Hhtoon

It's getting traction! Need the season to start so it will get more media attention..

A bit more than 20m. 7 players hit over 15 goals from 5 different teams....Vardy and Lukaku from outside the top 4. 10 goals would be a good return for a first season, hopefully Rafa can get him in a system that enables that.

Surely he could just line up another job with a signing bonus to cover it?

To be fair there's only a couple of people foaming at the mouth about it and they're doing that about anything in every thread. Everyone else is digging at the methods which are undeniably pretty grim.

No, Nice let him go to Dortmund for less money because that's where he wanted to go. Nonsense. Why would Nice do that ? Also he didn’t go to Dortmund From the plea thread... And yes, Gladbach. Bloody Borussians all look the same to me

No, Nice let him go to Dortmund for less money because that's where he wanted to go.

I find the 2 posts for rumours and subsequent 3 pages of bitching strangely therepeutic. I like just reading the posts and trying to guess the author from their angst.

Thing it was a good idea in principle. Worst part was The Don buggering off on hols. In it together until someone needs to get their hands dirty...

The Nice director is quoted directly as saying that Borussia were the player's preferred choice, not really sure there is much we could have done there other than not bid for him at all if we thought he wasn't interested. Yeah more pissed about no purchase or option to buy on Kenedy

We're gonna look fucking stupid if he turns in to the next Salah after a year of Rafa's tutelage.

Does an option to buy came with a fixed value or is it a 1st refusal? This makes it sound like they can still set a high price....

Class? So much so we stayed up - oh wait !! Now I am not putting our relegation on him but: a.) He wasn't class b.) He couldn't wait to jump ship And we couldn't wait to ditch some of the championship players (Hanley and Murphy) we bought once we were promoted. Can't have it both ways and take it personally, it's just football.

He's probably got a massive cock so doesn't need a car to compensate.

It's football. He played well and tried for us, certainly not his fault we were relegated. He then did what he thought was best for him. We were also quick to move on Murphy and Hanley, and I wouldn't be disappointed myself if Gayle, Hayden and Clark were sold. Yet they helped us get back to the Premiership so shouldn't we repay loyalty? But if them going is best for us then fine, I'm ok with it. I'd love to keep some players for memories sake, but in reality I want the team to be the best it can be.

This is all made up in your head. I mean, it could be true I suppose but unless you are Merino then you don't actually know.

Exactly, nothing sinister. If he fails to get a starting place at his next club and wants another move then maybe his mentality can be questioned but no hard feelings towards him.

Not that a bad deal. If he'd nailed down a place in the team and was happy playing then you offer a new contract with the clause removed or a greater release value.

Blaming agents for everything since Byrne got outed. Maggie Magents

Will be a bit miffed if Rafa sells, doesn't get backed and leaves himself. With our current striker options, any incoming manager would surely set the formation to benefit Mitro if still with us.

Agree with a lot of this. There are thousands of people who support teams outside of the premiership/championship, and I'm sure they love those teams as much as villa fans do. Don't particularly care if they go in to admin and end up in the 3rd tier, they'll still exist and the supporters can still support.

Be the next Thauvin and worth 50m plus a year after we sell him. Maybe. Happy if he's sold cos Rafa feels he doesn't suit his system or doesn't like his attitude, as long as Rafa stays. If we sell him then Rafa leaves and the above happens I'll be fcuked off frankly. Think he deserves a shot at the premiership with someone.

All rip in to Bruce for going on about them, neglecting the fact that one of their small time top officials takes a shitty fanzine interview as an opportunity to have a pop at us. Bellends.

Probably because he'd never get a line of credit anywhere ever again and as an invester that's probably not a wise move. Bet his rep has taken a bit of a beating over SAFC as is.

Dodgy Colo red wasn't it?

In our current position we need players for the now and Rafa has worked with Slimani this season so is less of a risk...if he wants him. We then need another younger striker with potential to compete with him, from a lower price bracket (sadly this isn't likely to be Mitrovich). That then gives us 2/3 seasons for the junior to bed in and hopefully takeover. Then we say a fond farewell to Slimani and a new up and coming youngster comes in to gain experience without being thrown in at the deep end. After that then hopefully the academy is doing it's a job and you unearth the next Harry Kane! Circle of life, bitches. At the moment we are paying the price for past failings and our youngsters are being expected to do a job from the go - see Mitrovich, Thauvin, even Merino and Murphy though Rafa has obviously taken the long game with them as he should, but really we needed them to hit the ground running. Its the project Rafa wants and why he has talked about the academy as part of it. If that means taking a hit for a couple of seasons then so be it.