Jesús García Pitarch - binned

[FatSam]

I most found it altogether cringe when he sat next to Smith after we were promoted and had to get involved in an interview with Deano talking about the plans and ambitions.

Do you remember HDE?

[Ger Regan]

I would have serious concerns if Purslow is deeply involved in the selection of transfer targets as that's not really he remit. He clearly needs to be the one to ultimately approves things, but it should be on the basis of what is recommended to him.

[BC Villain]

Interesting reading from Guillem Balague

It may seem strange that Suso García Pitarch leaves Aston Villa after promoting the team two years earlier than planned, taking them to a cup final and guaranteeing their presence in the Premier (that is, sports success is undeniable), but it is not I pray all that glitters.

CEO Christian Purslow did not always readily accept the owners' relationship with the sports director. In case Dean Smith had to be replaced, he was asked for advice (Suso suggested Javi Gracia, Chris Hughton, Bruno Lage, Purslow wanted Steven Gerrard or John Terry)

Without the presence of the owners (they haven't been to see the team for seven months), Purslow (who does not live in Birmingham) covers a lot of ground. Thus the signing of Drinkwater was his and Dean Smith's (Suso was in London signing Nzonzi)

The owners asked Suso for a quality jump in the squad and on the bench for the following season. Contacts were established with high-level coaches eager to get on the bandwagon. But the CEO felt sidelined and the relationship with Suso deteriorated.

Smith and Suso have received media criticism for passing on interesting information that protects Purslow. Difficult to work in these conditions. Suso has preferred not to continue despite having one more year of contract, and he told the owners a while ago.

[mr-villa]

Well if he does end up at Valencia lets see how many of those players he delivered to Villa he comes breaking the door down for.  Tell you what I'll answer it myself - NONE!!

[AsTallAsLions]

Well if he does end up at Valencia lets see how many of those players he delivered to Villa he comes breaking the door down for.  Tell you what I'll answer it myself - NONE!!

Indeed

[eamonn]

*We were promoted one year earlier than planned, not two.

[Des Little]

Just re-read it. That first paragraph renders the rest of the article null and void. Suso didn’t get us promoted, to the cup final or keep us up; Deano and the coaching staff did.

[Damo70]

Let not forget according to some Trezeguet is shit as well 😂

For most of the season I didn't rate him particularly highly but when the pressure was on towards the end of the season and the going got tough Trezeguet stepped up as much as anybody for me.

[PaulWinch again]

I know it’s not as black and white as this, but without Trezeget we’d be down. Therefore money well spent.

[Damo70]

I was excited with the Pitarch appointment as he was at both Valencia and Athletico Madrid when they were reaching European finals and challenging Barcelona and Real Madrid. But I am impressed that Villa have moved so quickly and decisively to take action having obviously decided he hadn't done well enough in his role.

[Mister E]

From my experience of working with orgnisations and CEOs, and from what I've read on this thread, Purslow's behaviour is exactly what would be expected of the man who has ultimate responsibility. Furthermore, in the context of a football club and his previous experience at two big clubs of course he is going to be involved in the football: that's what the club does, after all!
Regarding Pitarch, I don't mourn his departure at all: I don't see anything that he's done to celebrate particularly.
But, the next 3-4 weeks will show whether the new direction is better than the previous one on the transfer market.

[N'ZMAV]

don't think Judy is going to be happy with him at home all day now

[Dante Lavelli]

From my experience of working with orgnisations and CEOs, and from what I've read on this thread, Purslow's behaviour is exactly what would be expected of the man who has ultimate responsibility. Furthermore, in the context of a football club and his previous experience at two big clubs of course he is going to be involved in the football: that's what the club does, after all!
Regarding Pitarch, I don't mourn his departure at all: I don't see anything that he's done to celebrate particularly.
But, the next 3-4 weeks will show whether the new direction is better than the previous one on the transfer market.

That is how I see it too.  We already have absent owners so we need a man on the ground who’s finger prints are on everything.  By that I don’t mean interfering but more so making sure each department is challenged and accountable for their actions.

[PeterWithesShin]

If he's out of work then his local supermarkets and better hire some more security.

[brontebilly]

Granted Suso is trying to salvage some of his reputation with a friendly media pundit but some of what is suggested there is very concerning. I've never taken to Purslow either I must say, wasn't he the one pushing Thierry Henry from day one? If there is any truth that Purslow was pushing for Terry then his position as assistant is untenable.

I think Smith needs to take a lot of the blame regarding the signings, didn't he say last summer that he had final say? There is no way he didn't know what Matt Targett was capable of for example. Engels, Konsa, Jota were all his. No doubt Drinky was always going to be the example used in the blame game and to be fair I highly doubt Suso had anything to do with that clusterfuck.