I think it’s pretty safe to say that this deal is going to happen anytime now.
All parts of the media are saying it should be done today and when that happens, you know they’re not far off the mark and can’t all be wrong.
So how do I feel about it?
First thing, it would seem it’s not the rumoured £100 million and is actually nearer £75 million with a lot of performance based add-ons that might take it to £100 million. That seriously disappoints me if it’s true, as it would suggest the club has just folded and conceded defeat far too soon. I said previously that the Manchester evening news had said that Man City didn’t expect to actually sign Jack for £100 million and it was just an opening bid.
I can only conclude from the fact that we’ve accepted the bid so quickly, two possible options. First is that there was indeed a transfer clause in Jack’s contract and we were pretty much powerless to try and stop him leaving or he’s dug his feet in and insisted that he will leave whatever. I massively prefer to believe it’s the first option.
I believe we’ve let him go too cheaply. I’ve said for a while that he was worth £130 million to us and I would like to think we’d have held out for at least some more from City, but I suspect the club’s hands were tied.
There have been rumours that our talks with the player involved offering him a new contract in the range of £150-200k a week. But that’s massively less than the rumoured £300k that City are going to pay him.
Be absolutely honest now and ask yourself if you would turn down the chance of a 50% pay rise. I suspect most of us wouldn’t, but we’re realistic and it would be more than fair to say that Premier league footballers are already in a position where one contract at far less money means they’re made for life. So it shouldn’t be about the money at all really, when you’re already earning £5 million a year. Are players really that greedy?
I suspect not, but when it’s very much in the advisor’s interests for a player to move, you can see how things work.
And as has rightly been pointed out, what happened to the “my city, my club” bollocks that Jack was coming out with just a few weeks back?
That’s the sort of thing that wrankles, just the same as when Fabian Delph (spit) left.
Us fans hate that sort of thing and Jack really should have known better.
Except I truly believe that at the time, he probably wasn’t planning on leaving.
I’ve no doubt whatsoever that Jack had his head turned while he was at the Euros. It’s a mixed blessing these days, being selected for England, as it means you get to talk at length to players at all the top clubs. Not that I think any of them are decidely better when it comes to the work environment and facilities. We just don’t have the glamour that you get in London and Manchester (I blame our useless city leaders for that latter part) and most importantly, we don’t have the one vital thing that anyone would like in their career and that’s success.
You can argue all you like that we’re on the cusp of something and you may well be right. But who has more chance of winning silverware this season, Aston Villa or Man City?
I don’t need to say, because it’s plainly obvious. Let’s face it, winning stuff is good, it’s as simple as that.
You can argue that if he’d waited, he’d have won with us and that’s a much better achievement. And it’s a fair point.
But it’s still a maybe, whereas with City, it’s odds on.
I get that he’s taken the easy option and sold his soul for a few (million) pieces of silver.
And from what I’ve been reading, many fans are massively upset or even angry that he’s going to leave. Which means he will start getting abuse which is going to hit home. And he must know it’s going to come.
Me, I’m pretty sanguine about it all.
There’s a big part of me that thinks that as much as he was brilliant to watch, so he also slowed play down too much a times. That was an ongoing criticism which he hasn’t had coached out of him and it’ll be interesting to see how Pep manages that side of his game. That said, I also believe he had to slow things down so players could catch up with the play. It could well be that better players at Man City mean he doesn’t have to slow it down so much.
And if that’s the case, he’s going to be even better for them than he was for us.
It’s going to be strange not having Jack in our side. But as has always been the case, no one player is bigger than the club.
Echo Hitchens post above. Great communication from a club that is now ran very well. So refreshing to see and Purslow and the club are getting massive kudos across the footballing community because of this. Well done Villa, another reason to be proud. Gutted about Sevilla, that would have been a great test for us and set the fitness up nicely. Maybe Smith will setup a behind closed doors friendly before the season starts.
Also massive disappointment for the fans
Villa trying to source an alternative opponent for tomorrow and are offering an exchange for Grealish 20/21 shirts.
It won’t happen Hitch.
Villa will have an open training session at VP at 3pm tomorrow.
Anyone who had a ticket for the game is invited to attend and they’ll still get their refund.
Villa are trying to source another quality side to play against, but it will be behind closed doors as they can’t get permission to let fans attend, so soon.
So Man city could only afford Grealish after selling £60 mill worth of players?
Doesn’t look like they’ll be going for Kane then. Or does it?
And Jack signed a 6 year contract. That could prove to be really cracking business on their part.
Or a massive cost if it all goes wrong.
Would they have gone for Grealish if Messi had become available 72 hours earlier?
We’ll never know
Messi is a money thing now. The shirt sale percentage must be phenomenal.
But how long does he have left?
And the Premier league is a much tougher proposition than La Liga, imo.
It would have been interesting to see how he got on, but with our overall much better defenders, I’m not sure he’d have done so well.
Best he goes to PSG and the crappy French league, imo.
Maybe Martinez and Buendia could put in a word for Messi to come to VP. He would be useful coming off the bench!
🙂 🙂
I agree with the comments about how well the club have dealt with the Grealish deal, now we know how it all worked out. Christian Purslow’s speech online impressed me. It is nice to have some transparency for a change.
The only thing that has left a sour taste during the whole circus is Sky constantly patting themselves on the back for predicting what we all knew would happen anyway. Nevertheless, this hasn’t stopped Kaveh Solhekol spouting his bulls**t trying to give us the impression that he is the main man in the know. I am totally fed up with his “My sources tell me” garbage.
Back to more important issues. I have to say that I haven’t waited in anticipation for a season to start for quite a while. The signings that the club have made have been very astute and, in my opinion, will actually improve us as an attacking threat, in a different way to what Grealish offered. I feel that we became far too pedestrian when Jack was given the ball, with us all waiting for things to happen. I firmly believe that with Buendia, Bailey and Ings joining us, we have the potential to move the ball quicker and cause problems for any defence, even the so called bigger clubs.
Lerner’s reign and the false dawn that was Tony Xia seem a long time ago.
At last we have owners and a chief executive that we trust have only the club’s interest at heart. I would hope that a return to European football is a minimum achievement this season, probably not Champions League yet. I think though, we are as good as, if not better, as a squad, as Leicester so you never know.
Keep the faith. UTV
I see that, despite De Bruyne and Foden being injured, so therefore out of the Community Shield, Grealish will still be on the bench.
And so it begins. Yes, Jack may well win medals at the club that has ruined football, but he will probably only be a bit part player, no matter how much they paid for him. Hollow victories I say.
Sky sports looked a bunch of dicks when the Ings deal was done though. Where were their reliable sources then?
As for Grealish, the sense of achievement will feel quite hollow when he picks up all his medals. He knows Cite$h will win silverware with or without him. Maybe he will play most games or become a bit part player. Frankly I don’t care now. He’s gone and now all that matters is Villa.
I am a bit concerned that our pre season preparation hasn’t gone too well. Two cancelled friendlies means our players haven’t got up to speed. A training session today and a last gasp closed doors match against a newly promoted Italian team whose name I can’t remember isn’t ideal.
I’m looking forward to the new season especially with fans back. I hope we don’t get too many games postponed at the last minute because of Covid outbreaks. Watford is a tough start for us. Newly promoted teams are probably the worst to face with their confidence and enthusiasm on a high plus they are at home. Avoiding defeat will be a good start to the season with new players settling in.
Agree Holte and we have a poor record against Watford
Friendlies are only about fitness Holte. I wouldn’t worry too much about those.
Agree about Watford being a tough one though.
I’m licking my lips now at the thought of our new team.
Back off holiday, don’t you just love our club.,, anyone who bought a new shirt with Grealish on it can have it changed. I’ve heard.
Here’s a question for fans old enough to remember which I assume is most on here. Who was the most talented player for Villa out of Grealish or Merson?
Tough one, that Holte.
Both extremely talented players who could do something out of the blue.
I’m going to give Grealish the edge, because he’s still going to get better.
I did like Merse though, cracking no 10.
Merson, hands down. And not because Jack’s just left. Merson could do things with a football that I’ve never seen Jack even attempt, never mind execute. The lob at Goodison was ridiculous and should be in the highlights real of every great goals compilation.
Evidence. Sit back and enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/avfcofficial/videos/2492123234337720/?extid=SEO—-
Oh I nearly forgot. Ha ha ha ha! Well done Leicester!
Ah yes, just saw that result. Ha ha indeed.
We’re the Villa,
We’re the Championies…
Interesting article here, that suggests Villa contacted Man U and Real to see if they wanted Grealish purely because they’re worried that City are ruining the game.
It says that a few clubs think the same.
Along with a few million fans, then.
https://tbrfootball.com/report-aston-villa-contacted-manchester-united-ahead-of-jack-grealish-sale/
Axel Tuanzebe joins villa on a season long loan
i was only reading the other day on sky that Newcastle were favourites for him as he wanted regular first team footballl LOL
THEY DONT GET IT DO THEY
THE VILLA ARE COMING
Aston v Sal 2-1 Elgazi pen. It’s on Arena Sports 2
3 -1 Younge ..
Anyone see the match today? How did the 442/4222 do?how will bailey and the Norwich lad fit in?shame about Watkins but aren’t we lucky we got ings in now.
Bloody hell, I didn’t realise you could get it on telly. What’s up with Watkins?
I’m off to find out.
A muscle injury for Ollie. Hopefully it won’t be too bad.
According to the Mail, Ings was good in a 2, but Ollie might have to get used to it.
It’ll be nice to have the choice between a 2 and a 1 though.
Badger, Oli had a shot on goal and it was as if he tapped it at the goalkeeper, immediately touched his leg and walked off, it did look as if he pulled a muscle and played it safe . Ramsey came on and Chuckie both played well, I’m a bit dubious on Traore as stop and start play also went down as if hit be a train in a tackle, he’s lightweight on the ball but good in twists and turns, still McGinn ran the show in centre midfield with Nakamba. Early days hope they get it together.
Cheers Bill. That’s similar to how the Mail saw things.
Agree about Traore, very skilled, but like a lot of that sort of player, massively inconsistent. It’s probably why we’re open to offers for El Ghazi.
Random comment on Messi. He claims he wanted to stay at Barca. Why not stay then? It’s not as if he needs the money. Play for free if you really want to stay. These superstar, elite bunch must think people are stupid. OK, he halved his wages to stay before. Half them again. You’ll still find there’s a big chunk of change in your account every month! If it’s such a tear-jerking wrench to leave, stay! But get less money that the mind-boggling sums you’re used to. No? Ah…
Utter bollocks.
I know what you mean BFR.
Although have a little bit of sympathy.
He’s only rumoured to be worth $400 million, so must be finding things a bit tough.