Tommy Elphick - signed for Huddersfield

[Steve67]

1-0 Turkey

Who you calling Turkey, chicken knickers?

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Welcome, Tommy, to the best football club in the World!


UTV!
 

[olaftab]

Balls, wrong thread.

It's the age you are.

[eamonn]

Chicken knickers!!

[PeterWithesShin]

1-0 Turkey

Who you calling Turkey, chicken knickers?

Stop flirting because you want my nuggets!

[Gregorys Boy]

Well he has a few goals in him is one good thing I can say.  Besides that its wait and see.  Not sure if Borunemouth would be letting him go if he was that good.  Hope that we hold onto Clark as I can see him being a positive influence.

[Ads]

They didn't want to let him go. They offered him a new contract, but it was the length that was the sticking point.

A club like them cannot be turning down a £3 million offer on a player who is 28.

[Gregorys Boy]

They didn't want to let him go. They offered him a new contract, but it was the length that was the sticking point.

A club like them cannot be turning down a £3 million offer on a player who is 28.

Thanks. 

[paul_e]

They didn't want to let him go. They offered him a new contract, but it was the length that was the sticking point.

A club like them cannot be turning down a £3 million offer on a player who is 28.

Was going into the last year of his contract as well I think.

[joe_c]

If he's replacing Richards or Lescott, those are certainly big shoes to fill.

[kippaxvilla2]

I love this bloke he's just what we've been missing.

Villa's £3m signing is planning an immediate return to the Premier League, and this is how:

Captain-in-the-making Tommy Elphick is bursting with pride as he dons his new colours.

Kitted out in Aston Villa’s smart home strip, the £3m summer signing drips with sweat as he emerges from a gruelling early-morning training session.

He certainly looks the part. But there’s a problem.

“The sooner this goes, the better,’ he says looking down at the Sky Bet Championship logo located on his sleeve.

The search for a striker

There’s a genuine sadness that Villa have dropped down into this position but also a burning desire to right the wrongs of last season.

Elphick isn’t planning on an extended stay in the second tier and throughout this interview he’s keen to relay that message.

Cutting an imposing figure, the 28-year-old is the type of player Villa have been missing.

He’s an experienced campaigner who knows how to lead a side, build momentum and maintain a winning mentality.

And so much are his recent joys that he no longer remembers what it’s like to struggle.

Nathan Baker, Tommy Elpick and Idrissa Gana training with Aston Villa in Austria
Nathan Baker, Tommy Elpick and Idrissa Gana training with Aston Villa in Austria
“For me, the last four years or so have been nothing but success,” he says.

“Leaving Bournemouth was difficult but I always wanted to play for a big club. I’m not saying Bournemouth aren’t but it was just really exciting to come here.

“Things need to change here because there was a lack of guidance last season,

“Sometimes it’s hard to stop losing but with a new manager and new owner it’s exciting times.

“Winning is a habit and with wins comes confidence and then the wins bring you together.

“I know we’ll get this group together.”

The centre-half speaks with passion and determination.

Aston Villa's Tommy Elphick in training at Bodymoor Heath
Aston Villa's Tommy Elphick in training at Bodymoor Heath
When I reflect on the woes of last season he quickly shoots me down, explaining that times are about to change.

A contract extension was offered by Bournemouth but the defender opted for a longer-term deal at Villa after he was immediately won over by Roberto Di Matteo.

The Italian had consulted Elphick’s former Brighton boss and his own old team-mate, Gus Poyet, for a character reference.

Like anyone you speak to about him, there were only good words in return.

That supporters of his formers clubs still worship him is a sign that Villa have got a genuinely good guy.

But the towering stopper isn’t interested in compliments.

Aston Villa's Tommy Elphick in training at Bodymoor Heath
Aston Villa's Tommy Elphick in training at Bodymoor Heath
“I’m not in the game to make friends,” he said.

“I’m in the game to win as many games and titles and accolades as possible.

“That’s a common goal we have all got to draw upon this season.

“We don’t want to be in the Championship, we want to be in the Premier League.

“That’s what we’ll keep striving for.

“You can’t beat winning. It’s a habit that we must get back to as soon as possible.”

Already Elphick is very much a Villa leader.

Aston Villa's Tommy Elphick and Libor Kozak in training at Bodymoor Heath
Aston Villa's Tommy Elphick and Libor Kozak in training at Bodymoor Heath
But he admits: “You can’t be a good leader without the support of the dressing room.

“And there’s plenty of good characters here.

“We’re just lacking a bit of confidence.”

[tomd2103]

I love this bloke he's just what we've been missing.

Villa's £3m signing is planning an immediate return to the Premier League, and this is how:

Captain-in-the-making Tommy Elphick is bursting with pride as he dons his new colours.

Kitted out in Aston Villa’s smart home strip, the £3m summer signing drips with sweat as he emerges from a gruelling early-morning training session.

He certainly looks the part. But there’s a problem.

“The sooner this goes, the better,’ he says looking down at the Sky Bet Championship logo located on his sleeve.

The search for a striker

There’s a genuine sadness that Villa have dropped down into this position but also a burning desire to right the wrongs of last season.

Elphick isn’t planning on an extended stay in the second tier and throughout this interview he’s keen to relay that message.

Cutting an imposing figure, the 28-year-old is the type of player Villa have been missing.

He’s an experienced campaigner who knows how to lead a side, build momentum and maintain a winning mentality.

And so much are his recent joys that he no longer remembers what it’s like to struggle.

Nathan Baker, Tommy Elpick and Idrissa Gana training with Aston Villa in Austria
Nathan Baker, Tommy Elpick and Idrissa Gana training with Aston Villa in Austria
“For me, the last four years or so have been nothing but success,” he says.

“Leaving Bournemouth was difficult but I always wanted to play for a big club. I’m not saying Bournemouth aren’t but it was just really exciting to come here.

“Things need to change here because there was a lack of guidance last season,

“Sometimes it’s hard to stop losing but with a new manager and new owner it’s exciting times.

“Winning is a habit and with wins comes confidence and then the wins bring you together.

“I know we’ll get this group together.”

The centre-half speaks with passion and determination.

Aston Villa's Tommy Elphick in training at Bodymoor Heath
Aston Villa's Tommy Elphick in training at Bodymoor Heath
When I reflect on the woes of last season he quickly shoots me down, explaining that times are about to change.

A contract extension was offered by Bournemouth but the defender opted for a longer-term deal at Villa after he was immediately won over by Roberto Di Matteo.

The Italian had consulted Elphick’s former Brighton boss and his own old team-mate, Gus Poyet, for a character reference.

Like anyone you speak to about him, there were only good words in return.

That supporters of his formers clubs still worship him is a sign that Villa have got a genuinely good guy.

But the towering stopper isn’t interested in compliments.

Aston Villa's Tommy Elphick in training at Bodymoor Heath
Aston Villa's Tommy Elphick in training at Bodymoor Heath
“I’m not in the game to make friends,” he said.

“I’m in the game to win as many games and titles and accolades as possible.

“That’s a common goal we have all got to draw upon this season.

“We don’t want to be in the Championship, we want to be in the Premier League.

“That’s what we’ll keep striving for.

“You can’t beat winning. It’s a habit that we must get back to as soon as possible.”

Already Elphick is very much a Villa leader.

Aston Villa's Tommy Elphick and Libor Kozak in training at Bodymoor Heath
Aston Villa's Tommy Elphick and Libor Kozak in training at Bodymoor Heath
But he admits: “You can’t be a good leader without the support of the dressing room.

“And there’s plenty of good characters here.

“We’re just lacking a bit of confidence.”

Good interview.  I think we need to add another character like that in the midfield area as well.

[peter w]

Exactly. One of these in your team is nice. 3 or 4 and you win things.

[Clampy]

You can tell already he's going to go into management when he packs in playing.

[Tuscans]

Confirmed captain for the rest of the season.