Grealish moves to Manchester

by A. Thompson - 2nd January 2018



Aston Villa have just confirmed that they have sold Villans fan-favourite Jack Grealish. Despite the recent transfer rumours that he was going to Manchester city, he has instead ended up on the other side of town having be snatched up by the rivals Manchester United. The price is reportedly around £30 million, how many of those are add ons is not currently known. Despite being very early in the window, this is most likely to be the biggest january signing this year and maybe even the decade.

Villa Manager Paul McGrath said in a press statement that he was sad to see Graelish go, but that he was happy with the overall deal. “Your most valued players are obviously the most valuable. When another team thinks he’s worth as much as you do and willing to pay, then it would be foolish not to do the deal.” McGrath played down the loss of Grealish “It’s obviously a player we’re going to miss and I’m not looking forward to our future games against United, but we believe that we are already covered from within the team.”

The, now former, Villa no. 10 have hoisted a lot of praise since he became a first team regular in 2014. Having been named Irish player of the year twice. Grealish was also named the fans player of the year for the past two season and was well under way this season too. “He is going to be sorely missed, it is rare to have a player that can provide goals, assists, and passion on the field at the same time”, said the fans’ spokesperson George Branford to the Birmingham Observer. Branford also had a plea for the club, “We hope that the amount of money we got for him will be reinvested in the squad. It would be a shame if the money were wasted away”

Manchester United manager Ernesto Valverde welcomed Grealish to the club and stated that “we have gotten ourselves a great talent, who will help move this team forward. Valverde played down the suggestion that they may have paid too much for him when the January transfer window is notorious for overpriced transfers. “We looked at this deal as we would any deal. If we want to pay the asking price, why hesitate to do a deal?”

The Irish international have been at Aston Villa for 7 season, totaling up 127 league games and splitting his contribution with 34 goals and 32 assists. Grealish had his debut for Ireland in September 2015 against Georgia and have since then racked up 15 games and 2 goals in the green jersey.

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McGrath: Grealish Left Us With No Choice

Manchester United vs Aston Villa Preview

With the Manchester United/Aston Villa match coming up, and with Jack Grealish moving to the club that his former side are just about to play, it is only natural that his debut will most probably be against his former employers.

In a press conference with Villans' manager Paul McGrath, he was asked the obvious question. Why did you sell Grealish? His response was not one people were expecting, He forced the move said McGrath, he did not turn up to training and was also told by his agent Ray Hanningan to go on strike pretty much as soon as we rejected the Manchester City bid. I was incensed but we have a very close-knit squad here so as soon as United came in with the bid of £30,000,000 we accepted and sent him on his way.

We have players to cover him in Volland, Sterling and Rotariu, who in my view is THE most improved player this season.

It is understood that Jack Grealish could start for United in the late kick off but manager Ernesto Valverde was holding his cards close to his chest. He (Jack Grealish) is in the running for selection, aslong as the paperwork goes through in time. He is a great player and has already stated his desire to play against his former club but we will see said the United manager.

Aston Villa have Daniel Sturridge back from injury, which means that Paul McGrath has a full compliment of players to choose from, whereas United have Jan Vertoghan and Javi Martinez out injured, the match kicks off at 5:30pm tonight and is exclusively live on Channel 5 Sport.

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All Square As Villa Hit Late Equaliser

Aston Villa will today be wondering why Chelsea were awarded a penalty and also why Villa had a goal disallowed.

Aston Villa started the better on a crisp cold evening infront of 55,000 fans at Villa Park. Salomon Rondon, in the form of his life tested Courtois twice in the first 10 minutes but it was an open start with Ayew and Munir going close for The Blues.

The breakthrough, however came in the 19th minute as Oliver burst through and appeared to dive when challenged by Santon but the referee harshly awarded the penalty and the Villans protested furiously with the decision in which Jordan Ayew dispatched to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead.


Ayew scores a highly disputed penalty for Chelsea

Aston Villa, now feeling hard done by kicked into overdrive with chance after chance after chance. Sterling hit the post after great work up play by Cleverley and Hughes, who also clattered the bar and with the Villa fan's sensing there side could get back into it, they also made a lot of noise but it was 1-0 at half time.

Ivan Rakitic and Gino Peruzzi went off injured at half time and they were replaced by Lewis Kinsella and Milner. Milner went close with his first touch of the ball and it whistled past the post with Courtois not moving. Rondon then was replaced by fit again Sturridge and he helped set up the equaliser.


Caulker hit the equaliser to leave the tie on a knife edge

He won the corner and Milner supplied the corner for Steven Caulker to head home and make it 1-1. With 20 minutes to go Chelsea tried to take control back but Villa pounded Courtois with shot after shot but the big man stayed strong to make sure Chelsea head back to the Bridge with the tie just about in there favour.

The return is at the Zola Arena in just seven days time.

Rondon Hits 50th Goal But Villa Lose Out

In there return match in the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg, Aston Villa manager Paul McGrath completely let rip at Jose Mourinho as three of the major players for Villa got injured in this match with James McCarthy, Ivan Rakitic and Tom Cleverley all getting injured in this match but lets start with the first half and Villa taking the lead.

Manager Paul McGrath was NOT impressed with Jose Mourinho and the way his side played after the match. I am absolutely and utterly appalled by Chelsea's behaviour said McGrath, they intentionally came out with the objective of injuring certain players! Ivan (Rakitic), Tom (Cleverley) and James (McCarthy) all got injured in this match and that is a disgrace. It is even more so a disgrace that Anthony Taylor has a lot of explaining to do because Terry and Dragovic should have been sent off for there challenges on Rakitic and Cleverley and I will be issuing a formal complain about the officiating in the match!

The match was won by Chelsea by 3 goals to 1 on a breezy night at The Zola Arena but it was marred by how hard Chelsea were going in on the players and after Santon, Peruzzi and Delph were injured in the first leg, Villa now have issues as they come up to play Chelsea in the league next with the squad looking to get one back against the London side.


Rondon hit his 50th goal in 56 Villa games

Salomon Rondon notches up his 50th goal in just 56 games for The Villans as they took a early lead but then with Cleverley and Rakitic forced off due to two reckless challenges that went unpunished made Villa nervous and before half time Chelsea were 3-1 up and cruising thanks to Munir and Oscar.

Munir's first came on the 23rd minute from great play by Nangogglan and Ayew, with Oscar scoring the second just 2 minutes later from a free kick. The third goal by The Blues though was out of this world. Oscar started the move on his own 18 yard box, then 14 one touch passes got them down the pitch and the ball into Willian, who got past Kinsella for probably the only time in the match and whipped a fantastic cross in, to which Munir chested it down and volleyed it home for 3-1.


Munir was in inspired form against Villa

After half time The Villans were all over Chelsea until they lost there third played to injury, when McCarthy who had just two players to get round was cynically bought down by Terry again but he got nothing but a knee ligament injury in which he will be out for between 6 weeks and 2 months.

It is understood that McGrath has had to re-enter the transfer market as Ivan Rakitic will be out for upto a month with a ankle injury and he is said to be devastated but vowed to come back stronger than ever and finally Tom Cleverley, who has been ever-present this season for Villa will be out for around 1-2 weeks with bruised ribs.


Cleverley was one of three injured by Chelsea

Gino Peruzzi will be back in around 2 weeks after his injury against Chelsea in the first leg.

Stay tuned for the League match on Saturday at Zola Arena.




Chelsea are still top but Everton are hot on there tails as the league starts to bunch up at the top. Aston Villa have two game sin hand over 2nd place to 4th place but do play Chelsea in the league with 3 new signings (to be revealed next update). Spurs are in 9th with Man City in 7th and Liverpool in 13th place and Leicester, Palace and Stoke in the bottom three.

Villa Player Of The Month

How can it not go to this youngster, when McGrath came to Villa he said the youth would get a chance, three seasons later and Lewis Kinsella made his breakthrough in the squad this season. Known that he does not let any player past him easily, his average rating this month has been 7.68 and thoroughly deserves this award.

Three In, Five Out On Deadline Day

It has been exceptionally busy on Transfer Deadline Day at Villa Park as no less that FIVE players have left the clube either on a permanent basis or on loan and three have joined the Villans.


Higuain has finally left Villa

The highest profile departure is striker Gonzalo Higuain, who has left for £27,500,000 with the possibility to rise as high as £31m to Juventus to end a torturous three months in Birmingham and hopes that the move to Juventus will bring back some good form for the striker. It just wasn't meant to be, was it? Said McGrath. He is a fantastic player but with Sturridge and Rondon in such good form we had to let someone go and to be honest the players wanted him out, I think he will be happier away from here and in Italy.


Agbonlahor has moved to pastures new after 16 seasons with his favourite club

Ron Vlaar and Gabby Agbonlahor have departed from The Villans too. Ron Vlaar, who moved to Villa for £3,200,000 in the 2012/13 season from Fayenoord played for The Villans 162 times where he captained for 3 seasons has fond memories of his time there when talking before the switch to Fulham. This is a new chapter in my life, I would like ot thanks Aston Villa, there fans and there managers that I served under for the amazing times I have had there, it is just a shame that I could mastermind any trophy wins.

Gabby Agbonlahor has also left Villa for £275,000, signing for Sunderland after Sixteen years at The Villans. The striker made his debut for his boyhood team in 2005 against Everton, where he scored under then boss David O'Leary. He scored 88 goals in 350 appearances for Aston Villa but with Rondon, Sturridge and Co. he moved to make sure that he could still play and Sunderland represents a great chance for that.

Youngster Alex Rowe, who is very highly rated at Villa Park will spend the rest of the season on loan at Nottingham Forest, the Englishman will come back better for his loan move. and keeper Marek Radek has also moved to Gillingham on loan for the rest of the season.

Players In

Callum Chambers


£16,500,000 with £8,500,000 in add-ons from Arsenal

Callum Chambers has signed for Villa on deadline day for £16.5m with an additional £8.5m in add-ons. The right back has moved to Villa Park in the search for trophies because Arsenal to not treat there players well according to the former Arsenal defender. He has signed a deal thought to be worth around £89,000 a week for The Villans and will be competition for Argentine right back Gino Peruzzi.

James Ward-Prowse


£17,000,000 from Southampton

James Ward-Prowse has earned himself a move to Aston Villa after eight seasons at Southampton resulting in no trophies but a big reputation as one of the best youngsters in the Premier League. The midfielder played 144 times for Southampton and has one England cap to his name but now he can hopefully look forward to winning things at his new club.

Jordan Rhodes


£12,500,000 from Nottingham Forest

Jordan Rhodes comes in with a reputation of being a goalscorer but in lower leagues. It will be interesting to see if he can step up as Daniel Sturridge and Salomon Rondon's back up. Rhodes scored 20 times over two season in the Premier League but wanted a return to the top division and jumped at the chance to sign a four year £47,500 a week contract.

These three players are deemed to be the players to push Villa into the top 4 again this season.

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Authors Notes

Due to my Laptop being restarted by accident while i was at work, I have to play the Capital One Cup and F.A Cup matches again, for this i have integreted into the story a new storyline for this reason

The F.A: The Capital One Cup Semi Final Will Be Replayed

Following an extensive investigation, it is understood that Chelsea fielded a ineligable player in the Capital One Cup Semi Final against Aston Villa, instead of throwing them out, we have decided to ask the club to replay both legs again.

It is understood that Villa compiled a dossier on the player, to prove that he had already played in the competition for another side, but along with Chelsea themselves and the F.A failed to name that player.

The original tie in which Chelsea won convincingly is now null and void with the first leg taking place at Villa Park again in just 4 days time.

More on this story when we report the first leg.