New Contracts?

[eamonn]

It's a fine line between selling the club's ambitions to a player whose next contract will likely see him at the peak of his career as well as earnings potential, and dismissing 3-0 hammerings to Arsenal and Chelsea as normal events that we can't do much about, no matter how true it may be.

[silhillvilla]

We need to wrap Delph and vlaar up ASAP. The longer it drags the more I'd be inclined to say they're off.

[pauliewalnuts]

We need to wrap Delph and vlaar up ASAP. The longer it drags the more I'd be inclined to say they're off.

I don't disagree, but worth noting that we're currently seeing a reminder of one reason why there won't be a multi-club scramble for Vlaar. He's injured so frequently and rarely just for a game here and there.

Shame, really.

[PeterWithesShin]

We need to wrap Delph and vlaar up ASAP. The longer it drags the more I'd be inclined to say they're off.

I don't disagree, but worth noting that we're currently seeing a reminder of one reason why there won't be a multi-club scramble for Vlaar. He's injured so frequently and rarely just for a game here and there.

Shame, really.

As i've mentioned before, it could also be a reason we haven't given him a new contract yet. He's missed a quarter of our league games through injury since joining us.

[PaulWinch again]

I think it's more important that we wrap up Delph's and Grealish's deals quickly.

[Witton Warrior]

I think it's more important that we wrap up Delph's and Grealish's deals quickly.

Grealish is in for 4 years isn't he?

[PaulWinch again]

Nope runs out in the summer I think.

[Smoke]

Seemed odd to me that Westwood was captain yesterday over Delph.

Could this be telling of his contract 'situation' ?

[supertom]

Seemed odd to me that Westwood was captain yesterday over Delph.

Could this be telling of his contract 'situation' ?

I wouldn't read too much into it. Westwood is clearly rated very highly by Lambert, largely for his no-nonsense approach and just doing the simple things. He's also skippered Crewe at a young age, and he's had the armband for us in pre-season, so it's not entirely out of the blue.
I suppose also being that deep lying midfielder right in the heart of the side is possibly an ideal position for a skipper.
I'm not Westy's biggest fan but one thing he does seem to have is a stable demeanour. He just carries on doing what he does, where-as Delphy for example can sometimes go a bit frantic. He gets a rush of blood at the end of a barnstorming 30 yard power run and then he'll over hit a pass, or rush a pass, or scuff a shot. Or conversely throw himself into a Scholes-esque tackle that gets him booked.

That being said, were it my choice, I'd have given Delph the armband, because of his passion. I like Westwood but he's as good as he's ever going to be and if his aspiration is to be like Michael Carrick, he's succeeded, but he won't get better unless he aspires to be. I do wish Pirlo was his role model.

[Malandro]

Grealish has pulled out of Irish u21, speculation he is holding contract talks. On news now, but on tablet so dunno how to link

[PeterWithesShin]

Gareth Southgate has revealed England have not given up hope of tempting the Aston Villa starlet Jack Grealish away from the Republic of Ireland.

The Birmingham-born Grealish had been preparing for the Republic of Ireland’s game in Norway on Thursday but was withdrawn by Aston Villa on Monday afternoon. Last week Ryanair offered free flights to his family for the 19-year-old’s senior debut, should it happen.

He has been playing for Ireland since he was 14 but is yet to decide on his senior future and Southgate hopes it is with England.

“The family and Jack are aware of our interest,” said Southgate before Friday’s Euro 2015 play-off with Croatia at Molineux.

“Jack is somebody we have spoken to over the years, him and his family. He has been in our younger development teams.

“Up to this point they have preferred to remain with Ireland. These things are quite fluid at younger ages, it happened with Michael Keane and his brother [Will] and Jonathan Bond came from Wales.

“Lots of other home nations are running development camps at a young age so players develop an allegiance quite young. You are allowed to switch once when you are a young player and Jack is someone we are monitoring and we’ll keep our eye on that situation.”

The Ireland No2, Roy Keane, is also assistant manager at Villa Park and the national coach, Martin O’Neill, made a personal check on Grealish in Villa’s development squad’s 3-0 win over Bolton last week.

Grealish, who is in talks with Aston Villa over a new contract after breaking into the first team, qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents.

Southgate will not put any pressure on the Villa academy graduate, though, insisting it is up to him to decide his future.

He said: “I haven’t spoken to him personally but certainly people from our organisation have kept in contact. We have been monitoring him but in the end it’s up to the player.

“He’s going to make his decision on where he wants to go. More and more, because of the nature of society, there are several players in our system who are dual nationality and had that choice to make.”

Meanwhile, the former England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce believes Southgate should get the pick of the talent for the games with Croatia.

They play the return leg in Vinkovci on 14 October and the current Nottingham Forest manager believes it should be a priority over the senior squad.

He said: “If it was me and I was in charge of the senior side, I would turn round to the Under-21 boss and say ‘you pick everyone age appropriate you want; we’re playing San Marino and Estonia, and we have also beaten Switzerland away. I will take anyone you don’t want after that’. That’s what I would do for the personal development for the country.

“I really wish them well next week. Gareth’s a really good friend of mine. I’m a patriot of this country and I’m desperate for England to do well.”

Luke Shaw, the Manchester United left back, has said that he would be happy to represent the Under-21 side despite having previously been called up to the senior squad for the World Cup.

[Malandro]

Cheers.

[curiousorange]

Twitter rumours he's agreed a new deal. Is this right? Who knows, but fingers crossed. Major talent.

[Gregorys Boy]

Good on Southgate for not presuing the issue.  I always thought it would be best for Grealish to stick with Ireland.  I think he is one who will sign.  He has grown up at the club, seems quite level headed, and his whole career to seek glory elsewhere. 

[Malandro]

Good on Southgate for not presuing the issue.  I always thought it would be best for Grealish to stick with Ireland.  I think he is one who will sign.  He has grown up at the club, seems quite level headed, and his whole career to seek glory elsewhere. 

I don't think I've ever seen a youngster coming into the first team that has been so roughly treated by the opposition - that must be a good sign