The Villa Summer Transfer Thread - Part 1

So we have Sorensen, Berger and probably Carson all off. Barry is in a tug of war which hopefully we'll win. So who will we get in?!?!?

i wouldn't mind getting solano back as a squad player and trying for Hitzlsperger and Milner

bloody hell!! not this thread again, we need a lot of players to equip us with a challenge in europe. MON will not be able to leave it last minute , he will have to buy early and buy quickly, he will need to act!

Defoe 8-)

We need a GK, RB, CB, CM, CF and a couple of squad players. Just want to say the GK should be either Kirkland or Rob Green, either of those would do for me.

Hehe. So all we need do is for all of us to agree who our targets should be and how much we should bid for each, and then put immense pressure on the club to buy said targets. Should be really easy - we'd surely all agree our targets quickly enough, wouldn't we? ;-)

I think it was on vital Wham that he wasn't getting a new contract,notice how he didnt celebrate his goal against us.

Just read this in the "Carl Atterbury Times"

"Aston Villa have been linked this summer with an awful lot of *****ing and moaning from everyone involved"

The source is certainly reliable, and I think it's probably a good bet.

Terge ryhmes with Dirge. Go home and stop being a bitter bluenose.

Terge - I'm sorry, you must be confused This isn't a gay singles forum. No sweat though, everyone makes mistakes. Good luck with that.

Diego Forlan anyone?

James Beattie, Steven Carr & John Arne Riise!

Being a native of Sverige - I suggest Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Reports are indicating he wants a move to the Premier League. Let's go for it! It's worth a shot!

Hi all this is my first post so dont be too rough with me. Seeing as i am in NZ the gossip is based on tinternet etc. All egg chasers over here! Anyway, chuffed the blue scum went down. Ha ha. As for transfer targets what about MICHAEL OWEN. DAVID BENTLEY should work well with our young setup. HUNTELAAR anyone, seems to interest Fergie. Would love to see JAMES back in goal but we should really never go back. CARSON if the £ is right good age and will come good! ALLAN SMITH has plenty of bite.

Have we signed anyone yet?

Zlatan didnt turn up when we stuffer Inter at Villa Park in the friendly.

Chelsea are set to win the race to sign Portuguese star Jose Bosingwa after agreeing a deal with Porto. Who are CSKA letting go?

No excuses this summer. We're losing good and not so good players from an already tiny squad, and we've got a (good) chance of Europe via the back door. We need to show our intent. Sign big Martin, sign lots. We were bloody lucky with injuries this season - it won't happen again.

Right - Shorey, Dunne, Matty Taylor or Nakamura, Sidwell or Giles Barnes, Darren Bent, Bentley (I wish!?) Valencia. Stick with Carson, he will come good. Bentley is a big target, so too is Nakamura but we should go for it....We definitely need a big surprise in the MF early doors, would be a massive signal to Barry. Big no-no's include: Bellamy, Dyer, Beattie, Gera, Kitson, Lita, Doyle, Kenny or Liam Miller....

How about Larrson from the Blouses? I think he's a decent player and would be on the cheap side now they're in the second tier (again)!

I cant beleive you have posted this thread so early JP! Villa transfer window starts day before it closes.

LOL my word its hear already and i am already refreshing the screen constantly at work! MON has lets be honest proven alot of doubters wrong on the transfer policy, he has put us in to a very strong position with possibly lots and lots of money available.

We r guna need to spend big this summer, take risks and go for it. Can see this being another long and painful transfer window. We shud take bets on when we will sign our first

Why does anyone want Riise? He's ****e and its obvious, we have Bouma and he's been brilliant this season. I still can't see us buying anywhere near the amount of players we need. As long as we have a decent keeper and a decent RB I'm happy, we have strikers and don't forget about routledge. We all know we can't have Bentley, James Milner is better than him anyway. If we got Milner and the RB GK positions we would be sorted (almost but it would do for a little while) in my opinion.

How about Belletti now Boswinga has come to take over?

Riise hasn't been a good attacking option for at least 2 seasons, its been a long time since I saw him put in a good shot. Anyway Bouma scored a goal, whats wrong with that? The fact that he's ginger doesn't mean anything to me. I'm worried that if Riise came he would either take over from Bouma or end up whinging about not being in the first 11. I think Bouma is quality and I'd hate to see a player who in my mind has never been particularly amazing, come in and put Bouma out of his place simply because he's played in the Champs league.

Carr too used to be a great player in his spurs days, still wouldnt like to see him in a villa shirt though!

i understand what your saying about Bouma, i think whoever we sign in his position, they would still have a tough fight to take his place, but we need the option. regarding robinson, riise etc, who here went 'why have we signed harewood??' last season. just because someone is playing badly does'nt mean they're a bad player.

How about Behrami, versatile, young, over 6ft? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valon_Behrami And does anyone know is Arsenal have signed Kompany?

Elano, Sidwell, whoever that french guy is who just gotnamed french Ligue 1 player of the year.

Good point tylervilla, silly me! :o)

Oi, bobbyfett, less of the personal remarks about us chocolate teapots. Carson may be a good keeper in the future. Unfortunately, we ned a top class keeper now. Sorry but we need a replacement. We cannot afford to wait. What about Francois Clerc of Lyon at right back, 25 years old, over 6ft. Looked OK when I've seen him on TV. Aren't we supposed to be interested in Nelson at Benfica? 24 years old but only 5ft 9? Cuellar from Rangers, as someone else has suggested would certainly be a decent centre back.

also this isnt a list of who will sign, but who ID sign if I was manager. Id buy stearman & mattock as squad players, richard dunne for centreback, and Tony Hibbert for right back. I reckon wed have a good solid squad of defenders. Id sign Jussi Jaaskelainen as goalkeeper. Id replace Gaz Baz with Rafael Van Der Vaart, and bring in Steve Sidwell to replace/pressure ReoJoker and Petrov. Id also lavish some money on a goalscorer, who im unsure but id like to see a topclass goalscorer with a bit of experience, IE Owen, Nistelrooy, Saha etc..........

Martin we take you forward again next season and more than replace Barry if he goes

I don't think Milner will be allowed to leave. We need to move soon though instead of the usual procrastination. The next few weeks,we'll see the usual excuses trotted out, like players on holiday, Euro Champs, players have to report back to training....In effect we are waiting for the top teams to cherry pick the talent. Interesting comments by Keane today, saying some agents won't even return his calls. It seems to boil down to location and wages for us (comparing us to say Portsmouth say). Is Jussi out of contract at Bolton? He'd be my keeper choice. And Hoyte as RB. We need something extra in midfield, that's for sure - But we can't move until we know what Barry's up to.

I think we should go for Van Der Vaart as well, not to replace Barry but to play with him! Van Der Vaart, Milner, Nelson, Nakamura, Mutu (although I'm sure he's happy at Fiorentina), Riise (not to replace bouma but to put pressure on spots) I noticed someone said they don't want to see bouma on the bench just for Riise and I agree but the top 4 have big name players on the bench all the time and if we want to be pushing for the big 4 we need to think like them. I think Bentley will be out of Ewood now that they won't be in Europe.

Milner, Huntelaar, Onouha, Sidwell, Elano, Sagnol, Hoyte, Gudjohnsen, Downing, Lehmann, Jaskalinen. That'll do for now. Keep GB, buy this lot, top 4 beware.

OK boys here we go .... my first thread of many on this subject this summer i'm sure. I to believe that to have any chance of getting Barry to stay we need to make a big impact signing - and i mean BIG... Owen, Bentley, Henry, Saha, Mutu or Gudjohnsen would make the top four and Barry sit up and be aware of our intention. As for the goalkeeper situation I think an old experienced head - Yussi, James or Robinson with Casper to bring him up to their level. Other signings i'd like to see are Sidwell, Scott Parker and Dean Ashton - so to increase our English backbone thats 5 new england players and thats without the two under 21 guys from Leicester.... we can but dream eh ? Please please please though .... No places for Carson, Riise, Beattie, Forlan, Milner or Crouch .... we can surely do better than these MON .... Cant we ???

Go on then Henry as well bet hes chomping at the bit for intotobob football.

I was just on this football show we have over here in the states called Fox Football Fone-in and asked them what they thought of Villa and what Gareth Barry should do. They though Villa underachieved and MON's problem is he can't get us mentally prepared for the games we should win like sunderland and wigan at home. He also said if he was Gareth Barry he should go to Arsenal or Liverpool and that next year is a pivotal year for us because if we don't make anything of it, our players like Young and Agbonlahor will be out the door as well. Just thought it was interesting...

I've got it: Shorey, Dunne, Mort Gamst Pedersen, Elano, D Bent and Crouch. All buyable. Oh and the two Leicester boys for cover.

neither

Bent would be a good buy i think. i noticed lehmans name being banded around, the last thing we need is someone upsetting the dressing room, even more so that mon spent the first 6 months trying to get rid of players like that.

This thread is too much for me I think.

I may be completely out of touch, but I am really struggling with this concept that Barry must go to Liverpool. In my book Benitez has broken all the rules about tapping up etc and is now apprently stating clearly that Barry wants to leave Villa and join the Reds. OK if that is a fact, why can't we do what Man Ure did last year, that is, "if you want to leave -Go, but not to one of our rivals, we will sell you to a continental side? It makes no sense to me to let someone as good as Barry go to a team that we intend to replace in the top four next season. Why make it harder for ourselves? Is there anything wrong with that philosophy?

when we talk about how many we need, what we need to look at is the fact that we've lost mellberg, berger, carson (who's now back at l'poo), sorensen, davies (until oct) AND we have a possible extra 18 games with the potential uefa. add to that we'll need to name 7 subs from next year. we used 21 players this season, 4 less than cardiff who had the smallest championship squad and we've been really lucky on the injury front. i think we need about 10 players to cover ourselves. this means that players like riise and sidwell could really help us out as were not going to buy 10 £10m players. 5 wont do!!

Obediah - i totally agree. I think Benitez has been out of order with his clear tapping up of Barry and the FA or Premier League should punish both him and Gerrard for trying to upset both Barry and the Villa squad. Surely if this type of underhanded approach is to take place, it should be after the season has finished and NOT when the team involved is trying to secure european qualification. I recon Liverpool are running scared of Villa and MON, in that they know we are hot on their tails. So with that in mind IF Barry leaves - He should not be sold to one of the top four and for no less than £20 Million. Enough said.....

interesting point bobbyfett we are going to see more players like routledge coming in because we do need a large amoung of players coming in and we arnt going to be paying £10m for each of them. I would like too see us smash out transfer record this summer capture a world class player for 20m and show how serious we are, but i dont see it happening.

van derr varrt!! surely we should bid! isnt he at hamburg?? take him to bodymore heath show him one of the best training grounds in the prem probley 2nd only to chelsea get a dvd on of the football we have been playing this year show him the fans and sell outs everyweek!! and tell him he will be a part of it!......am i pushing my luck if i say the same about quaresma from porto 2?? haha CUM ON SIR MARTIN WE HAVE FAITH ... (if not il be manager)

give me lennon, defoe, foster and wheater and ill be happy

How about David Villa and Dean Ashton, then we would have Ashton Villa uo front!

Jeeez the transfer articles get under my skin. Reading the BBC transfer gossip today and we have Tottenham linked with Samuel Eto and David Bentley, and Villa linked with Pedro Mendes....hope this isn't the way this window pans out or i'm going to give up and take up fishing

Tvrwhitey, Tevez and Mascherano gave West Ham such a lift that they nearly got relegated during the season they were there. Big names are exactly that, big names they don't guarantee you anything. We need players who want to come in and have something to prove not just here to take the money.

thats insane, we dont need the money! MON sayin that sounds like talks with Barry havent gone so well.

I would love to know where the press have the 15 million from and the fact that O'Neill will let him go. The papers get more and more desperate each time I read them!

i just called the birmingham mail and exposed you bobby! ur ass is grass!

Load of s*** from the Mail again. Nowhere does MON state we are prepared to accept £15m. He does refer to the fact of not keeping an unhappy player but then states Barry has not said he is unhappy. I know its about selling papers but why do they have to print such utter drivel.

That is a poor article. It's like a headline saying "Weather is Hot Hot Hot" and then having quotes and statistics about how cold it is. Though that example could be ironic...whereas the Barry article in the Mail is just crap.

Seb Larsson from Brummagem will do for starters. Lets bring in quality, players better than we perhaps already have. Its o.k. swelling the ranks with squad players, but we need proven premiership talent that can and will push to the extreme our current first teamers.

I think GB would leave, but Liverpool cannot afford him - it's that simple. They want to give us the cast offs as replacements and we've shafted them with the Carson deal. It's interesting that they've come out for the first time recently, saying we had an option to buy him; not for 10m! We need a natural finisher, there rare as rocking horse poop though.

i've always wondered why we don't look in those leagues. Even the dutch league

Linked with David Bentley today...... That'll do for starters...

Portsmouth have done well with their team of giant meathead athletes and MON likes his centre forwards and centre halfs to be the same, so surely he won't be going for anyone under 6 foot.

Alan wright 5"4 how many headers he use to win was funny, probably quite embarrassing for the opposing player too.

Not forgetting Valencia, quality!

Milner is better than Bentley, I would rather pay 15 mil for him.

milner is not better than bentley, but he's still good. have a look on sky sports, it says carson has 'impressed' at VP. who he impressed is beyond me!

ok i'm all for Bentley, Milner, Richards, Downing, Lescott (a boyhood villa fan!)... But if we are going for these sorts of players they will cost a bunch and at best we could net two from this sort of league. What about up and coming players from the Championship that will grow in the fashion of Ashley Young? Ben Watson and Scannell looked pretty good for Crystal Palace the other night? Any thoughts?

PTP - i think your just being biased when it comes to Milner - just because we had him (on loan) and lost him, we also had Crouch and i wouldnt want him back. Ok milner is an option if we cant get Bentley - but Bentley is far the better player - he is the only one to rival Beckham for his crossing and dead ball situations... i say we go for broke £15 million and we would get him. I'd still like Ashton and Parker from west ham too. i'm really intrigued as to who we are gonna get in goal for next season - that and the right back have got to be the priority - along with keeping Barry obviously... My bet is on Robinson or Jussi .... either would do a good job ... but we still need to find decent cover for either

it's OUT, OUT, OUT at the moment! Robinson, Hoyte, Nakamura and Bent - there's four names for ya

Namakura and Boruc, yes please....with a Bentley on the side. Burp!

Villa transfer windows are worse than blue balls.

Mertesacker from Werder Bremen to play CB or RB, he's a german international and 23 years old. Mario Gomez (also German international) who's a 22 year old striker from Stuttgart. If you can't tell - I think we need a German on the team! Both are quality and I think Gomez could be pried away to challenge Gabby for a spot.

Today I feel like Deco, Kevin Nolan, and Diego Forlan. Thanks.

Oh and I forgot to mention an Anton Ferdinand thanks.

not a chance! cisse is over-rated, pompous, and dresses like a nob. theres no way MON would want a walking gob like that at the villa.

Cisse wud be *****e! i think this is guna be another disapointing transfer window, i have a feeling!

Man City got into europe, it feels like everyones gettin in but us!, Spurs r in, Everton, Pompy if they win against cardif and now City!

The Citeh thing is really disappointing, I heard also that Fulham could have got that spot?!!? To finish 6th and have to qualify is a bit humiliating to be honest. If Cardiff win the cup, will Pompey get a Pompey still get a spot?

seriously 6m for Doyle! such a disapointment, do you see l'pool or spurs or everton looking at players of his ability, he is a mid table player not a player who should be playing for a team trying to push into the top 4!. What happened to showing ambition why do i keep seeing all our rivals being linked with players we should be being linked with, the kinda players that make a statement about abmition. Doyle doesnt portray any ambition. If you ask me Luke Moore is better than Doyle.

Nah Luke Moore has a bit of quality in him. I think he's quite a smart striker as well. I reckon the reason other teams are being linked to all the players we're not probably has something to do with wages. Liverpool Spurs Pompy or any of the others around us all have players on their side that are being payed 70/80k a week and even more than that. Barry is our highest paid player at, 45k? Doyle's fine with me. If we get a real quality right back, like propperly propperly quality then all we need is the squad players. Take into account that Routledge is gonna join Young in the team of the season next year.

Doyle will be a very smart signing for someone,this is the ideal time to buy him he is a far better player than his goal tally for the season indicates,he played really well and scored some great goals for Ireland,Stephen Hunt would be another signing Id like us to make,he is electric.

Players Id like us to sign in a dream world:Crouch,Pletikosa,Bently,Schneider,Diego,Van Der Waart,Miguel,Kompany,Mertzacker,Hitzlsperger,Wagner Love (Possibly,or some top notch Brazilian playing in Eastern Europe like Elano was),Milner,Elano Players We Must NOT Sign:Carson,Carr Players We Can Sign That Would Be Great Value,Would Put Some Meat On The Bones Of Our Squad And Mark Hughes Probably Has Earmarked As Next Seasons Signing Of The Season:Doyle,Hunt,Solano,Jasskalainen,Sidwell,Guzan,Gudjohnson(might be a dream signing because of his wages),those young lads from Leicster,those young lads from Palace,Nathan Dyer (looked handy enough when I saw play for Southampton against Watford in September)There are a few teams who have thrown money around like Spuds and are trying to clear away some of their flops now and there could be a jem or two amongst them

Has anyone been signing anyone yet? Can't see much action so far, surprised a few haven't got stuck in quickly like Man Utd did last summer. They were in and done within weeks!

We must not buy anyone from Liverpool or Spuz after their tight wranglings over the past 12 months.

This is off topic. This is from the blog of Tony Barrett, the journalist who first broke the news about Liverpool's bid for Barry in the Liverpool Echo, " Sorry Martin - but you've got it wrong! MARTIN O'Neill's anger about Liverpool's offer for Gareth Barry seems to be centred on the fact that news of the bid appeared in the ECHO within hours of it being faxed to Villa Park rather than on the offer itself. The Villa boss has convinced himself that the story was leaked to the ECHO by someone at Liverpool Football Club. But like the Alonso conspiracy theorists, O'Neill hasn't called this one right. Journalists never reveal their sources but it would be remiss to allow the current misapprehension to go unchecked. No-one at Liverpool leaked news of the bid for Barry. Simple as that." I hope this clears Rafa's and Liverpool's name. http://www.liverpoolbanter.co.uk/2008/05/kopites-are-stunned-as-rafa-be.html

I don't think so he's just not getting a game and he is not happy apparently.

chris, Rafa talked to O'Neill about Barry a month ago, before we went out of the CL. News of the bid only leaked out when we made it official, when we faxed the bid to Villa. As with the joke bid, that wasn't what upset O'Neill, he was upset because news of the bid leaked, and he thought Liverpool were the ones who leaked it. That wasn't the case, as the journalist who broke the news in the Echo himself says. My guess is that the leak came from an agent of Barry, and he's the one you should be upset with.

Benitez is an embarrasment,he has behaved like an idiot for a while now (his ridiculous behavior in that press confrence when he kept repeating the same sentence over and over again,calling Everton a small team when they had taken 4 points against Liverpool).In Spain the general consensus is that he has had a nervous brakedown,his comments about Barry wanting to leave were a disgrace and he only highlighted how pathetic Liverpool are,I cant imagine Fergie commenting like that about another teams player.

I think Saha would be a great signing - element of a gamble for sure, but his injury problems could potentially be behind him? Imagine if we could add a few players of that high calibre - quite a few have been mentioned, and although I think some are overly optimistic (i.e. Diego), I think others are definitely doable IF WE SHOW THE RIGHT AMBITION. Cudicin or Jussi with Guzan supporting, Micah Richards, Bentley, Saha - coupled with a few squad signings of Bullard & Doyle? Probably a good 50million worth there, and we'd clearly have to pay top end wages. These are real 'next level' signings for me....i.e. players that could play for a 'top4' side but for whatever reason may not be on their shopping lists this summer....

I've come to the conclusion that the player i'd most want to see at VP next year is Thomas 'Der Hammer' Hitzlesperger...every time i see his name mentioned somewhere i get excited...i loved that guy for Villa, and he always gave his best...he loved villa too, but couldn't be guarenteed football at a time when he needed it. I'd actually be okay with Barry leaving if we got Sidwell and Der Hammer...We've got to be realistic, because for some strange reason MON doesn't have the same hole in his pocket that i would with Randy's millions in my hands.

Bring Back Der Hammer!Bring Back Der Hammer!Cant the Fear try and get an interview with him or something.

Hi all, i am new to this but have kept an eye on everyones opinions. It is clear that M'ON needs atleast 10 players, but i wouldnt be surprised to see most of M'ON transfer activity to happen after the Intertoto Cup. I think M'ON should go for Nicky Hofs of Feyenood, ive seen a bit of dutch football and he looks impressive. I think also Guzan, Jussi, Hoyte, Wayne Bridge, Milner, Kallstrom, Samir Nasri (from Marseille looks quality) Pedro Mendes, Rocemback, Podolski and Huntelaar would provide quality and decent cover.

Forget Rochemback hes joined Sporting, lets go for Deco

Indeed, welcome. I almost feel sad i didn't get a Fear welcome...one day! Along with my dream signing of Der Hammer, i think it's fair to say that MON needs to seriously look at buying a right midfielder with haste. Stories going around the last few days see Milner linked with the Mackems and Bentley linked with Spurs...as much as i don't really see either of those happening (though if Bentley wants to leave it'd be us or Spurs, but more likely us i think due to first team place) I still think that MON needs to get in and around and start bidding for these players. The right side is in desperate need of quality, and either one would fit the bill...we just do not need to be the ones cursing MON's inability to get amongst it quickly AGAIN. Offer now, get the player to talk to us, and then they can only turn us down...I'd rather that then simply miss the chance.

From BBC - Aston Villa are being linked with a move for 18-year-old Real Valladolid goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo who has a buy-out clasue of £3.3m. (Sky Sports, 1058 BST)

SWP. Lets fire up the Defoe rumours while we are at it. Seriously though, SWP would be ideal, we are weak on the right and according to Merlin (i think) he kept Sidwell out the Chelsea side this season.

i've asked mr fear to put a thread on this, the Birmingham mail is conducting a poll-thing to keep barryat the villa, email your goodwill and pleadings to this address - your.shout@birminghammail.net. make sure you mention its about garry barry in the title bar. ITS YOUR DUTY!!!!

We need more strength in attack. I just cant see Gabbi or Carew getting 20plus next season. maybe gabbi in a few seasons will but not now Would love to see Doyle, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink(if we cant get crouch) and the dream signing that will end up at arsenal Huntelaar. Others I would love to see us try and get Afellay, Borriello, Golinski, Rat, Radu, Akinfeev, Kallstrom, Pletikosa, Rakitic, Modric, Mertesacker, Hitzlsperger.

People.. Barry Is Only 1 Player,, It Took The Hole Team To Get Us 6th,, So He Ent No Superstar, Itz Not A 1Man Man Game And He Ent Fast Enuff Anymore But Would Like To See Him Stay, But Ent To Bothered If He Goes,, And On To Defoe,, He Took Villa For Chipz! He Was Ment To Come Ages Ago,, 4Get The Talk About Him! PeaceOut

Sense says for us to buy Akinfeev...he's as good a goal keeper as there is in the world and he plays in the Russian league with CSKA...surely it wouldn't take the world for us to prize him from there?

Well thats is then Carsley is off to Lego land in Small heath .... never though he was good enough for us anyway. Have to say I am disapointed how quiet MON is in the transfer market, hopefully he will shock us all with signing Deco, Henry and Bentley all on the same day .... lol - can but dream. Need to have a moan here ... i hate people who write or "shud i say rite" in txt speak .... BLITZ.... whatever happened to good old english as it is meant to be spoken ? Rant over ....But apart from that lets stay positive and trust in GOD .... er sorry i mean MON ... er same thing is it not.

Jefferson Farfan would be GR8 :-)

birmingham email address didn't work for me.

yeh but he is almost certainly heading to barcelona according to the legend that is guillerme ballague. I would like to get Gordon, Daniels, Bell, Foster and Smirnoff. then we call all have a big party.

Pompy in talks with Zarate - I thought the rumours were that they were to get Crouch!!! I cant see them after both of them. Does that mean Crouch is off to Villa Park then??? Is he part of the Barry deal?? Am I reading too much into this??

Crouch is off to Spain. I think we need more strikers But maybe we should Sort out our right back and goalkeeping troubles first.

this sucks. i hate transfer windows.

I know its typical British press but most of the papers seem to be reporting that the Sidwell deal will definitely happen and probably before the end of the week. If this were to happen does this mean MON has changed tactics and is trying to do business at the start of the window. Maybe the Intertoto has impacted upon his plans.

I told my Dad the Ashton Villa thing, he said "I don't like Dean Ashton, and we'd never get Villa. Dream on". Talk about missing the point!

Bugga! That didn't work quite the way it was planned!

nice try at humour though fredchuff! We aren't set to accept russian characters! lol. Welcome on board!

Guzan would initially be a number 2 (understudy that is, not the other!!!) for at least a season until aclimatized to life this side of the pond so number 1 would have to be a proven keeper. I expect a lot of our signings will depend on the GB situation. I can't help thinking that MON will not want to keep the player against his will. How long he gives him to make up his mind will make or break many of our summers. As the liverspuds seem to be skint at the mo Carson may will have to come into that equation. If GB stays we may look elsewhere for a first choice keeper.

Nope, i'm firmly in agreement with you on that Tallaght - never saw anything to convince me he should even have been in our playing side above Tommy or Taylor.

We MUST sign Shorey and Sidwell. Proper quality. thereafter, it would be good to see an audacious bid for Bentley or perhaps a raid on Valencia in Spain and the one in Wigan!!!!! Remember that Routledge is gonna play next season and that Steiber will be in the squad from his loan....Steve Finnan also gets my shout along with Wayne Bridge.

I thought we were already in europe?

There could be a few Chelski players giong cheap,lol.

we should get involved with the bidding for Andrea Arshavin. He's absolutley class and apparently man city and everton are after him for 12million. bargain for an internatrional attacking midfielder of his quality

To the small minority of people who have said in the recent poll that villa will sign 1- 4 players in the summer. with sorenson, berger, mellberg, carson all gone, ohalloran, delfouneso unlikely to feature much next season, and osbourne to be a fringe player that leaves us with 16 players currently. so do you really think M'ON will have a squad with less players than we had this season bearing in mind villa will be in 3 cup competitions? and with the introduction of 7 substitutes in PL games surely its clear M'ON will deliver. M'ON and Randy are going to build a top 4 team at the villa, not dismantle the team.

I wondered why I didn't hear about this 7 substitutes thing, but turns out it was pushed through on the same day as the playing games abroad thing was opened up. No wonder. So yeah, i agree, if we get to the same squad size as last season then you can see us not being able to fill that bench when a few injuries come, which the inevitably will. I must say, the idea of 1-4 players coming in is probably just an upshot that MON has failed to deliver many signings before, so there is no empircal evidence to suggest this time should be different. I would like things to take place before the Euros though, which i know is difficult, but i can see us struggling to buy players in after, what with the scramble for players that occurs after the tournament. I believe that it isn't too long after said tournament that we play in the Intertoto...MON really does need to get his skates on in my opinion, because he's playing with very fine time indeed. Get rid of Barry now if it's going to disrupt rebuilding this summer too much. He is replacable.

no thank u, his attitude is aweful

If only we still had some of these old boys! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg7AbF9TC6w Hope you enjoy!

I wish we would have a punt for someone like Torsten Frings.He looked sharp and strong at the 2006 world cup,he's still only 31.

I was just looking at the top scorer's charts this year and we always give Carew ***** for not scoring more but he had more than alot of huge names, including Rooney. And did drogba really only have 8 goals!?!?! Barry had more than that!

"the best teams could get turned over by the likes of us..." Come on guys, we ARE the best teams, we were 6th in what is widely considered one of, if not the greatest, leagues in the world, in every match with the top 4 (ok, except Manure) we pushed them to their limits, the pundits now talk about us as a threatening and exciting team, and we have a history that is the envy of many. I know the natural state of any Villa fan is pessimissim, but COME ON! We can do this. Oh, and to keep it vaguely on topic, I really quite like the idea of Robbo as our No.1, I think that the suberb keeper he could be will come out if he joins us.

ACCORDING TO MY CONTACT, PRIORTY IS KEEPING YOUNG OVER BARRY....

Ashley wont leave, no chance, the main reason he came to Villa was MON and look what MON has done for this career the boys going nowhere.

As an spud lol and a neutral looking in i think O'Neill is obviously a top manager but is it just me or is he very indecisive in the transfer market? You guys have a good a chance as anyone to break the top4 in the future especially if you keep hold of Barry and add a bit more quality and youre almost there, yet i cant help but think youre going sign some more ex Celtic or West Ham players? what do you guys reckon? look at some of the mediocre players hes turned into good players such as Harewood, Bouma, ReoCoker etc what would he do with top quality? Youngs already top class. Youd be a real force. Everyyear me and a Villa fan mate have a £100 bet on who finishes highest in the league - with some success although i obviously lost big this year but i think next year will be very close :) heres to hoping lol

Leftfoot, look at the 3 players you picke,d what is the link... David O'Leary. He was behind all of their departures from VP so it seems MON is trying up right the wrongs of DOL.

Ive really been trying to think about our signings and I still think the likes of Diego, Bentley, Ashton, Huntelaar, Richards etc. are unlikely targets as they will be after a move to the big 4. I know we are trying to compete NOW but those signings may have to wait for another season but I have kind of came up with a very realsitic and attainable 'two for every position' for next season. Any thoughts? ---------------1st XI - GK - Jaaskelinan ----RB - Onouha LB - Bouma CB - Laursen CB - Dunne ----RW - Milner LW - Young CM - Barry CM - Reo-Coker ----ST - Agbonlahor ST -Farfan (maybe unrealisitc but go for it!!) --------------------2nd XI GK - Guzan ---- RB - Hoyte LB - Shorey CB - Knight CB - Davies ---- RW - Gera LW - Harper (Reading) CM - Sidwell CM - Petrov ----ST - Carew ST - Doyle. That will also leave us with Gardner, Osbourne, O'Halleron, Maloney, Delfounseu, Harewood a few more to bulk up the squad like Carr and Stearman may be handy. Thats FOURTEEN players signed (fifteen if you count Davies) and NO MORE sold!!!

Carr/Harper - no thanks. Onuoha/Dunne/Shorey/Guzan - Yes.

Oh I suppose Pennant is a RW who may move but I still would prefer us to have Milner and Routledge!!!

I still like the thought of Darren Bent and Mort Gamst Pedersen - especially MGP. Rocket of a shot, fit as a fiddle and seems to be wanting out if his indifferent season is anything to go by.

Pedersen seems the type of player who would only be sold to big-4 or European side - I cant see Blackburn letting him go to a team who finished one place above them!! Their primary target would be to move above us next season! They wont do that by selling us their best players!! Darren Bent would be a great shout though and is realisitc. But how much would he cost??? They would certainly be looking for £10m+. Some reports have Aaron Ramsey fancying a move to Villa as he is more likely to get first team football at us than Man U or Arsenal. Good choice!!! He would really flourish here - havent seen much of him though is he worth the £10m or so (albeit £5m + £5m addons!!!)

Cheers Deano. Dunno tho, reckon MGP let himself down last season and might just be swayed for the European footie on offer and force BB into selling...plus he is Norwegian so could be a pal of Carews, perhaps he could do some unsettling for us!!! No that's naughty, beginning to sound like Mini Tom Jones Benitez. I hope Martin spots a Van Hooidonk or Larsson out there and surprises us all. i'd pay 10m for D Bent tho. Also, we could serious look at W Brdige and Sidwell now that Grant has gone as they will definitely want some exposure for the new England manager....same with Bent.

Lucas Biglia for your midfield!

Bentley still to sign a new contract, now is the time to make an offer, robinson also seems very possible, along with hoyte.

agree get a bid in for bentley, lets hope he will come and not hold out for a move to one of the "big 4". although ive got a feeling that Benitez will offload Pennant and bring in Bentley.

will never understand the transfer market, does it not make sense to sign all you players as early as possible, squad will be settled leading up to the new season?

anymore of our cast offs you want deano lol? stalteri? Lee? Routledge? oh wait...

Was told today that Sky had linked us to David Dunn. Worrying, I thought.

DAVID DUNN!?! OMFG PLEASE NO.

LONGEST THREAD EVER. HAVE YOU ACTUALLY SIGNED ANYONE YET

Despite spurs poor season i believe they were way ahead of us (re players/purchases) before they purchased Modric, now it seems da santos is on his way, what the hell are we doing? we need to state our intentions, especially if we want to keep barry....

You think this is long Mick66owl, come back at the end of the summer, we'll have filled 8-9 of these articles with comments (comments are limited to around 350 an article) and whether we'll have signed anyone will remain to be seen!!!!!!

Swap Maloney for Nakamura plus 2m from the Celts....also, anyone for Kieron Richardson, certainly better than Aaron Lennon and SWP! Good competition for Routledge and Maloney, proven quality too.

still no signings, or even hints. i hope to god this isnt going to be another summer like last year. i dont think i could take it. especially surrounded by manure, liverpool, and chelsea fans at work.

Thought Barry said that in 2 weeks he would give us an answer, now its another week until after the T & T match. Surely we won't sign anyone until after the Euro's. Potential players may get injured etc. ???????????????????????

If Henry signs for any english club let alone Villa I will eat my hat.

evoflash... Me too. The image of Barry setting up Gerrard for the 2nd goal was a little too ominous for my liking. I hope i'm wrong, but...

Oh, and what about N'Zogbia? Wigan are said to be after him and I thought he was the only one on Newcastle worth a damn, besides Milner. He's pacey, can whip in a cross, young and isn't afraid to go forward.

Indeed it does....?????????

tick tock oneill. fear, give us a shread of hope, you always know something!!!

I'm shredless at the moment stig... sorry dude! Not sure if it is because the club is run properly now so the whispers aren't about or that there is nothing to whisper about at the moment!

I think kewell be worth a punt.

Nah, think Kewell is very much passed his prime koolbill?!?!

Not happy at the thought of Kewell. Massives wages, minimum input, too much time on the sidelines. The most exciting player we've been linked with so far is Diego from Werder Bremen. An attacking central midfielder who pulls strings and makes things happen. Add a classy right midfielder and a forward and that's our primary players for the midfield and attack taken care of. Then on to the rather pressing issue of centre backs, full backs, goalkeepers and a few squad players. Does anyone else think that we're going to struggle to bring in quality given that we need to fill so many positions and will prob spend less than most teams this summer. Our budget is rumoured at £35m. I want us to spend that on 2 midfielders like Tottenham will this summer. Unfortunately i can see a few more routledge's and harewood's arriving and not too many diego's. I'm sorry to be a pessimist everyone but with such a small squad i don't see how we can afford to spend enough on individual players to get ppl like Bentley and Diego on board. MON, prove me wrong!!!!!! and please do it quickly because i'm inpatient and can't wait until the end of August like we usually have to!!!!!!

Desperation Fear, desperation....Tottenham are doing the usual of buying quality and with Miguel or whatever their manager is called I can see them taking 5th easily....I fear the worst for us tho...MON quite simply can't rely on luck and youth getting us through another season and I sense Gareth knowing this too....just look at LFC getting in free tfers and placing bids...no wonder he wants to go. Bring back the days of Draper, Nelson and Southgate arriving in one season...aaaah the memories...I reiterate: Shorey 4m, Sidwell 2-4m, D Bent 10m or D Ashton 8m, Guzan 2m, R Dunne 5m, Matty Taylor 5m and Keiron Richardson 6m! Total: 36m!

ooooooooo someone further up said Lheman (soz if i spelled it wrong!) noooooo please, even if ya strapped him to paul robinson with gaffa tape the pair of em still wouldnt be as good as carson! I understand tho what some peeps say about calamity carson but lets face it he is still quality and still only very young he is definately the kind of player MON would like to bring the best out of, read an article where carson says he would love to stay but its not up to him and that he does not understand why raffa is sayin 10m for him? he actually said maybe in 5 years 10m but not right now! I for one hope he stays. Definately not Kewell and heard something yesterday about maybe Pennant? Some of the names roumoured on the villa site just made me laugh I mean come on Thiery Henry? Yeah right ok im sure he will be interested to lol. Out of all the laughable names on there though there are some good realistic ones like Bentley and a couple of the guys from munich (Im not even gonna try and spell them) Definately dont think Milner, and crazy legs crouch are a good idea either if what we are led to belive is true. TBF I think more games and starts for Harewood next year couldnt go a miss he says he is stayin for now but lets face it he wont stay if he is not gonna start getting on the field. I know some peeps dont rate him but I think there is a definate quality about him and he has the desire and hunger everytime he has come onto the pitch. Im just gonna trust in MON the guy is a rock and he knows what he is doin, lets face it the bloke could buy in a load of players we have never even heard of to which we would all scream but martin WHY! and by the end of next season we would probably all be eating our words. Its nice to finally have someone well and lerner at the club who actually care about the club and not just about the business side of things...... Trust in MON ya know in the long run it'll be worth it!!!

On another note - any word on our new shirts? I keep seeing ads for the new Chelsea and Liverpool ones all over the place. I can still remember our away shirts not being available on the official site until the forth game of the season!!

Davies in a 2nd 11? err no. England Defender should be in first XI with a Laursen next to him, and an Anton Ferdinand pushing him to keep his place.

I bet we have more transfer threads than player purchases though!

The Guardian says Liverpool, Aston Villa and Everton are among several clubs monitoring Milner's situation at Newcastle United. He will be allowed to leave for about £5m. --------- If this is true MON should put a bid in now and get this player signed up TODAY!! Absolute bargain in a position we really need. Put it this was - if we get Milner and persuade Barry to stay that is the midfield sorted for next year!!!!

Milner enjoyed his time on loan by all accounts, it wouldn't surprise me if he made a return, would be a good signing

Dunne refused to sign new contract at man city and looks like spurs are going to sign him apparantly for £5m. Surely he'd have been a great signing to compete for a place with laursen and davies :(

Yeah koolbill Sidwell would be perfect to ensure a top centre-midfield but I am a "two in every position" thinker so that would mean Young, Milner, Maloney and Routledge out wide and Barry, Reo-Coker, Petrov and Gardner in the middle. Not forgetting Salifou and Osbourne as back up to the back ups!!!

just heard harewood will be used in an exchange plus cash for a rangers player? Any ideas....

agreed koolbill. Those around us are moving quickly and spending big and we are, as usual, motionless. Spurs have just spent £5M on a 16yr old wonderkid from Palace. They've also tied up deals for Dunne and Modric and apparently are going for Dos Santos. I had kind of hoped that we would making similar gestures. instead the strongest links are to players potentially leaving. Thankfully there has been no speculation about Ashley Young. It amazes me how overlooked he gets given all the praise people keep lavishing on Bentley. Young has been twice the player this season and why he didn;t get on the field for England is beyond me. Top of the assist charts last season with 17!!!!

If f***ing Gerrard is so desparate to play with Barry, then the b*st**d can sign for us! Stop tapping up our players through the media, git.

Can we actually buy someone please ? Bet we get to 500 posts before we do !!!!!

Only 5 weeks till pre-season, what on earth are we doing, i presume the gaffer will take a short holiday also, the way things are going we will be lucky to have the same size squad as last season...

also that steve sidwell was set to be announced £4.5 m this week but chelsea are delaying until they get a manager.

yes, would be nice to convince him with a couple of quick, decisive and key signings. Guess it is easier said than done though!