Ross McCormack is to leave the Villa after signing a variation agreement.

Whatever that is

I'm going to take a wild guess here and suggest that the player has agreed to a variation in his contract which means he will leave the club a year early in return for a cash sum.

Makes our signings of Cornelius and Madine look like great deals.

What a waste of talent cant believe he was still at Villa,just read this on his wiki page

Ross McCormack (born 18 August 1986) is an overweight Scottish professional footballer who is a free agent, after his contract with Aston Villa was ended early.

He also tries to play for the Scotland national team, if he can make it over his 5 foot gate.

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Originally Posted by life on mars

What a waste of talent cant believe he was still at Villa,just read this on his wiki page

Ross McCormack (born 18 August 1986) is an overweight Scottish professional footballer who is a free agent, after his contract with Aston Villa was ended early.

He also tries to play for the Scotland national team, if he can make it over his 5 foot gate.

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Must be some sort of lock in, or out, clause in the contract.

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Originally Posted by IanD

Must be some sort of lock in, or out, clause in the contract.

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Didn't Steve Bruce vault his fence when Ross said he was locked un ??

Sad in many ways. Was a very good player for us who got forced out when Chopra returned, not that he had done anything to deserve that.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Sad in many ways. Was a very good player for us who got forced out when Chopra returned, not that he had done anything to deserve that.

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He got shoved out on the wing where he did well up to a point but as you say, Jones went with Chopra which I thought at the time was a mistake.

Great player on his day but went to Villa for far too much money.
I will always have fond memories of his time here.

Was widely regarded as the best player in the Championship when he made the move to Villa, but, despite all of his goals, Fulham were always struggling while he was there. From a distance, it looks like the only motivation on his part behind the move to Villa was money and, from a football viewpoint, the last few years of his career have been a waste of time, but I'll always argue his corner because I remember how good he was when he first came here. I agree he should never have been second choice to a Michael Chopra who was a shadow of the player he was in his first spell for us, but, despite Chops having fairly obvious problems maintaining his prime fitness, Dave Jones, like a few other of McCormack's later managers, did not seem to have full trust in him.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Was widely regarded as the best player in the Championship when he made the move to Villa, but, despite all of his goals, Fulham were always struggling while he was there. From a distance, it looks like the only motivation on his part behind the move to Villa was money and, from a football viewpoint, the last few years of his career have been a waste of time, but I'll always argue his corner because I remember how good he was when he first came here. I agree he should never have been second choice to a Michael Chopra who was a shadow of the player he was in his first spell for us, but, despite Chops having fairly obvious problems maintaining his prime fitness, Dave Jones, like a few other of McCormack's later managers, did not seem to have full trust in him.

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Quite interesting to note that, after he left us, he would score near enough 20 goals a season in 4 of his next 6 campaigns. His goals arguably kept Fulham up. Fulham finished 17th and 20th in the two seasons he was there; their 20th placed finish was down to having the 3rd worst defence in the division that season despite having one of the best attacks. Not sure his move to Villa was about money, either. Villa had just been relegated from the Premier League while Fulham were making no suggestions that they might manage a top half finish. As it was, they made the playoffs, Villa finished below us in the bottom half and McCormack had made the wrong choice.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Quite interesting to note that, after he left us, he would score near enough 20 goals a season in 4 of his next 6 campaigns. His goals arguably kept Fulham up. Fulham finished 17th and 20th in the two seasons he was there; their 20th placed finish was down to having the 3rd worst defence in the division that season despite having one of the best attacks. Not sure his move to Villa was about money, either. Villa had just been relegated from the Premier League while Fulham were making no suggestions that they might manage a top half finish. As it was, they made the playoffs, Villa finished below us in the bottom half and McCormack had made the wrong choice.

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In 15/16, Fulham had Moussa Dembele (17 goals) and McCormack (21 goals) up front, and finished 20th! Incredible! Obviously, Dembele was always going to kick on but in 3 seasons it's remarkable how far their fortunes have changed.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Quite interesting to note that, after he left us, he would score near enough 20 goals a season in 4 of his next 6 campaigns. His goals arguably kept Fulham up. Fulham finished 17th and 20th in the two seasons he was there; their 20th placed finish was down to having the 3rd worst defence in the division that season despite having one of the best attacks. Not sure his move to Villa was about money, either. Villa had just been relegated from the Premier League while Fulham were making no suggestions that they might manage a top half finish. As it was, they made the playoffs, Villa finished below us in the bottom half and McCormack had made the wrong choice.

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McCormack's level of performance at Villa was a long way short of what he managed with us, Leeds and Fulham - the whole of his time at Villa has been indicative of someone who had got his big payday and knew that he and his family were set up for life.

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Originally Posted by Pedro de la Rosa

In 15/16, Fulham had Moussa Dembele (17 goals) and McCormack (21 goals) up front, and finished 20th! Incredible! Obviously, Dembele was always going to kick on but in 3 seasons it's remarkable how far their fortunes have changed.

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That is an unbelievable statistic! A partnership of 38 goals and finish in lowly 20th!!

Perhaps we could resign Ross.Then send Tomlin and Ross to bootcamp

I do not remember the McCormacks time at this club as fondly as others on this thread. His first season was electric he looked a superb player, then at the end of the season we had a saga with him keen to force through a transfer to Hull City and he started the next season a little out of shape.

When we signed Chopra half way through the following season we needed a forward we were a bare bones at the time and to worry about facing competition when there were only 3 forwards at the club shows a little bit of the mentality that has followed his career through the years. We also saw the off the field trouble.

I remember an early season game where Jones played a 4-3-3 and it was a brilliant with the 3 forward players linking up well. It didn't last long because Ross attitude didn't allow it. All in All a brilliant player when everything was going his way, prone to fall apart when it wasnt.

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Originally Posted by qccfc

I do not remember the McCormacks time at this club as fondly as others on this thread. His first season was electric he looked a superb player, then at the end of the season we had a saga with him keen to force through a transfer to Hull City and he started the next season a little out of shape.

When we signed Chopra half way through the following season we needed a forward we were a bare bones at the time and to worry about facing competition when there were only 3 forwards at the club shows a little bit of the mentality that has followed his career through the years. We also saw the off the field trouble.

I remember an early season game where Jones played a 4-3-3 and it was a brilliant with the 3 forward players linking up well. It didn't last long because Ross attitude didn't allow it. All in All a brilliant player when everything was going his way, prone to fall apart when it wasnt.

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I think it was more that Jones much preferred his 4-4-2 and McCormack was demoted as a striker. That front 3 could have been lethal and would have built up an understanding that meant we could have coped with Bothroyd was out (eg playoff final).

I remember us playing Doncaster at home, when Bellamy scored his first City goal. We were awful for half an hour, struggling to cope with their 3 man centre midfield (as we often did struggle). Chopra went off injured, and without a replacement forward we brought on Burke to play wide and dropped Whitts into a central position, switching to 4-5-1. We battered them 4-0. We tried the same for maybe a game or two but then went back to the predictable 4-4-2 which never really suited us all season.

I think McCormack is a player who likes to be the main man. Some players are like that. For him to have been replaced by Chopra after being so effective in front of goal and given a position out wide must have been annoying to say the least. Like you said, a 4-3-3 could have been highly effective, but Jones wanted his 4-4-2 at virtually all costs.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

I think it was more that Jones much preferred his 4-4-2 and McCormack was demoted as a striker. That front 3 could have been lethal and would have built up an understanding that meant we could have coped with Bothroyd was out (eg playoff final).

I remember us playing Doncaster at home, when Bellamy scored his first City goal. We were awful for half an hour, struggling to cope with their 3 man centre midfield (as we often did struggle). Chopra went off injured, and without a replacement forward we brought on Burke to play wide and dropped Whitts into a central position, switching to 4-5-1. We battered them 4-0. We tried the same for maybe a game or two but then went back to the predictable 4-4-2 which never really suited us all season.

I think McCormack is a player who likes to be the main man. Some players are like that. For him to have been replaced by Chopra after being so effective in front of goal and given a position out wide must have been annoying to say the least. Like you said, a 4-3-3 could have been highly effective, but Jones wanted his 4-4-2 at virtually all costs.

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You cannot ignore the fact that McCormack had his issues here both off and on the field. These issues have followed him everywhere, and despite playing under many a manager never had a shot at the Premier League, which many would have felt was a given after his first season here.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

I think it was more that Jones much preferred his 4-4-2 and McCormack was demoted as a striker. That front 3 could have been lethal and would have built up an understanding that meant we could have coped with Bothroyd was out (eg playoff final).

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I couldn't believe it in that play off final when Jones brought on Useless Etuhu to replace Bothroyd and left McCormack on the bench until the second half. Arguably cost us the game.

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Originally Posted by qccfc

You cannot ignore the fact that McCormack had his issues here both off and on the field. These issues have followed him everywhere, and despite playing under many a manager never had a shot at the Premier League, which many would have felt was a given after his first season here.

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I wasn't. I think I addressed that when I suggested he's a player who likes to be the main man. He was pushed down the pecking order here. At Leeds and Fulham he was a big cheese. Villa had lots of forwards and again, he was pushed down the pecking order.

Not saying I agree with that attitude, but I acknowledge that some players (and people in general) are like that. Thriving on being a big fish in a small pond.

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Originally Posted by Cyncoed Slumdog

I couldn't believe it in that play off final when Jones brought on Useless Etuhu to replace Bothroyd and left McCormack on the bench until the second half. Arguably cost us the game.

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Of course it did. It was because we had one tactic - long to Bothroyd because Blackpool played 4-3-3/4-5-1 and won everything in midfield, so we had to go over the top and fight for possession, not easy on such a hot day. Etuhu was the only tall forward who might have been able to act as a target man. He wasn't a target man and shouldn't have been put in that position.

Blackpool were a tidy side but we really should have won that game with some tactical nous.

The lad could score thats a fact

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Of course it did. It was because we had one tactic - long to Bothroyd because Blackpool played 4-3-3/4-5-1 and won everything in midfield, so we had to go over the top and fight for possession, not easy on such a hot day. Etuhu was the only tall forward who might have been able to act as a target man. He wasn't a target man and shouldn't have been put in that position.

Blackpool were a tidy side but we really should have won that game with some tactical nous.

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We didn't have only one tactic under Jones, we could play good football if we needed to, or we could go direct

Just to p!ss Villa fans off he's just received a promotion bonus as well!

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Originally Posted by Rjk

We didn't have only one tactic under Jones, we could play good football if we needed to, or we could go direct

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I reckon we played good football if we managed to get on top or if the other side wasn't up to it. Quite often, when we needed to play good football, the hoofball game came to the fore. I remember TOBW calling us flat track bullies. I think that summed us up. Had the potential, if we got on top, to give teams a hammering. Also, didn't have enough tactical flexibility to alter things when we were struggling.

A number of players commented that Jones didn't give much consideration to what the opposition did, the view was that the opposition should be scared of what we could do. It showed.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

I reckon we played good football if we managed to get on top or if the other side wasn't up to it. Quite often, when we needed to play good football, the hoofball game came to the fore. I remember TOBW calling us flat track bullies. I think that summed us up. Had the potential, if we got on top, to give teams a hammering. Also, didn't have enough tactical flexibility to alter things when we were struggling.

A number of players commented that Jones didn't give much consideration to what the opposition did, the view was that the opposition should be scared of what we could do. It showed.

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Of our managers since then, we've mostly played one particular way as well.
Under malky and Warnock we are/were more likely to get something out if a game when the other team were on top, but I don't put that down to any great tactical flexibility on their part, more just a greater resilience in the team.

I've found out what a variation agreement is.

If McCormack was on the alleged £70k / week, with 12 months left on his contract that £3,640,000.

If he now gets a contract for the next 12 months (= remainder of Villa contract) with another club at say £20k / week, Villa will pay the difference in his salary, i.e. £50k / week.

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Originally Posted by Des Parrot

I've found out what a variation agreement is.

If McCormack was on the alleged £70k / week, with 12 months left on his contract that £3,640,000.

If he now gets a contract for the next 12 months (= remainder of Villa contract) with another club at say £20k / week, Villa will pay the difference in his salary, i.e. £50k / week.

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So he should approach a club and ask for 10k in the first year and 30k in the second, instead of 20k for 2 years

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Originally Posted by Rjk

Of our managers since then, we've mostly played one particular way as well.
Under malky and Warnock we are/were more likely to get something out if a game when the other team were on top, but I don't put that down to any great tactical flexibility on their part, more just a greater resilience in the team.

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Resilience is definitely one thing we developed under Malky and have had in abundance with Warnock. While I'm not suggesting that either are tactical genuises, both had a bit more flexibility when selecting a team, based on the opposition - Warnock especially. It's a shame, as I reckon the side that lost to Blackpool would have stayed in the Premier League and is, for me, just about the best starting XI I think we've had in a generation.

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Originally Posted by Rjk

So he should approach a club and ask for 10k in the first year and 30k in the second, instead of 20k for 2 years

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He has no incentive to go looking for money, as he can't top his wages. So he can go and play for someone that he really wants to for a season. I think that's the best bet for him too, I don't think anyone will touch him currently.

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Originally Posted by Des Parrot

Just to p!ss Villa fans off he's just received a promotion bonus as well!

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Deserved every penny , I heard and he has put it to a better unlocking mechanism of his gates. (at least he's trying )