Fabian Delph - Signed for Manchester City

[dave shelley]

Chris, we can keep going around in circles with this.  The majority of people posting on this thread are of similar opinion to me.  I had a conversation with a friend on Facebook last night about this and, the word scruples cropped up; and the way Delph conducted himself in this matter proved to me, that he lacks them. 

Take a look at all the footage of him since he signed for them.  To me, he doesn't look 100% happy at all.  It's as if he realises he's made a mistake.  Obviously I can't say that for definite, but that is how it comes across to me.

To try and answer your question, it's what the majority of us think.  Primarily, he's gone for the money, in fairness he's not the most gifted of players is he?  Villa at the moment is his level.  He should have stayed and continue to improve, he'd still have been a millionaire with riches the likes of us can only dream of.  Your opinion is every bit as valid as mine.

[Jockey Randall]

I can see it from both sides of the coin. Maybe he did go for extra cash, I'm sure it played some part. My own view is that he originally planned to stay as he felt a strong attachment with Villa and wanted to stick to his word, but other influences whether it was his family/agents/media or whoever changed his mind as he thought playing for a title contender was too much of an opportunity to turn down. Obviously all the other stuff about loyalty he came out with he should never have said and he's quite rightly getting slaughtered for it. As well as being foolish for saying all the things he couldn't back up he just comes across as weak minded as it's seems obvious to me he's been influenced by people in his ear and not by his own original thoughts.

[chrisw1]

he'd still have been a millionaire with riches the likes of us can only dream of.

I guess this is my point.  I'm as dissapointed as anyone as to the way he left (although if you offered me the £8m (or, say, Amavi) and the U-turn issue verses a nice clean free transfer,  I'd have taken the money every day).  But my own view is that as Villa fans we underestimate how much better the football opportunity is elsewhere.  The same as why some people can't understand Benteke joining Liverpool over staying here.  The same as the Leicester fans who think they ought to be a better pull for Veretout than us. 

It's not always about the money, although I'm sure that's a nice bonus.

[andyh]

I thought the snake bastard has already admitted its about the money with all the bullshit about 'doing it for my family' and 'doing it to protect my kids future'.

Anyway fuck him, we are soooo over him, girlfriend !

 

[Toronto Villa]

he'd still have been a millionaire with riches the likes of us can only dream of.

I guess this is my point.  I'm as dissapointed as anyone as to the way he left (although if you offered me the £8m (or, say, Amavi) and the U-turn issue verses a nice clean free transfer,  I'd have taken the money every day).  But my own view is that as Villa fans we underestimate how much better the football opportunity is elsewhere.  The same as why some people can't understand Benteke joining Liverpool over staying here.  The same as the Leicester fans who think they ought to be a better pull for Veretout than us. 

It's not always about the money, although I'm sure that's a nice bonus.

I don't think anyone underestimates or begrudges him the opportunity to further his career. We just hate the manner of his departure. Hundreds of players have left the club over the years of varying quality level, yet none seem to have done it like this. Downing comes close, Hodge had gone before he was gone. Delph was club captain, made his "love" known to all, twice and then did what he did. He's a prick.

[CJ]

He obviously had higher ASP-irations than Villa

[KRS]

Chatting to my Stripy Filth and Man Ure supporting mates about this and they think it was simply for football reasons after being told by friends, family and colleagues that he was mental for turning down the opportunity...personally I agree it was more about money and negotiating better terms for his new contract. Lets face it, it is an opportunity to be part of a squad that has better chances of winning things at the moment so we can't really argue with that but I believe money played a bigger part in his decision making process and his very low "get out" clause was in his new contract for a reason...and most of us would have accepted that if he hadn't spouted his mouth off about loyalty to Villa.

[Dribbler]

A few people on here are like a bunch of scorned lovers and to be honest it's rather embarrassing.

He signed a new contract last season which guaranteed us £8 million, when he could have gone for free. That's meant we got back what we paid for him and were able to purchase a replacement.

He did us some good service when here and as far as I know conducted himself impeccably and is a good character.

Yes he did say he was going to stay, a foolish mistake, but hey on reflection he changed his mind, and why wouldn't he, he's more than entitled to, probably offered double the money, a chance of winning a few things and playing in Europe, and playing with a much better standard of player.

After the farce that we've been for the last 4 years or so, no sane rational person would blame him.

Get over it people, I hate to say it but he's backed himself to succeed and gone on to bigger and better things, and I wish him the best.

[KRS]

He signed a new contract last season which guaranteed us £8 million, when he could have gone for free. That's meant we got back what we paid for him and were able to purchase a replacement.

We all know that £8m is better than nothing but the low release clause was in his contract for at least 3 reasons...

1. it ensures the club get back what we paid for him.
2. it ensures he can leave to any club of his choosing who met the release fee.
3. it ensures he was protected financially for up to 4 years in the event of injury whilst still at Villa.

The release fee was a ridiculously low figure and in normal transfer circumstances we would have easily got over £20m for him so £8m isn't really sufficient to purchase a like for like replacement, and that is why we are taking educated risks on the Gueye and Veretout.

[Dribbler]

Chris, we can keep going around in circles with this.  The majority of people posting on this thread are of similar opinion to me.  I had a conversation with a friend on Facebook last night about this and, the word scruples cropped up; and the way Delph conducted himself in this matter proved to me, that he lacks them. 

Take a look at all the footage of him since he signed for them.  To me, he doesn't look 100% happy at all.  It's as if he realises he's made a mistake.  Obviously I can't say that for definite, but that is how it comes across to me.

To try and answer your question, it's what the majority of us think.  Primarily, he's gone for the money, in fairness he's not the most gifted of players is he?  Villa at the moment is his level.  He should have stayed and continue to improve, he'd still have been a millionaire with riches the likes of us can only dream of.  Your opinion is every bit as valid as mine.

Problem is there's a lot of opinion and interpretation in your view and very little fact.

From footage you've seen of him he doesn't look a 100% happy? What footage have you seen, what was it that indicated he didn't look 100% happy, what percentage happy would you say he is and do you think that if, given the premise he wasn't 100% happy, there could be a plethora of potential causes for said unhappiness?

You say he's primarily gone for the money... what proof do you have of this, and even if that were the case what would be wrong with that? I, along with most sane people would jump at most opportunities to double or triple my income. Especially if it were working for a more prestigious company, surrounded by better talent, where I'd get more opportunities to perform at the height of my profession ad succeed. Really there's nothing however to say that football, and playing for a club competing for things, wasn't at the forefront of his thinking.

You then say 'he's not the most gifted of players is he?  Villa at the moment is his level.  He should have stayed and continue to improve'.

Well he would appear to be one of the most gifted midfielder in the country for his position, hence his now playing for England regularly. I would say that if that is the case then he should be  playing for a top 4, possibly 6 side at minimum, and that (painfully) the Villa of the last few years is below his level. We've helped make him the player he is today, and he's given back to us, but actually to improve he'd be better off playing with better players in a successful team that he can learn from everyday in practice.

In these circumstances i'm not so sure all opinions are equal...

[Chris Smith]

A few people on here are like a bunch of scorned lovers and to be honest it's rather embarrassing.

He signed a new contract last season which guaranteed us £8 million, when he could have gone for free. That's meant we got back what we paid for him and were able to purchase a replacement.

He did us some good service when here and as far as I know conducted himself impeccably and is a good character.

Yes he did say he was going to stay, a foolish mistake, but hey on reflection he changed his mind, and why wouldn't he, he's more than entitled to, probably offered double the money, a chance of winning a few things and playing in Europe, and playing with a much better standard of player.

After the farce that we've been for the last 4 years or so, no sane rational person would blame him.

Get over it people, I hate to say it but he's backed himself to succeed and gone on to bigger and better things, and I wish him the best.

Delph recorded a video where he stated that he wanted to show that there is such a thing as loyalty in football. Then fucked off all the same. It isn't us that are embarrassing.

[passitsideways]

A few people on here are like a bunch of scorned lovers and to be honest it's rather embarrassing.

He signed a new contract last season which guaranteed us £8 million, when he could have gone for free. That's meant we got back what we paid for him and were able to purchase a replacement.

He did us some good service when here and as far as I know conducted himself impeccably and is a good character.

Yes he did say he was going to stay, a foolish mistake, but hey on reflection he changed his mind, and why wouldn't he, he's more than entitled to, probably offered double the money, a chance of winning a few things and playing in Europe, and playing with a much better standard of player.

After the farce that we've been for the last 4 years or so, no sane rational person would blame him.

Get over it people, I hate to say it but he's backed himself to succeed and gone on to bigger and better things, and I wish him the best.

I think you're understating the matter of the "foolish mistake". The fact is that most football fans who don't support one of the very best teams in the world are pretty realistic about how modern football works, in the sense that you can't really expect loyalty from players if you can't meet their playing and financial ambitions, particularly when teams get rid pretty quickly if a player isn't up to scratch. This state of affairs means it so that any apparently genuine, overt commitment of loyalty will be particularly lauded, just because it strikes back so strongly against the cynical perception of things. That's where the ire from the backflip came from: because he basically manipulated the emotions of people who do intensely lov the club.

 I'm not saying that anyone who isn't too offended by what he did is an idiot for being all calm about it, but the fury is hardly unreasonable to an embarrassing degree.

[chrisw1]

He signed a new contract last season which guaranteed us £8 million, when he could have gone for free. That's meant we got back what we paid for him and were able to purchase a replacement.

We all know that £8m is better than nothing but the low release clause was in his contract for at least 3 reasons...

1. it ensures the club get back what we paid for him.
2. it ensures he can leave to any club of his choosing who met the release fee.
3. it ensures he was protected financially for up to 4 years in the event of injury whilst still at Villa.

The release fee was a ridiculously low figure and in normal transfer circumstances we would have easily got over £20m for him so £8m isn't really sufficient to purchase a like for like replacement, and that is why we are taking educated risks on the Gueye and Veretout.

You seem to infer some self interest (to the player) in the new contract & release clause.  Lets face it, it was primarily to help us out.  He could so easily have gone the same route as Milner (this season), Ings and countless before them.  I doubt the 'injury insurance' was top of his mind when he signed it and there's no doubt he could have pocketed a large portion of that £8m in a signing on fee if he had played things differently.

This isn't all about money, however much some would like it to be.

[Dribbler]

He signed a new contract last season which guaranteed us £8 million, when he could have gone for free. That's meant we got back what we paid for him and were able to purchase a replacement.

We all know that £8m is better than nothing but the low release clause was in his contract for at least 3 reasons...

1. it ensures the club get back what we paid for him.
2. it ensures he can leave to any club of his choosing who met the release fee.
3. it ensures he was protected financially for up to 4 years in the event of injury whilst still at Villa.

The release fee was a ridiculously low figure and in normal transfer circumstances we would have easily got over £20m for him so £8m isn't really sufficient to purchase a like for like replacement, and that is why we are taking educated risks on the Gueye and Veretout.

Well given that the 3 reasons you mention are valid, and they sound perfectly plausible and even sensible, they sound quite mutually beneficial.

Just remember also however, that in signing that contract mid way through the season, he may have guaranteed himself an income for 4 years if he stayed, but that also meant he lost out on a potential large signing on fee if he left for a new club a a free agent.

You say £20m in 'normal circumstances', but signing a contract with 6 months left isn't 'normal circumstances'. I would say with the money we have found good replacements, potentially better, and all player purchases are risks to some extent, so i think we've done quite well with our educated ones.

You never know, maybe Delph knew his legs were a big risk of going again, so he thought he'd do us a favour by going to Man City so he wouldn't saddle us with another crock player!

[DeKuip]

A few people on here are like a bunch of scorned lovers and to be honest it's rather embarrassing.

He signed a new contract last season which guaranteed us £8 million, when he could have gone for free. That's meant we got back what we paid for him and were able to purchase a replacement.

He did us some good service when here and as far as I know conducted himself impeccably and is a good character.

Yes he did say he was going to stay, a foolish mistake, but hey on reflection he changed his mind, and why wouldn't he, he's more than entitled to, probably offered double the money, a chance of winning a few things and playing in Europe, and playing with a much better standard of player.

After the farce that we've been for the last 4 years or so, no sane rational person would blame him.

Get over it people, I hate to say it but he's backed himself to succeed and gone on to bigger and better things, and I wish him the best.

The first sensible post I've read on this read.
The lad chose to change jobs to better his career and no doubt his pay, something that happens every day of the week in real life.
The fact that he was indecisive shows nothing more to me than he was happy in his job and was torn over what do - something else that many people will have pondered over in life.
The loyalty comments have backfired on him and thats a shame, but throughout his time at Villa he was proud to play for the club and was happy here.
The "snake" stuff is pretty juvenile and some of the Villa fans I know accusing him of a lack of loyalty haven't been to Villa Park for a few years because they didn't like Lambert, or Lerner, or whatever. They'll chop and change their minds about the club at the drop of a hat.
A footballer grows up in an every man for himself system and year after year will see his mates discarded by the club when they find someone better, and when they do make it know full well that a run of bad form will see fans wanting them out.
There's no loyalty in the game, it's about fans and clubs getting the best they can get in their team (fair enough) but also from a players' point of view getting to the best level he can get too.
I'm still gutted he's gone as I enjoyed watching him play, but that's football and I'm looking forward to seeing a new look Villa this season, including a number of young men who have also just changed jobs to further their careers.
I've no problem wishing Delph all the best in his career.