is it as bad as Emile HEskey picking up 60 caps or players like Jake Livermore or Jonjo Shelvey getting caps
It's somewhere between Paul McShane getting 30(! ) and those two you listed.
I've never wanted him out. Experience(d) player(s)? From now on our players gain their experience (and earn their big contracts) with us. Buying experienced players when you're not one of the big boys puts you on a hiding to nothing.
Does anyone remember the ITK the spurs fans were all cock sure of (due to "getting stuff right" previously) that said an £18m deal was all but complete and would be announced by the end of this week? Can we expect the announcement later this afternoon or do they work weekends in Lahndahn Tahn?
Levy 'wins' more than he 'loses' but he's had some stinkers. Bentley, Palacios, Corluka, Chimbonda, Gomez and Pavlyuchenko all came in the same season.
I don't think anyone is under the impression that Benteke LOVES Villa but he clearly wasn't unsettled last season. He obviously wants to make the most of his career/talent and he's hired a professional to help him do that. If his adviser suggested it was in his career's best interests to stay for another season I'm pretty sure Benteke wouldn't have ignored the advice and put in the transfer request himself.
I think the problem people are having with the agent is that while it at least slightly debatable what is best for Benteke himself for the long term, it is clear that as many transfers as possible is best for Kismet.
To the same tune that every single club (especially in the MLS now, for some reason) uses:
His name's* Yacouba Sylla, Sylla, Sylla,
He **** loves* the Villa, the Villa, the Villa.
Oooooooooooooooh, oooooooooooooooh
*These first bits may vary
Surely a professional club wouldn't base a seven figure bid purely on the fact that a player did or didn't start one international friendly. That is preposterous, to put it mildly.
This imaginary bidding war between Europe's elite is just as likely to happen whether or not Banniesta starts a ceremonial friendly.