I would imagine it’s been a great adventure for them tbh . He’s spent his entire playing career in Austria and I imagine he’s enhanced his wages by coming here and his agent will make sure he’s not out of pocket by the move and it’s another adventure for them in Germany
Ahh that would be a real shame..... The one player willing to actually look up and pick a pass, even at the peak of our lump-it forrards phase. Classy throughout.
Sad day if true, for me he's the main reason we weren't in L1 last season. That said, I imagine he would want to go, nearing the end of his career & would probably want more game time. He will be missed for sure, especially off field. I think we owe him a lot. He won't be the last unfortunately, don't think we've heard the last of Valerian, fully expect him to come back for either Styles or Brittain (or both).
A shame if true, but if he's one of the higher earners in the squad (i've no idea if he is or not), I can understand it. We will miss his experience though. I think a big factor of the initial turnaround under Ismael was the fact we had a group of senior players in Woodrow, Mowatt, James and Sollbauer, if we do let him go, we can't be selling Helik, unless we bring in some experience to replace them.
You misunderstand the new formation. We are playing Collins as goalkeeper just behind the front two....
Unless he feels he has players already in the WBA squad that can perform the roles in his system, he'll be in for Helik as well as both wing backs.
I'd be extremely surprised if there wasn't a clause in his contract preventing him from coming back and signing players for twelve months.
Shame if we're letting him go. He seems like a read leader and we've also lost our captain and manager.
We've arguably got 7 centre halves in the first team squad. While I would personally keep him over Halme, I can see why he'd be moved on. Age, wage & resale value. Personally think we can easily afford to lose Halme as well. Leaves us with Helik, Andersen, Kitching, Moon and Sibbick
Doubt it tbh . All our players are for sale at a reasonable price so can’t imagine we’d hamstring a potential customer just because he used to be with us . Why stop him and say yes to someone from Villa ? I think the board have demonstrated they won’t just sell for the sake of it with Mowatt but if Val comes on with six mill for Helik board won’t have stopped him IMO.
Not surprised, but gutted all the same, he’s a true leader & has given 110% to the cause. At the latter end of his career now, hopefully we see him again in some other capacity later down the line.
Gutted by this but as others have said, we have a lot of competition for places at centre back. His contract also runs out next summer doesn’t it? I suppose if he isn’t getting another one then we’ll sell him now.