It was obvious it was going to happen and I’ve been expecting it, but quite simply, this one hurts.
I know, I know, we’ll be able to put the money to good use and we were too one-dimensional because we always played to/always relied too much on the one player. I’ve heard what you’re saying.
But I don’t agree.
First, unless Lerner really surprises me, we won’t spend all the money we ought to have available.
We’ve had around £40 million coming in, give or take a few million because of sell on clauses etc and this means even after the players we’ve signed, we should still have at least another £30 million or so to spend.
Do I see that happening?
No I don’t, although in fairness, we’ve been linked to Diego Rolan at 18 million euros, so it may be a case that the spending will indeed continue.
And then, more importantly, there’s the fact that I rate Benteke as highly as any striker I’ve seen down the Villa in a long time. He has the lot for me and to see that only around 30% of his goals were scored with his head has surprised even me.
I know we couldn’t do anything about the release clause, but it strikes me it was way too cheap.
And given that some ignorant Liverpool fans only had him pegged as some Andy Carroll type, this deal has really wound me up. To be fair though, it does seem that after proper research, they have had their eyes opened somewhat.
I really think Benteke should have held out another season for a Champions League club, but fair play to Brendan Rodgers, he knows what he’s buying.
If Liverpool don’t achieve CL this season, I don’t believe it’ll be Benteke’s fault, as I think he’ll get twenty goals easily, even if they don’t specifically play to suit him.
So it’s with a heavy heart, that I wish Benteke well at Liverpool.
From what I’ve seen of Sherwood’s signings up to now, I’m happy in thinking that we’ll be a better side this season, but we’ll still miss a player of Benteke’s calibre, in my opinion.
Oh well, onwards and upwards eh?
He’ll be a big miss, even if we get a decent replacement in.
Looking forward, I like the sound of this Rolan chap 🙂
I can’t believe how most villa fans in FBand Twitter are wishing him all the best at the in dippers ffs. It’s like wishing the girl ur in love with good luck with the bloke she’s dumped you for ffs. As for fans wanting him to join UTD why? Can’t stand either club tbh the fact is he’s gone.
I don’t think it’s about that Ooaah.
It’s more about just wishing the bloke well.
He kept us out of the shit and apart from his little tantrum, where I think he realised he was badly advised, he was very good for us.
He was frankly and sadly too good for us at our current level and I fully expect him to move up a gear, similar to Yorke.
I just hope we’ve got a clause on him, as I foresee a much bigger transfer fee in his future.
Yeah I suppose so I just hate seeing our best players do well for sky bore teams it makes me sick tbh. I don’t get this talk of him keeping us up he did the job we laid him for and I thought football was a team game.
Oohah, he was a 1 in 2 striker for us and we bought him for £7-9 mill or so.
Realise he was a bargain mate, ffs!
And yes, it’s a team game, but when you’re playing with mostly shite, what more can you expect from the bloke?
I remember saying once in a post that he must have wondered what he was playing next too.
I stand by that.
Agree Badger and he will score pushing 30 for Liverpool unfortunately. Though I’m honestly not convinced he really wants to be there. Reading between lines and listening to him he didn’t seem happy. I think he will only last 1-2 seasons there if they don’t get CL and even if they do I think he’ll prefer a London club.
I can say 100 per cent Rodgers will be shown the door next year as bin dippers will not finish top 4 they will not dislodge the four from last year and with the money he has spent he has to make champions league so nothing will change for the bin dippers and Benteke won’t be playing champions league in 2016
Agreed, it’s definitely a risk for Rodgers, Muzz
But Pool created lots of chances and couldn’t score.
Not one of their players got more than 10 goals.
If Benteke doesn’t get double that, I’ll eat my hat (which fortunately I don’t own).
As I said, it won’t be Benteke’s fault if they fail to achieve CL.
And Benteke could be the key, imo.
Il be amazed if benteke dosnt score at least 25-30 goals for them as long as he stays fit of course
Badger in your honest opinion who can u see bin dippers dislodging from the top four next season not city Chelsea Man U will be stronger next season as will arsenal can’t see it happening myself and I sincerely hope I’m right
I’m not sure city are that great tbh they haven’t got the right players in window and defensively they are not great. Arsenal do it every yr and Cheksea will easily finish in top 4. Utd may struggle too as they are in CL which will make a difference.
https://youtu.be/Wq62rIbSIw0
Clip of Diego Rolan for anyone interested.
Bit gutted he went to the Scousers, but 32.5m is very good money…as long as we re-invest it wisely.
He was the best striker we have had in a long, long time. But I wouldnt bet against him being out injured again some point this season.
Knowing our luck he will be fit for the whole season with them
Benno, I really believe that money will prove to be dirt cheap mate.
Liverpool will sell him for at least 20m more in a coupe of years
i know you shouldn’t care if he does well for a rival but i cant help feeling Liverpool could ruin him by not playing to his strengths much like milner was underused at citeh any way “the king is dead long live the king”
Who cares I don’t give a toss his he does now I only care about our players
As much as oohaahh will moan, it’s the only way we can spring ourselves forward as long as money is reinvested. Good money for us, what if he got injured again? Rather keep him and buy, but aint gonna happen.
At the moment, our best way forward but maybe riskiest is to buy a few more rated European based players where we get better value for money today due the exchange rates. 15m euros 2 years ago was 15m quid – today it’s just over 10m. It’s like buy 2 get a 3rd free!! Unproven but exciting
Yep, very good point JB.
Will be ‘the new Heskey’and leave in the Jan transfer window Imo
Hmm, welcome “scousegit”.
Just bear in mind I know who you are 😉
Badger..I’m very flattered to know that your stalking me! 🙂
Heh, that persona didn’t last very long did it? 🙂
Not tracking anyone mate (I don’t have time and not interested), apart from looking for trouble-makers mate, I assure you.
All new names get vetted, but even if they disagree with us, they get allowed, as long as they’re talking footy in a reasonable sense.
I just wanted to clarify our policy, while we’re on the subject. 🙂
Good deal for villa- providing invested well!
No fear when he plays against arsenal as mertersacker will have in his pocket again!
Nice to get a good goalscorer in now! Club bigger than any player.
I for one wish him well, he has just kept his head down and let it roll on without causing us any problems and you have to admire him for that. I would have liked him to get CL football as that is what he wanted, but to be honest I doubt he will get that at Liverpool, as they are just not a top 4 club by a long shot. Best they can hope for is 5th. I just wished he could have fulfilled his dreams at Villa, and he would have become a legend without a doubt. Good luck but fuck the bin dippers.
I wonder if we will be singing his praises when he bangs the inevitable goals against us this season
So long, and thanks for all the fish.
Although he had glimmers of brilliance (especially before his injury), he had long spells of laziness. Clearly dindn’t want to play for the club, so I think we were right to cash in. We NEED that money now to get in a few hard-working, talented recruits who will add quality to the squad.
Bencey, with respect, he saved our arses from relegation 3 times. His record was almost a goal in every two, playing in the worst, most negative team in Villa’s history. The only time he looked out of sorts was when he came back from the injury and Lambert was sucking the life out of the team. 32.5 million, in my opinion, is an absolute steal for a player not yet reached his peak but on his day is unplayable. Let’s be honest, he was ‘on his day’ more often than not. If he stays fit, he will easily hit 25 league goals.
Having said all that, moving to a non Champions League club, to me, seems bizarre, especially when he helped us beat them at Wembley, which suggests that with him in our team, we were better than them. So why go and make them stronger when the club you’re already at is clearly building and getting stronger itself. Doesn’t make sense to me. Must be the money. Can’t be anything else. As for being ‘part of the story’, fair enough, they’ve won a few European cups and titles, more than Villa yeh, but our story’s not bad either, so sorry ‘Tekkers’, I don’t buy that bollocks. Money talks. End of story.
We will be fine. He will do well. Normal service resumed. I hope a day will come where Aston Villa stop selling their best players and making other clubs stronger.
UTV
Just because we beat Liverpool dosnt mean we are better than them. Anyone can beat anyone on their day. They still finished miles ahead of us in the league and will do so again with or without benteke
Ooohah, I respect your opinions, all of them, but consider the following facts:
– Villa’s last 8 league games under Sherwood – 10 points out of 24
– Liverpool’s last 8 league games under Rodgers – 8 points out of 24
– Head to head at Wembley – Villa win deservedly, with Benteke in the team.
So I repeat, with Benteke in the team, we were better than them. And I repeat, with those facts in mind, selling him to them, and him choosing to go to them, is bizarre.
As for my opinions, to say they will finish ‘miles ahead’ of us without Benteke is an insult to Tim Sherwood. Had Benteke stayed, I very much doubt they would have finished ‘miles ahead.’
To finish, can you think of one player in their team you’d have at Villa? I can’t, apart from Benteke. You might not agree with my opinions, but you can’t deny the facts I started with.
UTV
He left because Liverpool have the belief they will be challenging for a top four place and have spent £180m in the last year…. We are HOPING for middle table mediocrity, there is a huge difference between the Villa and Liverpool at the moment.
Exactly plus Liverpool were the only ones stupid enough to pay £32.5m
Fair point DAD I would like Milner courtinho and Henderson and that new Brazilian guy sounds good. Oh and Stiurridge if fit too. I hear what your saying but your going on the last 8 league games it’s over 38 that matters. Remember we had new manager syndrome which always gets u extra points but Sherwood was embarrassingly found out v saints and Arsenal. Liverpool will still finish top 5-6 this year and will still challenge for CL especially as they are only in Europa cup. They will still finish well above us even if we had benteke as they are still better than us. Leicester beat Utd 5.3 early in the season but you wouldn’t say they are a better team just better on the day like we were v Liverpool.
Glad to see the back of him. When he’s good he’s very good but when he’s bad he really is a waste of space. No in between with him.
I think Benteke, Delph, Vlarr, Cleverly, Given and Wiemman leaving might be a blessing in disguise. We have an opportunity now to buy a new spine to the team and IF they hit the ground running we could be a surprise package this season. Another 3 – 4 quality additions to the first team along with Sherwoods ability to develop the youth and use them correctly (Grealish an example) we should be able to be top ten contenders. This is a minimum requirement for a club like Villa. We have to start somewhere and if we can do that this season maybe just maybe potential new signings will start to look at us as more than a stepping stone to teams like Liverpool ! We will always be a selling club as are most clubs. So long as we keep producing players with sell on value we will NEVER be back in the position O’Neill put us in by buying a team of mostly unsellable players.
With regards to Benteke, in the words of the man who bought him “We go again” UP THE VILLA !
And with regards to Lerner, I have a feeling that he has left the running of the club to Tom Fox and is not involved in any decisions involving buying and selling. He did say that plan B was too appoint new Chairman. I think this will be announced before season starts. Don’t expect to see him at villa park again.
By the way, just realized I will have to change my name ! Will wait until transfer window closes before changing it !
Tekkers…keep your name….he may be back one day 🙂
My question is, who do we replace him with? We need 2 or 3 strikers, one attacking midfielder and one holding midfielder!
We could also do with a right back and possibly another centre half.
Forgot to say how happy I was that Richards was captain over Gabby last night…..and when are we going to hear from Sherwood about Delph / Benteke? – can’t wait for his take on Delph’s exit.
Yes it’s sad to see the beast leave. He did a hell of a job for us particularly first and tail end of last season.
He is a raw talent, pure stregnth and a clinical finisher. He is an out and out pure striker.
lers be honest though he wanted out after his first season and if he couldnt find that passion for us then it’s best on all parts he leaves.
i can’t bring my self to read any interviews with him as I do take it as a personal insult he has joined Liverpool.
I genuinely hate no other team in the entire world more than Liverpool.
I find that Liverpool fans tend to be between a certain age and seem to forget exactly what they are now.
Filthy , disgusting club and fans!
I remember arriving in Dorset after a long journey down in the car to visit my other halls parents.
everything was fine, we were all chatting in the living room. My son was playing with one of his cousins beautifully. Laughter, joy , happiness and love floated around the room.
This was good times…..
Then it happened…..
the mother in law came in giggling, holding a horrific red Liverpool football kit for my ( then two year old) sold.
Suddenly the peace and love was soaked up from the room as if this horrid red piece of filth had absorbed it all up.
You could literally cut the tension with a knife. I could not try and even attempt to crack a smile or see the funny side of this.
In fact my Mrs actually laughed for me and spoke on my behalf.
I made sure my son never ever wore this red plague. I then that very evening ordered my son a home and away billa kit and the young lion has never looked back since.
He loves football now and he worships the villa
Of course the choice is always his but a little encouragement doesn’t hurt does it.
I now will only be looking forward and not back now.
These players have done a job and now left. WE MOVE ON TOGETHER.
Let’s really get behind this new team and sherwood. This man really knows football and so far the additions in Amavi and Gueye look very promising
Like the story. I’d have felt the same.
Had to admit I dug out my “Bangles” tape. One of their songs has the following lyrics
“Hey-ey! Where are you going with that UB40 in your hand? I’m going down to Liverpool to do nothing……..All the days of my life!”
I share your sentiments about the Scousers, so different from the gentlemen on the other side of Stanley Park.
I don’t like any sky four teams esp Utd can’t stand them. They are as bad as Liverpool
i have just seen the pictures of him in his new bindippers shirt and christ he looks ugly in it.
red is not his colour he looked better in his old villa kit.
im sad tonight, new it was coming but still feel sad. i hope him luck but not to much and pray the money received is spent on quality and we can start pushing our way up the league.
onward and upward.
utv
I am personally happy with the money as long as it’s invested correctly into the team. If it is we can have a much better team by purchasing 3 quality players and grabbing a solid loan deal than having just benteke alone.
And for anyone interested our latest rumour of Diego Rolan.
https://youtu.be/Wq62rIbSIw0
Love the goal where he dummies the keeper before finishing. Touch of class. Looks a natural finisher – lots of finishes with first touch – very impressive…let’s wait and see…
If the rumours are true and we are going for Diego rolan I think it shows Sherwood wants to play the ball by foot with quick passes and movement instead of the hoof ball we are used to. To me that’s already a good sign.
No chance of Diego rolan coming lerber won’t spend that on a striker if he can get away with it
Still no news on a new striker in not convinced we are getting one!!
Muzz,
I couldn’t reply directly to your question, because of the way the site works (the limit is currently set at direct 5 replies, which is generally enough. If you think it’s too low, let me know!)
But, to answer, Arsenal are vulnerable and Pool could nudge them, imo.
Interestingly, both are not that great at the back.
Benteke gone. A good player sold for the right price. Well done Villa getting the full value of a Northbound player again, it is a pity we don’t do as well when they go South.
If we sign another French speaking player we had better sign Arsene to do our team talks. There was a time when the French would turn their noses up at a move to England, but its amazing what 30% less income tax this side of La Manche can do pour encourager les gars, n’est-ce pas?
Sad to see Benteke go too but it was inevitable. The club has gone to wrack and ruin under Lamberk and it now needs to be built up again which will take time.
Until then we’ll just have to take it on the chin when some of our top players leave for so called ‘bigger’ clubs and hopefully in a few years time we might qualify as one ourselves.
However still optimistic athough I’m not quite sure what we’re going to get this season. However this is something of an improvement as for the last few seasons I’ve been pretty sure that all we were going to get was shite and a nerve wracking relegation battle.
I’d settle now for 10th place and being able to watch an interesting relegation scrap without being emotionally involved.
UTV
Well he’s gone – thank heaven that’s over and done with. Apart from NN regurgitating it for the next three weeks the media will soon lose interest. Villa and TS need to move quickly and invest in an exciting new striker (not Adebayor) if they are to keep the fans onside. I really hope Tom Fox understands this and accepts we may have to pay a little more in the interests of the team and good PR with the fans.
Lets hope the waiting is now over, we have some Benteke money in the bank so lets go out and spend, and quickly… Have to say the way we have recruited this window nobody will know who we are in for !
The club have already hit St target so no need to spend now