03 Sep 2021 13:27:33
When City come to VP, do you think that Grealish will get pleasant welcome back?
One player I remember getting a heroes welcome after being transferred was Bruce Rioch. I think he went to Derby, but when he came back he went straight to the Holte and was welcomed back. The crowd as one chanting "King of Villa park. "
Now, unfortunately, I can't see Grealish being welcomed with anything other than abuse.
Shame as he is one of our own but he seems to have failed to learn humility.

1.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 13:55:38
The way he left, definitely left a sour taste in the mouth with everything that came out about the release clause and him being devastated the Spurs move collapsed. Felt a bit like the wool had been pulled over the fans eyes for a while with the whole “my club, my city” bs and all that about believing in the vision. Had that been it I think he would have got a muted reception with pockets of applause around the ground.

Everything he’s said since leaving, crapping all over his ex team mates, manager and the club in general. The arrogance in his interview last night and his tone when talking about the release clause, the pause and gasp when he realised he said something he shouldn’t, I think he’ll get a worse reception than Delph did and he’s brought it all on himself.

2.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 14:41:01
But what he actually said was that he had the release clause put in, and it was upto him to perform upto such a level that teams were willing to activate it, which of course he did. It was a win win for Villa, our star player was pushing himself to improve, the team benefitted on the pitch and then we got the cash. You'd all be moaning if he did an "Ozil and Aubameyang" signed his bumper deal and then didn't put the effort in afterwards. He didn't do anything wrong!

3.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 15:55:37
If you can’t see why people would be annoyed at him putting in a release clause, then saying the things he did afterward, then maybe it’s better to wind your neck in and not tell people how to feel on a situation or how they would theoretically react to random examples your throwing in the mix.

4.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 17:22:34
I think this is one of those events which tend to polarise opinions, but for me I am more in the Btw camp. I don’t think Jack has done anything wrong by inserting a release clause in his contract he has protected his own position as a professional footballer who wants to win trophies but he has also protected the clubs best interests in maximising the fee we received for his services. The days where players stay with club from cradle to grave are long since gone with a few notable exceptions, and let’s not forget when clubs want rid of players they do so without batting an eyelid so the question of loyalty is one which cuts both ways.

5.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 17:30:42
The release clause isn’t an issue, insisting on it then saying “my club, my city. blah blah blah” “I’m so excited about the future here” “I really believe in the vision” “this clubs going places and I can’t wait to captain it there”, a month before leaving “I love playing here”. It’s all the BS he said following said release clause that causes the ill feeling.

Benteke showed everyone how to leave with best wishes, signed a new contract every summer with a simple “I can’t wait for the new season, excited to be back at Villa park”, everyone knew where they stood about a month after the season finished, for three seasons in a row, before the press could start to put too much weight behind different rumours.

If a random bloke from Belgium can do it, is it too much to ask from “one of our own”?

6.) 03 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 21:48:53
Hahaha, wind my neck in?! A balanced view is what I've got! Have you never been courted in your career by another company offering you a quicker route to your long term aspirations? The proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, be it money, England caps, self improvement. Maybe you're just not that good?

7.) 04 Sep 2021
03 Sep 2021 22:34:18
Not that good at what? 😂 I’m guessing you’ve never been told not to assume, your doing it quite a lot.

The whole job analogy doesn’t work, no one claims to have a long standing love or affection for their job, so leaving them doesn’t relate to this in anyway. Think before you speak, if you don’t understand the argument then don’t get involved. It’s better to have everyone think your a moron than to open your mouth and confirm it👍.

8.) 04 Sep 2021
04 Sep 2021 05:37:39
Chris, isn't being a professional footballer a career then? Perhaps you should change your user name to "Old Faithful" Going back to your Benteke comparison, He got us confused with Arsenal and thought Villa were in London, handed in a transfer request and then withdrew it when we offered him more cash, then left the following season anyway. Not exactly a great example was it.

9.) 04 Sep 2021
04 Sep 2021 09:18:05
Keep confusing yourself, of course being a professional footballer is a career, but as I said, playing for your boyhood team at the highest level is completely different to any run of the mill job you have no other affiliation to other than it paying your wage. 9 times out of 10 an employee does more for the company than they do for them, but different to helping someone from the age of 6👍

And don’t make stuff up to back your point up, it completely ruins any debate, Benteke didn’t think villa was in London