MC11

45 minutes ago, c1982 said:

In Benitez’s defence - supposedly, El Ghazi is being brought in by Moshiri from his agent mates against Benitez’s will. Very, very worrying if so… I don’t want Benitez here but at least let him do his job. We really are a recipe for disaster if things like this are true and I really fear it could be about to spiral out of control.

With all the rumours flying around I don’t know what to believe but genuinely I find it hard to believe that Moshiri is buying players off his own back. If that’s the case and Rafa doesn’t want him I can’t see him getting played. Unless Moshiri is picking the starting 11 now. 

19 minutes ago, StevO said:

Scored 55 goals in 258 games. 15 in 66 in the Premier League. Not a bad return for a midfielder. Not keen on him, but those numbers would help. 

7 of the 15 are penalties 

I’ve just looked through a Villa website and they can’t believe their luck. They can’t believe the fee. Way down the pecking order at their club. A lazy player and his goal tally is pumped up by penalties ( I haven’t checked that stat).

By god this is so so bad. 

1 minute ago, dunlopp9987 said:

Don't think it said anywhere that Benitez was pushing for El Ghazi...? Sounds like it's Villa who are pushing to include him in the transfer fee.

I’ve just read an article that states we have enquired for El Ghazi. 

El Ghazi??? WTF is Benitez doing??? Where are we going signing players like this?!! He is surely doing this for a laugh. I can’t even describe how saddened I am by the current ambition of this manager. He has got to be here on the wind up. Please get rid of this conman 

Without going off thread and it’s the last I’ll say on it….
 

I’d appreciate if my post aren’t quoted as being “categorically false”  or “far from accurate” when if fact this one in particular is very accurate. 28/29 year old on massive wages. 
 
This wasn’t the only time he’s quoted me recently, very very arrogantly. Seems like he just wants an argument
 

So I apologise to other members, if you feel that way both Steve’s. 

11 minutes ago, dunlopp9987 said:

In the last couple years they've bought Watkins, Cash, Bailey, Buendia, Konsa, Douglas Luiz....

Yes they've brought in some veterans, but your assessment of their transfer dealings is far from accurate

Its very accurate. Coutinho and Digne are 29/28 respectively and both will demand high wages. 

Stop listing previous managers players. I’m talking about the now. 

3 minutes ago, dunlopp9987 said:

Sure, but...

That's categorically false

How is it categorically false? . The latest two signings are both 28/29 and wages over 100k a year. This is Steven Gerrard Villa this is how he’s operating so pipe down with the arrogant posts you blert. 

The thing is Villa are doing exactly what we’ve been doing for the past 5/6 years.

(Buying/loaning with obligations) players coming towards the end of their careers on high wages. It’s everything that we have previously done and failed. 

2 minutes ago, dunlopp9987 said:

He knows he'll be first choice there. If he goes to Chelsea, he might have to battle with Alonso for a starting spot and then with Chilwell next year

Agreed on Chelsea behalf but Villa is not the destination I’d have thought for him. Sideways/backward. He could have moved to a much better side. 

To be honest that’s a crazy crazy transfer on his behalf. What’s he thinking? Must be desperate to leave. 

You could see that the pace of the English  game is something he’s just not used to. 
 

Hopefully he can settle and agree we can’t judge of his first game. 

Gray 

I feel like he’s trying to justify himself as he knows there’s a lot of people unhappy Digne wants to leave. He fails to take any criticism. 

Rafa has thrown the clubs dirty laundry into the open. Very very rarely you see managers talk directly about fall outs like he has. Very unprofessional 

Benitez has confirmed Digne has asked to leave the club. 
 

I think the main question here is:

Was the transfer request before he was dropped from the squad and we signed a new LB or was this after the way he’s been treated? I think this is the answer we all need. 

41 minutes ago, RuffRob said:

I didn't say he would be useful in replacing Gomez, but Davies and Delph and Gbamin do need replacing. We dont have money to replace all these squad midfeilders with established top 10 player, so we still need to be a little creative. 

He will be affordable and does have the potential to actually have the 'Grey' factor of improving and getting back to his initial promise  under a different environmnet and different managment. I would rather see this sort of purchase than another Delph type purchase. 

To me get the three named shipped out and replaced over January and the summer window. All the better if we get half season overlap. 

As highlighted Benitez will play this lad every week. At who’s expense? Likely Gomes. For me this is the start of us having to accept mid to lower table obscurity. 
 

Buying young players is all well and good buy they need to be at a level where we will likely receive high sell on fees. This again is a Benitez safe signing. Poor very poor. 

7 hours ago, RuffRob said:

Why?

There is not a great amount of depth in our midfeild beyond an ageing Allan and Doucoure. 

Delph, Gbamin and possibly Davies need moving on. We will need some number. 

He has bags of energy, young and actually has quite a lot of good traits and could yet develop in to a very capable player. 

There are the type of players we are going to need to swap out with our poor squad players. 

Not going to be silly money. 

He’s not top 10 level. Undeniable. Certainly not better than Gomes. Slightly better than Davies. The problem here is Benitez will play him every week. It just shouts mediocrity. 

Longstaff is not the type of player we need. My god what the hell have we  become?

Is Rafa really doing all this? Someone please please stop this. We are increasingly becoming a club looking to fight relegation please end this nightmare 

Is this the Holgate thread?

Longstaff is available for free in the summer. It’s a cheeky bid from Newcastle. Under no circumstances should we sell to them as they are direct rivals for relegation. 

Genuinely think it’ll be Potter if we do get rid of Benitez.
 

I’m also very intrigued to see what Rooney does this season. Far to early to know if he will be a good match for us.