COVID. The cynic in me this they just tried to get some brownie points for "fighting against an antivaxxer" and it backfired badly. Question is what next - should they take his visa in spite of the court ruling? Surely that's not a good look?

He is an idiot, and not for a second do I believe he had an infection in December. But, that's not what the Aussie court was looking into, and the case must have been dismissed - anything else would also be a joke. It a competition of who is more stupid, a tennis player who is obviously lying, or the Aussie government trying to make a point and falling on their own sword. If the guy brought proof of previous infection, what else was the court supposed to do?

What's Mitrovic up to these days?

https://youtu.be/PktB0bxo2oQ *dont know how to embed - please help!

I really don't get this discussion. I'd imagine there are many examples of fitter, faster 32 year old footballers than 28/29 year olds. I would like for someone to show me a statistical correlation between how good a footballer is on average at age of 27 Vs 29 in order to criticize Digne because he is in his late 20s. Now, I get that if you are 33 you are not a footballing spring chicken. But Digne isnt 33, and he is a defender - which on average are longer lasting. If he plays for us and he is a pensioner walking on stick on the left flank, fine. But I see no evidence to suggest this at this point. And that's before we even get into the discussion of experience and game knowledge - isn't that worth something? Is 19 year old, speedy as heck Archer likely to get past Digne on the training ground much?

See, he's not even eligible. Why do we play him at all?

For those of you who think Digne isn't much better than Targett, how many French caps does Targett have??

Villatalk, do your best.

It feels like he is the new Sterling. Really good player, but sometimes you watch him and think, well, maybe not that great. Saka is young, he will only get better (hopefully!)

High wages, Fu** that.

Man City could play this "COVID stricken team" each weekend and still have a good go at the title.

She would of done it.

you gotta think bigger

This is a signing that you make on football manager when you push your entire budget into wages and put in ridiculous clauses that will never happen.

both are south american footballers in attacking positions? What other similarities are there?

Super, Super Phil, Super Phil Coutinho

We'll have Coutinho, Martinez, Mbappe, Haaland, Rodri, and still finish within touching distance of Crystal Palace.

I've read all the clauses are finalised. Apparently Purslow just needs to figure out how to break it to Coutinho that it's Villa he's joining.

So far I think he shows league 1 levels of ability. He is almost 24. How many more years should we pay him that much for a "hope" it might click for him?