Fabian Delph - Signed for Manchester City

[old man villa fan]

If I was a player, i'd rather have those stats and a bunch of trophies that I played a decent part in helping win, than 150 starts and sod all to show for it. It would be different if he was never playing but he's played in at least two thirds of their league games every season he was there.

Clearly not enough for Milner.  He could have stayed on at Man City and won far more there than what he is going to win at Liverpool.

[pauliewalnuts]

He's the most natural replacement to Gerrard (how he used to play) that they could have got - if they play him in the centre.

Yes, that's what bothers me.

He's the perfect replacement for Gerrard. He's 10 times the player Henderson is.

[Toronto Villa]

This is the article I was on about. Oh what could have been...

James Milner article

[PeterWithesShin]

If I was a player, i'd rather have those stats and a bunch of trophies that I played a decent part in helping win, than 150 starts and sod all to show for it. It would be different if he was never playing but he's played in at least two thirds of their league games every season he was there.

Clearly not enough for Milner.  He could have stayed on at Man City and won far more there than what he is going to win at Liverpool.

Or as he's already got a bunch of winner medals he's happy to try something else. Maybe he's been promised a run as a CM plus the chance to win things. It's not like he's joined Stoke.
Regardless of why he left, his time at City has been a success for him and he's been a regular part of a side competing at the top level and winning trophies.

[pauliewalnuts]

If I was a player, i'd rather have those stats and a bunch of trophies that I played a decent part in helping win, than 150 starts and sod all to show for it. It would be different if he was never playing but he's played in at least two thirds of their league games every season he was there.

Clearly not enough for Milner.  He could have stayed on at Man City and won far more there than what he is going to win at Liverpool.

Or as he's already got a bunch of winner medals he's happy to try something else. Maybe he's been promised a run as a CM plus the chance to win things. It's not like he's joined Stoke.
Regardless of why he left, his time at City has been a success for him and he's been a regular part of a side competing at the top level and winning trophies.

But but but he could have stayed here and become a Villa legend etc etc etc

He went there, yes, he earned a shit load of money, he played a fair amount, and won a load of silverware. Which totally pisses over the original "just going for the money argument.

He's now going to Liverpool, which pisses over the "it's about the money" argument yet again.

Likes you said, he's won a load of shit and is making his decision about what he wants to do next.

There is quite clearly no way he should have stuck around with us, for example. And missed out on those 14th, 15th and 17th place finishes.

[Dante Lavelli]

Does Pogba count as homegrown following his time at Man U?

[Dante Lavelli]

Does Pogba count as homegrown following his time at Man U?

[Dave]

No, was around three months short of the required time when he left for Italy.

[paul_e]

The bold bit is the important bit, they could sign some of the top rated youngsters in europe to be the squad squad filler without having to name them in the 25.  By reserves I mean lads that have been there for a few years and not broken through but are moving out of the academy age group.  They may as well keep a few of those types of players around for now having backed themselves into a hole with the squad, if you need filler is it better to keep those guys or sign players like Sinclair who end up fed up and looking to get away?

Keep those guys. Obviously. What you seem to be completely ignoring though is that in Man City's case "those guys" don't exist. When I said that the only people currently on Man City's books who meet the necessary criteria are Hart, Clichy and Wright, I didn't mean "Hart, Clichy, Wright and a bunch of other players from their reserves". It's literally those three.

I don't know the options they have but I think this idea that they'll 100% be going out to buy in 5 players to fill the quota just feels like bullshit to me but I've seen it used as justification for all kinds of nonsense rumours this summer.

You don't think that they might be written by people who DO know the options that they have and therefore know that this is an actual thing?

They might not go out and buy five more home-grown players, but like I said - if they don't they'll be submitting a squad of fewer than 25 players. Which is fine, there's no problem in them doing that. But those are literally the only two options available to them.

I can find 1 player who they'll have to do that with if they want to keep him and then there's a whole bunch of players on their books who turn 21 in the next 6-12 months and will all need squad places next year.  They may register a squad of less than 25 or they may add some of these players on the official squad (a few teams have done this with their best youngsters since the rules came in) but either way it's semantics, I think they're more likely to use a few of these players to fill out a couple of gaps than they are to buy 5 home grown players this summer. Hence I think a hell of a lot of the media speculation with them recently has been built around a journalist seeing they only have 3 HG players and then just arbitrarily linking them with players who would raise that quota without any real thought or evidence to back it up. 

[RussellC]

Sterling will tick one box for them, but I'd imagine they'll be looking to load-out a number of the aforementioned youngsters, rather than add to them to a squad that'll be looking to seriously compete in every competition they're in this season.

They'll definitely be looking for home-grown options and Delph will tick every box in terms of calibre and cost. We've just got to hope that he will see the perils of the move and stay true to his sentiments of a few months ago.

[brontebilly]

This is the article I was on about. Oh what could have been...

James Milner article

Also a timely reminder that his best form in a Villa shirt came from Dec-May in his last season, he was a typical run all day on the wing type player before then and since. Never understand the adulation he gets on here compared to the likes of Barry and Young who delivered far more for us. Downing had a similar purple patch for half a season for us but is roundly abused.

If Delph does leave as seems certain, he will be a far more wealthier man but his first choice starting midfield spot at the Euros could be under threat due to lack of regular football. Would love if he stayed but moving from perennial relegation battlers to perennial title contenders is a no brainer really. He has a lot to be thankful to Paul Lambert for, many managers would have sold Delph off to a championship club when he was really struggling.

[paul_e]

As I say I fully expect them to add some, but only players who can improve their first 18, it's the idea that they'd sign HG players who don't even get into the matchday squad just for the quota that I'm arguing against.

[RussellC]

As I say I fully expect them to add some, but only players who can improve their first 18, it's the idea that they'd sign HG players who don't even get into the matchday squad just for the quota that I'm arguing against.

I suppose the problem that City will face, will be finding HG players who will improve their match-day 18. Sterling and Delph (debatable) aside, who else can they realistically get?

[edgysatsuma89]

This is the article I was on about. Oh what could have been...

James Milner article

Also a timely reminder that his best form in a Villa shirt came from Dec-May in his last season, he was a typical run all day on the wing type player before then and since. Never understand the adulation he gets on here compared to the likes of Barry and Young who delivered far more for us. Downing had a similar purple patch for half a season for us but is roundly abused.

If Delph does leave as seems certain, he will be a far more wealthier man but his first choice starting midfield spot at the Euros could be under threat due to lack of regular football. Would love if he stayed but moving from perennial relegation battlers to perennial title contenders is a no brainer really. He has a lot to be thankful to Paul Lambert for, many managers would have sold Delph off to a championship club when he was really struggling.

In what way is Delph certainly leaving?

Downing gets stick because he was/is a massive wimp.

Young gets stick because he dives a lot. I hated it when he was playing for us. He has painted his own target on his back.

[paul_e]

As I say I fully expect them to add some, but only players who can improve their first 18, it's the idea that they'd sign HG players who don't even get into the matchday squad just for the quota that I'm arguing against.

I suppose the problem that City will face, will be finding HG players who will improve their match-day 18. Sterling and Delph (debatable) aside, who else can they realistically get?

Exactly my point, even if I've not made it well over the last couple of pages.