These are the standout quotes from the world of punditry in 2019...

Gerry Cox No, argues Gerry Cox

Daniel Storey asks if Mourinho will change for Spurs or if Spurs will change for Mourinho.

It is a measure of how under much Hugo Lloris is under-appreciated that commentators regularly refer to Harry Kane as Tottenham captain.

There was a cursory meeting of Arsenal and Tottenham supporters at Frankfurt Airport on Thursday morning, one side beating a retreat from Baku, the other en route to the Champions League final in Madrid.

TWO MINDS: Chris Kamara made the most of a rare seat on the ‘Soccer Saturday’ panel:

Do you remember who said: “That five years as an electrician probably just grounded myself”?

Steve Bruce is the new Aston Villa manager, the club have confirmed.

Aston Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo has told Jack Grealish to grow up as the midfielder faces an anxious wait to discover his fate.

Four years after the FA passed over him and opted instead for Roy Hodgson, the erstwhile people’s choice Harry Redknapp has made it clear he would still love to have a crack at the job of England manager.

Aston Villa have been relegated from the top flight for the first time in 29 years.

Remi Garde could have taken charge of his last game as Aston Villa manager, with an exit around the corner.

Remi Garde says Aston Villa’s squad needs major surgery and revealed he is already losing out on players.

Remi Garde will be backed in the transfer market by Aston Villa in a bid to save them from the drop.

Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 2: Arsene Wenger has hailed a “great week”, after Olivier Giroud scored again and Arsenal followed up Champions League qualification with a climb to the top of the Barclays Premier League by comfortably beating rock-bottom Aston Villa.

Anthony Cunningham didn’t deserve his term to end the way it did, writes Anthony Daly

Remi Garde was left in no doubt about the scale of the task facing him as the new Aston Villa manager watched from the stands while his new side slumped to a seventh successive defeat, leaving them rooted at the foot of the Premier League table.

Aston Villa 1 Swansea City 2: Within hours of Tim Sherwood’s sacking as Villa boss, the club slipped to the bottom of the Premier League, following Sunderland’s 3-0 victory over Newcastle.

Roy Hodgson has dismissed Jack Grealish’s Irish connections as “distant” and said the Aston Villa player made the correct decision — and also the “bolder” one — in declaring for England.

Tim Sherwood reckons Jack Grealish won’t make England’s squad for Euro 2016 finals, suggesting he’d have a better chance of featuring in France next summer for Ireland.

Jack Grealish’s decision to switch allegiance to England is based solely on personal rather than commercial reasons, according to his father.

So he’s finally hit the road, Jack, and he won’t come back no more, no more, no more...

Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 2: Brendan Rodgers needed no evidence of the short term memory of the football industry, the knee-jerk reactions that can turn champs into chumps and back again, all within the blink of a news cycle now measured in minutes rather than weeks.

Tim Sherwood insists Liverpool are lucky to have under-fire manager Brendan Rodgers — and he could have managed Real Madrid.

Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling were on top-form as Manchester City cruised to a 4-1 Capital One Cup victory at Sunderland to end a two-game losing run in explosive fashion.

Tim Sherwood dismissed fears over Aston Villa’s stuttering start after their second straight derby defeat.

Leicester 3 Aston Villa 2: Claudio Ranieri hailed the spirit and character of his players after seeing Leicester stage a remarkable comeback to defeat Midlands rivals Aston Villa 3-2.

Kevin Grealish, father of Jack Grealish, has denied reports his son has opted to declare for England instead of Ireland.

Aston Villa 2 Sunderland 2: A moment of frustration left Tim Sherwood with a hamstring injury – but the Aston Villa boss was delighted with his team’s performance despite having to settle for a draw against Sunderland.

Crystal Palace 2 Aston Villa 1: Bakary Sako gave Palace fans hope Alan Pardew’s side can flourish without Yannick Bolasie with a dramatic late winner against disappointing Villa.

Roy Hodgson is doing his utmost to entice Jack Grealish into the England fold but the player’s father insists Ireland remain very much in the mix to keep the winger onside.

Boss Tim Sherwood refused to condemn Aston Villa after they extended their winless streak at home to Manchester United.

Aston Villa 0 Man United 1: Adnan Januzaj lasted less than an hour in his first start for six months, but it was long enough to deliver Manchester United their second win of the new season. 

BOURNEMOUTH 0 ASTON VILLA 1:

Perched high above the pitch, Seamus Brady will have a bird’s-eye view of Aston Villa’s opening game of the new Premier League season and what he sees could just change everything.

John Hartson has news for all those who reckon Ireland copped a lucky break when Wales emerged as top seed in our World Cup 2018 qualifying group.

Ciaran Clark has signed a new five-year contract with Aston Villa, according to the Premier League club.

Stoke have announced the signing of former Barcelona winger Ibrahim Afellay.

Liverpool’s £29 million (€40m) deal to bring Brazil forward Roberto Firmino to Anfield will not impact on further summer spending or change their stance on want-away winger Raheem Sterling.

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Micah Richards on a four-year deal, the club have announced.

Aston Villa said they are “aware of the photographs circulating” of Jack Grealish after the midfielder was pictured collapsed while on holiday in Tenerife.