Marcus Rashford - signed on loan

[Dave]

I'm not sure about that. Assuming he plays well I think the biggest factor in whether we take up the option will be whether we're in the champions League again or not.

Yup, that feels about right.

If we end up in the top five, he's likely done quite a bit to put us there so we'll want to keep him, will have the money to be able to afford to, and he's more likely to want to stay.

If we end up sixth or below (and don't win it) then he probably hasn't done enough to make us want him permanently, we wouldn't be able to afford it and he wouldn't want us to.

[BoVillan esq]

Breaking down the athletic article TV shared on transfers for each player and some key pieces.


Marcus Rashford’s arrival encapsulated Aston Villa’s transfer window.

It was unexpected and a product of a volatile market, stretching several targets, setbacks and late frenzy.

Rashford was Villa’s marquee signing. They had signed one of Britain’s most talked about footballers, known for his inherent talent but equally increasing concerns. Unai Emery was enamoured with Rashford and encouraged by him being out of favour at Manchester United.

"At his best, Emery regards Rashford among the most threatening attackers in the world and backs himself to rejuvenate the 27-year-old. When it became evident there were diminishing alternatives for Rashford and Villa could make the finances work — largely owing to what had gone before in the window — senior figures quickly pressed ahead.

Villa will contribute a minimum of three-quarters of Rashford’s wages, which stands at more than £325,000 (€390,000, $403,500) per week and up to 90 per cent depending on performance-based bonuses.

Sources at Villa and close to players, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, expressed their excitement at the signing, believing Emery, who thinks Rashford can operate on both flanks, as a No 10 and lone striker, will tap into a different side of the player’s personality and provide a platform to perform at his best. Villa possess an option to buy for £40million (€48.17m, $49.67m)

The swift nature of Rashford’s signing — with The Athletic reporting talks had started on Friday afternoon and the deal wrapped up Sunday night — underlined how the landscape changed almost daily at Villa."

Emery is right on the button, the likes of Bellingham followed in Rashfords footsteps and in my opinion Marcus is the better player of the 2, as previously mentioned he as been part of a bigger problem that is the club itself its not the other way around in that Man Utd's problems are down to the likes of Rashford as Man U fans would have you believe and here he is a Villa player, brilliant work by Emery and Monchi, can't wait until the weekend, its been ages since I looked forward to an FA Cup game as much, for me Marcus should be the first name on the team sheet, get him in there, show him some love, let him know we need him right at the top of his game, in fact this cup game coming up should be a seriously good game.

[Smithy]

In the Premier League, 87 in 287. Watkins has 69 in 170.

And I'll agree that 'doesn't really play much football' is a bit sloppy (though we all know what he means).
As long as you don't betray us for golf like russon.

As good as Ollie's goal-scoring has been, you're not comparing like-for-like here.  Rashford has spent most of the last five years as a wide-forward, rather than a centre-forward.  Most of his England caps have come as a wide-forward, not a centre-forward.  He's closer to a goal-scoring winger than a centre-forward, though he has at times played through the middle.

The season he scored 30 a couple of years ago, he was used more centrally more often, but STILL more than half of his appearances were as a wide-forward.

[edgysatsuma89]

Rashford being better than Bellingham is a nuts take. I mean I hope so, but I'm not sure how you get 'there'.

[Monty]

With the caveat that wide forwards in this day and age are often - depending on the system - expected to as much of a goal threat as the centre forward. You know, Saka, Salah, Zaha, Grealish. Names synonymous with prolific goalscoring.

Rashford by and large has played in those types of front threes, where he's been expected to be a goal threat. In that context I think it's fair enough to look at his goal record - and, if not, more than fair enough to look at his (very questionable) assists record!

I'm not against Rashford coming like I was. Emery is a mystic with attackers and I'd love nothing more in the world than for this to be a masterstroke. But if Rashford hadn't been underwhelming, underperforming, under-utilising his talent, then there's no way he'd be here in the first place!

[Drummond]

I do like the idea of us playing with three attackers. Actually, make it four!

[danno]

I'm not against Rashford coming like I was. Emery is a mystic with attackers and I'd love nothing more in the world than for this to be a masterstroke. But if Rashford hadn't been underwhelming, underperforming, under-utilising his talent, then there's no way he'd be here in the first place!

Didn't you just spend the morning defending the newspaper article that argued that he's actually quite good, but expectations of him are set too high?

[Monty]

I'm not against Rashford coming like I was. Emery is a mystic with attackers and I'd love nothing more in the world than for this to be a masterstroke. But if Rashford hadn't been underwhelming, underperforming, under-utilising his talent, then there's no way he'd be here in the first place!

Didn't you just spend the morning defending the newspaper article that argued that he's actually quite good, but expectations of him are set too high?

Evidently, both can be true at the same time. He can be better, much better, than he's been; he's unlikely to be as good as Haaland or Salah, the only players in the league who earn more than him.

Anyway, I wasn't that interested in the point of the article, more that it's one to read if you like the style, and that there are reasons to praise journalism other than whether you like the arguments they make, and that some weren't grasping this point. And here we are again!

[Smithy]

With the caveat that wide forwards in this day and age are often - depending on the system - expected to as much of a goal threat as the centre forward. You know, Saka, Salah, Zaha, Grealish. Names synonymous with prolific goalscoring.

Rashford by and large has played in those types of front threes, where he's been expected to be a goal threat. In that context I think it's fair enough to look at his goal record - and, if not, more than fair enough to look at his (very questionable) assists record!

I'm not against Rashford coming like I was. Emery is a mystic with attackers and I'd love nothing more in the world than for this to be a masterstroke. But if Rashford hadn't been underwhelming, underperforming, under-utilising his talent, then there's no way he'd be here in the first place!

Saka has an almost identical goals per premier league game record as Rashford, in fact, it's very slightly worse (Rashford has a goal every 3.29 appearances, Saka every 3.57 appearances).

Rashford's scoring record is vastly superior to Saha and Grealish.  Salah is a phenomenon.

[BoVillan esq]

As a catchment if you look at Rashfords stats at that point in his career when things where as they should be, he is without doubt one of the most effective and most threatening forwards in the game, without question he know precisely where the goal is, put another way, which is probably what Emery is thinking, just where would Marcus Rashford be right now had Utd not gone into meltdown, 30 goals in a season plus assists is nothing to be sneezed at, sure that's what Emery is hoping for, I know I am, we have a very serious top player here if we can get his head back in the game. 

[Drummond]

I agree Bo, I think there is huge potential to be unlocked.

[Monty]

With the caveat that wide forwards in this day and age are often - depending on the system - expected to as much of a goal threat as the centre forward. You know, Saka, Salah, Zaha, Grealish. Names synonymous with prolific goalscoring.

Rashford by and large has played in those types of front threes, where he's been expected to be a goal threat. In that context I think it's fair enough to look at his goal record - and, if not, more than fair enough to look at his (very questionable) assists record!

I'm not against Rashford coming like I was. Emery is a mystic with attackers and I'd love nothing more in the world than for this to be a masterstroke. But if Rashford hadn't been underwhelming, underperforming, under-utilising his talent, then there's no way he'd be here in the first place!

Saka has an almost identical goals per premier league game record as Rashford, in fact, it's very slightly worse (Rashford has a goal every 3.29 appearances, Saka every 3.57 appearances).

Rashford's scoring record is vastly superior to Saha and Grealish.  Salah is a phenomenon.

(I wasn't being entirely serious with my choice of examples - I am, amazingly, aware of Grealish's goalscoring record!)

Salah's salary is as flush as flash Rashford's. Maybe you'd expect a similar goals return - a phenomenon of sorts - from that, rather than being put in the shade by the same Ollie Watkins we always whinge about missing sitters.

[BoVillan esq]

I agree Bo, I think there is huge potential to be unlocked.

Can't wait to see him come out that tunnel in a Villa shirt, don't get me wrong I hated the bloke when he emerged in that red shirt 😊 such a threat, such is football. 👍

[Drummond]

I agree Bo, I think there is huge potential to be unlocked.

Can't wait to see him come out that tunnel in a Villa shirt, don't get me wrong I hated the bloke when he emerged in that red shirt 😊 such a threat, such is football. 👍

Yep, under Emery, with Tielemans passing, the power of Rogers' running, and Watkins etc there too, then I think he can have some fun.

[danno]

I'm not against Rashford coming like I was. Emery is a mystic with attackers and I'd love nothing more in the world than for this to be a masterstroke. But if Rashford hadn't been underwhelming, underperforming, under-utilising his talent, then there's no way he'd be here in the first place!

Didn't you just spend the morning defending the newspaper article that argued that he's actually quite good, but expectations of him are set too high?

Evidently, both can be true at the same time. He can be better, much better, than he's been; he's unlikely to be as good as Haaland or Salah, the only players in the league who earn more than him.

Anyway, I wasn't that interested in the point of the article, more that it's one to read if you like the style, and that there are reasons to praise journalism other than whether you like the arguments they make, and that some weren't grasping this point. And here we are again!

Just say that then. I thought you were Barney's mom!