Ollie Watkins

[wolfman999]

I see the signing of a new contract still hasn't killed the ridiculous stories of Ollie being desperate to go to Arsenal. The quote about dreaming of playing for them comes from when he was playing for Brentford in the Championship years ago but still this crap is dug up and re-circulated.

[AV84]

I see the signing of a new contract still hasn't killed the ridiculous stories of Ollie being desperate to go to Arsenal. The quote about dreaming of playing for them comes from when he was playing for Brentford in the Championship years ago but still this crap is dug up and re-circulated.

To be fair, signing a new contract doesn't mean a lot these days. Didn't Caceido sign one at Brighton after not moving in January?

[LeeB]

I see the signing of a new contract still hasn't killed the ridiculous stories of Ollie being desperate to go to Arsenal. The quote about dreaming of playing for them comes from when he was playing for Brentford in the Championship years ago but still this crap is dug up and re-circulated.

To be fair, signing a new contract doesn't mean a lot these days. Didn't Caceido sign one at Brighton after not moving in January?

But that's Brighton, whose whole thing is 'selling players for lots of money to mug clubs'.

[Dave]

I see the signing of a new contract still hasn't killed the ridiculous stories of Ollie being desperate to go to Arsenal. The quote about dreaming of playing for them comes from when he was playing for Brentford in the Championship years ago but still this crap is dug up and re-circulated.

To be fair, signing a new contract doesn't mean a lot these days. Didn't Caceido sign one at Brighton after not moving in January?

[AV84]

I see the signing of a new contract still hasn't killed the ridiculous stories of Ollie being desperate to go to Arsenal. The quote about dreaming of playing for them comes from when he was playing for Brentford in the Championship years ago but still this crap is dug up and re-circulated.

To be fair, signing a new contract doesn't mean a lot these days. Didn't Caceido sign one at Brighton after not moving in January?

But that's Brighton, whose whole thing is 'selling players for lots of money to mug clubs'.

It could be our thing too. I don't want to sell Watkins but if someone is dumb enough to offer over 130mil for him, I'd take it.

[LeeB]

I see the signing of a new contract still hasn't killed the ridiculous stories of Ollie being desperate to go to Arsenal. The quote about dreaming of playing for them comes from when he was playing for Brentford in the Championship years ago but still this crap is dug up and re-circulated.

To be fair, signing a new contract doesn't mean a lot these days. Didn't Caceido sign one at Brighton after not moving in January?

But that's Brighton, whose whole thing is 'selling players for lots of money to mug clubs'.

It could be our thing too. I don't want to sell Watkins but if someone is dumb enough to offer over 130mil for him, I'd take it.

They won't though, not as his age now, unless he suddenly started turning in figures like Harry Kane. Plus then we'd just have to spend it (and probably more) in an effort to replace him.

[pauliewalnuts]

I see the signing of a new contract still hasn't killed the ridiculous stories of Ollie being desperate to go to Arsenal. The quote about dreaming of playing for them comes from when he was playing for Brentford in the Championship years ago but still this crap is dug up and re-circulated.

To be fair, signing a new contract doesn't mean a lot these days. Didn't Caceido sign one at Brighton after not moving in January?

But that's Brighton, whose whole thing is 'selling players for lots of money to mug clubs'.

Also, of course, the other side of the coin re signing a new contract is whether it came with a release clause inserted (as per Grealish).

[maidstonevillain]

I see the signing of a new contract still hasn't killed the ridiculous stories of Ollie being desperate to go to Arsenal. The quote about dreaming of playing for them comes from when he was playing for Brentford in the Championship years ago but still this crap is dug up and re-circulated.

To be fair, signing a new contract doesn't mean a lot these days. Didn't Caceido sign one at Brighton after not moving in January?

But that's Brighton, whose whole thing is 'selling players for lots of money to mug clubs'.

It could be our thing too. I don't want to sell Watkins but if someone is dumb enough to offer over 130mil for him, I'd take it.

So would I. And give them £60m change.

[LeeB]

I see the signing of a new contract still hasn't killed the ridiculous stories of Ollie being desperate to go to Arsenal. The quote about dreaming of playing for them comes from when he was playing for Brentford in the Championship years ago but still this crap is dug up and re-circulated.

To be fair, signing a new contract doesn't mean a lot these days. Didn't Caceido sign one at Brighton after not moving in January?

But that's Brighton, whose whole thing is 'selling players for lots of money to mug clubs'.

Also, of course, the other side of the coin re signing a new contract is whether it came with a release clause inserted (as per Grealish).

I reckon those only go in when you're relatively weak as piss as a club, having just scraped past relegation (in the case you mention, snake II) or on the verge of it (as per snake I).

I may be being naive, but I don't see that happening now.

[pauliewalnuts]

I see the signing of a new contract still hasn't killed the ridiculous stories of Ollie being desperate to go to Arsenal. The quote about dreaming of playing for them comes from when he was playing for Brentford in the Championship years ago but still this crap is dug up and re-circulated.

To be fair, signing a new contract doesn't mean a lot these days. Didn't Caceido sign one at Brighton after not moving in January?

But that's Brighton, whose whole thing is 'selling players for lots of money to mug clubs'.

Also, of course, the other side of the coin re signing a new contract is whether it came with a release clause inserted (as per Grealish).

I reckon those only go in when you're relatively weak as piss as a club, having just scraped past relegation (in the case you mention, snake II) or on the verge of it (as per snake I).

I may be being naive, but I don't see that happening now.

I know what you mean, but I think it's still a risk for clubs like us, who aspire to get into the Champions League, when faced with interest from clubs with an annual pass into it.

Tangent but I love that clip the Villa Podcast play of Purslow's address to fans following Grealish's exit, the one which follows with the audio from the King of The Sheep episode of Father Ted, with what is clearly the voice of Graham Linehan* saying "fucking hell" at the end.

The funnest "fucking hell" ever.




* obviously I, like all right minded, free thinking but respectful members of the middle class intelligentsia have in recent times cancelled Mr Linehan, and this post should be in no way considered an expression of support for his worse-than-Hitler views.

[LeeB]

I reckon that may be the case if you're looking at a player like Diaby (not saying it is at all in this case), a player in his early 20's who's already established and played at that level who you're looking to convince to come, but I don't see us giving one to someone already here on a contract renewal. In the case of both of the previous cases they were also both (Benteke excepted) far and away better than the teammates they were expected to play with, which is not the case for Ollie.

[Dave]

I reckon that may be the case if you're looking at a player like Diaby (not saying it is at all in this case), a player in his early 20's who's already established and played at that level who you're looking to convince to come, but I don't see us giving one to someone already here on a contract renewal. In the case of both of the previous cases they were also both (Benteke excepted) far and away better than the teammates they were expected to play with, which is not the case for Ollie.

On the other hand, as long as we set it as a level that we felt benefitted us - what's the issue if the player wants it?

If he says he wants a release clause of £100m, then fine - let's look forward to what he is going to need to do on the pitch to make someone want to pay it. I don't think we'd be selling Watkins for £100m whether there is a release clause for that amount or not.

[LeeB]

I can see that Dave, but you're always hostage to fortune and what looks ridiculous what minute in football becomes the going rate as soon as someone pays over the odds.

I mean, I think we got more for Grealish in th end because of it, but that was thanks to good timing and his exceptional form.

[Dave]

I can see that Dave, but you're always hostage to fortune and what looks ridiculous what minute in football becomes the going rate as soon as someone pays over the odds.

True

[Footy-Vill]

Watkins signed a new contract which I think has a protective clause. I call it that rather than a release clause
It would be something regards progression maybe have to be in  Champions League or only a Champions League club can sign him for the release fee.

I believe the media coverage as Watkins and Arsenal connection has been continuing for a while. It's his success at international level now that is making it prominent and it's quite disrespectful to Aston Villa football club but this is what happens isn't it?!
The only way he could go at the conclusion of the season would be if stipulations were not met. Maybe its about qualifying for the Champions League, if that's the agreement, and it would have to be the release clause being met.

At the end of the day, he's a significant asset, so he's not going for a bargain fee, and with Villa on the rise, I hope he remains.
The difficulty is that the more successful he is and the more international attention he receives, the more rumour will be unless we are top 4.

Emery is building to compete, so we will try our hardest and we can't simply sell our best players if we want to compete at the top table.
We are not the same as Brighton and Hove Albion.

That's just how I see it and summise.