Donyell Malen

[ASHTONVILLA]

I was in rural Egypt in the runup to Christmas visiting farms near Sadat City, and got talking to a farmers son who had done his masters degree at Aston University. When I told him I was from Birmingham he spent 10 minutes complaining about what a horrible place it was. He moved to London to do his medical training and loved it there.

That is what we are up against. Even people from rural Egypt think Birmingham is a dump.

When you disagreed, did he add that you were in denial?

*Sorry.

He's entitled to his opinion I guess. I'm not a fan of cities in general, they are all too busy and hectic for me - that's why I live on a farm in the UK, and in a Village in the Netherlands. But I definitely prefer Birmingham to London by some considerable margin. If I were a footballer I'd be looking at the rural areas near Brum and thinking it was a much better option than commuting into that horrible crime ridden dump.

Brum definitely has an image problem.

[Drummond]

I was in rural Egypt in the runup to Christmas visiting farms near Sadat City, and got talking to a farmers son who had done his masters degree at Aston University. When I told him I was from Birmingham he spent 10 minutes complaining about what a horrible place it was. He moved to London to do his medical training and loved it there.

That is what we are up against. Even people from rural Egypt think Birmingham is a dump.

When you disagreed, did he add that you were in denial?

*Sorry.

Oh giza break, that's what his mummy said.

[Pat Mustard]

I was in rural Egypt in the runup to Christmas visiting farms near Sadat City, and got talking to a farmers son who had done his masters degree at Aston University. When I told him I was from Birmingham he spent 10 minutes complaining about what a horrible place it was. He moved to London to do his medical training and loved it there.

That is what we are up against. Even people from rural Egypt think Birmingham is a dump.

When you disagreed, did he add that you were in denial?

*Sorry.

Oh giza break, that's what his mummy said.

Tut Tut....

[Pat Mustard]

I was in rural Egypt in the runup to Christmas visiting farms near Sadat City, and got talking to a farmers son who had done his masters degree at Aston University. When I told him I was from Birmingham he spent 10 minutes complaining about what a horrible place it was. He moved to London to do his medical training and loved it there.

That is what we are up against. Even people from rural Egypt think Birmingham is a dump.

When you disagreed, did he add that you were in denial?

*Sorry.

He's entitled to his opinion I guess. I'm not a fan of cities in general, they are all too busy and hectic for me - that's why I live on a farm in the UK, and in a Village in the Netherlands. But I definitely prefer Birmingham to London by some considerable margin. If I were a footballer I'd be looking at the rural areas near Brum and thinking it was a much better option than commuting into that horrible crime ridden dump.

Brum definitely has an image problem.

There's no scientific basis for this other than we seem to have a fairly settled squad, but I would argue that Villa are actually in a pretty good spot to attract a certain type of high-level player (Emi Martinez being the prime example).  It's a Champions League club in the Premier League, wages are better than anywhere but a handful of places, playing for one of the world's recognised top coaches, but you can be outside of the circus than comes with playing in London or for certain other teams.  If you have a young family and are dedicated as a professional it's a good place to play.

Plus, regardless of what you think of Birmingham (and I think it's ace), as a multi-millionaire there are plenty of nice places to live in this part of the world.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

Birmingham’s grand. It’s just down to the individual and their family and how they like to live. I think some footy players would pick Spurs, some Villa, largely down to the £££s on offer.

[Demitri_C]

Spurs considering a bid.

If they do I imagine the lure of London could mean he goes there.

Do you think so? They’re in the bottom half of the table, can’t offer European football and are likely to be sacking their manager in the not too distant future.

They still are a big club as much as it pains me to say it.  The lire of london is real but dont know why its a horrible place to live

Always a laugh when people are dying to tell everybody how awful a place London is to live. It’s fine mate. Lived here for 20 years. Loads to do, eat and see, some decent housing stock and lots of options for work.

Even better when somebody from Bloxwich or Scunthorpe or wherever is all too ready to ask ‘how on earth do you live in London?’ To which the stock response is a standard ‘right back at you and also nobody was asking.’

Some sort of reverse snobbery.

Yeah ive lived here all my life  as well mate. Although im in Hertfordshire now its literally london as within 5 mins im in london.

Yeah it has its pros and cons but when i compare how london was in the 90s i hate it now. Its not safe place to live anymore and everything  is so expensive here.

Yeah we have good aspects like the tube, variety of restaurants  and  alot to do as you correctly say - but i think the crime is what makes me really not like it anymore.

[ASHTONVILLA]

I get more offended by unfavourable comparisons to Manchester - now that really is a fur coat no knickers hovel.

[dave.woodhall]

The attraction of London for foreign players has traditionally been that you're just a face in the crowd there.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

Spurs considering a bid.

If they do I imagine the lure of London could mean he goes there.

Do you think so? They’re in the bottom half of the table, can’t offer European football and are likely to be sacking their manager in the not too distant future.

They still are a big club as much as it pains me to say it.  The lire of london is real but dont know why its a horrible place to live

Always a laugh when people are dying to tell everybody how awful a place London is to live. It’s fine mate. Lived here for 20 years. Loads to do, eat and see, some decent housing stock and lots of options for work.

Even better when somebody from Bloxwich or Scunthorpe or wherever is all too ready to ask ‘how on earth do you live in London?’ To which the stock response is a standard ‘right back at you and also nobody was asking.’

Some sort of reverse snobbery.

Yeah ive lived here all my life  as well mate. Although im in Hertfordshire now its literally london as within 5 mins im in london.

Yeah it has its pros and cons but when i compare how london was in the 90s i hate it now. Its not safe place to live anymore and everything  is so expensive here.

Yeah we have good aspects like the tube, variety of restaurants  and  alot to do as you correctly say - but i think the crime is what makes me really not like it anymore.

£4.50 a pint of Guinness in my local Irish pub and never been a victim of crime in London. Sorry you have.

Now, Hertfordshire  a duller yah yah hole I’m yet to come across  🤣

[Demitri_C]

Duller but i love it mate 😂

Was out up Central during xmas two cocktails over £20 😑

I get more offended by unfavourable comparisons to Manchester - now that really is a fur coat no knickers hovel.

Ive only been once but piccadily was noce but the other  places i went were a absolute  dump (sorry to my manchester villians who live there)

[markeeeebeeee2005]

I mean, if I actively wanted to pay over £10 for a cocktail I could. But same as anywhere you don’t have to go in a place because it’s there and particularly if it’s offering things for more than you want to pay. I wouldn’t dismiss a whole city if I’d decided to do that in any case.

Anyway hope he fancies some Brum time and we get the player. He looks decent.

[kippaxvilla2]

Aston Villa are growing more confident that they can land a deal for Borussia Dortmund star Donyell Malen, sources have told Football Insider.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that a “great fee” is set to be agreed with Dortmund which means Villa will not have to sell anybody to compensate.

[LeeB]

He's already apparently agreed terms and the clubs are just ironing out the fee and structure I'd guess. That leaves a window for these bullshit sites to come up with "Team x are goiung to swoop in" etc. because it each of the mouth breathers that follow said club will click immediately.

[Dave]

Aston Villa are growing more confident that they can land a deal for Borussia Dortmund star Donyell Malen, sources have told Football Insider.

Yeah, course they have.

[LeeB]

Sources inside Football Insider's head.