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It feels like an absolute no brainer to sell him if we get a decent enough offer. (£50m+) We simply dont have any choice. He has hardly been a factor in the success we have had to this point this season. It is just the realities of the modern game. We all hate selling home grown players and players who have come through the ranks. With the way FFP works we could strengthen massively in other areas like RB or attacking options. He just isnt irreplaceable in the way Grealish was. Hasn't played anywhere close to the same level.

The move in the betting markets suggest that Watkins is out.

If we are offered the 17/18m that City seem to be getting for all their youngsters I think we should take it. With a sell on clause. Realistically, he is so far away from the starting XI atm. Jacob will be struggling for a starting spot this season. We are not in a position now where he will be able to play a whole season to find his feet like his brother was able to. He is not that young anymore. We are just not in a position atm with FFP to have assets that valuable not being properly utilised. City have the model others should be aspiring to. The youngsters are funding seriously good acquisitions for the First Team. If any youngster is that special they just keep them anyway. Or can buyback at a later date.

I would be happier if the club was doing the proper due diligence. What is clear is that none of the clubs are doing the required due diligence and that includes the likes of Man City. These companies are a complete sham.

As you say we have no idea what commercial deals are on the table. There are plenty of other questionable ones at other clubs. The Arsenal and Rwanda one seems particularly odd. It is very short term thinking to always take the biggest money on offer now. Lets say Villa had taken sponsorship with a company such as Football Index. It collapsed causing a lot of people to be seriously out of pocket, If that happens to Villa fans they wont be so happy. By partnering with Villa these companies are being given credibility they dont deserve. It can never simply by about X v Y. If Purslow cannot find other brands and sponsors then maybe its time to find someone who can.

I talk at length about betting and the various issues surrounding it at length on my Twitter feed and blog. I think the main issues are these; 1. Do Aston Villa as a brand want to be associated with not just a betting company but one that is incredibly shady at best. The answer from my POV is no. I can understand why the club feels pressure to go down the betting route and has done for a while now. If you are going to do it, at least do something where the company involved is a pioneer in the space (ie Fulham and Betfair a few years ago). The company Villa are getting into bed with are so incredibly shady it is untrue. It has zero credibility within the space. It is clearly just a desperate money grab. 2. Do you want Aston Villa to be associated with betting companies fullstop? I think you have to look at the different aspects. Shirt Sponsorship, Ground Hoarding Sponsorships, Betting Partners. The problem with the first two aree the fact that it exposes children to betting. Constantly and utterly unrelentingly. I can see a case for a betting partner with kiosks in the stands. I can live with that but think the others are seriously flawed given the collateral damage for children. There is no way for them to avoid it. Yes the kids shirts dont have betting sponsors on them but they will see the brand names constantly on adult shirts. 3. What should Villa do about it? This is a chance for Villa to take the right stance and actually adopt a no betting sponsorship policy. Make yourself stand out in the PL. Be a forerunner in driving the issues. It would make the club appear very classy imo. Hopefully, it would help attract other quality brands to the club. 4. What the future holds? Point 3 is thinking ahead of the curve because betting sponsorships will eventually be banned at football clubs imo. When it happens so many clubs will be desperate for new sponsors to fill the void. You want to do it first. I talk a lot about the morals of gambling etc on my feed. As a pro punter I obviously have no real issues with it apart from the behaviours the bookies demonstrate. Its a very morally questionable industry and the predatory nature of those involved has to be seen to be believed. I just dont think it shines Aston Villa in the light it should.

Absolutely comical blaming him for the first goal. His positioning was fine. It was just a great finish. If people are blaming him for that then there isnt a shot from that angle that can be scored without it being the keepers fault. The second one is much tougher. Only he will know whether he could have done more. Lots of keepers wouldn't have got anything on it. Almost criticised for getting so close to saving it.

Everyone is really saying it comes down to game time and money. What I struggle with most is that he is surely couldn't find a more favourable environment to develop. Whether that be learning from SG or GM. Or be surrounded by the likes of Coutinho, Buendia, Bailey, Traore, McGinn, Ramsey etc. It just feels like he should be learning so much from them and it should be what helps him to the next level. I will also never understand the vitriol towards him on this thread. He is still a Villa player. Its his right to keep his options open. Until that changes everyone should be behind him hoping he signs a new contract. If he leaves and your mentality is that you want to give him abuse do it then. Just ridiculous the hate towards him when nothing has been decided yet. The abuse on here will hardly make him want to stay.

You can see the expected points for each team on Sporting index. Leicester and us have the same expected pts with West Ham 0.5pts ahead. They are the most respected spread betting firm. It just gives an idea of how those who have money invested in these things view it. Its nice to see a more objective view. Fwiw I dont think we have sorted the midfield either. Still need another top quality player in there. Never convinced by Luiz. Think Ramsey potentially overrated at this stage. McGinn too inconsistent. If we can sort it think we will be top 8.

Expectations are always interesting. As it currently stands we are expected to finish 8th/9th/10th. There is half a point in terms of expected points between ourselves, West Ham and Leicester. Newcastle are a little ahead in 7th and Brighton back in 11th. So many things didnt go our way last year that I dont think are truly accounted for in those numbers. I think anything less than top 8 will be disappointing. We can have no excuses this year. No new manager. No star player has just left.

The amount of criticism he receives on here is insane. He hasn't said he wants to leave. Everyone is just making assumptions. Its because he is so good that he will have so many options that the decision is so tough. If he wasn't so good, then it is much easier as far few offers. It is rare that you see kids look so dominant in their age groups. Yes he hasn't taken the first team by storm yet but he is also up against some very seasoned professionals. He has been caught in the cross fire between the desire to win now and the need to build for the future. Once we couldn't finish in the top 7/8 Gerrard should have given the kids like CC far more playing time. It is so tough to expect young kids to come off the bench and change a game. There are so few players who have the calmness and time in possession that he has. He will be an absolute superstar. We cannot afford to lose him for peanuts at this stage. I know everyone is worried about the precedent it sets in terms of other youth players but he is too valuable to let go if it is a decision coming down purely to money. The minute he signs a new contract he will be worth at least £20m+. He has the upside to be worth some crazy figures. Home grown 18 year old superstars dont come along every year. You can see how important the home grown factor is in the recent Williams and Collins transfers. Everyone tries to sugarcoat it saying he isnt all that etc. He is a ridiculous talent and to lose him at this stage of the journey would be a disaster.

Hi, I have been following this forum for so many years now. Thought I should finally add my opinions to it. First started going to Villa as a ST holder in 1987 in the days of Taylor and Venglos. Was there for the 6-2 Everton drubbing etc. no longer a ST holder as based in London but go to games when I can.