MrBlack

Glad he's not leaving. The little tease. He knew what he was doing posting that. Hopefully the messages he'll have got saying "wish he was staying" will reassure him he's got something going here he can definitely build on. For me, could not be happier with our options at right back. It's like the Bruce days all over again, but with better versions of all of the ones we had then.

My speculative take on it, assuming we don't have an option to buy... I imagine we definitely asked about an option to buy but suspect we got told that there is no option but an enforced we must buy, at a price beyond what we were prepared to accept given the uncertainty at the start of this season. Then probably got given the "you can have RLC with an option..." to which we (rightly) decided that loaning Ross without any ongoing agreement is better than RLC in any shape or form. Then it comes down to do we cut our nose off to spite our face by going back on a comment we made under totally different circumstances, arguably about totally different scenarios (Abraham, Tuanzebe...). Or, do we take advantage of a situation that gets us a top 6 teams player, that will be worth more to us in first team improvement, than the opportunity cost of having a worse player in his position. Not to mention the benefit our own players get from having an experienced "seen it all" number 8 to learn from. Great piece of business that I'm still shocked we managed to pull off.

Correct.

I've reflected on the game and came to say most of this ^ after reading the suggestions made by others. This result stands up better than any of those. There is simply no comparison to beating the best current club team in world football 7-2 amongst those results. As for performance, it is also top for me. They were made to look as bad as they were, by what our players did. For every lucky deflected goal we scored, there was an unlucky "goal" that we didn't score. So the scoreline accurately reflects how much better than them we were. This, against a team that walked the league last season, that had won their first 3 games this season, that had 0 excuses for losing the way they did, is an indication it was our performance that did something no other team in the country has been able to do for over a year. Best PL performance by Villa ever.... so far.

Well they did explicitly say that transfers will only come in if we get people out the door. Maybe they don't want to be seen to be lying to the media, we get enough shit from them as it is. Wonder who we're signing in the next 30 minutes...

It is strange because I'd say that our none Internet related actions are up there with the most respectable clubs going. A long time ago now, but our Acorns sponsorship gave me great pride in the club I support. Maybe they don't see twitter as a place to be sentimental.

Shame the club didn't mention any of his standout performances, including getting us to the final with his keeping vs Leicester, but clearly wasn't in the frame for much game time. All the best Orjan

Absolutely. Aside from the actual match moments, there's so much extra detail in this that just makes me so happy. Really looks like we have the perfect team spirit. And, of course, LONG GRASS.

I think they do. Traore has a solid record playing as a CF, as well as having Davis and a potential return of Wesley. We don't have the cash available (thanks to FFP) to get someone better than those options without restricting our future business for other more critical areas.

arguably kept us in the league. And we seem to like this no fans lack of pressure..

Shame, really liked him. Why couldn't Cash be a left back.

Ends after next year's window based purely on logic. Signed 1 year ago, during last summer window. 2 year clause, suggests 2 summer windows from when we signed him. As I've stated several times, they won't trigger it now, as he won't get a permit for him. There is a slim chance they might try and trigger it in January if hes played most of brazils games in the interim.

I'd prefer a dm that can cover cb (or vice versa). But either would be welcome. I'm very happy with our business. One more would make it perfect.

Tbf, the only unhappy players as a result of our Cup departure have only themselves to blame, but this is very accurate. We dont, yet, have the pulling power and current reputation to keep otherwise first team quality players happy, whilst they sit on the bench

That was my point. While covid and brexit are going on, there is less connecting us and Venice than would be the case under normal conditions. I wasn't being entirely serious though, just speculating and trying to make something out of nothing. Passing the time etc.

Had to change my view. 7-10.. very optimistic

Long pointless story.. short version... private plane went from Venice to Birmingham earlier.

I know people holiday, I know businesses exist outside of football, I know its probably totally unrelated, but it helps to keep things alive, or we accept we're done for the window. - some wealthy individual returning from a break in Venice (more likely than someone from venice choosing to holiday in brum.. unless they really love canals).. distinctly possible alternative - I just can't, In this day and age of brexit and covid, envisage a business trip involving a private jet and two otherwise unlikely destinations, that isn't football related.

To steal @est1874's thunder from the Rashica thread, and given it is more likely any other player in the world than Rashica, a private jet landed in Birmingham about 4pm, that set off from Venice. If anyone can suggest a logical reason why such a fight would be happening if not a footballer i'd love to hear it...

wondered where it had gone. ... very interesting

If anything it means keep it open as he can't go anywhere else in Germany, but could still come to UK until 11pm

Bremen to Newquay flight confirmed.... do we have any links?

Doing a flyover of the Eden project it seems. Sight seeing tour before heading to brum?

Anyone else would be a surprsie is a clear indicator they have zero clue what they're talking about and leaving a get out clause. If they knew it was happening, the caveat wouldn't be there