Fabian Delph - Signed for Manchester City

[supertom]

Nice to see him win player of the month, fully deserved in my view as well.

Premier League player of the month, or was this the Aston Villa player of the month?
Both I'd agree with I should add.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I really don't give a fuck if our players don't get picked for England ( or Belgium, or Bulgaria or Denmark)

The players themselves might though. If Benteke or Okore stop being picked for Belgium or Denmark and see the likes of Lukaku and Agger being picked instead then they are more likely to want to move to clubs with more exposure.

Don't think Delph is quite at the stage to be playing for a team that much better than us though, do you?

As for Benteke, would he have preferred to have another season of scoring goals as the teams main striker, or sit on the bench for half the matches and hardly scoring? I think he'd be noticed more for scoring. In meaningful matches, it'll be interesting to see if Benteke plays ahead of Lukaku for Belgium.

You're arguing against a point that I'm not making.

I'm disagreeing with the person who says that he doesn't want our players to play international football. Because if that's what those players want to do and they think that they can't do it with us then they'll try and go to where they can.

It seemed like you were stating that you thought a player would rather go to a club with more exposure (presumably someone like Chelsea) to get in their international side.

"If Benteke or Okore stop being picked for Belgium or Denmark and see the likes of Lukaku and Agger being picked instead then they are more likely to want to move to clubs with more exposure."

I disagree with that point. Whilst it may happen in England that players get picked on who they play for, I don't think it's that way in Europe, though I could be wrong. Hence I think Benteke would be happy at the moment scoring goals whilst playing every game, unlike what he'd be doing if he was at a club with more exposure as they are far more likely to have players as good as him, if not better.

[Dave]

I disagree with that point. Whilst it may happen in England that players get picked on who they play for, I don't think it's that way in Europe, though I could be wrong. Hence I think Benteke would be happy at the moment scoring goals whilst playing every game, unlike what he'd be doing if he was at a club with more exposure as they are far more likely to have players as good as him, if not better.

My point is that I would like as many of our players as possible to be playing international football because it will mean a) they are probably playing quite well and b) it shows them and others that we are a club at which lots of players play international football.

Nothing more than that.

[john e]

Delph it could be argued was man of the match in every game so far this season

[Tony Erdington]

agreed with him above me..

When does he get a song btw

[paul_e]

I disagree with that point. Whilst it may happen in England that players get picked on who they play for, I don't think it's that way in Europe, though I could be wrong. Hence I think Benteke would be happy at the moment scoring goals whilst playing every game, unlike what he'd be doing if he was at a club with more exposure as they are far more likely to have players as good as him, if not better.

My point is that I would like as many of our players as possible to be playing international football because it will mean a) they are probably playing quite well and b) it shows them and others that we are a club at which lots of players play international football.

Nothing more than that.

This is exactly why I want our players to get the international recognition they deserve, as a youngster if you get an offer from a club that hhas brought in young players and seen them progress to play in world cups that has to make an impression.  Big clubs are full of internationals we should be among them.

[Big Dick Edwards]

And Andros Townsend?! Ridiculous.

He's probably been Spurs best player so far this season and was very good for QPR at the end of last.

There are plenty more players in this squad more worthy of ridicule than Townsend.

My point is, Andre Townsend shouldn't be anywhere near the England squad, and if he wasn't playing for a glamorous London team, he wouldn't be.

Why shouldn't he? For the last nine months or so he's been comfortably the best English player in his position. The fact that he's been doing that for QPR and Spurs is irrelevant.

If he were playing as well as he is for a different team and not being picked (like say, Delph) then there's cause for grievance.

Picking players in form is exactly what should be happening and in this particular case it actually is happening.

We'll just have to see if he fares any better than two other Spurs starlets who played for England in recent times without having done anything particularly worthy of a call-up, Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore. I suspect he won't.

[Olof's Beard]

Anyone seen his post match interview on AVTV?  He is good value, talked about how he was having a rubbish game and his goal dug him "out of a nightmare", how if he was a fan he would be frustrated with his Villa career and he appreciates the support and will score a league goal "when pigs start flying".  I said at the start of the season he would end up our player of the year, and I am sticking by that.

[LeeB]

Anyone seen his post match interview on AVTV?  He is good value, talked about how he was having a rubbish game and his goal dug him "out of a nightmare", how if he was a fan he would be frustrated with his Villa career and he appreciates the support and will score a league goal "when pigs start flying".  I said at the start of the season he would end up our player of the year, and I am sticking by that.

He really does come across as a likeable chap, and I think you're right, he will be our player of the year.

[Matt Collins]

I predicted he'd be our player of the year back in July. I'm claiming it if he is.

I'll let it slip if he isn't of course

[paul_e]

he's playing very well but it's a big leap to suggest anyone as player of the year material when you have a striker with 4 from 4 (and 1 assist) who has barely got out of 1st gear.

[Toronto Villa]

Anyone seen his post match interview on AVTV?  He is good value, talked about how he was having a rubbish game and his goal dug him "out of a nightmare", how if he was a fan he would be frustrated with his Villa career and he appreciates the support and will score a league goal "when pigs start flying".  I said at the start of the season he would end up our player of the year, and I am sticking by that.

He really does come across as a likeable chap, and I think you're right, he will be our player of the year.

Very humble. I like that a lot about him.

[PeterWithesShin]

Fabian Delph was thrilled to receive a standing ovation on his exit from action in the 3-0 win over Rotherham.

Villa supporters rose to their feet to applaud the dynamic midfielder when he came off in the 60th minute in B6.

Delph says that kind of appreciation means a lot to him, particularly when he recalls the injury woes he has suffered in his claret and blue career to date.

He said: "The fans have been great with me. They've been patient.

"I think I've been here four years now and I've been injured most of them.

"If I'm being honest if I was a fan I'd probably be a bit frustrated thinking 'Oh when's he going to start playing.'

"All credit to them, though, they've backed me all the way and it was nice to come off and hear the applause from the fans."

Delph was quoted in the matchday programme saying he needed to score more goals and, as if by magic, he popped up with a fantastic effort in the second half.

He was delighted to get on the scoresheet - praising, in the process, Christian Benteke's awareness.

He added: "It was a great feeling ton score.

"I wasn't having the best of games but I kept going and managed to get the goal and pull myself out of it.

"Christian laid me in and he's the type of player who has got everything in his locker. I knew as soon as I laid it to him that I was going to get it back.

"I don't know how, but I knew it would reach me.

"He was moaning that I didn't take it first time with my left foot. I said to him that if I'd have done that I might have hit the corner flag.

"But I've managed to chop it back and put it in the back of the net."

[mrfuse]

Nice to see him win player of the month, fully deserved in my view as well.

Premier League player of the month, or was this the Aston Villa player of the month?
Both I'd agree with I should add.

Sorry I wasn't very clear, It was Villa player of the month. I feel the same Premier League would be just as deserving.

[eamonn]

Anyone seen his post match interview on AVTV?  He is good value, talked about how he was having a rubbish game and his goal dug him "out of a nightmare", how if he was a fan he would be frustrated with his Villa career and he appreciates the support and will score a league goal "when pigs start flying".  I said at the start of the season he would end up our player of the year, and I am sticking by that.

In a world full of PR-trained footballers giving interviews that wouldn't get them jobs at Poundland, Fabian is a tonic. Honest, direct and a bit of a cheeky fucker. He even had a haunted-hotel in Brum tale to tell the other week on avtv.
It's what the world needs.