Here's to the departing old boys. Thanks for helping us up.

[Lastfootstamper]

It's why he's struggled at Blues. They've played him on the right wing. DS played with two 'number eights' at Brentford, with the fullbacks providing width. I think that's what we'll see next season.

Yup. Much was mentioned of Adomah not going past his man of late, but I don't think that he was meant to, because Elmo really stepped up his game in the last three or four months to become what I think Smith wanted. El Ghazi on the other side was different cos he was playing in front of Taylor, who never really came close to those heights.

[Sexual Ealing]

He's an inside-forward I thought, in the old jargon.

He played most of his football at Brentford out wide and was brought in by Rednapp to play there.  However,  Under Monk, Blues have been narrower and Jota was used often as a number 10.  I suspect he'll be deployed out wide again under Smith.

I'm often wrong so I may be here, but I'm pretty sure that Brentford didn't play with wingers under Smith. He played that way with us because that's what he inherited.

[LeeB]

He's an inside-forward I thought, in the old jargon.

He played most of his football at Brentford out wide and was brought in by Rednapp to play there.  However,  Under Monk, Blues have been narrower and Jota was used often as a number 10.  I suspect he'll be deployed out wide again under Smith.

I'm often wrong so I may be here, but I'm pretty sure that Brentford didn't play with wingers under Smith. He played that way with us because that's what he inherited.

Which in itself is a joyfull sign of an excellent manager.

[Brassneck]

He's an inside-forward I thought, in the old jargon.

He played most of his football at Brentford out wide and was brought in by Rednapp to play there.  However,  Under Monk, Blues have been narrower and Jota was used often as a number 10.  I suspect he'll be deployed out wide again under Smith.

I'm often wrong so I may be here, but I'm pretty sure that Brentford didn't play with wingers under Smith. He played that way with us because that's what he inherited.

That is a good point and something I hadn't considered - The thought that DS may change the formation given a pre-season in which to work and put it into practice.

Brentford played with 2 wide men and Jota's best work always appeared to be cutting in from the right.  Be that as an out and out traditional winger or be it as the wide man of a 3.

Either way, call them what you will, we need at least 2 incoming because currently we only have ElGhazi.  I don't think Green is ready for the PL yet

[PeterWithesShin]

Add Fat Ross to the list.

https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2019/06/03/club-statement-ross-mccormack

Aston Villa can confirm Ross McCormack is to leave the club after signing a variation agreement.

The club would like to wish Ross well for the future.

[Monty]

Add Fat Ross to the list.

https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2019/06/03/club-statement-ross-mccormack

Aston Villa can confirm Ross McCormack is to leave the club after signing a variation agreement.

The club would like to wish Ross well for the future.

Not sure he belongs in any thread with the words 'thank you' in the title.

[exiled on the wirral!]

What's a variation agreement?

[Brassneck]

What's a variation agreement?

An agreement in which both parties enter into to allow changes to the original contract.

[Toronto Villa]

What's a variation agreement?

An agreement in which both parties enter into to allow changes to the original contract.

It's an agreement that allowed the club and all our employees to tell him to fuck off in multitude of ways.

[Brassneck]

What's a variation agreement?

An agreement in which both parties enter into to allow changes to the original contract.

It's an agreement that allowed the club and all our employees to tell him to fuck off in multitude of ways.

Yes but how much have we had to pay for the privilege?

Whilst it's generally considered a good move, we've still lost £12 million in transfer fees and around half again in wages.  In normal circumstances, clubs pay money to bring players in.  In this case, we've paid 7 figures to get one out.

For me, with the possible exception of Balaban, he is the worst signing we've ever made, made worse by the fact that all the warning signs were there for everyone to see prior to him signing.

Yes, he has been unceremoniously dumped, which affords a crumb of satisfaction but ultimately, he's screwed our club on a par with Richards.

[London Villan]

Him and Richards have cost us the best part of £25m for less than 20 games in the past three years.

[mr underhill]

reyt rascals the pair of them but I blame the club for sanctioning shit like this. Hopefully the past is another country.

[Toronto Villa]

What's a variation agreement?

An agreement in which both parties enter into to allow changes to the original contract.

It's an agreement that allowed the club and all our employees to tell him to fuck off in multitude of ways.

Yes but how much have we had to pay for the privilege?

Whilst it's generally considered a good move, we've still lost £12 million in transfer fees and around half again in wages.  In normal circumstances, clubs pay money to bring players in.  In this case, we've paid 7 figures to get one out.

For me, with the possible exception of Balaban, he is the worst signing we've ever made, made worse by the fact that all the warning signs were there for everyone to see prior to him signing.

Yes, he has been unceremoniously dumped, which affords a crumb of satisfaction but ultimately, he's screwed our club on a par with Richards.

How has Richards screwed the club? McCormack certainly has, but Richards wasn't insurable, we still signed him, gave him a fat lengthy contract and he got injured. We screwed ourselves. I wouldn't put Richards in the same category at all.

And as to what it cost us in total for both, yes it's a big number. But we are now in the PL. That was the one we left behind. Now average players are being signed for £30-40m with massive contracts. So this will happen again to us and has happened/is happening at other clubs.

[Brassneck]

Richards came here and demanded to play in the centre of defence because he was too big/unfit to play as a modern day full back.  On many occasions, he wasn't injured either.  He led us to relegation following one of the worst seasons in PL history - Never before have I seen a Villa team with so little heart, fight and desire.  Richards' attitude may well have spread through the entire team.

As for the money, if you think that paying a waste of space 7 figures for the privilege of telling him to "fuck off in a multitude of ways" then good luck to you.  I find it sickening, regardless of what division we are in, and to add insult to injury, Richards previously turned down the offer of a variation agreement in order to screw us for the maximum possible.

[danno]

As for the money, if you think that paying a waste of space 7 figures for the privilege of telling him to "fuck off in a multitude of ways" then good luck to you.  I find it sickening, regardless of what division we are in, and to add insult to injury, Richards previously turned down the offer of a variation agreement in order to screw us for the maximum possible.

A season long loan to West Ham in 2016 would have doubled his wages (they halved on our relegation) Di Matteo blocked it. 

Then because of his knee problems Bruce decided that rather than manage his condition (like Tottenham tried to with Ledley King) it was better to freeze him out entirely.

Not even playing him in cup games and in doing so pretty much destroying his value (any chance to demonstrate his fitness) and chances of getting a move.

He trained knowing full well he was never going to get selected, knowing he wasn't going to get a move and then (because we regretted giving him a four year deal) we ask him if he'd like to take half now and go away.

As the prospects of him finding a new club at this point were about as likely as Steve Bruce turning down a buffet he declined.

To be clear I hated Micah Richards when he wore the shirt, as frankly I thought he was useless.

But the last three years I've barely thought about him. I don't get the hatred, McCormack took the piss, Richards like Hutton before him got parachuted into the bomb squad. For having a dodgy knee.

The manager doesn't fancy you and won't pick you so suddenly you're a lazy feckless waste of time parasite? Not for me Clive.

He's gone now anyway

Sources:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5446945/Aston-Villa-defender-Richards-500-days-without-game.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6058303/Micah-Richards-set-released-35-000-week-Aston-Villa-deal.html