Not my favourite Aston Villa player: Mark Delaney
Saturday, 09 December 06, 06:13 AM · Comments (8)
Some of you may know and some of you may not know but I don't particularly like seeing Mark Delaney in an Aston Villa shirt and it goes back some time. Today he has just re-confirmed my thinking.
It all started when Paul Robinson scored the equaliser for West Brom and a minute later Mark Delaney is seen laughing and joking with the player.
In my book you just don't do that and if you do you do it in private. I was gutted that day and wouldn't speak to many people after that game and there is buck toothed Mark Delaney joking with the player he was supposed to be marking who had just cost us two points.
Anyway, he has confirmed it today for me when I was reading the Birmingham Mail. Talking as the PFA rep, not sure why but he is, he said of the time under the previous incumbent "Being the PFA rep, I just want to see the club doing well and I could see that it wasn't going anywhere. I am just a player, I haven't got a voice in it all, but the players who have been here a long while could see that things weren't right."
He went one "We had been on a downward spiral, and I could see that. It wasn't nice because the whole club was getting affected - it wasn't just the team on the pitch. I am just pleased that we sorted it out. We could not have left it much longer."
It's easy to talk after the event and if I'm honest to myself he probably didn't see what was going on but he's talking as if he did and that others saw what was happening.
My issue is why didn't he speak out? If he is a player of Aston Villa and he supposedly saw it all happening he had a responsibility!
Sometimes you have to stand up and say something that others don't agree with. We did about the previous incumbent and took a lot of stick at the time, but we were proven right in the end. We've done it about the Supporters Consultation Group and we'll get stick for it now but eventually people will see it's waste of time.
Sometimes the actions you do not take speak louder than words. If Mark Delaney were to never play for Aston Villa again I wouldn't be unhappy. Why not a swap with Blackburn for Neill?
I appreciate that not every player that plays for Aston Villa will have the love or passion for the club that I do. But what I don't want to read about is someone putting it across that they care when on other occasions in public they clearly don't.
If they see something happening that shouldn't be players have a responsibility to say something; in private to someone first but if nothing is done in public. Everyone, last season saw it was wrong and some of us knew the day he joined he wasn't the right man.
Sometimes you've got to stand up and be counted; not hide on the treatment table. Delaney never did it despite a live mic available to him 24 hours a day. What annoys me is him coming out with it now. He should have kept his mouth shut.
Earn your money, laugh at the supporters in private but as soon as you throw it back in our face don't ever expect to get support again. There are no second chances when it comes to our club, not from me anyway.
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8 Comments · Add yours
i have to agree mark has been a waste of villas time 4 about 4 yrs now and we have decent cover 4 him.but oneill said if he got himself fit he would be offered a new deal so dont hold your breath about him leaving.martin obviously rates him.
Strictly average player who has made a barrowload of money out of being permanently injured. Only time I ever remember hearing him speak out about anything was to moan about contract negotiations and 'not being looked after'. Please get rid Martin.
Amen. Villa's money is wasted on him-should be spent elsewhere.
Damian
Correct me if I'm wrong but is Mark Delaney the Chairman ? Is it Mark Delaney's responsibility to hire and fire managers ? Wasn't Mark Delaney one of the 4 who went to see the Chairman prior to DOL getting fired ? No I agree, a player shouldn't laugh when a goal is conceded, but it strikes me you have taken this very much to heart and couldn't wait to see him "slip up". Yes he has spent a considerable amount of time on the treatment table but I'll tell you this for nothing, you won't find a more committed Aston Villa player than Mark Delaney - ask any of the pro's. He has been injured, largely though his committment on the pitch and occasionally down to very bad luck. Mark Delaney, when fit, is a consistent 7 or 8 out of 10. How many players would you put money on to take on the Chelsea midfield and set up an equaliser as he did last season. The boy has got guts and is professional to the hilt. You have to realise he is a player and does not have the authority that the board have - why have a board ? Trouble with people like you is you want to sack the board and the manager all at the same time - and I suppose its down to Mark Delaney to make sure the changing rooms are clean aswell is it and probably sell a few hot dogs while he's at it. Grow up and take your vindictive nature with you.
Merry Christmas
Dave
Damian
You've obviously got a problem with this guy - talk to any Villa pro and they'll tell you he's the most committed pro at the Club. Not sure what your job is Damian but last time I looked, MD didn't have the authority to hire and fire managers - do you ? He was, though, one of the "4" to go in and see the Chairman pre DOL's firing. Agree with you he shouldn't smile after a goal but it strikes me you have been waiting for him to slip up. Leave the guy alone - he has been injured on and off largely due to his committment for the cause and you wouldn't find anyone in the Club calling him injury prone. Do you expect him to clean up the dressing rooms and sell a few hot dogs aswell ? Grow up and take your vindictive nature with you.
Merry Christmas
Thanks for the note Dave and I hope you have a merry Christmas also.
But yes, I've got a problem with this guy. Last year he's moaning that the club won't give him a new contract; asking for the club to show him the respect he deserves and he's not happy that the club are taking up the 'option' of an additional year that he agreed to when he signed the existing contract.
Aston Villa have made him a millionaire and you're stating the bleeding obvious. Of course he's not the chairman and of course he doesn't have the power to hire and fire but if he's such a 'committed' Aston Villa player as you suggest why, does he come out after the effect on this particular issue and say something; he should have said something publicly like some of the other players.
I'm interested about these 'four' that went to the chairman; you clearly have inside knowledge of this as I know nothing about it.
But my point is Mark Delaney is a waste of space at the club. He's getting paid an awful lot of money to do not very much and quite honestly I don't want someone playing for Aston Villa who will laugh and joke with an opposing player a minute after he scored under the circumstances I mentioned above, I just dont' and I want the type of committment that made me pi55ed off when that goal went in.
Delaney might be committeted to the challenge or his training or getting back to match fitness but the type of committment that I want at the club runs deeper than 'what is expected' for £20k a aweek he earns.
It's like if I salp you in the face, could you sit with me a minute later and laugh and joke?
Whilst i have a lot of time for mark delaney the footballer he should keep his gob shut and concentrate on getting fit. When was the last time he played 5 games in a row? I actually think he's finished at the villa anyway
How anyone can slag Delaney is either beyond me. He's been an outstanding player since he came to the club and your criticisms of him are so childish that it barely merits a response.
Quite pathetic, and your sudden grudging U-turn on Gavin McCann just highlights how boss eyed you must be.