Well, this is a turn up for the books isn’t it?
Fabian Delph has come out with a totally unequivocal statement that says he’s staying. Here are the actual words that have come from the horse’s mouth, as reported on the OS;
“I’m aware there has been intense media speculation surrounding my future in the last 24 hours and I want to set the record straight.
“I’m not leaving. I’m staying at the football club and I can’t wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club.”
This is fantastic news, in my opinion, as I’ve always liked the player and think he would be a major loss to the team.
That said though, it’s all quite embarrassing, as without re-reading my previous replies on here, I’m not 100% convinced about if I slated the man or not.
After all, all the papers were reporting things as though it was absolutely a done deal, with some suggesting that the only barrier to the player actually signing, was the medical.
And well, when so many papers get on the bandwagon, it’s difficult to argue and it’s easier to accept it as fact isn’t it?
In my defence, I did think the idea of Delph going to Man City was a bit preposterous, especially at the £8 or 10 million that was mentioned.
Ah, I remember what I previously said.
It was that Gueye was obviously a replacement for Delph. That’s obviously been proven incorrect and I’m happy to say that I was wrong. It was a criticism more aimed at the club than the player though and yet again AVFC haven’t come out in a good light in my opinion.
While behind the scenes, the club might have been laughing their proverbials off, knowing the story wasn’t true and with me understanding that they won’t resort to answering every little bit of rumour, I think they should have nipped this rumour in the bud much, much faster than they did.
I mean, it wasn’t as though we were talking about a player we didn’t rate, hence him being insignificant, was it?
This was the club captain, who had pledged his loyalty only a few months back.
Of course, the same bastard papers that started this rumour are now saying that it’s a U-turn on Delph’s part, which hints that the club have massively upped Delph’s wages.
I don’t believe this for one minute. I think the player had no intention of leaving and it was frankly pure lies by certain papers. Lies that even sucked other papers in, so strong was their case.
I totally welcome this statement and if the team does start to perform better and indeed move upward, I reckon Delph could well go down as a legend in years to come because he didn’t abandon a sinking ship. I’ve added a poll, to see if you agree or not.
Not my cup of tea either, I know its a meaningless game but it cannot do morel any good for players, come to think about it? Even us fans, got to just hope he knows what he’s doing.
If a player shows loyalty to their club when bigger clubs come calling, that gets them instant legend status in my eyes. Don’t think Man City would have been a good fit for Delph. I reckon he’d be better suited to Liverpool. Man Utd rumoured to be interested in Benteke. I think this would be a good fit for him. Hope he stays. But if he does go, we could get two decent strikers to replace him for £32.5.
Can’t see him being more than a bit part player at Utd tbh his first touch is crap and constantly gives possession away being offside all the time. Though he would give them a Fellini type option lumping it long when they are behind
fellini and benteke the same option, ha ha ha ha, I’m sorry ooh ah I love your posts but that one Is a little way off the mark
I meant in terms of them lumping it up to a big man
Wouldn’t get too carried away about yesterday’s result. It’s all about fitness and game time. Will be last chance saloon for some of the fringe players like N’Zogbia to impress. Also Fulham will be ahead of us in preparation time with the Championship kicking off earlier. The Wolves and Forest games should be better indicators of where we are and likely to see more first team players.
ready for a bit of conspiracy theories. after the final Tim said those with a loosing mentality would be gone we have seen vlaar depart without a fight from either the club or player, cleverly, i am sure delph and his agent would of been on a confidentiality clause on the release fee, who released the figure, same with benteke, not sure whats happening with n’zogbia,cissoko,sendros,Cole, Richardson at this stage.i am sure the club will have been wrong footed by this announcement delph has said in one of the rags today it was the pressure and reaction from villa fans on twitter and Facebook made him change his mind so he was going anyway and i think 8 mil was about right anyway. on benteke £32.5 mil seems a strange figure if you convert to euros at the end of may i think it comes to 40 mil make the same conversion today its about £28.5 mil thanks to Greece 40 mil seems a more realistic figure to put into a contract. when a club has a sole owner he becomes less accountable to awkward questions from disgruntled fans/board members (who are all his employees anyway)we will always have this “what the fuck is happening at villa” until we get more openness from top management. p.s those figures are approx
Langford, Delph didn’t come out and say anything because he hadn’t decided yet, your telling me he should hav decided straight away and said no? Football isn’t different it’s the same as any other job! He was offered a job at a bigger company with more benifits and double his wages and would probably have to work half as much! Are u telling me if you were offered that deal you wouldn’t even think about it? If it was me I wouldn’t think about it because I would leave my job 5 seconds after that offer! If the club and players had to come out and quash every rumour then they would hav no time for anything else.
I just wonder if we would hav signed gana if we knew delph was staying? But our midfield could finally be strong next season, out team as it looks today could be
Guzan
bacuna Richards Clark cissoko
Sanchez
Gana delph
Gil grealish
Benteke
That team looks good to me but I doubt cissoko will play so still a LB needed and I would get a center back and play Richards on the right, and if nzogbia still starts ahead of gil next season then I give up on tum because gil did more in 3 games than nzogbia has in 3 years!
I like the look of that side but surely we need to go and buy a CB and LB? I would also like to sign Charlie Austin. If we buy in those three positions then I will be feeling confident going in to new season. What are your thoughts?
I hear what you are saying, but my point is…..in Jan Delph ‘this is my club, I want to show that there is still loyalty in football’……so, easy……I am not moving anywhere, see my statement in January for clarification. So, so easy! Cant for the life of me see whats complicated about that. Its a simple yes I am interested or no…..see my message from Jan!
Langford does it really matter. The bloke had every right to see what City were offering. No one knows what went on including the media but what we do know is he is staying. The main thing is we have Bunn, that should be your main focus. 🙂
Ok…lol, Bunn for England 🙂
He will cream it at the villa. Hope he’s hot on crosses then we can call him hot cross bunn
Ya fair enough he made those comments in Jan and yes that should mean that if he is a man of his word then he should not leave and repay the club and fans that have stuck by him, but isn’t that exactly what he has done??? He has come out and said he is staying, he has been true to his word but just because he made those comments it doesn’t mean that he had no right to think about it! It’s his life, his career and it was his decision! When the story 1st broke I said he wouldn’t leave, not because of his comments in January but because delph seems like a level headed guy and somebody who wouldn’t be happy just making up the numbers, he could hav taken the money and easy life and forgot about villa but he didn’t and I can’t blame someone for taking enough time to consider their options that will affect their career and their life far more than it will affect mine, yours or even villas.
That does look a decent side KV but personally I prefer this one. 😉
Guzan
Richards Clark Okore TBC
Gueye Delph
Gill Grealish Sinclair
Benteke
Ya that’s a great option too b6, more attacking for sure, maybe your team against teams on our level and mine against top 6 because with sanchez you have a proper DM and delph and gana are more defensive too so would be hard for most teams to break us down then. And I agree about Richards on the right, the Clark okore partnership looked good last year for a while and could be better this year with last year’s experience and a better midfield in front of them and better full backs too. But I would play gil behind benteke especially if tim thinks he can’t do the defensive work and grealish on the left with sinclair/bacuna on the right.
I reckon as soon as Stirling goes to Man City the transfer merry go round will begin.
Also think that as it stands we have a decent side except for a LB. Hoping that we can get Amavi. If we can then I’ll be more than happy with what we’ve got.
I’d like to see Bacuna at right wing back with Richards at right CB as cover for when he bombs forward.
Gil and Kozak will be like new signings anyway.
So my team might look something like this –
Guzan
Bacuna Richards Clark Amavi (hopefully)
Gueye Delph
Gil Grealish Sinclair/Agbonlahor
Benteke
This side would really have some pace but hopefully still keep it tight at the back
I’m sure Tim in his wisdom will pick a quite different team but, whatever team plays, I’m findng that, for the first time in many years, I’m actually looking forward to the new season.
UTV
Agreed Pat, I’m also looking forward to the new season for the first time in what seems a long time. It seems we have loads of options available to us that we haven’t had in previous seasons. If we can get Amavi and a decent Keeper I’d be more than happy going to war with that squad.
Decent keeper?…..have you disowned ‘Bunn the hun’ already? 🙂
Let’s put things in context shall we ? I was initially encouraged, not to say gobsmacked, when I went on to the Villa website and saw the words “Fabian Delph Statement” Expecting to then read some form of farewell speech from Delph where he attempts to patronise us all by justifying his reasons for totally going against his “loyalty” speech just months earlier. How surprised was I to read that he said he was staying and looking forward to the new season. Then we find out that his decision to stay was purely and simply because of comments like these on various social media outlets and the fact that he finally realised he would not get as much game time as he would want and was only being used to make up the English players quota.. He fell short of saying that this would affect his England career, which is no doubt another factor. I am not criticising Delph for being tempted by a bigger wage but if he was as loyal a person as he was at pains to point out then he should have killed the link with Man City as soon as it came out. We had a similar situation with Benteke when he asked for a transfer after only one season and then signed an extended and improved 4 year contract. Delph now needs to knuckle down and lead from the front before he can begin to recover from this as far as I am concerned. Lack of respect for the club that has been there for over 140 years before these pretentious individuals and there agents and will be there long after they have gone.
Tried, in vain to put that very point accross on here for the last 2 days. As you rightly point out ‘he should have killed the Man City link as soon as it came out’ 100% spot on mate. Too many people on here trying to overcomplicate a very simple situation!
Of course I haven’t, I just think the keepers we have at the moment won’t provide him with much competition. 😉
Benteke rumours starting up again but I find that I’m not that bothered.
He either stays (great) or he goes for 32.5 million (also great).
Just hope if that happens that Sherwood gets it all as extra money though.
UTV
And Randy pockets most (if not all) the £32.5 mil……not so great 🙁
I thought that ages ago MATE,I can’t see Randy being out of pocket this window,unthinkable.
Giddy…there is a cheaper version of that item that I sent you details about last week. Just bought one for my daughter and it works perfectly. Shall I mail you the details?
Please MATE nice one
Ok…give me 30 mins or so!
I want one ,I want one,? What is it.?
A brewery 😀
Have you emptied the last one I bought you already……hang on, thats a very stupid question 🙂
Bill Pearson….if you want the details you can ask Badger for my email addy and I will send you the link…it really is a MUST have item! (But only if you can stand to watch Villa lose every Sat) 🙂
Cheers Langford, just thinking to myself, all on about a legend at villa ? Its got to be me mate , I’ve had to stand for things down there, Deadly for one he was an awkward Sod at times.
Charlie Aitken….he’s still my all time favourite…..a real legend IMO
Yeah, i hope we end up playing something like this…although this maybe a bit too attacking:
Guzan (or new keeper)
Bacuna Richards Clark/Okore (New LB)
Delph Gueye
Gil Grealish Sinclair
Benteke
I’d like to see Sanchez in there – possibly if we’re setting up a little more defensively away from home.
This is interesting;
https://twitter.com/Jbuckers/status/619968418704420865/photo/1
L’pool except mega bucks for Sterling so only a matter of time pool get after Benteke…..that should get Man U started as well…..bye bye Benteke.
If that’s the case then fine. Benteke goes and we get a lot of cash, if he doesn’t want to stay then offload him ASAP.
He cost us £7 million – who’s to say that we can’t get several players of his standing for 32.5 million?
Not worried if he stays or goes, we’ll still benefit.
UTV
Interestingly they have to pay QPR 20% of any fee.
Just have to say having seen the BBC Sports item – £49 million for Sterling, has to be the most overpriced, stupid transfer of the decade. Man City deserve everything they get with him, inconsistency, tantrums and will someone tell Citeh HE’S NOT THAT GOOD. Okay some days and absolutely rubbish others.
Hope they get relegated.
And pool have to pay qpr 20% sell on fee no wonder they’ve held out for 50m
£49M for Sterling. Wow, what a lot of money for a player with all the attributes of a Tart. So the Bin Dippers will have to pony up the full 32.5 for Benteke and still have 16.5M profit. Gabby disappeared down the 1 metre concrete death-trap at Anfield, and Benteke is another left sided forward who likes to get to the touchline left of goal. I hope the Scouse Gits spend some on the insurance premium.
The ultimate in bin dipping – selling Torres and Sterling for £50m each. On that basis Benteke should be valued at about £75m
If benteke never had this buy out clause I’m sure he’d be marked up a hell of a lot more.yes it seems the bin dippers value all their top players at 50mil for some unknown reason so if they did get him at 32.5 mil all their Xmas’s have come at once imo.
Just wondering when we all thought Benteke was going for the first time would we have gone for him keeping us up and then making £25 million profit on his sale? I’d have bitten your hand off.
I’d be sorry to see him go, which is probably inevitable now that Liverpool have the money, but that certainly sweetens the pill a bit.
UTV
But didn’t they buy Carroll for £35m and we all know how that worked out! Benteke might play well in a Villa set up but will he at Liverpool?
With money in the bank, does that mean they’ll push for Benteke now?
The profit is all well & good we made on him it’s just finding another gem like him is more concerning.