Fabian Delph - Signed for Manchester City

[pauliewalnuts]

I don't know about "disgraceful".

It's only a football transfer, and football transfers are always surrounded by an element of guesswork.

If it's "guesswork" which seems the case the BBC should keep it in their "gossip" section not make it the main story ??!!

They said he was going to take a medical, not that he'd signed.

I didn't say it "was" guesswork either, I said there's an element of that around transfers all the time.

However my main point was that "disgraceful" for me is ISIS knocking down monuments or killing people, not the BBC being wrong on a transfer.

Why not just be happy he's staying rather that getting so angry about nothing?

[OzVilla]

I think football has moved on for journalists as well. With the likes of Sky Sports News going 24/7 and the online output I bet the pressure to keep ahead of the story is huge.  Also they can't just chuck £500 at a player to get an inside exclusive about another player like they could've 20 years ago.

I reckon their genuine sources have decreased while the pressure and media cycle has increased. 

Hence they put 2 and 2 together to make 5 a lot. They just guess, they have to.

[silhillvilla]

If he's committing himself to villa that's super news but the £8m clause (if true?) needs upping or this situation won't go away.

[kippaxvilla2]

The most plausible explanation I've seen in the media this morning is that he had a change of heart as he was concerned about the reaction and the potential lack of game time he was going to get.  Apparently he called a couple of the players on Friday night to talk about it.

I think he does have genuine affection for the club and seems a sensible bloke. 

He's simply changed his mind and I for one am glad he has.

[damon loves JT]

As for 'assess general suitability and cost benefit,' if I ever write a phrase like that on here I hope somebody will be kind enough to point out that I am a dick.

[Stu]

The only thing I'm pissed off about is that this story appears to have been made up and spread by local Birmingham media, which is very, very disappointing.

[Stu]

As for 'assess general suitability and cost benefit,' if I ever write a phrase like that on here I hope somebody will be kind enough to point out that I am a dick.

Especially if you're talking like that in reference to a human being.

[edgysatsuma89]

Nathan Baker:

“He’s our skipper so it is a big bonus he will be with us next season. He’s one of our main players, it’s great news.”

Doesn't exactly sound like nothing was happening, or you could look at it like he's just answering a question about Delph being here next season. Who knows?

People calling the BBC shit etc, maybe it was just ... true? Who knows? I wouldn't be going as gungho with the media hatred though.

Eitherway I think he's just had a change of heart.

[pauliewalnuts]

As for 'assess general suitability and cost benefit,' if I ever write a phrase like that on here I hope somebody will be kind enough to point out that I am a dick.

Also that they "interviewed" him, like he put on a suit and tie and they asked him about his GCSEs, to make sure he's up to the challenge of getting into the starting eleven - what with Manchester City being so proven in their disdain for high profile benchwarmers.

[The Laughing Policeman]

What's next? Benteke photographed off duty wearing a red T shirt which means he's signed for 'The Mighty Reds YNWA'.

[Monty]

All of us, I'd imagine, have been on the brink of making one decision about our lives and changed our minds at the last minute. I'm just delighted with Fabian - I absolutely never expected him to stay this summer!

[Risso]

As for 'assess general suitability and cost benefit,' if I ever write a phrase like that on here I hope somebody will be kind enough to point out that I am a dick.

Happy to oblige!

[Brend'Watkins]

As for 'assess general suitability and cost benefit,' if I ever write a phrase like that on here I hope somebody will be kind enough to point out that I am a dick.

Also that they "interviewed" him, like he put on a suit and tie and they asked him about his GCSEs, to make sure he's up to the challenge of getting into the starting eleven - what with Manchester City being so proven in their disdain for high profile benchwarmers.

Interviewed him means spoke to his agent.  Can you see Delph saying to Sherwood "Can't make Portugal as I have an ...erm..a dental appointment and I've got to take my dog to the vets".

[shirley_villan]

Citeh fans' take on the Delph story:

This has been nothing more than a step in a process where we interviewed a player to assess general suitability and cost benefit. The player (Delph for those guessing) listened to the likes of Andy Gray bleating his nonsense about Milner only getting half a dozen games last season, whereas he must have started 30+ (some CL) and played in 40+ overall, and took advice from our old mate Micah, who wasn't good enough to get a game with us but who steadfastly refused to transfer because nobody else would pay him half of what we were overpaying him.
The player was nervous, was he good enough to earn a place in our 1st 11? He wasn't sure and he didn't have the courage or ambition to make the move without our guaranteeing him game-time, but we were never going to do that because it's the manager's selection and, in any case, we wouldn't want to employ a player who didn't have the courage and self confidence to want to earn his shirt.
Not a problem to the player, as he can stay at the little club where he's a big fish in a small puddle, and we can breath a big sigh of relief because we found him out as the bottle merchant he was before we entered into contract . . phew . . nice one. Now move on.

Haha, what a cockend.

[silhillvilla]

All of us, I'd imagine, have been on the brink of making one decision about our lives and changed our minds at the last minute.

Yes, most Sunday evenings I go through this process.