Although the European transfer window was slammed shut and locked at the end of August, not all Football Associations are closed for business and late yesterday evening Aston Villa confirmed that Ross McCormack had managed to jemmy himself a move back to Australia.
Best I can do at this time of the morning!
The 32-year-old striker and perceived arch nemesis of manager Steve Bruce has headed back to the A-League for a season-long loan deal with Central Coast Mariners and even the possibility of him playing alongside Usain Bolt just leaves me giggling given that PR stunt.
Ross McCormack has joined Australian A-League side @CCMariners on a season-long loan.#AVFC pic.twitter.com/7CMBF5Dxe7
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 19, 2018
Our official site confirmed the news in one of the briefest statements I’ve ever seen – 18 words and the Tweet was even smaller with only 12 words – so it’s not hard to assume there’s little love lost between either party at the moment.
Few know what truly went on behind closed gates and I certainly don’t, but a return of three goals in 24 appearances is woeful. Whatever the disagreement was meant Bruce couldn’t get past that when he returned from Melbourne City with 14 goals in 17 games, but it will leave plenty of fans wondering why he didn’t at least get another shot as he certainly hadn’t become a bad player overnight.
No doubt the Mariners will benefit from that and we’ll have to be content with some kind of wage saving for Financial Fair Play reasons, but it’s fair to assume this proves his time with us is up and it’ll go down as another failed transfer deal tinged with a ‘what if’.
Social media comment of the 2018/19 campaign may have already been won though and we’re only in September.
Shouldve at least gave him a chance at CB ffs
— Wesley Millward (@WesleyMillward) September 19, 2018
Although these tickled me as well.
To commemorate this occasion, all supporters should hold a minutes flatulence on Saturday #avfc #PartOfThePride
— Anthony Jacobs (@Ant1987) September 19, 2018
Something funny about electric gates
— Joshua Charles (@arguebarmis) September 19, 2018
Reckon he will make it over his gate to catch the flight?
— TheWhiteSakho (@LeumEllisun) September 19, 2018
No good luck message :-)?
— Gareth Edwards (@garethedwards74) September 19, 2018
Djemba-Djemba surely
— Tears of Thanos (@mrtnhntr) September 19, 2018
cheer vigorously
— Billy Wonka (@giselgosh) September 19, 2018
Bolt could surely run the length of the pitch twice in the time it takes Ross to do it once
— Paul Hughes (@hughespaul09) September 19, 2018
