which is more than can be said of Mr Fox if quotes of him telling Fab that he will never realize his ambition of helping us into the CL are true. Even if it's a realistic thing to say, hardly motivational.
We continue our new feature as we explore the lives of our first team players. Next up, we hear the choices of midfield ace Fabian Delph.1] Stan Petrov took me to the cleaners!I was a massive Stan Petrov fan when I arrived at Villa. I was so excited at even training with him. I knew all about him.He was an elegant player who worked ridiculously hard. He was the captain of the club. I was just really excited to meet him and learn from him.I'd seen his goals, his tackling and his battling. I couldn't wait for that first training session.But he took me to school. It was the first session of 11 v 11.We were playing Fiorentina the following day and my mindset was to impress and train the way I had always done, getting amongst people.He took me to the cleaners! I couldn't get anywhere near him. It's something I will never forget.It was a massive lesson. I learned so much from training with him in those subsequent years. I developed as a midfielder thanks to him.He was always so generous with his time and his advice out there on the training field. He was inspirational.I still chat to him now. We get on really well. I still bring that first session up with him now. He just smiles!I also tell him he's my idol. That's when he tells me to shut up.2] Cheeky Chelsea.My goal against Chelsea was a great moment but it's also a sore subject for me.I saw people saying 'Delph's Cruyff flick' which was nice but I also saw that loads of people were asking 'Did he mean it?'For me it's a case of 'should I even answer that?' Everyone has that moment when they have that bit of brilliance and that was my moment.To be questioned on it, I was thinking 'come on guys, I'm a professional footballer!'But overall it was a great moment for me - and a great victory for the team more importantly.3] Guitar hero…I've been playing the guitar for about four months.I started just because I wanted to give it a go. I've got to be honest, I'm not that good at the moment because I'm just a beginner.But once I have had some time at it, I'm telling you there won't be any songs I can't play!My teacher is a guy called Brian. I'm really enjoying the lessons with him.I'm learning pretty quickly. I'm enjoying the acoustic guitar so I will be sticking with that.4] Suits you Fab…I know a lot of people around the place will be shocked to know that I wore a suit on the day I signed for Villa in August 2009.But it just shows the respect I had for the club. I certainly see myself as a man with good manners - and I thought this was appropriate attire for the day.I thought it was respectful - I was only 19-years-old at the time and I was signing for a historic, huge football club.I know you can tell I don't know how to wear a suit properly but I have attempted it at least.5] Yorkshire through and through - but an adopted Brummie.I am very proud of being from Yorkshire - it's very important to me as a person.I am Bradford born-and-bred and will always feel passionately about that.But there's no question I am an adopted Brummie. I said to my wife a few nights ago, in fact: "Our daughter will be a Brummie you know!"I love the area, particularly since I moved here properly a few years ago.Heading to Birmingham from Yorkshire was a big thing for me. I didn't settle initially.But now it feels like home, I feel comfortable and I think that shows on the pitch. You can see that I am a lot happier.
Cahill?
Its a good news story isnt it. I'm struggling to think of a fairly recent departure from Villa that went on to be a better player at a "bigger" club than us. Yorke obviously the exception but Milner, Young, Bosnich to mention three all might have earned more money but went backwards as players.