Cesc Fabregas finally finished of the cheating Italians, so well done Cesc, you revenged the Flamster and we salute you! Villa didn’t have his best game but nor did Torres so I wouldn’t read too much into that performance, the only mystery is why Cesc comes on as sub when he’s their best player.
It seems that if Adebayor goes, the replacement will be basement buy Santa Cruz, or at least that’s the way it’s looking, if Hleb goes don’t expect Arshavin as he is 27 and only 3 years off being sold to Villareal or West Ham united.
Nasri has still not signed and to be honest I’m getting a little bored and starting to think Ben Afra, perhaps it was him all along.
We welcomed a lot of new people to the site yesterday and only had two AKB’s all weekend, perhaps they’re finally getting the message, who knows!
We need a signing quickly and we need to sign at least 3 players to replace what we may be losing, then there are the players we were short of last year so that means 6, Ramsey will count for one so that leaves 5.
We need them in sharpish as pre season begins in less than a fortnight. Perhaps today? maybe tomorrow, either way it won’t stop us debating will it?
Have a good week Grovers, let’s hope Wenger does too!
The point seems to be that Adebayor is far from the finished article and that if Milan or Barca are prepared to spend £22-25 million to buy him, Arsenal should take their money – especially if the player wants to leave
lol… whos boy george?
Trouble is – none of us really KNOW if Ade wants to go or not – Hleb, bridges burned for me ..
choy – who’s Boy George…. Ha ha
ade is being either being very clever or like us is sick of the rumours… when the stoires about him were bad (demanding 80 grand or quitting) he denied them the same day along with the initial trnafer rumours, but now when it actually seems like somthing couldnt be happening he’s keeping stchum.
personally tho i think he’ll stay and hope he does
arsenal tom..
he did not deny asking for a raise!!!
SSN Milan State Adebayor or nothing AGAIN
Milan have again stated that Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is their sole summer transfer target.
The Serie A giants accept they face a tough task to prise the Togo striker away from Emirates Stadium, but will not look elsewhere if they fail to secure his services.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, Barcelona stars Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o, Lyon ace Karim Benzema and Ajax hitman Klaas Jan Huntelaar had all been linked with a move to Giuseppe Meazza.
But vice-president Adriano Galliani insisted last week that they were only interested in Adebayor, and he has moved to reiterate that stance.
Deal in motion
He told the club’s official website: “At the moment there is only one deal in motion, and that’s for Adebayor.
“Milan remain true to their word, either Adebayor comes or we keep things as they are, with (Alberto) Paloschi.
“I still think that our squad as it is today is absolutely competitive enough to win the Scudetto.
“Everyone says it’s not and I don’t understand why when we have got Marco Borriello who has scored 19 goals in the Italian championship (at Genoa).
“We’re happy with the forwards we have. We’ve got Paloschi who is fourth choice after (Alexandre) Pato, (Filippo) Inzaghi and Borriello.
“It’s not like we’re lacking forwards.”
Despite Galliani’s insistence that only Adebayor will do for the Italian club, he did admit that negotiations for 24-year-old would not be easy with Arsenal reluctant to sell and the player having signed a long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium only last year.
Pessimist
“Adebayor has a contract, I’m always a pessimist by nature,” he continued.
“Look at last year when Real Madrid said Kaka was theirs. If the club don’t allow you in there’s nothing you can do.
“If the player is at the end of his contract then his wishes are important, but if not and there’s a contract and the club who owns him says no, then it’s no. At the moment, it’s no.
“Does it depend on Wenger? He’s the Arsenal manager, a representative of the club, and at the moment the club isn’t selling.
“Everything depends on Arsenal, but when a club says their player is indispensable there’s not a lot that can be done.
“Of course things could always open up but at the moment I must keep to Arsenal’s official line and that is that for the moment there is no possibility of negotiating.”
what cunts
From Sky Sports – How spot on your post is Geoff
Staying
When asked about his future at Emirates Stadium, Fabregas replied: “Of course I am staying, definitely.
“I am very much looking forward to next season. We have a good team but let’s go game-by-game.
“If we give 100 per cent every game we can win something.”
Eboue: ” I am a Midfielder”
Eboue: ” I am a Midfielder”
http://www.arsenal.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=507393
choy…
he did after it was published in the daily mail a month or 2 ago, it was a while back now but he came out on the arsenal web-site to deny it
AT – was that not just his ‘agent’ stating he deserves more money
Eboue “I am a midfielder” LOL
I may think i’m a better singer than boy George but singstar doesn’t agree with me! You can believe you are something BUT you really are not a midfielder!
Eboue “I am a midfielder” ……….ha fucking ha, the really worrying thing is that AW believes him!!!!
Eboue “I am a midfielder” ……………..apparently after hearing this the Press Office of Tottenham Hotspur announced “we are a football club”…………
defensive balance people… defensive balance!!
rico…
im pretty positive it was ade… it was only a short thing he said but it was enough, somthing along the lines of…
‘the reports ive demanded more money or ill quit the club are total rubbish’
i remember because i spent hours trying to tell my mates he denied it in the pub.
“Of course things could always open up but at the moment I must keep to Arsenal’s official line and that is that for the moment there is no possibility of negotiating.”
keep to arsenals offical line… what a shit stirer
AT – Sorry, i thought you were meaning Ade asking for a pay rise… stupid me
i found the link anyway…
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=news&article=491302&cpid=703&title=Adebayor+-+Reports+I+want+to+leave+the+Club+are+%27rubbish%27
either way its good to hear!!!
arsenal tom.. how about the flamini one.. where he says that we are writing a story and he wants to be the hero of the story and all!!!
fuck him choy,
“There is not a player who could say no to Barcelona. If Barcelona make an offer for me and reach an agreement with Arsenal, I would be delighted to go there”
did anyone see this quote?
choy did he say that or u joking??
sounds too cheesy to be true!!
Arsenal Tom, when was the Ade quote written?
Like I said before, say to Milan, ok you can have him and we’ll have Pato plus £15 mil or to Barca we’ll have Messi and you can have Hleb.
They’ll then have to tell us no because they both rate those respective players higher than ours.
Ade’s ego couldn’t handle that and the deal would be at an end, common sense all this.
these fuckers have made co secret for our leading goald scorer, they shold pay through the nose,
if ronaldo is going for anywhere near the figures being mentioned, them 24 million sterling is far too low,
sorry, new keyboard….
AT
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=559786
http://www.soccerslave.com/english-premier-league/21613-flamini-wants-new-deal-arsenal.html
geoff…
that quote was the same day or day after the specualtion. cant ask for much more than that. fair enough its old now but he states his happy etc and its not like much has changed!
i agree tho, if they want him that badly then they should have to do it on ours terms, give us kaka and nesta, and u can have ade and 5mil
So why does Wenger say nothing, these people are like playground bullies, and we let them.
just didnt love us enough i guess choy!!
i think he’ll really suffer the old ‘grass isnt greener’ syndrome next year, he’ll go from an arseal revelation to milans moody utility player, and i cant fucking wait
you really can’t keep them once they want to go geoff..
wengers problem is he thinks its better to behave diginfied and get shitted on that being a cunt and getting u want…
id rather he was the 2nd all day long put the club first and fuck what everyone thinks of u – its only business at the end of the day!!
Choy you can’t if you let them have their own way everytime, like spoilt kids, it’s time to make an example to stop it happening in the future, let them know a contract is a contract, or next season it will be Cesc and Robin.
He made a rod for his own back when Anelka was allowed to leave.
I would give number 8 to Theo. That’s what makes me think it’s for Nasri or someone bigger, if it is he should give 14 to Theo.
if ade goes and we dont get the likes of villa in its gonna get really bad next year with cesc and fuck knows who else.
wengers been at all the spain games so far even when not commentating… think hes seriosuly checking out villa?????
i mentioned that goeff bout no.8, he gave it a year after freddie and now it should be used again.
our new CB will probably get the 14… gallas style!
anelka left and we built a training ground on him!!!
but seriously.. wtf is going on to our club?!
*with our club?!
God Aften,
Only piece of interest I can find is this…. Apparently (according to the BBC) Lumpard is for sale at £6.6m. If this is true , he is a steal for any big club. Especially when one considers that Anton Ferdinand has a value of £6m !!
Lumps may be an unpleasant piece of work, but he can suer play. I guess his wage demands are pretty chunky, but even so……
BR .. no thanks!!!
Everyone leaving (according to the press), nobody coming in, lots of frustration, so I go away for 3 weeks and come back to everyone leaving (according to the press), nobody coming in and lots of frustration……. I hate this fucking club !!!!!!!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/euro2008/article-1028694/Ive-man-Arsenal-life-Premier-spot-hero-Cesc.html
i saw we were linked with diego from werder again on the weekend… anyone know anything bout this??
Bud, I understand your frustration, the same thing happened to me!! I went away for a couple of weeks to find the club exactly the same as when I went, except that it seemed even more players wanted to leave.
Obviously they aren’t buying into Wenger’s dream of turning down extra cash so they can prove that they’re good!!
LOOKS LIKE NASRI IS DONE FELLA’S
http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/06/23/PRem-Arsenal-sign-Nasri/Post.aspx
Diogo Tom and Bud, welcome back, you are the only person I know that can go away for 3 weeks, how lucky is that.
Well I say the only one, your big brother was the other one!
“We inform you that Samir won’t be an Olympique de Marseille player next season and that he has signed a four-year contract with London club Arsenal,” read a statement on his personal website
Has anyone found his personal website? we can prove this or not for good if we can!
http://www.samirnasri.fr/news/index.php3
http://www.samirnasri.fr/
http://www.samirnasri.fr/news/index.php3
http://www.samirnasri.fr/
finally.. now wait for arse.com
copy paste here…
http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_txt
His photo on Sultana Spaorts makes him look like the love child of a chukle brother and a kiddy fiddler…….
well, that is great news, tho El Tel and others confirmed a few days ago.
Wonder if he is any good?
Nice work Tom
i was just thinking he looks the predator when he takes off the mask,
one ugly mother fucker
the site is down lol!!!!
gmr…where are you sir?
Bud, welcome home. What is a Chukle Bros? Is it some sort of London slang for a sexual perversion?
That link does not work !!!
refresh guys
geoff… diego… sounds like its nonsense but wondered if anyone here had heard more…
http://www.soccervoice.com/n080692.htm
lol BUD!!
and raddy….
http://www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/liberation/images/chuckle_bros/ss2.jpg
Arsenal . com
We wish all our supporters a happy christmas. Yipee! Yipee!
I did and it still don’t work !!!!!!
2006 !
I had been wondering if the Diego talk had all fallen off. I still rate him quite highly
No Tom it was Diogo from Brazil and we offered our standard £5mil and a packet of Woodbines for him, they no fuck off Senor!
And fuck it bring in Podolski!
SSN- Nasri – 15.8 million Cesc was chatting as well about being happy and that he sees his future at Arsenal.
right so we’ve got our ‘creative player’ just need some muscle in DM and CB and we’re good to go
Wengers bonus has gone. sell sell sell
“It’s a miracle” said Boy George!
15.8m four year deal for Nasri on SSN, but surprise surprise Arsenal.com reports that Lee Dixon is Arsenal’s 21st best player of all time!!!
DDM, arse.com are reporting that Ade is African player of the year 2007!!
david – as well as the mighty Lee Dixon being our 21st best ever player……wooohooo!
I have a theory. Arsenal were holding off revealing Nasri as Wenger wanted to do his big photo thing with his 3 big signings (a kind of statement of intent thing), but now Spain are in the Semi’s, it held things up too long, so we can’t announce Villa yet !!!
Was it only me or did anyone else notice Cesc drop himself in it when talking about Villa the other week saying I hope he plays like that for us next season then give a guilty “oops, I shouldn’t have said that look” and then change the subject ?!
More details on nasri on SSN in a couple of mins.
Blimey – been out to get the kids and we have a signing, must pick them up more often!!!
Bud – I have held your theory for bleedin ages, just no-one believes me, secretly, I think its because im a girl…. and you wait, you will all have wished you had put £10 on Russia to win Euros…………………..
when did he say that bud? i didnt hear anything about that!!!?? if we got villa and the CB we’d be golden
Cesc is Aresnal……….
SSN’s – 4 year deal signed, on Nasri’s website…… Bugger me I didnt see that one coming – did anyone else…..
I just love Cesc, so so much… Stop it Rico, he is young enough to be my son!!!
Arshavin says he wants Barca, but I would love to have him. I feel as though we would have too many creative players when we lack steel through the spine, but regardless I will take class and let them duke it out for places in our 11.
lol…
despite villa being the dream signing, CB/DM has to be the priority now
Did you all see the comments on SSN about Ade just then? Looks like if Ade is off it’s not to Milan……………
SSN’s also says – Galliani of Milan says they cannot sign Ade coz ….
‘The man from Arsenal – He say NO’
Is that a light I see, or just some bastard with a torch…………………. with Tesco batteries in it!!
Why has Nasri’s official site been taken offline?? I wonder if someone’s hacked in & is having us on!! Would be typical of us gooners luck.
bud.. when was this??
the cesc villa thing?
Wham Bam – back to reality, Thanks GMR!!!!
;(
And once again none of these players are true wingers, technically gifted enough to play on the wing but you would have to think when you name our creative midfielders they all prefer to play through the middle.
Cesc, Rosicky, Hleb, Nasri, maybe Arshavin, Diaby, Denilson,
Then how long do we keep Theo on the wing? When does he start as a striker?
rico01 – you cold take AC’s comments two ways, the obvious one being that AW will not sell ADE or he’s only interested in selling him to Barca for any number of reasons, player/cash deal that maybe Milan couldn’t match…..
ok pictures of nasri on arsenal.com
http://www.arsenal.com/Images/n/nasri1.jpg
http://www.arsenal.com/Images/n/nasri2.jpg
15.8m … did we break our record??!!
Joaquin
I don’t agree – IMHO, Thomas, Vela, Theo, Hleb and Nasri (if its true) all play wide, if they choose to cut in, then so be it, didnt Sir Bobby, Freddie and even Overmars??
Oh and dont forget Eboue……………..
Where is GMR?
dennis – see where you are coming from, do you know I dont care anymore, if he stays thats fine he will be good, if he goes, hey ho, we get money and AW will replace him with a goal scorer (if he hasn’t already)
Stop Stop, I sound like an AKB………….. HELP!!!!!!!!
I’m here. Just wondering why Marseille & Arsenal haven’t announced it & why Nasri’s website has been taken offline.
rico01 – talking like that is directly linked to having cornflakes with skimmed milk!!
Are we sure that is his official website??
Looks a bit shite if it is………
252nd!!!!
Rico,
I agree in terms of their capability and I am fully confident that they will excel this season. The funny thing is that all those players play through the middle for country if they can.(Nasri not yet)
I think vela was going to be good for the left but AW says he is coming as a striker. The proposition of vela on the left and Theo on the right would give us great pace and width. Not that they would be the starting tandem. We can only hope Rosicky recaptures the form we know he has.
GMR… they reckon on young guns its due to the high traffic going there… i cant imagine its the most popular web-site normally!!!
I have a solution for AW for any of his transfers that are hitting some snags. Throw in Eboue in any swap deal and we will be good to go. Thats one loss that will feeel like a new signing.
Who the bloomin heck drives their car through Nasri’s website, Huh
dennis – how do you know I had cornflakes – I didnt, it was Muesli and Fruit and Fibre mix – very tasty!!!! Get you cheeky….
Gosh i feel so positive at the moment, by the way, nice rose’ being consumed ATT…..
Vela got no.12 shirt guess im getting that on my back this year then
Bud – re our theory, who is your money on for the others then?
Villa & AN Other – Yaya or……………. Clinton Morrison!!!!!!!
I just want official confirmation from either Marseille or Arsenal.
rico01 – just a guess sweetpants, you struck me as a cornflakes girl…………….either that or my secret webcam in’t working properly!!!
rico.. i would bet on eboue getting a contract extension instead
you are so naughty, good but not good enuff, my webcam is OFF!!!
Anyone think Eto has a big fat bum!!
villa and a CB, diaby steps up and becomes the new vieira and win the league.
Rico, I know this is blasphemy, but DB10 was stout across the beam !! Didn’t stop him being a great player did it?
BigR – Eto’s is much bigger, trust me…… I am a Dr
You know I have always thought AW has got Villa, but the more I listen to our very cute little Spaniard, I am convinced………………..
No, not Almunia..
when did fab say anything about villa recently rico?
I see this as our team next season. And our squad. Im free for a bit. i can waste my time…
Almunia/Fabianski/Mannone
Sagna/Hoyte
Gallas/Song/Senderos
Toure/Djourou
Clichy/Traore/Pedro
Walcott/Ramsey/Eboue
Fabregas/Denilson
Diaby/Gilberto
Nasri/Rosicky
Van Persie/Bendtner
Vela/Eduardo/New Striker
I cannot see us signing Villa. I would love it, but he will not come to us I feel. After him, there is nobody realistically who is better than the ones we have. I really rate Vela so I would not be surprised to see him and Van Persie starting up fornt in pre season. The guy could break Henry’s goal scoring record and I am very convinced on that. if he stays until he is 32, he will be a true Legend.
arsenal.com only gets updated from 9am – 5pm, so it will be announced there between 9-5
Nasri site went offline as it had too many visitors.
OM site is a lazy piece of s***
Just referesh the site enough times! It works
Rico
Oh how I hope you are right. Arshevin has been very good but given a choice from these 2 I would take Villa.
He would keep our little Fab 1 very happy and I think he would start faster in the Prem than Arshevin. Both very good players but Villa to get our goals for me.
I quite liked the Guizer 2.
Guiza looked like shit yesterday. Okay maybe not shit but nothing impressive. How he scored so many goals is beyond me, no pace technique doesnt look amazing. Myabe a bit more of a physical presence but thats coming up against little spaniards.
Finally seem to have Nasri. I’ve never seen the sod play and he certainly didn’t get much chance at the Euros
Weird this thing with Ade. He’s said he wants to stay but the noises issuing seem to indicate Arsenal are willing to sell him, but not to Milan. Presumably Barca is the prefered buyer because of their need to sell Eto’o, to us?
If Arsenal sign Eto’o we can write off our title hopes right there and then. Terrible attitude. Terrible knee. Massive wages. Huge ego. Past his prime.
Word MeM
How about goofy though? I think he will recapture world beater form. I really do think his next team will see him near his world beater best
If Arsenal sign David Villa they can write off 30 million pounds. Most over-rated player I’ve seen in years!!
Ronaldinho is an even worse buy.
I still think we could hold on to Adebayor which would be ideal. If we sell him i can see Vela, Bendtner and Theo taking over from him. there is not much out there than is better.
why is david villa over rated?
choy – sometimes, just sometimes, actions speak far louder than words…..
i just so hope that i am not way off the mark……………
Signing Villa will not only be good for us, but good for the team, oh – and bloody good for cesc, who has said in no uncertain terms – IM STAYING!!!
I think because this Nasri nonsense has gone on so long it’s still not cetain he will play for us until we see him running out the tunnel in the shirt and kicking the ball.
Evening Grovers,
Just looked at Nasri’s website, looks very shocking. Not loving the Arsenal emblem they have used!!
Hope its not an hoax….
@Rico
I know that you have for like EVER said about Villa having already signed. I would’ve loved to have seen the show where he had said about him “playing like that for us next season” and then looking guilty. I really wish i’d seen that so i could analize it for myself.
If it is true why would we have not annouced pre Euro’s.
If it does turn out to be true , you defo get credit for being FIRST…
Anyone know of a clip on the web which shows him saying this???
Guiza looked like shit and Villa is over rated. Ok me and a few others must be missing something then. Did anyone look great against Italy. Gomes and Toni who are similar players were shit but Guiza looked like a team player in the few mins I saw of him.He is strong and we need brick shithouses up front as well as in defence in the poor Prem. Villa has been very good and he would fit in at Arsenal, he works hard for the side and scores goals.
Arse shavin is a good player but at 27 is he having a good year or has the whole of Europe not been watching football from Russia.
People are going crazy over David Villa because of the Euro’s, yet the only time Spain have played a solid defensive team he has been absolutely shite. I lost count how many times I watched him last season & previous to that in the CL, the guy is over rated in my opinion. If he signed for Arsenal I wouldn’t be excited at all.
I’m beginning to think we’ve all been duped with this Nasri stuff. If the deal was complete one of the clubs would’ve announced it.
If we don’t get confirmation later, I definately think we’ve been had.
@El Tel
I was liking what of i saw of Arse Shavin and didn’t relise just how old he was until this morning’s post.
So tend to agree, he must of just had a blinding season.
That aside you can see a spark of how good he would be in our side on his current form.
Evening – When Cesc said he hoped Villa would carry on his good form, he was talking about Spain and the Euro’s, not Arsenal, didn’t mention next season at all……… but i like Rico reckon the deal has been done and all will be revealed after the tourno!
If we see the Spuds sign someone like Etoo then we would be worried but if he signed for us it would be no good because he is past it. I would like most of the Barca players to come to us maybe not that wanker Deco.
Goofy would be fantastic and he will light up the Prem.
Rico, didn’t Villa say the other week that money isn’t that important, this was my reason for agreeing with your premonition. I mean who is the only team who can give him the football he loves but not the wages?
Say what you want about Villa I have seen him play for Valencia for the past 3 years and I have been very impressed. At times he had been their only good player on the pitch. Btw David Silva has looked good but could you see him excelling in the prem? He makes Fab look like a giant.
GMR – Villa has been scoring goals for fun at Valencia for 3 years, not the quickest but has an eye for a goal, very skillful and can shoot from distance.
saying that, i’d take Arshavin instead…. he’s top class and remind me a lot of Gianfranco Zola!
@Abdenor
Is this just a gut feeling, as no real evidence?
Don’t get me wrong, i’m not having a go, i REALLY want you both to be right so that i can come on here and it the biggest slice of humble pie the world has ever seen.
@GMR
Honestly, if he signed i would be excited. I think it would a big statement of intent. I say this not just based on the Euro’s he is having, I also have watched him for some time and feel that he would be a fantastic signing. A real coo.
GMR
I agree the Euro’s can throw us some outstanding performances but David Villa has been a good international player for a few years now. Over rated or not I would rather him play for us than for our rivals.
I am not saying Arse shavin isn’t good enough for us but I do wonder how he has kept under the radar for so long. He wants to play in Spain but had no offers, why is that?
Abdenor, Villa may have been scoring goals for fun but so did Adebayor last season & look at the stick he gets. Anyway I don’t think anyone would disagree thats its far easier to score in la liga than it is in the premier league, anyone want proof of that just go look at Diego Forlan.
@davoody
You can see it on Youtube under the title ‘Francesc Fabregas Welcomes Spanish Connection’ .
Personally I just think he said ‘season’ instead of ‘tournament’ because he’s used to saying ‘season’ all year long.
We can hope but I don’t think he gave away anything..
I would rather have Sneijder /Robinho anyday than Arse shavin. If Madrid sign the Russian they may let one of the little maestro’s go.
Guys – this, IMHO is the problem with a transfer window when the WC, Euros, COPA and even the ACON is being played – players can have a good few weeks and all of a sudden they are the best thing since sliced bread
Look at Flamini – one good season and he is ‘brilliant
Ade – one season of 30 goals (should have been 45) he is brilliant
Song – Great ACON – and AW thinks he is the dogs doo das
Even I played bloody well for one season……
But, Villa is a name we all knew, and he has not ‘really’ dissapointed’, but I wouldnt say he is awesome, Cesc likes him and sees something, for me that is a good recommendation – so i would be pleased.
Arshavin – loves the night life and the girls – no signing thank you
Arda – yes please
Podolski – wants to move – yes please
Scjeinder (cant spell) yes please
Alex – dream on but yes please
Yaya – yes please
davoody – pre Euro signing, I just think Villa didnt want the paps on his back, for the sake of the Spanish – Cesc knows, not AW
GMR
On the spin side how about our TH14 he scored I agree but he hasn’t set the world alight.
If the Mancs had more faith in Forlan they could have got more goals from him too.
It rolls off the tongue this Prem is best in the world nonsense, the defenders we see smashing our players up every week wouldn’t get a look in at a Spanish/Italian club.
El Tel, by the same token Villa is 26 (27 at the end of this year) & has been in spain the whole time yet the big clubs have all ignored him, surely there’s a reason for that??
Just a gut feeling Davoody mate…… Ade is still to prove himself over a long period of time , whilst i think Ade is a potentially a world class player (if he can sort his head) and would like him to stay, there are far better players and Villa is one of them.