On Friday, Vital Lion wrote a piece discussing the future of former Aston Villa skipper Tommy Elphick.
As fans will be keenly aware, we’ve covered it well enough on Vital Villa, the expectation was that Elphick was set for a permanent move to Reading where he spent the second half of the 2017/18 campaign. He only made a handful of appearances during his spell at the Madejski Stadium as two games into the loan he went down with a serious knee injury that left him sat on the sidelines.
Having returned to fitness and got another couple of appearances under his belt, it was said that he had impressed manager Paul Clement enough to follow through with the deal this summer.
Bruce Makes A Smart Decision In Recalling Out Of Favour Former Villa Captain
With centre-half issues for Steve Bruce and Villa following the departures of John Terry and Chris Samba there was some curiosity as to why Elphick hadn’t come back into our plans – especially as he more impressed during his games with us earlier in the season prior to Terry returning to fitness himself.
The presumption was it was a wage issue that meant we remained in negotiations or alternatively there was a buy-clause and that had been enacted. With reports that talks had stalled, Vital Lion posited basically that Bruce had again opened the door for the 30-year-old ahead of next season.
This went over well with some fans.
Ffs! It’s a no brainier. Elphick and Chester in centre of defence. ????????♂️ Class when he filled in for Terry.
— Millsey (@millsey_avfc) June 22, 2018
Totally, RCM attitude has been bad…but hes cost the club so much and is proven at this level….just dumb bombing him out again all season if we cant shift him.
— Boycey (@Boycey1259) June 22, 2018
Yep Warnock didnt have a bomb squad or bench most of his big money signings. If Bruce can't coach his players better, if hes going to stay, get better coaches to work with Agnew…….cause Calderwood and Clemence havent really been great.
— Boycey (@Boycey1259) June 22, 2018
I thought the reading deal was already done
— daniel moore (@striker2fall) June 22, 2018
Would be a good call, keep hold of Chester too and add Carter-Vickers on loan and we are sorted in that position. Would hate to have to start with two new CB's for next season
— Boycey (@Boycey1259) June 22, 2018
Seems a proper good egg too… I think our treatment of him has been poor overall… would have no issues him being given an opportunity and a good example to the younger lads.
— Sads (@gregg_sadler) June 22, 2018
Others were less convinced and didn’t believe a James Chester/Tommy Elphick pairing provided the right sort of balance in the heart of defence.
Can’t defend. Don’t see that as a smart decision tbh.
— crowiejnr (@crowiejnr) June 22, 2018
Need a young, smart and pacy CH. Chester OR Elphick do not fill all those attributes.
— whycantiretirenow (@1982rotterdam) June 23, 2018
A smarter decision would be to resign
— nick hatfield (@nickAVFC1) June 22, 2018
