Fabian Delph stands by his word and it does feel quite good at the moment

This is going to sound strange but it's almost as if the club and Fabian Delph have missed an opportunity yesterday. I mean, the can of worms was opened in January when he signed a new contract; this was his chance to go mental and it was the clubs chance to spin some PR - something they seem to always do at the wrong time.

An example of this is them taking down the image of the club captain from the social media channels yesterday. Sure, someone might say he was expected to leave but the fact is, he hadn't and the fact is, he's staying. So why do it in the first place?

And why not some honesty and transparency from the club. Had Manchester City even made an offer and if we're that important why couldn't they have at least confirmed that.

But it doesn't really matter and it doesn't really matter how we find ourselves here today. In January Delph told us he was loyal, that this was his club and he loved it. He has stood by those words. The cynical reader could also suggest that he just made a decision. And he probably did and I'm sure it was a tough one.

But how does it make you feel? Yesterday was a strange day. Waking to the BBC and basically every other media outlet saying he was gone, to reading over his January statement to having a pint and reading that he was staying. We're still all mugs, but this time because we didn't believe what our captain had told us. So I guess we've learnt something.

And for me, it's just refreshing to see a player stand by his word. You see, it's feasible that he's throwing away something around £10mn to stay over the next three or four seasons (he's probably earning that much with us over this period too), which I'm sure if he is serious about staying, he'll get some back with a new contract very soon, but it's a decision he had to make factoring in all the information only he had.

In short, it feels fantastic to have a player and man like Delph at the Club. But maybe this all happens again in January or next summer and we have to go through all of this again. How will supporters react this time and will they use this opportunity to show how valued he is at Aston Villa? It's about showing the love.

What did Delph say this time?

I'm aware there has been intense media speculation surrounding my future in the last 24 hours and I want to set the record straight. I'm not leaving. I'm staying at the football club and I can't wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club.

Fabulous Delph Club Captain

Do you see what I mean by missed opportunity. He could have thrown in there a 'I told you in January' or the 'I'm a loyal person' and 'this is my club' and he'd have won plaudits all over the game. But he didn't and it does read a little like it was a tough decision and one he is still getting his head around. So, he's our captain and we help him. It's that simple.

But something to note about all of this before I end this post today (with no mention of the pre-season friendly from yesterday I'll have you note); the media were all saying it was happening, even the BBC yesterday. They're click whores like most of the others now.