Fabian Delph - Signed for Manchester City

[Matt Collins]

Why do people keep saying Gil is back in the fold?

[john e]

Why do people keep saying Gil is back in the fold?

I was just about to ask the same thing

[tomd2103]

I don't think the club should be overly criticised, as let's face it, signing the new contract meant we got a fee for him (albeit way below his worth) when he could have just swanned off on a free.

I agree about the unnecessary sentiments that accompanied signing the contract though.  He must have known there was a fair chance he would be leaving and as for the picture a few days ago with him pointing at the armband, well that is just embarrassing.

[Ger Regan]

I'm finding it hard to understand the anger towards Delph. Do you think it was his idea to come out with those comments? I'm angry towards the club for letting his contract run down, agreeing to an 8m release clause (although they may not have had a choice, we don't know), making and releasing that video, the kit promos that were released only a few days ago. I'd love an explanation for those things.

So basically, everything the club does is wrong, and everyone who shits on them is fine.

Well, no, but the club should be taking more than their fair share of the blame for this. I'd really like to hate Delph right now, but I can't as I feel he's not the main culprit.

So the player who tells fans that he was here 'for the long haul' then decides to piss off a few moths later is not the main culprit? Really?

The way I see it is that it was a bit of "decency" that has spectacularly backfired as a result of the club making a bigger deal of him signing up than it was worth (and incidentally I remember quite a few on here giving collymore stick for calling it exactly as it appears will happen).

He is replaceable though, he wasn't exactly tearing up the place before he signed the contract extension (in fact I think I commented as such when he did sign). On his day he is amazing, but if we get a more consistent performer in then we could be ok.

[in exile]

Was he pointing at the arm band or trying to prise it off?

[Small Rodent]

Probably played half a seasons games at a good level in total.

Eminently replaceable.

[Kevin_Brum12]

Like most fans, I was hoping that the news of Delphs departure was garbage, hyped up to generate click-bait for the Evil.  For once, they were right.

The only consolation is we've picked up a lot more for him than we would have done had he not signed the new contract in January.

I hope he rots on Man City's bench for a season and realises that he is a mug.  Far better to be at the greatest club in the world than than at Citeh.

[bob]

A thick footballer leaving a football club run by thick management.

[richard moore]

Must confess I am gutted Delph is leaving. However having thought about it , he is a good player but not a great player. The reason he was important for the team is that the rest of them mainly are so poor at the level that we are playing at, not that he is outstanding. If he was leaving Arsenal their supporters wouldn't give it a second thought but to us it is more important because of what we have got left at the club.

As I said earlier, Man City fans are very underwhelmed by him signing. They know he's not CL or Premier League winning level.

[oldhill_avfc]

Nobody comes out of this with any credit.

Delph has shown himself to be used by the marketeers.

The marketing department look stupid with interviews and using his images on the new kit launch.

Fox and Lerner should have negotiated a much higher release clause (would a barrier of say £15m have put anyone serious off).

[PeterWithe]

Is he in Portugal with the rest of the team or Manchester, he's not actually signed for them yet has he?

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

What about Grealish to move into his spot?

[VillaAlways]

Is he in Portugal with the rest of the team or Manchester, he's not actually signed for them yet has he?

He didn't go to Portugal as his wife's baby is due and he is having his medical at City this weekend.

[Clampy]

Nobody comes out of this with any credit.

Delph has shown himself to be used by the marketeers.

The marketing department look stupid with interviews and using his images on the new kit launch.

Fox and Lerner should have negotiated a much higher release clause (would a barrier of say £15m have put anyone serious off).

The problem with the release clause is that Delph and his agent might have wanted it that low and had we not agreed, he'd have gone for nothing.

[Pete3206]

Why do people keep saying Gil is back in the fold?

I was just about to ask the same thing

Because Sherwood quite clearly stated on AVTV this week that everyone has started with a clean slate.