Aston Villa defender Ritchie De Laet is reportedly set to join A-League side Melbourne City on loan, and many fans have taken to Twitter to react angrily to the news.
As reported by Australian outlet The World Game, the Belgian right-back is poised to join up with former coach Warren Joyce in Melbourne as he remains out of favour at Villa Park.
Many shocked Villa fans have now gone berserk on Twitter after the report, with many slamming manager Steve Bruce for potentially sanctioning such a move.
This is Futbol have rounded up some of the best tweets:
Why???? He played well pre season????????
— ?????? ??????? (@OgeeDj68) September 13, 2018
Because Bruce didn’t sign him, he never plays him familiar?
— barry mullins (@barrymullins11) September 13, 2018
Absolutely staggering. In the meantime continue playing your right back at left back, centre half at right back and centre mid in centreback. Approx 30% of the starting xi out of natural position. Bonkers
— Ian Ballinger (@BallyAVFC) September 13, 2018
Cuz we don't need defenders do we!
— Dan Clare (@danclare82) September 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/zaggy59/status/1040235731732586497
What the hell is Bruce playing at?
— john clark (@john17_clark) September 13, 2018
Unbelievable if true with our defensive frailties and considering he was one of the stand out performers in pre-season. More examples of how Bruce has lost the plot and dressing room and is just gunning for the sack #avfc Will be sad to see @de_laet_r gone.
— Proud To Be British ?? (@r1chuk) September 13, 2018
Typical Bruce again
— villanfranco (@villafranco73) September 13, 2018
Letting Richie De Laet leave is in my opinion madness. The best right back at the club and also probably the best left back too. Much much better than Hutton. Steve Bruce hasn’t given this lad a chance ????
— Brett Griffiths (@X7JBG) September 13, 2018
OPINION
These Aston Villa fans are absolutely fuming that Bruce is considering allowing De Laet to leave the club, and so they should be. The Belgian right-back returned to the club after a loan spell away and impressed hugely in pre-season, but despite that has only been given a chance to shine in the Carabao Cup so far this season. It is widely recognised among these fans that De Laet is in fact one of the best defenders at the club, and so to let him leave now would be a huge error from Bruce. Many seem to blame the manager for overlooking the Belgian because he did not choose to sign him, and that does seem to be a factor in many of Bruce’s decisions. It is however ridiculous that De Laet has been so overlooked this season considering the Villans’ poor defence so far, and fans have a right to be this angry.