Reluctant Striker

Personally, I would be fascinated to see what Unai Emery could get from him, in this Villa team. I think I read somewhere Villa were reluctant to go beyond £40m. Which as things stand is club record area of the spend on Buendia. And read since then, that Spurs might be interested too. If any remember, fairly sure Villa paid around half the Sancho fee at the same time, for Leon Bailey, from Leverkusen, and he has had trouble seeming like a starting 11 player, for Villa. I also feel Bellingham has made a smart choice to go to Real Madrid.

I get the feeling the club would like to bring in a headline signing or 2 over the summer. But those who would qualify as a headline signing will have many interested clubs to choose from. Ashley Young is being released, so a new 2nd right back needed. Of the names in the rumour & gossip stories, the most plausible so far has seemed like Harvey Barnes.

I see there has finally been a UK-EU agreement on Northern Ireland. That seems like it may just be accepted by all the political parties of Ireland. Supposedly involving a green lane for Britain to supply into Northern Ireland, for Northern Ireland use only. Anything to continue on into the rest of Ireland / EU, still subject to checks. When it all kicked off several years ago I expected country of origin & decision on EU/UK at business level to be part of the answer. Why it's taken quite so long is utter insanity.

Whatever it is, good to see the Japanese trying to find out for sure, before blowing it up.

Yeah, something seems off about the whole thing. That comment on her life & tendancies just did not seem relevant. They would have asked the family all those type of questions. They would need to decide what type of disappearance they were dealing with. But to everyone else, the public, the media, etc, a missing person is a missing person. It was very easy for many to assume their comments were meant to imply meaning to the case. And where she was found, had been searched earlier. Feels like there could still be more that is discovered.

I imagine Qatar will mean Man United will be in for Emi Martinez, Declan Rice, James Maddison & Neymar. In one summer. And the players will all be much better thought of. Even Neymar. Who will help Rashford of course.

I think the Scottish parliament self identifying trans rights thing hit her confidence harder than she would admit. A dodgy front of neck tatoo'ed shaven headed rapist was a very high profile case soon after her rules were being put in place. He put on a blonde wig & some make up. JK had a bit to say about it all. I have seen a Twitter captioned post of her kneeling to a young girl in a playground asking her in speech bubble what the young girls views are on male rapists. Does she support them self identifying into women prisons, or is the girl a nasty right winger. And Sturgeon had to issue a statement about teething problems, or something to that effect, while that rapist & a few others got moved to men's prisons. Plus, a while before all the above, the UK court had ruled a 2nd Scottish referendum was illegal without UK parliament approval. Which she had already proclaimed would happen. On a 50%+ coalition. Pressure from the zealots to do a 2nd vote anyway. Or to treat the next UK General Election as a referendum vote. etc. Basically the 1 party pressure group point of the SNP just got a whole lot more complex even among the like minded. And regardless what Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi & Ursula von der Leyen may or may not be rooting for. And I imagine most the SNP do realise, even if they edge over the winning line, in their own country, they would have to make Britain like Ireland, which isn't especially a political success story. An England-Scotland border? Or best Scottish return to EU a weird sea bridge thing? Perhaps even ideas that England will just become Northern Ireland? Everyone knows that is the choice, much more clearly than English voters realised they would have such an effect on Ireland. The SNP want Scots to vote for it. With the best will in the World, it can only be a mess the longer it's my-way-or-no-way types leading politics. Basically I think she knows all this & it's finally become too much, even for her brass neck.

I've listened to lots of what Brian Cox thinks about space stuff. Not just his BBC TV shows. You can find bits of him on YouTube too. And he often sounds undecided. But edging toward that we may be quite special. He has described somewhere how often it's thought that dinosaur asteroid events happen. And it I remember right, they think it's very similar to the time we think humans have been around for. So there's not just the problem of travelling to where alien life could be. There is also the problem that, assuming there are planets with life, within Earth like orbit zones, basically dinosaurs could be much more frequent than we are. With our growing ideas about how to detect & deflect planet destroyers.

You would think there would have to be at least a few planets with at least animal level life. I stumbled on a new theory, that the observable universe could actually be the inside of a black hole. Which seems crazy, but some respectable enough scientists are not dismissing the idea. It would be a different twist on the big bang theory. It crosses my mind that there could be many, many more stars so far away that their light hasn't yet reached us. Or never will. By the time they see & look closely at our star light, we could be long gone. And what really fries my brain is that if we do figure out faster than light warp speed.. the universe would change around the astronauts. Get to a star 1 million light years away. It would be 1 million light years, plus travel time, more recent when we arrive. Look back at our sun. And that light from our sun would have taken 1 million light years to get there. And the navigation would have to be equally mind blowing to avoid doing what Han Solo suggests could happen.

Will probably record it & watch through it Monday evening here. I think I like the neutral entertainment I can get from American sports. Consciously decided never to pick a team in it. When I have played Madden games, I've gone with Dolphins, Steelers, Giants, Jets, Packers, Rams & Cowboys.

If I played for Kansas City Chiefs I think I'd genuinely struggle every match not in Kansas, to not be pointing out that we're not in Kansas anymore. And it would be funny every time.

I do keep an eye on the Villa women's team. Really happy to see them in the top half of the WSL. Signed up England Euro winner Rachel Daly, to play as a striker, at start of the season. Brought in Jordan Nobbs & Lucy Staniforth, I think both early 30's former (& unretired) England midfielders. And they have Alisha Lehmann, the Swiss winger, who now has more social media followers than Roger Federer.. Apparently she is always disappointed by her 'fans' who don't watch her play football..

Emi Martinez has made his first comments about having desires to win a Champions League. How he'd like to win a title with Villa, but the club is on a journey toward better things. Will be disappointing if he goes, but any side in European competition wanting a top class goalkeeper & prepared to pay big (he's only recently signed a long term contract) it's really feeling like he'll be on the move sooner than later. You would think he would only move somewhere as a number 1.

Wife beaters played on as recently as the 90's. Probably even more high profile too, the 2 that I remember. But accused rapists is new to me. It will be, interesting, for want of a better word, to see what happens with the not guilty Mendy & charges dropped Greenwood. But if either want to play. Feel confident enough to be in the public arena. You just know some club somewhere will take them on. Even if their current clubs decide it will not be with them.

It seems bad they've not been able to bring anyone in. Even on loan. From anywhere. Including the Championship. The 1 point to feel some hope on is that Dyche kept Burnley up. Multiple times. From similar situations. With a side built around Ashley Westwood as it's play maker. Believe me, Onana & Iwobi are miles better players.

Seems no surprise deadline day signing. But: Bertrand Traore recalled. (perhaps a pity El Ghazi had gone perm) A few fringe players have been loaned out. Including Sanson & Nakamba. While Bednarek & Augustinsson released from their loans in. If the right players are not available right now, this may be aswell. A split reaction to find online. I'd tend toward that we do have more depth than it would seem at first glance: 1st 11: Martinez Cash Konsa Mings Digne McGinn Douglas Luiz Kamara Buendia Bailey Watkins 2nd Choice: Olsen Young Chambers Carlos (returning from injury) Moreno ? Dendonker Ramsey Coutinho Traore Duran

Jhon Duran has been signed. A 19 year old Columbian international attacking player. Supposedly a pacy striker. From Chicago Fire. Must feel a bit of a blow to Villa's home grown 21 year old Cameron Archer, out on loan at Middlesbrough now. But I guess there are questions over how much time Watkins may or may not be out for. And if that's not going to be too long, is Watkins being seen as a wide attacker, or perhaps Danny Ings not entirely unavailable to the right bidder. Continuing to feel a slightly unexpected transfer window to me. I expected wingers, midfielders & maybe centre backs. So far, a left back & a striker.

Yes. It is one aspect of Liverpool that can grate. They perhaps are funded, like Man United, on self generated income. Yes, there is perhaps a false income for some clubs, with some owners. But the level of sympathy & portrayal as some kind of Robin Hood club, is an insular thing. When to everyone outside they spent massive money on many players in the team. Often attracting players from lesser fan-funded clubs. Lesser brand names, shifting less replica shirts in every corner of the planet. And, I agree on Gakpo. It doesn't make immediate sense to me. But perhaps the 'right' midfielder/s just aren't doable right now? Bellingham & Enzo Fernandez both linked, but both supposedly more than Grealish.

I'm giving you my thoughts any way.. I've only ever been to 1 international team match of any kind, and it was a Cricket ODI at Lords. As others have suggested, I found it to be a very tolerant, mild, laid back, family friendly sort of experience. Mixed crowd with no agitation at all. Even when England lost. Be aware over a decade ago the prices were ludicrous. It was much more economical to share multi-bed rooms in a hostel type thing. Your own pocket food & drinks for the day time may be wise. We were searched. So check what's ok & not ok. £20+ for a portion of chips, etc. I wouldn't expect any to be cheap, but likely a London/Lords price on top. Other things I do know is Lords is the 1 ground where fancy dress is not allowed. So it may well be less of a party that you would likely get elsewhere. It is near enough that you could fit in seeing the postcard/TV sights of London, as part of it all. But it may just all seem a bit Conservative & almost Royal formality. Perhaps. I can't recommend Birmingham as a tourist destination. But I'm fairly sure Edgbaston is considered to be a reliable results pitch. And has a very multi cultural fan base. That may be less evident for England - Australia. I'd suggest in both London & Birmingham people may take interest in you being there & what your story is. Especially if you sound Australian. The further up North you go, IMO, the more you may find people ready to tell you all about their great region & the great choice you made. So it depends what you're looking for.

Alex Moreno from Real Betis for £12.5m is first signing of January 23. A left back. With Digne, Augustinsson & Young to cover the spot, perhaps not the most predicted position to add to. At 29, he's the same rather seasoned age as Digne. Midfielders to perhaps upgrade the likes of backup squad players; Nakamba, Sanson & Dendoncker have been anticipated. Adding a proper wing-attacker to compliment the frustrating/frustrated Bailey, perhaps with more pace than the more finesse style options of Coutinho & Buendia also highly rumoured. A 29 year old left back really seems quite an unexpected addition this window. Perhaps he can play left midfield - wing. Supposedly Moreno had very good stats in 2022. But I am kind of hoping the next signing feels a bit more sexy tbh..

Not sure it needs it's own transfer rumour thread or not, but apparently Maguire & his agent were spotted in a restaurant not too far from Villa's training grounds. Some now have him 1-6 to join Villa before the end of the transfer window. With Spurs also interested, depending what rumour source you look for.

Yes, it's difficult to know what to make of the last 4 years. And all the 'this group of players' type pundits. But, if World Class means struggling to find a team anywhere not giving them a start, I'd agree Kane (though I do think he is going downhill rapidly. Not still sulking that Grealish stole his apparent dream move) Bellingham (though still plenty of potential) & most of the right backs. Also, the 5 of Rashford, Grealish, Foden, Sterling & Saka, probably make most squads. I still think it was a better than credited win over Croatia at the Euros. I hope we stay away from playing the Man U formation now. It wouldn't seem to suit Bellingham. And on an incidental, Man U would likely be improved with the Henderson-Liverpool style midfield set up. And Maguire & company would be having an easier time of things.

Apparently there is a Jobe Bellingham, midfielder, currently 17 & at Birmingham City. Some brothers get to similar levels, but not all. I have been reading lots of fear stories that England will be struggling for a striker soon. Well, at 2026 Kane would be 33 & already looks 35 to me. And Wilson is 31 already. But then Ivan Toney 26, Tammy Abraham 25, Ollie Watkins 26, Marcus Rashford 25. Only a couple more options need to appear & I'm sure England will have a couple of Number 9's at the next few tournaments, with reasonable backup options missing out.

Many keeping the same squad number. Grealish was 7 yet wasn't used in any such way in the Euro's. A very occasional 11. Bellingham seems much more box-to-box than Phillips, so should be a bit different, unless under heavy managerial restraint. For all group games it really should be 4-3-3, with Rice as the 1 deep sitter & play to win in dominant manner. Only must starts for me are: Pickford, Trippier, Stones, Shaw, Rice, Bellingham & Kane. Feel like Southgate will see them that way too. Perhaps most likely other 4 will be Maguire, Sterling, Mount & Saka. But so much of Maguire & Sterling is based on brand loyalty. And not being sure anyone else would offer anything drastically different. Maddison, Grealish & Rashford all wow me at times. Foden just doesn't for some reason. And he doesn't have De Bruyne, Haaland & Bernardo, etc to feed off here. Grealish doesn't feed off, he is a feeder, struggling to find his place in a long queue at City. Maddison & Rashford really deserve to be ahead of Grealish. That's my take anyway.

The white-ness of the England women's team causing problems again. Beth Mead was recently asked about lack of black players in an interview & said: 'I think it's completely coincidental. We put out our best 11 and you don't think of anyone's race or anything like that. I think that's more an outsiders perspective.' Apparently Ian Wright has been on the phone to her over the 'disappointing' comments. Personally I think she was highly likely just being honest. And if there are inclusivity problems, and it is indeed more white than the men's team, maybe the end of production line England team is the wrong end to be barking at. But it's obviously where her mind will be & responded to the question from. She's a young footballer not a politician or social activist.