Karim El Ahmadi CONFIRMED (Reply #278)

[Percy McCarthy]

At least he's saying he wants to play against them. Give it 12 months and that will change if he does well.

[OCD]

The 16 goals was while playing as a striker and I'm basing 8 on him being predominately a wide player during 12/13. 

Unfortunately it's not as simple as 'he scores 16 goals when he's playing as a striker'. We were a much better side then with Carew, Young, Milner and Downing helping to create more chances for him. Darren Bent has effectively replaced him too. On top of that he's reaching what should be the peak of his career and it will only be downhill from there. Before, the prospect of selling him was largely dismissed but with how things have changed, we would have to consider any serious approaches for him. I think Lambert can use him effectively and we can see more of the old Gabby but selling him could be the right move from the squad point of view.

[not3bad]

At least he's saying he wants to play against them. Give it 12 months and that will change if he does well.

We'd make a nice fat profit anyway.

[Percy McCarthy]

Yes, and that's the way to look at it. There's nothing we can do about the motives of players (as long as we're not paying them as much as some will), so we should embrace it and use it to our advantage.

[PaulWinch again]

El Ahmadi said:?“Villa is a top club. I will miss Feyenoord, but nobody will blame me I want to take this step.

“I am looking forward to playing against clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.”

Is it too much to ask for new players to lie about their reasons for joining us if necessary and not admit that they couldn't give a rats ass who they're playing for as long as they can play against the Sky 4?!

I must admit I found that quote rather annoying too

I'm not sure what's wrong with that really, he's said Villa are a top club and that he wants to test himself against the best in the league. That's what I'd probably expect to hear from most players.

[nigel]

El Ahmadi said:?“Villa is a top club. I will miss Feyenoord, but nobody will blame me I want to take this step.

“I am looking forward to playing against clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.”

Is it too much to ask for new players to lie about their reasons for joining us if necessary and not admit that they couldn't give a rats ass who they're playing for as long as they can play against the Sky 4?!

I must admit I found that quote rather annoying too

I'm not sure what's wrong with that really, he's said Villa are a top club and that he wants to test himself against the best in the league. That's what I'd probably expect to hear from most players.

Agree

[Toronto Villa]

El Ahmadi said:?“Villa is a top club. I will miss Feyenoord, but nobody will blame me I want to take this step.

“I am looking forward to playing against clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.”

Is it too much to ask for new players to lie about their reasons for joining us if necessary and not admit that they couldn't give a rats ass who they're playing for as long as they can play against the Sky 4?!

I must admit I found that quote rather annoying too

I'm not sure what's wrong with that really, he's said Villa are a top club and that he wants to test himself against the best in the league. That's what I'd probably expect to hear from most players.

Agree

it's not a big deal at all. I don't care what motivates him, and if putting the boot into the more successful teams is it then great. He wants to play in this league and do well for us. That's good enough for me.

[Concrete John]

If he had gone the other way and tried to persuade us he's a live long Villa fan I'd have been more pissed off that he thinks we're stupid.

He sounds hungry*, which can only be a good thing.


*yes, I know there's a Dunne joke waiting to happen there!

[ozzjim]

Are people being critical of a player relishing facing the top sides and being up for it? This thread has had its moments.

[VILLA MOLE]

If he had gone the other way and tried to persuade us he's a live long Villa fan I'd have been more pissed off that he thinks we're stupid.

He sounds hungry*, which can only be a good thing.

he has just had an out of fatbody experience with those words


*yes, I know there's a Dunne joke waiting to happen there!

[Ad@m]

Are people being critical of a player relishing facing the top sides and being up for it? This thread has had its moments.

It isn't that long ago that players joining the Villa relished playing for one of the top sides?

His comments show, as someone else has said, that to a decent player in the Netherlands we are now just a generic Premier League team.

Secondly, compare and contrast his comments to those of Lambert when he joined.  Plenty on here were messing their pants over Lambert talking up our history, etc, etc - is it too much trouble for new signings to try to look at the club in the same way as us fans?  Even if they don't mean it (you reckon Lambert's a lifelong Villa fan?!) then they should at least say the right things.

We all bemoan the fact that modern footballers are mercenaries - comments like those quoted support that view.

[Ad@m]

In fact, fuck it - I'll be the first to compare him to CNZ, the mercenary bastard!!! 

[James]

It's turning into one hell of a long conversation! Two days and not expected to be done before Monday? Oh well!

[J]

Are people being critical of a player relishing facing the top sides and being up for it? This thread has had its moments.

It isn't that long ago that players joining the Villa relished playing for one of the top sides?

His comments show, as someone else has said, that to a decent player in the Netherlands we are now just a generic Premier League team.

Secondly, compare and contrast his comments to those of Lambert when he joined.  Plenty on here were messing their pants over Lambert talking up our history, etc, etc - is it too much trouble for new signings to try to look at the club in the same way as us fans?  Even if they don't mean it (you reckon Lambert's a lifelong Villa fan?!) then they should at least say the right things.

We all bemoan the fact that modern footballers are mercenaries - comments like those quoted support that view.

I'd rather he was honest like he has been.  Personally I'm fed up with footballers giving answers that have clearly been written by their agents/club PR people. As long as he performs on the pitch, I couldn't care less what his motivations are.

[Ger Regan]

Are people being critical of a player relishing facing the top sides and being up for it? This thread has had its moments.

It isn't that long ago that players joining the Villa relished playing for one of the top sides?

His comments show, as someone else has said, that to a decent player in the Netherlands we are now just a generic Premier League team.

Secondly, compare and contrast his comments to those of Lambert when he joined.  Plenty on here were messing their pants over Lambert talking up our history, etc, etc - is it too much trouble for new signings to try to look at the club in the same way as us fans?  Even if they don't mean it (you reckon Lambert's a lifelong Villa fan?!) then they should at least say the right things.

We all bemoan the fact that modern footballers are mercenaries - comments like those quoted support that view.

If Lambert didn't know Villa's history, then there'd be something very wrong. Expecting El Ahmadi to spout on about our history would be like expecting an English player to go on about Twente or AZ's history if they were to sign for them.

And I can guarantee you there would be someone on here complaining if he gave the sort of false and meaningless platitudes you seem to be looking for. Sometimes they just can't win.

Also, we are, at the moment at least, a generic Premier League team, we're not a top team, and if a player came out with something like that it would be a bit embarrassing really. History is all well and good, but you're only as good as your last season.