Delph signs new deal

[olaftab]

Just noticed other posters saying exactly the same as me, I would do well to read the thread before posting

Nothing wrong with repeating good stuff john e.

[ozzjim]

Just watched his interview on sky today where he talks about what the players and the club means to him and he has genuine emotion in him about it. I love it. A footballer actually saying something really positive in a genuine non cliched after match kind of way. He has set himself well on the way to hero status with his actions and the words to really back that up.

[fredm]

Considering Randy doesn't say much publicly, and isn't around VP very often, he seems to have a good relationship with some of the players I remember Bent saying much the same things about him, how he talks to him regularly and how he had a good relationship, which is surprising as he's never there
Same with Lambert (which you would expect)and Faulkner (same)

Maybe he's more active behind the scenes in a less dramatic way than we imagine

Which makes it all the more infuriating that he leaves a vacuum of leadership at the club. 

That said, in a few months time there could be a DoF in place which, along with Fox, could be the beginning of a decent structure. 
I'm happy with him continuing his pen-pal role, especially if he continues to donate 10m-20m each season, as long as The Club has some sort of leadership near the top of the pyramid.

This is exactly right.  Randy doesn't have to be at VP 7 days a week or even turn up at every match.  If only he had put the right people in the correct positions to run the club with him holding a watching brief and obviously speaking to and encouraging all levels of staff as required, things would have been a lot better.

[paul_e]

Considering Randy doesn't say much publicly, and isn't around VP very often, he seems to have a good relationship with some of the players I remember Bent saying much the same things about him, how he talks to him regularly and how he had a good relationship, which is surprising as he's never there
Same with Lambert (which you would expect)and Faulkner (same)

Maybe he's more active behind the scenes in a less dramatic way than we imagine

Which makes it all the more infuriating that he leaves a vacuum of leadership at the club. 

That said, in a few months time there could be a DoF in place which, along with Fox, could be the beginning of a decent structure. 
I'm happy with him continuing his pen-pal role, especially if he continues to donate 10m-20m each season, as long as The Club has some sort of leadership near the top of the pyramid.

This is exactly right.  Randy doesn't have to be at VP 7 days a week or even turn up at every match.  If only he had put the right people in the correct positions to run the club with him holding a watching brief and obviously speaking to and encouraging all levels of staff as required, things would have been a lot better.

With the talk of a director of football and the allusion to changes behind the scenes in the Delph contract maybe that's exactly what Fox has told him and is what is actually happening.  I'm with Dave W on this, I like Lerner, I think he has his hear in the right place and really does want the best for the club, he just doesn't have the expertise to achieve what he wants.  If he can improve by listening to the right people and getting the right team around him I'm more than happy for him to take us off the market and 'go again'.

A DoF responsible for creating a broad and deep scouting network and building a club ethos at all levels is a good start.  Add a Community Director to build on the excellent work Faulkner did in that regard and let Fox focus on the commercial growth side and we're pretty well set at business level.

Then we need to focus on improving the coaching standards at all levels, with specialised coaching for all aspects.  Once that's in place I'd like to see us return to the young and hungry approach but with the target being to pick up 2-3 high quality youngsters rather than 6-7 gambles.  The squad is pretty deep now so we need to focus on upgrading the quality rather than adding numbers.  Players like Dele Alli, Will Hughes, Youri Tielemanns, etc should be the targets, kids who are clearly too good for the level they're at but might not be ready to go to CL clubs.  Yes they might end up moving on in a year or 2 but that's ok because if that happens we should be looking at a massive profit.

[mrfuse]

Fabian Delph has admitted his Aston Villa team-mates were shocked to learn he had signed a new deal.

A similar thing was said when Gabby signed but that was because his team-mates didn't know he could use a pen.

[supertom]

Best signing we could have made all season. Delighted. He's a good player. I'm glad he's put playing time over financial reward. He could have gone off to a top 6 club and become a squad player. I would guess, aside from Delph being a pretty stand up guy with a sense of loyalty, that having missed so much game time through injury since arriving at the club he wants to be at a club he knows he'll play week in, week out. He's going to skipper us eventually, of that I'm sure. He's our Steven Gerrard. He's the heartbeat of our side. Like Milner, he's not quite good enough to go off to a top club and play week in, week out. He could have 15-20 starts and rack up a few cameos, collect a medal or trophy here and there, but ultimately I think Delphy wants to be playing every game, 90 minutes.

He's young enough too that if it we continue to stagnate he can leave in 2-3 years time and still be in his peak should his silverware ambitions become too much to ignore.

Top man. Not many players would have put pen to paper in similar circumstances.

[Fin Feds Dad]

I posted this back in Aug 2013 - I am thrilled he has signed a new contract.

I am really pleased to see Delph maturing into his position - we are more positive when the ball is at his feet .

I will admit I am biased and have always wanted him to do well since meeting him with my Son at bodymoor. We waited outside the gates to get the players autographs and my Son said to him "can I have your autograph please Fabian ? " which he happily signed - and then Finley asked him if it would be okay to have a photograph with him .

Fabian then said to me "Is that your Son ?" And I nodded - he then said " You should be proud of him - he has got fantastic manners " then said to Finley " well done young man - you have got fantastic manners ".

This was two seasons ago - so Delph would have been 21 at the time.

He was the only player to comment - and as you can imagine it meant a lot to both Fin and me.

I thought it was a really mature comment and approach from him - and ever since have always wanted him to succeed. Long may it continue .

[Brend'Watkins]

It's really heartwarming reading the reports about Delph signing up. It restores your faith in himanity. A humanity where it's not about greed but about loyalty and repayment for support and kindness. Well done Fabian you are an inspiration, a good Apple amongst many rotton ones, a real person, a proper person.

A big thank you also goes out to Randy Lerner. He might have done a lot wrong in his handling of the club on some crucial matters but what is undeniable is that he's a very good people person. It's his one true strength. If he could sort his O'Neils from his Delphs he'd be even better.

[andrew08]

I posted this back in Aug 2013 - I am thrilled he has signed a new contract.

I am really pleased to see Delph maturing into his position - we are more positive when the ball is at his feet .

I will admit I am biased and have always wanted him to do well since meeting him with my Son at bodymoor. We waited outside the gates to get the players autographs and my Son said to him "can I have your autograph please Fabian ? " which he happily signed - and then Finley asked him if it would be okay to have a photograph with him .

Fabian then said to me "Is that your Son ?" And I nodded - he then said " You should be proud of him - he has got fantastic manners " then said to Finley " well done young man - you have got fantastic manners ".

This was two seasons ago - so Delph would have been 21 at the time.

He was the only player to comment - and as you can imagine it meant a lot to both Fin and me.

I thought it was a really mature comment and approach from him - and ever since have always wanted him to succeed. Long may it continue .

As I recall I think you may have said the opposite about another player of a similar age who now plays for Blackpool!

[Chris Jameson]

Fabian Delph. From Yorkshire.

[olaftab]

And despite that a nice young man!

[Karl Bridges]

It's smart from Delph or his agent.

It would be really easy for a team nearer the top of the table to pick him up on a free and use as a squad player.

What he now knows is if one of those teams was to come in and sign him it would cost a reasonable amount of money and so would be more likely to be going in as more than a cheap squad filler.

[Fin Feds Dad]

I posted this back in Aug 2013 - I am thrilled he has signed a new contract.

I am really pleased to see Delph maturing into his position - we are more positive when the ball is at his feet .

I will admit I am biased and have always wanted him to do well since meeting him with my Son at bodymoor. We waited outside the gates to get the players autographs and my Son said to him "can I have your autograph please Fabian ? " which he happily signed - and then Finley asked him if it would be okay to have a photograph with him .

Fabian then said to me "Is that your Son ?" And I nodded - he then said " You should be proud of him - he has got fantastic manners " then said to Finley " well done young man - you have got fantastic manners ".

This was two seasons ago - so Delph would have been 21 at the time.

He was the only player to comment - and as you can imagine it meant a lot to both Fin and me.

I thought it was a really mature comment and approach from him - and ever since have always wanted him to succeed. Long may it continue .

As I recall I think you may have said the opposite about another player of a similar age who now plays for Blackpool!

Don't worry mate - come the glorious day - he is still on my list !

[olaftab]

Yes  that could work in his favour plus another £20M from Liverpool could work in our favour!

[PeterWithesShin]