Andy81

Sorry, I wasn't talking about yourself there. I share your wishes for an honest industry.

In this particular case, Mendes represents Doherty, Nuno, and Jose, but really, he's just representing Doherty here, but I understand your point, he's aware of much more than other agents might be in this situation. I don't see what can be practically done here though, do you propose that a player cannot be sold to a club where the agent represents the buying club's manager as well as the player? The alternative is maybe a fourth party steps in I guess. We should also consider that it's not too shady a deal. I was taken back by the fee as were most, but the alternative view is we're selling a player who has played most of his career in the championship and league one, only ever performed particularly well in one system under one coach, and struggles to get in his national team ahead of Seamus Coleman. On top of this, he wants to leave, he's given the club ten years solid service, it's not like there is a bidding war for him, Wolves don't want an unhappy player around, and he should be someone we can relatively easily replace. It might not fit some people's agenda, but the club had to ok this deal, they didn't just bow down once King Mendes banged on the door.

it really does stand out in the uber ethical world of football.

You're telling me that is what Grealish and Coady have been striving for?! Like the blue, but I hate centralised crests.

When Gary Neville rocks up at Compton I’ll start to worry.

Things do seem off at the minute but they’ve all earned a little trust. Can’t do much about it anyway.

Well, first off, I don't get much say in these matters these days, so it doesn't really matter, but I'd expect there would still be aligned objectives between Mendes and Wolves' owners which would require the club to be in a relatively good position. So I'm sure we'll see some move on over the years, but I'd expect some to move inwards too. If we're battling Huddersfield for the final play off spot in four years, then you'll be right I guess.

I think I’d have took this if offered four years ago.

Something definitely feels off to me. We'll know more at the end of the window I guess, which is what? October?

Agree with this. It'll be a weird season, I was gutted at the time but I think next season is a good one to not be in Europe, it could hurt Spurs and Arsenal.

Well, everyone was saying it was a done deal a couple of days ago and now they're trying to flog us cast offs. Looks like the media may well have jumped the gun. We'll see.

I hated our away kit, but it's growing on me. I love that City kit too though, so maybe don't listen to me

Honestly it's perplexing to me, just as I say, it's not one sided and maybe it is a younger generation thing, that does seem to fit to be honest. I think you're right, and as has been mentioned the two clubs might spur each other on now. It seems like that's happened at least a little recently.

You're making it sound like Villa were just sitting there minding their own business. Until Villa (the club, not the fans) started throwing mud no Wolves fan I knew had anything bad to say. Plenty of Villa fans on Twitter Tuesday night seemed pretty obsessed with us too.

He's a lot better than most of you are giving him credit for. He certainly has things to improve on, he should have scored more this year, but the delta is positive and he's on an upwards trend, plus he has age on his side. I see a lot of the old remarks about end product and that he's nothing but a speed merchant, these things just aren't true, he has a lot more to his game. He and Raul has the most goal combinations in the league which tells you he does have end product, and his understanding of the game has come on leaps and bounds. As a few examples, he's learned how to use his body to shield, his defensive game has come on, he marked Sterling out of the game in Manchester, he releases the ball at better times now, and his dribbling ability is much more than speed. He's a very good footballer who will continue to improve.

agreed, we do like to hang on to a grudge regardless. Don't get me wrong, I do too, but I guess I'm more picky

Those figures look way off to me, especially as a net spend.

Absolutely agree. The attention given to the North West and London while we're ignored in the Midlands does my nut in. You're in the strongest position you've been for years now I think, decent base to push on from.

I think it's overblown, especially on Twitter, but it wasn't just that, Bruce's comments throughout the season didn't help, and you were chasing us for automatic promotion unlike the other clubs, plus we are local and playing each other pretty often at the moment. Also, you'd be mistaken for thinking it's a one way thing, there are plenty of Villa fans sniping the other way at any opportunity, but I think attention will turn to Albion now for a while at least.

Yeah that's how I see it too. The only good thing about it you could say is that both clubs have been on the rise since the spat broke out.

Cheers chap. Yeah it was no disgrace, and I expected to lose, but felt very much like the Watford semi final last season. We've conceded a lot of late goal recently and that always hurts more. The players look mentally done to me, which is completely understandable. We really tailed off from a good position after restart and should have done better in normal circumstances. We're not good to watch at the moment, and I worry that the new season is too close to do much about that.

It's hard to stay for sure, but Villa almost certainly have more fans, however I think we have more lapsed fans than people expect, and more than we should after the last 40 years which will have done a lot of damage to our fan base.

Best team won, but absolutely gutted.

United get a penalty in a tight game?! Did not see that coming!

It's not the Premier League, it's UEFA, which I think is a tighter target to hit. First of all, I can't stand FFP, I think it's a tool used to stop anyone from touching the top clubs and is anti-competitive. Villa will suffer from this artificial restriction too. Secondly, for context the time period that was looked at stretched back to when Kenny Jackett was in charge, it's a reflection of how far to club has come in a short period. FFP is bullshit, especially in Europe where it's harder to argue a club is going to bankrupt itself, although, I accept Leeds and Portsmouth were in Europe before they collapsed.