Midfielder

Good luck to the boy this season, for staying fit, injury-free and above all else, for us seeing the skill we all know is there. We all saw highlight reels of what he did when at Leverkusen, he is absolute top draw.... Last season I really felt for him, fingers crossed we see some of that Bailey brilliance this season because this kid has the kind of effectiveness and trickery that could rip a hole in the space-time continuum thingy at times. Defenders are going to get that sinking feeling when they get told the dreaded words..."you're marking Bailey today."

Just as you'd written that, I spotted it in your sig. Thanks kind sir, and good luck to you and all participants.

Alright lads. I changed job this year, to a place where they do FPL. Last time I did one of these was about 2006! I know what to do etc, how it works, I've just submitted one for work etc. But, am gonna create a second ID for VillaTalk FPL debut, I presume we use our VillaTalk ID as the Team Name? Cheers! Edit - what a ____ i just found it in BOF's signature.

Only my opinion, likely wrong, but we pandered to Carney by signing Caleb. And now, Carney is off, Caleb is 21 in a few months, 2 career goals (including 1 for mighty Corby Town and the other for Northampton). Struggled at Livingston, didn't even score, in fact, in one of the games last season on loan there he was subbed on and subbed off within seven mins for reasons of having a bad attitude / being out of his depth. Talking of scoring, there is more chance of me scoring a date with Kate Upton, tonight, than there is of Caleb ever making it at this club. Given the age and possible lack of development, and since I am a petty sort who holds grudges easily, I would sell him tomorrow, even if all I could get was a KitKat or a Bounty in exchange, I'd take it. Caleb is not needed so much any more and we have better, younger forwards with more prospects. All the best, either way, and good luck for the season for the lad.

I wrote a mega rant a while back about Carney, so I've already said my piece but now he has gone / going.... well: 1- It'd be fake for me to wish good luck, I wouldn't mean it, so I guess, "Bad luck mate," enjoy the loans out to Vitesse or wherever you bullsh1tting mercenary. Your word means nothing, Rebekah Vardy's word is worth more than yours. You played this club, mugged it off and I get the feeling this behaviour won't be a one off and will rear its ugly head in the future. You're that type in the game, that much is already clear. Glad that will be somebody else's headache. 2- Hurry up and p1ss off, get it all wrapped up tomorrow and don't you dare fail that medical. I just want to say, bloody hell Villa... absolutely well done. Villa could only play on with the hand dealt, a player with 11 months left on his contract, who was playing a game and using us, who could leave for <£500k next summer and even finalise a move abroad in Jan '23... to price him at £20m and GET the £20m. Well, hats off. Even if one day in the future he moves for Pogba money (I doubt it) then so what. We got £20m out of it and got rid early. Well done to Purslow and Lange for having the balls and the acumen to go all-in and play that hand, to Gerrard for having the balls to not pander further and isolate him out of the first team, to force Chuk's hand too. This is a fantastic deal for Villa. We are rid of a bad egg, who would have F'd us over in the future in some way for sure. Very often, the outcomes of situations like this, don't work so favourably for the selling club. The scumbag gets the 30 pieces of silver he wanted and we get £20m, win-win, again, well done Villa. Carney, pack your bag and f off out of it.

I lurk on this site and rarely comment at all, so if biased, long rants aren’t your thing, skip the post. Carney is an adult, not a child being exploited. He is party to all “this”, is informed, consenting and in support of whatever actions his advisors undertake, in his name. Clearly, they are working together to achieve the “best” outcome for him. But that’s the thing, this outcome, is mostly financial. That’s what is sore in all of this. It isn’t the best outcome at all, for anyone, unless money is the aim. How many people in the trades on here have done an apprenticeship and when finished, effectively demanded to be the 2nd highest earner in their workplace? Nobody. Ok so this £100,000 per week figure, is speculation but I can totally believe it, given how crazy the money is in football for what gets paid (too soon) to a “generational talent.” Is he all that? Well, on one hand, if he was, he would have done more in those two starts and sub appearances, enough to dislodge our established midfielders. Sure, he has received plaudits off people within the industry (and played well at England u21 level) but that’s it so far. This talk of potential, that’s it so far. You can’t just demand to be slotted in as a first XI’er or you’re off, or maybe you can and that’s the problem. I think he is currently Championship level at best, pending realisation of that so-called potential. And where to be, to help realise that potential, than the club who have brought you to this point, in amongst a squad that has the likes of Phillipe Fu---- Coutinho, Bailey, Buendia, etc to help you hone your talent and learn from. Who does he think is going to take him on and make him a mega earner playing 1st team football? Sure, Leeds and Newcastle might take a look, but on the face of it, can you really see him going there? Then there’s Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal… apparently. They wont want to pay the fee we are asking, surely, and if they’re wise they’d take a look at his attitude and think twice and he would be lucky to even make their benches. This has Barca / PSG / Dortmund all over it and the meantime, all this is just pantomime until Dec 31st when he can enter into negotiations with overseas clubs and in the meantime, create a narrative on his worth. That’s a risk for damned sure on your part Carney and I think you have played the wrong hand. Well, you ain’t gonna get that sat round here waiting until December sunshine. What if no move materialises in this window and you being bomb-squaded until then wont raise your stock at all, other clubs will laugh at splashing out £100,000 per week on you coming from Villa’s reserves team. What more could we have done for this kid, nothing. We gave him minutes, maybe not as much as he wanted but, he didn’t exactly amaze any of us in those games to justify dropping McGinn or Ramsey or anyone up further forward. We offered a deal ages ago and potentially have upped the terms again recently, still no joy. We’ve already bent over enough for this kid. Did we really think Caleb was ever going to break into our first team? We may, have unnecessarily signed his older brother on the cheap to keep him sweet. He won’t make it here. Wiki isn’t the be all and end all but as things stand, he’s played about 40 career games and scored two goals, aged 20, turning 21 next January. The same player who was subbed on and subbed off 7 mins later for having a bad attitude on the pitch, in his last loan spell. The Caleb signing just doesn’t make sense to me. I digress. I am done with this kid. Sure, we want someone who is an alleged generational talent to play for us. But he doesn’t want to. There was real opportunity here for you Carney, you and your advisors can do one. You represent all what is wrong with the game. You have as much love for Villa as I do salads or Extinction Rebellion. And it can’t be about playing first team either, as, well…. If you end up “playing” / signing for PSG or Barcelona, you’ll be “playing” for their youth or reserves anyway, but on good money of course. Is money everything? As a pro footballer with prospects, fantastic wealth was likely always coming your way anyway. But, you want it all, now, on your terms. Your opinion of yourself is misguided, if you are that good, that ready, you’d have been picked more, you could have signed and accepted loans that showed us you are a must-pick. I know this is harsh but the way I see it is this kid is a cancer, representing all that is wrong in the game. I know there are people on here who say he has done nothing wrong, honouring a contract and all. Very true that is, to a point. I think this has been on the cards for ages though, player and club do not end up in this position by accident or a lack of communication or effort (especially with the likes of Lange and Purslow’s negotiation skills and wanting things wrapped up ASAP), there has to be some level of orchestration on Carney’s part, a contract on superb terms was laid out months ago, ignored, he had no intention of signing it back then, nor does he now. We’ve been played, potentially by a money-grabbing parasite, and disappointingly one so young. I know these words are harsh. We need to: Sell for whatever amount we can get, even if small, so long as there’s a % sell on clause… just be gone and good luck in your career Or if we can’t sell, or he rejects the moves, loan him the ____ out and let someone else pay his wages no matter what they currently are, I wouldn’t want him anywhere near my u23s with that attitude. And to think he would train on his own for a season, that wouldn’t happen, he might go on strike for some of the duration. Just get rid. If he does sign, then I take it all back. But like you would on a main character in a Romero film who “got scratched” by a zombie, I’ll have an eye on him waiting for him to turn. That phrase True Colours and all that. But, at the moment, I don’t even want to see him in a Villa shirt ever again to be honest. I don’t see any of our other players giving that attitude out. Let’s just find him another club ASAP and move on. Probably an unpopular opinion but I’m, entitled to it. Anyway f that, sorry. I’m hot and typing all this sht out made it look like I was working hard. Stay hydrated lads and all the best. 5 o'clock, great timing.

So why bother replying to it then?

Yeah whatever mate no need for the attitude. Agreed on the Benny See ya

Oh crap, scrap that. Ive had a bit of a drink (lightweight here), so on that bombshell I might log out! Before it gets worse. There was a lot of red underline in that that needed correcting. Answer to original message otherwise 0 the game and person I would be was Jack as was said above by someone else, in the game at Blues, except I would clothes-line the pitch invader "in self defence" and turn to the crowd in that who's next / come get some way. I would then invent a time machine and have a go at this question again and come back and be Peter Schmeichel for a laugh pulling off this absolute piece of brilliance: Night!

I would be Jack Grealish in 2021. And I would stay (fk it, bullet points time) - stay at the club of my home, my city, as I say it to be - be assured of game time, likely number 1 on teamsheet - afterall, they gave me the captains armband and stood by me at times of my own indiscretions - and be that catalyst to drive forward the club - knowing that age 24/25 I have time on my side to evolve with the ambitions of the club and its desire to add to the trophy cabinet - i could help that happen - to be that modern day Le Tiss, proving everyone wrong that big players can stay where they are and be that anomaly, the one that was even idolised by neutrals of every other club for my career choice - thus also cementing my place as a first XI'er for my beloved country - to generally just be a role model overall and inspiration to all young Villa fans - and be synonymous for life with Villa and all things Villa - and at every opportunity, which may only be once every few seasons, because the scum will still be sub-PL, to absolutely play in God Mode when drawn against Blues in the cups and go all out on the pitch to hurt them, with performances that get their idiot fans heading to the exits by half time as the score rises against them - to take on a player coach role at the club, earning my badges with the very youth I maybe helped inspire, and wondering why, hey, why the hell are so many of our intake called Jack, then realising - giving something back to the club and maybe even taking up management - BONUS - I would probably also be more faithful to my stunning "childhood sweetheart" missus or at least end it respectfully if deep down it wasn't working, then whatever I did off the pitch i would at least cover tracks in my love life to ensure no traces made it into the papers or... just be a bit more mature in the least. Likewise with the company I keep over the years, and take more care of my body and how I spent my time off the pitch, afterall, regardless of skill, there's a reason why Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic etc are in such prime physical condition in their late 30s. In fact, speaking of Zlatan, I would probably date a woman like he married, one that did not give a flying ---- for my ego or star celebrity status, earned her own wage and wasn't dependent on me, and kept me in check when I needed to be, not these dumbass vacuous reality TV star bimbos who just want to raise their profile and earn a couple of minutes more past their allotted fifteen. -

I agree with all the above. Skill and tenacious spirit aside, he clearly is quite the character in the dressing room. In any walk of life, there's that character who lights up the room when they walk in, the positive one that brings everyone together, banter or laughs or conversation and all. That's McGinn. Characters like that in and around the place are super rare. Neutrals and non-Villa fans out there, they know it too. Definitely comes across as one of those people that anyone could get on with, but at the flip of a coin, would rip shreds off you if you weren't pulling your weight. Characters like that as ItsYourRound says, are unique indeed. It's one thing having McGinn the footballer here, but McGinn the man too immeasurably, we are lucky. I think he will have been the one most hit by the fizzy drinks ban at work though, but you just know he's got some Irn Bru and Coke cans in the fridge at home. Maybe they're sugar free ones though, just in case.

Yes mate that's correct. I just looked up how Seb did, having been thrust straight in, they lost 0-2 at home to Gateshead. We shall see. Good luck Seb! Edit - didnt see post from Useless, above, cheers bud! Listening now. 1 training session, thrust in, first game Man Of The Match - good deal all round for both clubs, and as he says, it is a Men's League, onwards with that apprenticeshp lad.

Absolutely agreed. That was a build up of emotion that,like you say, and inside he would be so embarrassed and gutted that he let us down for the opener... for him to see that equaliser go in.... just brought him to a primal level of being a fan running to be withother fans, like a sorry and a celebration in one. Loving it.

I'm a Yardley exile living in Hereford and it's always nice when one of our lads comes out to play here. Nice comments and feedback from Josh Gowling (Hereford Manager) below (source: Hereford Times). Good luck Seb! I hope we maintain this relationship with Hereford FC with regularity. HEREFORD FC have signed teenage Aston Villa defender Seb Revan on loan. The 18-year-old left-back was previously on loan at Grimsby Town but recalled by Aston Villa. The FA Youth Cup winner also scored twice for Grimsby in their FA Cup tie against Bromsgrove Sporting. Gowling said that Aston Villa had done the Bulls a favour by loaning them the defender. "Fortunately I know the head of recruitment at Aston Villa," said Gowling. "He has done me a massive favour. Obviously Villa have got the funds that they have got. "We're lucky that we've got friends who have enabled us to bring players in. "He's a left-back who likes to get forward and has got a good delivery and part of their youth set-up. "We had Callum Rowe in last year from them and we did a similar deal with them. "They're good that they want to get players out to play games and it's not really about finances but the opportunity to play football. "We've got a good relationship with Aston Villa and it helps where we train in Birmingham because it enables us to get players from Birmingham."

Plus the poor lad has been the last port of call between the sticks when the likes of John Egan and George Baldock mess up. Hopefully if Olsen ever had an opportunity he would do better than for them with a total upgrade of defence in front of him as he gets here. I don't see anything wrong with this signing at all, it doesn't register on my Simon Dawkins-o-meter.

Hi to any Carl Sagan fans on here. Here's some classic Carl... This clip is him explaining the 4th dimension.

time to feel all warm and fuzzy inside with this 18 second clip, do as the title says:

What an odd looking bloke. I haven't seen tits shaped like that since the bra section in an 80s Kays catalogue, pointies, been a while.

Watching the hghlights in a mo, but I started with this video below which is just the "chaos" at the close of the match, not match highlights. Still though, this is one of the most (possibly) corrupt things i have ever seen in football. Nobody can be that incompetent surely. To make such an unforgiveable, elementary mistake as to get the time wrong..... and twice? Aparently after a few stoppages in the game too? And they had to ask the fourth official to referee the added on time 20 mins later????? What about the original ref? Did he leave the stadium? Did he refuse to officiate? I hope someone looks into this. Genuine mistakes or entirely intentional...

I am up and away, first investment made. Thanks again for the help Genie. And just for any newbie outsiders fresh off the boat, I researched, and so far am quite impressed with Coinbase afterall. I was tempted by Etoro but CoinBase seemed a fair bit more user friendly - to me anyway. Had to go through ID, address, etc uploads and verification processes but it was all quick and straight forward. That's me done. Ta.

In the TV Series The Wire... The Character Jay Landsman (played by Delaney Williams).... .......is actually based on the real life police officer Jay Landsman....look familiar? who himself was in The Wire, playing the character of Dennis Mello (Major Bunny Colvin's deputy)

In case it hasn't been mentioned yet, DOPESICK. Binge watched it over 2 days, 9 out of 10.

Here's some: 1- How I can head out for a sarnie from Tesco or wherever at lunch and encounter people walking around shamelessly in slippers and pyjamas. The fact that its so skanky and advertises most times someone's not even showered yet by that time, or just thinks it doesn't look in any way Rough As. Is it a showoff thing, in a look-at-me-I'm-so-non-conformist way. I hate it. I try not to judge others but thus one really winds me up. And then there's the fact I have probably already been working for many hours to that point and these have just woken, i dunno. I really dont get it. 2- Sack no2 I give up because typing out no1 has p-d me off that much

My first time in this thread, but to answer the thread title, No but nearly a yesand here's a really boring practical reason why. I drive with Spotify on, I should spend more time creating playlists to make this moot but that aside, sometimes, when the album or playlist you're listening to ends, it's suggested tracks are so terrible, and sometimes when driving obv you cant p-ss about with your phone scrolling and selecting, so... sometimes, i am just so so glad to just switch media to CD and play that, for something guaranteed I do like. Boring reason, but thats mine. In the home, Spotify all the way and that's a shame really. Modern times though I guess.