When Aston Villa were promoted back to the Premier League two years ago, we should’ve had a clear head start on a fellow sleeping giant who’d only just returned to the big time after a few seasons away.
A couple of years later, they’ve not only enjoyed an impressive 2020/21 season that had them looking like potential contenders for European qualification until an end-of-season slump, but are now pulling off signings we could only dream of under Mike Ashley.
Not only have they announced a club record deal to sign Argentine star Emi Buendia from newly promoted Norwich – outbidding Arsenal in a move that could be worth £40m after add-ons – it’s emerged that they are now pursuing Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse; a possible double signing that could take their spending since promotion to £300m.
Although we may have picked out a few gems in Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson – one from France and the other from a relegated Bournemouth – it’s fair to say we have never shown the sort of ambition and financial muscle required to cherry-pick some of the best Premier League players from clubs outside the ‘big six’.
This is something a club of our stature should be aiming towards, yet we are offering a one-year deal to a striker who has scored one goal in two years, all while Aston Villa open up their wallets in a bid to pull off an exciting double deal worth a potential £70m.
Keep in mind, this is an Aston Villa side who spent around £140m the summer they got promoted, along with another £90m to secure the likes of Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez ahead of a 2020/21 campaign that had them pushing for Europe until injuries hit them hard.
Sadly, the contrast between Aston Villa and Newcastle today sums up how desperately we need ambitious new owners and no more Mike Ashley – a man who has allowed us to slip so far behind a host of clubs who weren’t even in the top flight a few seasons ago (Wolves, Villa, Leeds, to name a few).
While Villa outbid ‘big six’ clubs and assemble a squad that’s built around keeping Jack Grealish at the club, we’re sat wondering if any major investment would only come after the sale of our star man, Allan Saint-Maximin.
A sale can’t come quick enough.
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These opinions need to be relentless in order to help counteract the countless lies told by the Ashley and Bruce brigade in the media.
The football served up and the way the club is run are a disgrace.
Other teams do not seem to have the hassle we have in getting deals over the line, we haggle and penny pinch over every deal to the extent that new squad players usually miss pre season.
Joseph(Quote)
I’m not sure Buendia is a signing with keeping Grealish in mind. It is a replacement. They will definitely capitalise while his stock is so high and could be higher after Euros
Al(Quote)
Villa fan here ( Not here to gloat) just to say I feel your pain, I mean Mike Ashley is bad enough, but Bruce too, good grief, we were pulling our hair out when he managed us, I believe he comes out every game looking for 1 pt (well that’s what it looked like at Villa) Just couldn’t take his “let’s get every striker we have on the pitch in the last 10 mins” chasing a point because he sets up for draw even at home, it’s quite funny watching a team play 5-4-1, and the change like clockwork too 1-4-5, anyhow thank god our owners mean business, and hopefully you get rid of the above and rebuild. Good luck for the coming season.
Dean(Quote)
Cheers mate – nice to see a fan of another club come on here and speak so well!
Let’s hope we are both back where we belong soon and regulars in the top 10. Certainly feels like you’re a few steps ahead of us, but you’ve proven how quickly things can change. All the best mate!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Villa fan here, we’ve had our little bits of bickering our two clubs over the past few years, but in all honesty it’s a travesty where a club like yours finds itself.
You wouldn’t wish Mike Ashley on your biggest most hated rivals. I genuinely believe that, when push comes to shove we’re all (mainly) working class people who’s only real difference is the colours on the shirts.
I hope you get out of this limbo you find yourselves in, I honestly do. Sleeping giants do wake up.
Keep the faith lads n lasses
Villa.
LB(Quote)
Do you understand the meaning of the term REALITY???.
It’s an article of envy for a club with an owner who cares about their club. Ashley doesn’t want to invest in a club that he doesn’t want to own – and yet he won’t walk away without lining his pockets.
He is strangling our club. The training facilities & stadium is falling to bits. The squad needs major investment – hells bells everything about the club could be improved.
I’m not for a second saying spend billions, not at all. I’m talking about is Lee Charnley the best possible person for that role, do we have the best scouts we can recruit, the under 23s coaching staff & of cours the first team coaches & managers.
I understand not wanting to spending multiple millions in playing staff & agents fees – but if you want top buck for the sale of your club, you have to best people in position behind the scenes growing the club.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Dean/LB – quality posts ??.
Your club is doing things the right way for you. Even if they end up selling Grealish – the fact they’ve been able to hold on to him this long is credit to both them & the player himself.
It was a show of class when they stood by Dean Smith, who is showing himself to be a very good manager.
I know there is lots of talk about Saudis & mega Arab money, but honestly I’m more envious of owners like yours & Leicester.
For your sakes I hope you get another season with Grealish, if not I’m sure the money will be reinvested. He can win us the Euros first though please ??.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m a Saints fan and we have an owner who has openly stated he has no money but wont take any out either, I feel your pain Magpies. I am of the generation that would class Newcastle as a ‘big’ club, unfortunately Mike Ashley hasn’t seemed to realise that running a club as a mid-table club at best and then asking big club money to buy it doesn’t work. Make the club attractive and successful, the investment will come. It is a shame because St James’s Park has an amazing atmosphere and the fans deserve more. Newcastle fans want a club that fulfils the potential of it’s stature as opposed to Man Utd who believe their stature ‘entitles’ them to everything.
Mike S(Quote)
Nope. Grealish will stay at Villa. Buendia is coming as an equal to him.
Dartman501(Quote)