Aston Villa Thread

To the Villa fans

After all the speculation over the last 12 months, I want the chance to explain my decision to the Aston Villa fans.

Firstly, I want to thank them for the incredible support I have received over the last 12 years. This football club has been a huge part of my life. I joined a 16-year-old boy and 12 years later I am moving on as a 28-year-old man with a wife and two children.

A lot of things have changed in that time, players, management and a chairman, but every season bar none, whether we have been bottom half, mid-table or challenging for Europe, the support myself and the team have received has been fantastic.

My one huge regret is that during my time at this club we have not brought the fans the success they deserve and I obviously have to take my share of responsibility that we have not been good enough to win trophies.

I feel the club is in the best position it has been in during my time here, I think we have a group of very good young players, we have a fantastic chairman who is here for the good of the club and one of the best managers in the game.

Obviously people will ask why I am leaving if I feel like that.

I have honestly been very undecided what to do, the manager and the whole club have bent over backwards to try and persuade me to stay and made me a fantastic offer, which I am extremely grateful for.

But after changing my mind lots of times I came to the decision that the time was right for me and for the club to part company.

I need a new challenge, I have a massive fear of going stale and falling into a comfort zone.

I believe the deal is a good one for the club, I am sure the manager will use the money well to strengthen the team and the club will go from strength to strength.

I am also excited now about my new challenge, a lot of people will question my decision to join Manchester City. They were the club prepared to meet the valuation, which for a 28-year-old, with a year left on his contract, I think shows how much they wanted me.

Once I had spoken to Mark Hughes there was nowhere else I wanted to go. I was also desperate to avoid any long drawn-out saga.

I feel I am joining a club that will seriously challenge to win major honours, people might doubt that, but I am convinced with the plans the club has short term and long term, and the backing the manager will receive from the owners, that we will be a major force.

Also the World Cup has always been a major part of my thinking and I feel at Man City I will get the chance to play regularly in my best position and play a big part in a successful side. Time will tell if I am right or not, but those are my reasons.

I have grown bored of all the speculation surrounding me over the last 12 months and I am sure all the fans have as well.

I am glad I never left last summer because I would have left under a huge cloud.This year I feel things are different. I haven’t used an agent, I have discussed things with my best friend but ultimately made my own choices and I think the situation has been handled properly by everybody involved and, once again, I have to thank the manager and the club for that.

I genuinely wish the club all the best for the future and want to thank everyone who has helped and supported me during my time here.

For the rest of my life Aston Villa will be the first result I look for. Thanks for everything.

Gareth

debaser wrote:Tis true, I'm half tempted to go to that one too

Bannan's a prospect. Unfortunately he's only about 2 foot tall, which may hinder him in the Prem.

Colchester looking any good for promotion then?

debaser wrote:L.Young and Bouma injured. Could be going into the season with just 3 first team defenders

Sgoater1 wrote:

debaser wrote:L.Young and Bouma injured. Could be going into the season with just 3 first team defenders

Surley MON has money available why arnt you spending ?

debaser wrote:

Sgoater1 wrote:

debaser wrote:L.Young and Bouma injured. Could be going into the season with just 3 first team defenders

Surley MON has money available why arnt you spending ?

He just won't tell me

But most likely because a certain team close to your heart have completely inflated the market and he's not willing to pay a lot of what is being asked currently..maybe waiting it out to see if prices drop as deadline nears?

Sgoater1 wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Ramsay

This guy sounds lke a proper legend, 42 years in charge.

Sgoater1 wrote: You have spent a good £100m since he took over 3 years ago on Davies, Reo-coker, Milner, Young, Cueller, Shorey, Young, Heskey, sidwell, Downing etc i just thought you would have another £30m or so to spend this summer and able to bring in another couple of signings, plus you could sell a couple for extra funds although your sqaud is small. You should have tried to re sign Mellberg this summer.

debaser wrote:

Sgoater1 wrote: You have spent a good £100m since he took over 3 years ago on Davies, Reo-coker, Milner, Young, Cueller, Shorey, Young, Heskey, sidwell, Downing etc i just thought you would have another £30m or so to spend this summer and able to bring in another couple of signings, plus you could sell a couple for extra funds although your sqaud is small. You should have tried to re sign Mellberg this summer.

I think money is there, it's just the way O'Neill is, he's willing to wait to get the particular player/s he's after (whether for money reasons, or just because some transfers take a while to work through). He's not one just to take random punts. I'd still expect we'll have another 5 or so in by the end of August - it just might take until the very end of August!

Mellberg - not so sure it would've been good to bring him back. I think he's lost a lot of pace, and while it'd be nice to have him in squad, it would've been a backwards step. I'd rather we'd kept Knight until we had a replacement ready, mind. While he had his limitations, he's still a helluva lot better than nothing. a disgrace

blutgraetsche wrote:Why is Martin O'Neill such a disgrace? I'd really like to know.