Tom Cleverley

Brum Mail reporting that he's told the Villa to offer him a contract and he's ready to sign it

Great news, under Sherwood he looks like the top draw player old Red Nose Fergie thought he would be. He's got a great engine, loads of passion and works his bollocks off but now has goals, and his finishing looks good, confident and composed.

If he does sign a permanent contract that'll hopefully be the first part of retaining the quality already in the squad. And he fully deserves it, he's been integral to a midfield that now looks fluent and dangerous. With Delph already re-signed, and hopefully Cleverley to follow, that might persuade Vlaar and Benteke to give Villa another year or two. I'm actually quite excited about the nucleus of players we now have at the club, especially as a good few are homegrown with Villa in their blood. Clark, Baker, Grealish, Agbonlahor.......I'm even counting Delph as he has been here from a young age. And all these players are now coming of age, ironing out the flaws and maturing into very capable premiership performers. Baker and Clark will only get better. All the better teams in history have players in them that are homegrown and give a club identity, especially in these premiership years.

Dazzle wrote:If he does sign a permanent contract that'll hopefully be the first part of retaining the quality already in the squad. And he fully deserves it, he's been integral to a midfield that now looks fluent and dangerous. With Delph already re-signed, and hopefully Cleverley to follow, that might persuade Vlaar and Benteke to give Villa another year or two. I'm actually quite excited about the nucleus of players we now have at the club, especially as a good few are homegrown with Villa in their blood. Clark, Baker, Grealish, Agbonlahor.......I'm even counting Delph as he has been here from a young age. And all these players are now coming of age, ironing out the flaws and maturing into very capable premiership performers. Baker and Clark will only get better. All the better teams in history have players in them that are homegrown and give a club identity, especially in these premiership years.

Benteke still has two years so even if we can't get him to sign a new contract, he may well give us a year. But Vlaar won't be doing that, he'll either sign a new long-term contract or leave.

Sky sources say that they can confirm that Cleverly is in advanced talks with Everton.

If Cleverly has decided that he would rather live in the North West and play for a local club now that he's going to be a parent that's fine.

If the reason for these talks is that Villa will not compete with Everton on wages then we're in big trouble! Everton's Chairman has very little personal money and Everton FC are in considerable debt to the bank, yet they still recognise that a Premier League club has to be prepared to pay big transfer fees and attractive wages in order to thrive in this league.

Villa have no bank debt and a Billionaire owner. Have Villa finally learned that you only get what you pay for? It doesn't look as though we have.

Meh. He's a good player and Sherwood got him playing well. But he's nothing to go mad about. If Everton want to offer him silly money, let them. I wouldn't see it as a sign we can't compete with them. In fact, if all goes to plan, they'll find it very difficult to compete with us.

Without Cleverley's goals against Everton and West Ham we would be playing in the old first division next season.

Well TS promised us a clearout.

Potentially thats Vlaar, Cleverley and Benteke

Big boots to fill

I guess what we don't know is how much TS wants him. He may well of offered him a good deal at what he thinks he's worth and if he's not prepared to sign be happy to move on to other targets. On the surface it appears like a blow (personally I'm not that fussed, he had about 6 good games for us, albeit important ones) but we just don't know where TS is at with it, we may be after bigger and better? Or we may simply not be able or not want to pay him what he wants and thinks he's worth...

Guess we will see in the coming weeks.

GadgetMan wrote:I guess what we don't know is how much TS wants him. He may well of offered him a good deal at what he thinks he's worth and if he's not prepared to sign be happy to move on to other targets. On the surface it appears like a blow (personally I'm not that fussed, he had about 6 good games for us, albeit important ones) but we just don't know where TS is at with it, we may be after bigger and better? Or we may simply not be able or not want to pay him what he wants and thinks he's worth...

Guess we will see in the coming weeks.

With our meagre funds - missing on an established prem player for nowt is quite a blow - its one more hole that needs plugging.

I really hope the takeover is happening (hope not expect) but the potential holes that are appearing in our squad is a big concern to me. Cleverley, Vlaar, Benteke - 3 internationals

smetro wrote:

GadgetMan wrote:I guess what we don't know is how much TS wants him. He may well of offered him a good deal at what he thinks he's worth and if he's not prepared to sign be happy to move on to other targets. On the surface it appears like a blow (personally I'm not that fussed, he had about 6 good games for us, albeit important ones) but we just don't know where TS is at with it, we may be after bigger and better? Or we may simply not be able or not want to pay him what he wants and thinks he's worth...

Guess we will see in the coming weeks.

With our meagre funds - missing on an established prem player for nowt is quite a blow - its one more hole that needs plugging.

I really hope the takeover is happening (hope not expect) but the potential holes that are appearing in our squad is a big concern to me. Cleverley, Vlaar, Benteke - 3 internationals

I think he's a loss, but not a massive one if Sanchez improves, Gardner gets a run, reinforcements brought in and youth promoted. Vlaar, I'll happily see go. I think he's a liability with his injury record and CB whilst irreplaceable may give us a chance to play a different way and become more than a one man team as it's clear that teams were going to start sussing us out pretty quickly. Use CB funds to buy Austin and have change for a decent CM, as I said I think we need a new defence irrespective of Vlaar, but would be happy to see Okore and Clark paired up again (we missed Clark more than Vlaar imo)

Wasn't Cleverley wiggling his ass at Everton on deadline day last year? Hence the reason we only got him on loan at the last minute. If so am not reading to much into this. If that is where he wants to be good luck to him.

GadgetMan wrote:

smetro wrote:

GadgetMan wrote:I guess what we don't know is how much TS wants him. He may well of offered him a good deal at what he thinks he's worth and if he's not prepared to sign be happy to move on to other targets. On the surface it appears like a blow (personally I'm not that fussed, he had about 6 good games for us, albeit important ones) but we just don't know where TS is at with it, we may be after bigger and better? Or we may simply not be able or not want to pay him what he wants and thinks he's worth...

Guess we will see in the coming weeks.

With our meagre funds - missing on an established prem player for nowt is quite a blow - its one more hole that needs plugging.

I really hope the takeover is happening (hope not expect) but the potential holes that are appearing in our squad is a big concern to me. Cleverley, Vlaar, Benteke - 3 internationals

I think he's a loss, but not a massive one if Sanchez improves, Gardner gets a run, reinforcements brought in and youth promoted. Vlaar, I'll happily see go. I think he's a liability with his injury record and CB whilst irreplaceable may give us a chance to play a different way and become more than a one man team as it's clear that teams were going to start sussing us out pretty quickly. Use CB funds to buy Austin and have change for a decent CM, as I said I think we need a new defence irrespective of Vlaar, but would be happy to see Okore and Clark paired up again (we missed Clark more than Vlaar imo)  

That s quite a few 'ifs' just to stand still - and assuming we get those players, and they work out. Gardner and Sanchez are fringe players at best - we can't go into the season relying on those two as the mainstays.....

Sherwood must be wondering what the Hell he's got him self to

He would have been desperate to keep Benteke and Clev

I wouldn't mind humping his Mrs.

What "meagre funds"? Have you seen next season's transfer budget Smetro?

Mazrim wrote:What "meagre funds"? Have you seen next season's transfer budget Smetro?

Im estimating he will have no more than £15m to spend.

So just the one player then 

smetro wrote:

Mazrim wrote:What "meagre funds"? Have you seen next season's transfer budget Smetro?

Im estimating he will have no more than £15m to spend.

Based on what exactly?

Mazrim wrote:

smetro wrote:

Mazrim wrote:What "meagre funds"? Have you seen next season's transfer budget Smetro?

Im estimating he will have no more than £15m to spend.

Based on what exactly?

Estimates aren't exact.

Oh O.K, its just the way you were stating it, I thought you were basing it on something other than plucking a figure/notion out of the ether.

I'm not even certain who will own the club next season, never mind how much money Sherwood, if it is Sherwood, has to spend.

So he's off to Everton in a 5 year deal according to tonights reports..Done deal.

Bloody annoying as I thought he'd had more good than bad games once Sherwood arrived. But he still lives up there so it is understandable from a personal point of view

Villa_Dan wrote:Bloody annoying as I thought he'd had more good than bad games once Sherwood arrived. But he still lives up there so it is understandable from a personal point of view

He always wanted to go to Everton, I did wonder as he suddenley found form would he stay - it appears not. I think he will bomb at Everton.

He'll replace Barry in the deep-lying role. And will fail like he did in that position under LDDLLLLLambert.

He was mostly shit anyway. Horribly horribly shit. But then found some fantastic form for a few games. Then went to shit again.

Next.

Always wary of a player suddenely finding some form when the Vultures are circling.

He won't be missed!