Ger Gilroy

We've got... I can't really talk about this yet, but...

We've got access to an Irish footballer recently who really benefited from learning about good loans and bad loans and the difference between those.

And it's fascinating to hear them talk about it.

And Harvey Elliott's just had a bad loan.

And look, the truism that came out of it was sometimes you learn more from your bad loans than the good loans.

You know, agents definitely looking out for the best for their player because ultimately it makes them more money.

That's the parasitical relationship that agents have with footballers.

But like the two clubs could easily have hammered out a deal at the, particularly the second transfer deadline day gone, right?

This hasn't worked out.

But the ego obviously on both sides got in the way.

Somebody blinking and going, okay, grant.

Maybe the financial constraints.

It'll be interesting to see what financial constraints these clubs operate under because we keep hearing about them and then they keep spending a quarter of a billion.

So look, this game, I actually have no clue what to expect.

I think...

Villa's European Cup final Europa League final is next Wednesday that's obviously why this game is on tomorrow is it yeah do you pick do you pick the team you're going to pick that night for the first 45 minutes and make five subs at half time and hope that you get like there's still a scenario where they don't finish so that's what I was going to bring up to you there yeah they're four points behind Bournemouth both teams ahead of Bournemouth sorry both teams have played the same amount of games Bournemouth have City I think yeah got the same goal difference Bournemouth have scored more goals

I do see a scenario where he picks the team that he wanted to pick, where it's Isak and Wurz and your strong, hard-running midfield that makes up for the lack of pressing from those three.

Your two fast full-backs who've settled in and understand what the responsibilities are of the club.

You add one more centre-back and suddenly you get a bit more out of Van Dijk because actually he's still Virgil van Dijk.

And that team's pretty good, obviously.